10 Best Dog Toys for German Shepherds in 2023: Reviews and Top Picks

black and tan German Shepherd playing with a ball dog toy

The German Shepherd breed is considered a power chewer and needs toys that can withstand their powerful jaws and teeth. This can quickly become a never-ending cycle of buying toys for your furry friend, the dog destroying them, and you trying to find something more durable to keep the dog happy.

You want a toy that’s durable, non-toxic, and interactive if at all possible. There are several brands to choose from, which can get a bit overwhelming when trying to choose the best dog toy at the most affordable price. You want the toys to keep your dog entertained and active, which can seem like a herculean task.

We’ll give you our list of what we consider the 10 best dog toys for German Shepherds in 2023, so you don’t have to search for them.  We’ll also provide reviews of the dog toys and a buyer’s guide. So, join us!

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

Image Product Details

Best Overall

Winner

Wobble Wag Giggle Ball
Wobble Wag Giggle Ball

  • Great for playing fetch

  • The toy is interactive

  • Your dog can pick it up easily

  • Best Value

    Second place

    JW Pet Bad Cuz Dog Toy
    JW Pet Bad Cuz Dog Toy

  • Very affordable

  • Quite durable

  • Made from natural rubber

  • Premium Choice

    Third place

    Kong Extreme Dog Toy
    Kong Extreme Dog Toy

  • Can easily be stuffed with treats or kibble

  • Extremely durable

  • Perfect for aggressive chewers

  • IFETCH Too Automatic Ball Launcher
    IFETCH Too Automatic Ball Launcher

  • Is an automatic launcher

  • A compact design for easy storage

  • Dogs love this launcher

  • Kong Extreme Goodie Bone Dog Toy
    Kong Extreme Goodie Bone Dog Toy

  • Extremely durable for tough chewers

  • Features holes to stuff treats in

  • Vet recommended worldwide
  • The 10 Best Dog Toys for German Shepherds

    1. Wobble Wag Giggle Ball – Best Overall

    Wobble Wag Giggle Ball

    Material: Plastic
    Breed Size: Medium
    Toy Features: Crinkle, exercise, outdoor, squeaky

    When you’re looking for the best toy for your German Shepherd, you want one that you can play with together and one that the dog can play with on its own when you’re busy. We chose the Wobble Wag Giggle Ball as our best overall pick for its interactive features. It is an excellent toy to play fetch with your Shepherd, but when you’re busy or can’t play, the dog can easily pick up the Wobble Wag and play with it by itself.

    We were impressed with the six clutch pockets, and dogs love the sounds that come from the ball when it’s played with. However, there were reports that the ball isn’t the most durable option out there, so if your German Shepherd is an aggressive chewer, the ball might not last for long. However, in our opinion, the ball is durable enough for your dog to get plenty of hours of play out of.

    Pros
    • Great for playing fetch

    • The toy is interactive

    • Your dog can pick it up easily

    • Dogs can play on their own

    Cons
    • Not the most durable option on our list


    2. JW Pet Bad Cuz Dog Toy – Best Value

    JW Pet Bad Cuz Dog Toy

    Material: Rubber
    Breed Size: Medium
    Toy Features: Exercise, tough chewer

    Our choice of the best dog toys for German Shepherds for the money goes to the JW Pet Bad Cuz Dog Toy. While it is a small toy, it proved to be quite durable and is made from natural rubber. The rubber should stand up to quite a bit of aggressive chewing from your canine pal. The squeaker inside the toy is extremely tough, and the sound will keep your pet occupied.

    You would think with its durability, the toy would be expensive, but it’s very affordable. The only drawback we found is that it’s not the best choice for overly destructive dogs, as they are extremely aggressive chewers.

    Pros
    • Very affordable

    • Quite durable

    • Made from natural rubber

    • The squeaker is tough and keeps dog occupied

    Cons
    • Not the best choice for destructive dogs


    3. Kong Extreme Dog Toy – Premium Choice

    Kong Extreme Dog Toy

    Material: Rubber
    Breed Size: Large
    Toy Features: Tough chewer, training

    If you’re a pet owner, you have probably heard of Kong products already. Our premium choice, the Kong Extreme Dog Toy, was picked because of its durable material. It is considered to be one of the best toys for the German Shepard and is dishwasher safe, so it’s easy to clean. The toy can easily be stuffed with treats or kibble, which will give your dog a bit of exercise as it tries to get to the goodies inside.

    This one seems perfect for aggressive chewers, but a few pet owners have reported that it broke under the pressure of really tough chewers. However, most pet parents were pleased with the Kong Extreme, and some dogs refused to play with anything else.

