Dachshunds don't really come with an "off" button — smart, curious, and fun-loving, they can also be stubborn, mischievous, and just a little bit destructive. Thankfully, the right toys can go a long, long way towards keeping them occupied.
Like most dogs, dachshunds love to play, but they grow bored easily and have a tendency to rip through toys with their strong jaws. You want to look for toys that are tough, engaging, and safe...and it doesn’t hurt if they involve a little food, too.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve done the research for you! We searched far and wide to find the four — dare we say it? — best toys for dachshunds.
For the Chewer: The Crochet Bone
For pups who like to munch and gnaw, nothing beats this crocheted bone. Soft enough not to crack their teeth and durable enough to stand up to plenty of chewing, it’s as functional as it is cute.
Plus, because it’s knit from recycled cotton t-shirt yarn, it’s a great choice if you’re at all concerned about your doxie’s dental health — the cotton fibers can actually help to clean the tartar buildup on canine teeth as they pass in and out of the toy, like floss.
An added bonus for you (if not your dachshund): this is a fair-trade toy, whose production provides employment to craftswomen in Nepal.
For the Constant Companion: The Rope Tug Toy
Tug toys of any sort are a fantastic way to connect with your dachshund, making them the perfect choice for any owners or dogs who like a lot of one-on-one time.
The durable handle-and-knot design of this piece is great for playing fetch, tug-of-war, or getting lost in a good chew session — interactive toys offer lots of opportunities to bond through play.
This particular one is made from a single continuous piece of 100% all-natural cotton — meaning no synthetic fillers or anything else you need to worry about your dog ingesting.
For the Hunter: The Squeaky Sausage
Dachshunds were originally bred as hunting dogs, so they have an especially high prey drive — if it squeaks, scurries, or scampers, it better watch out.
This charming hot dog plush toy features a squeaker, making it an ideal target for any hyper-focused doxies. Like The Rope Tug Toy, it’s also a great choice for one-on-one bonding; fetch toys are simple but effective tools to strengthen the bond between you and your dog.
For the Food-Obsessed: The Odin
Small though they are, dachshunds are plenty happy to pack it away, sometimes living up to their “sausage dog” nickname quite literally. Their hungry natures make them highly food-motivated, which makes the Odin a perfect choice to keep your dog entertained for hours.
Treat-dispensing toys are ingeniously simple: solve the puzzle, get a treat. The Odin takes things a step further with a modern, modular design that allows multiples to be connected to one another for greater variety.
Made from a durable, food-safe material, it’s designed to stand up to plenty of chewing — and unlike many treat-dispensing toys, it’s blissfully quiet and won’t scratch up your floors. For dogs that get bored easily, or do better with a little distraction when you’re out of the home, there’s nothing better. That being said, we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you to keep an eye on your doxie’s weight!
Our advice: save heaps of time and money down the road by choosing the best toy for your dachshund upfront. It’s the best bet for keeping your pup happy, engaged...and out of trouble!
