Best toys for Dachshunds
Dachshunds were bred to go underground after badgers, which makes them determined chewers and enthusiastic sniffers, and their long back means toys that encourage twisting or big jumps are worth avoiding rather than the fun, low-impact games that suit their instincts far better.
Why the back shapes the toy choice
A Dachshund's long spine and short legs make it more prone to back problems than most breeds, and repeated jumping, twisting mid-air or being swung about by a tug toy adds strain that is easy to avoid simply by choosing calmer play. This does not mean no active play at all — it means favouring toys and games that keep four feet on the ground.
Robust chew toys and floor-based tug toys, like a simple rubber tug, let a Dachshund get stuck in without the jumping and twisting that comes with fetch games involving a lot of leaping. Rope and rubber toys built for a determined chewer tend to hold up better to a breed that was bred to gnaw its way through tough ground.
Their nose is the real toy
Dachshunds were bred to track badgers by scent through tunnels, and that instinct is still very much intact in a dog whose day is mostly walks and sofa time. Scent-based games — hiding treats around a room, using a snuffle-style toy, or scattering food rather than putting it in a bowl — tap into exactly what the breed was built for.
A soft toy like a plush tug with a squeaker, such as a Coolpet Koala, appeals to the same prey-drive instinct in a lower-impact way than a game of tug played too roughly. Many Dachshunds happily 'kill' a squeaky toy repeatedly, which is a perfectly healthy outlet for a hunting instinct that has nowhere else to go indoors.
Mental stimulation matters as much as physical play
A bored Dachshund with a strong nose and a stubborn streak will find its own entertainment, and that is not always destined for the sofa's benefit. Puzzle feeders that make a dog work for part of its dinner give the breed's problem-solving instinct somewhere useful to go, and tend to tire a Dachshund out mentally in a way a short walk alone does not.
Rotate a small number of toys rather than leaving everything out permanently — a chew toy and a puzzle feeder that reappear after a week away tend to get more genuine interest than the same pile of toys a Dachshund has already picked apart and lost interest in.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Kowloon All Senses Branch Bone Bacon
A 15cm bacon-scented rubber branch bone, for chewing, fetch and dental play
£4.19
Guru Distracto Pod Bone
Medium Guru suction treat pod for paste-based distraction on hard surfaces
£5.19
Kingdom Fruit