    Pros
    • Can easily be stuffed with treats or kibble

    • Extremely durable

    • Perfect for aggressive chewers

    • Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning

    Cons
    • Might not be tough enough for really tough chewers


    4. IFETCH Too Automatic Ball Launcher

    IFETCH Too Automatic Ball Launcher

    Material: Rubber, plastic
    Breed Size: Large
    Toy Features: Training

    As much as we hate it, there are going to be times that you can’t play with your German Shephard as much as you’d like to. That’s where the IFETCH Too Automatic Ball Launcher comes in. The launcher is automatic, as the name suggests, and it can be used indoors and outdoors. If you use the launcher indoors, however, make sure to set it for a small launch distance to avoid damaging the interior.

    The automatic launcher is compact, which makes it easy to store when your pet is tired and done playing for the day. The launcher fits most tennis balls and can be set to 10, 25, or 40 feet for throwing. There’s also a random setting to keep your dog occupied.

    However, the IFETCH is very expensive and not for every budget. Some pet owners have reported that the launcher breaks easily, while others reported that their German Shepherds were scared of the sound that the launcher made.

    Pros
    • Is an automatic launcher

    • A compact design for easy storage

    • Dogs love this launcher

    Cons
    • Extremely expensive

    • Some dogs are scared of the launcher

    • Breaks easily


    5. Kong Extreme Goodie Bone Dog Toy

    Kong Extreme Goodie Bone Dog Toy

    Material: Rubber
    Breed Size: Large
    Toy Features: Training, tough chewer

    The Kong Extreme Goodie Bone Dog Toy is much like the premium choice on our list. It’s for extremely tough chewers and is very durable. It has a few different holes to stuff treats, which will usually keep German Shepherds occupied for quite some time. This toy is recommended by vets worldwide, especially for dogs that tear toys up easily.

    Sadly, the middle of the toy seems to be softer than the ends, which makes it pretty easy for a dog to rip through it quickly. Some pet parents reported the toy not being as durable as other Kong products, and it is a bit expensive.

    Pros
    • Extremely durable for tough chewers

    • Features holes to stuff treats in

    • Vet recommended worldwide

    Cons
    • The middle seems to be softer than the ends

    • A bit expensive

    • Not durable


    6. Chew King Fetch Balls

    Chew King Fetch Balls

    Material: Rubber
    Breed Size: Medium
    Toy Features: Interactive, treat holes

    If your German Shepherd loves digging for treats in its toys, the Chew King Fetch Balls may become their favorite toys. They are made of tough natural rubber, which means they won’t hurt your furry friend, and they come in three to a pack, making them a pretty affordable option that should work for almost any budget.

    If you’re going to play fetch with your pet, you want balls that stand up to the test of fetching and chewing after the dog gets tired. While these are excellent, affordable options, pet owners have reported that they aren’t the best choice for tough chewers, as they tear up easily. In fact, they tear into small pieces quite quickly, which could be dangerous for your pet if he should swallow a piece. They are also a bit too heavy to play fetch with for a long period.

    Pros
    • Features holes for stuffing treats

    • Made of tough natural rubber

    • Comes three to a pack

    • Affordable

    Cons
    • Not great for tough chewers

    • Tears into smaller pieces easily

    • A little too heavy to play fetch


    7. Pets&Goods DTS1 Dog Chew Toys

    Pets&Goods DTS1 Dog Chew Toys

    Material: Rope
    Breed Size: Small, medium
    Toy Features: Teething, tugging, exercise

    If you’re searching for a variety of dog chew toys to keep your German Shephard busy and entertained and still give them the exercise they need, the Pet&Goods DTS! Dog Chew Toys can help. These toys are also suitable for teething puppies. They come in a pack of five rope-based toys and are very affordable for what you get.

    These ropes serve double duty, as you can play tug-of-war with your dog, or the dog can chew on the ropes when alone. They are a bit smaller than pictured, and the ropes are thin, which causes them to break easily, according to some pet parents.

    Pros
    • Comes in a pack of five

    • Very affordable

    • Plenty of variety

    Cons
    • Smaller than pictured

    • Not durable


    8. The Nero Ball Classic TM

    The Nero Ball Classic TM

    Material: N/A
    Breed Size: Large
    Toy Features: Exercise

    The Nero Ball Classic is a K-9 ball on a rope and is used often in K9 training sessions. This ball can be thrown much further than regular balls can and can be a great source of exercise and bonding time with your German Shephard.

    However, the ball is easy to destroy, and some pets chewed through the attached cord in a matter of minutes. Some pet parents also reported that the cord broke after only a few tugs when playing with it with their pets. However, if you’re looking for a ball on a rope that you can have fun with your German Shephard with for a few days, we recommend the Nero Ball Classic TM for its ability to be thrown further than other balls.

    Pros
    • It can be thrown further than regular balls

    • Used for K9 training

    Cons
    • This ball can be destroyed very quickly

    • Some pets chewed through the attached cord

    • Cord breaks with just a few tugs


    9. NERF Dog Classic Squeak Football Dog Toy

    NERF Dog Classic Squeak Football Dog Toy

    Material: Rubber
    Breed Size: Medium
    Toy Features: Squeaky

    The NERF Dog Classic Squeak Football Dog Toy is produced by a company that everyone knows about. NERF has been making a variety of products for some time now. One of the best things about the NERF dog football is that it’s inexpensive and can provide your pet with hours of fun.

    The ball is highly visible, so you shouldn’t lose it once it’s thrown, and your dog won’t have any problem finding it.

    While we normally love NERF products, this doggie football was smaller than advertised. Some pet parents also reported that the ball eventually breaks into little pieces and that the squeaker can be torn out of the ball easily. Both of these could be dangerous to your pet, as they are choking hazards, so if you choose to purchase this dog toy, keep a close eye on your pet when they are chewing on it.

    Pros
    • Very easy to see

    • Inexpensive option

    Cons
    • Could be dangerous if dog swallows pieces

    • Quite a bit smaller than advertised

    • Dogs can pull out squeaker with ease


    10. Monster K9 Dog Toys Indestructible Flying Disc Dog Toy

    Monster K9 Dog Toys Indestructible Flying Disc Dog Toy

    Material: Rubber
    Breed Size: Large
    Toy Features: Exercise

    Last but not least on our list of the 10 best dog toys for German Shepherds in 2023 is the Monster K9 Dog Toys Indestructible Flying Disc Dog Toy. This toy is said to be indestructible. However, pet parents have reported that the flying disc dog toy doesn’t fly the way that a normal frisbee does, which was pretty disappointing.

    The frisbee isn’t very flexible, and it’s really too heavy to be called a flying disc. This toy isn’t for heavy chewers, as it can be destroyed easily, and some pet parents reported they didn’t like the rubbery smell emitting from the disc, and neither did their German Shepherds.

    Pros
    • 100% safe

    • Non-toxic for added safety

    • Great source of exercise and bonding time

    Cons
    • Doesn’t fly like a frisbee does

    • Not very flexible and quite heavy

    • Not for heavy chewers

    • Some dogs and pet parents didn’t like the rubbery smell

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    Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Toys for German Shepherds

    German shepherd puppy playing with a dog toy
    Image Credit: Njegos K, Unsplash

    We’ve given you our top reviews of the 10 best dog toys for German Shepherds in 2023, and now we’ll discuss a few things you should consider when searching for the best toy for your furry friend.

    Your Dog’s Age

    The first thing you’ll want to take into account is your dog’s age when searching for a dog toy for a German Shepherd. For example, you wouldn’t give a German Shepard puppy the same tough toy that you would give an adult German Shepherd. Puppies’ teeth are still developing, so they need plusher toys to play with.

    The Toy’s Design

    The toys on our list have bright colors or simple black designs. They also wiggle, wobble, and have squeakers in them, as well as some having holes where you can hide treats for your dog to find. The toy’s design should entertain your German Shepherd while still keeping it occupied. It’s also an excellent idea for the toy to be something you can play with together when you have the time.

    German shepherd walking on grass with a frisbee dog toy in its mouth
    Image Credit: Aliaksei Semirski, Pexels

    The Toy’s Size and Material

    Many of the dog toys on our list are made out of very durable material, while some seem to be a bit lacking in the durability department. The toy’s size will depend on the age and size of your German Shepherd. You don’t want a toy that’s too small because the dog will tear it up easily and run the risk of swallowing the pieces.

    The Toy’s Chewability

    As you probably know, German Shepherds are power chewers and can quickly destroy any toy that’s set in front of them. Whether it’s a puppy or an adult German Shepherd, chewability is essential if you want the toy to keep your pet happy and content.

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    Final Thoughts

    We chose the Wobble Wag Giggle Ball for the top spot for its interactive features. Our choice of the best dog toys for German Shepherds for the money goes to JW Pet Bad Cuz Dog Toy for its tough squeaker and affordability. Our premium choice of the Kong Extreme Dog Toy was picked because of its extremely durable material. We hope that our list of the 10 best dog toys for German Shepherds in 2023 and our detailed reviews will help you find the perfect toys for your canine pal.


    Featured Image Credit: Reba Spike, Unsplash

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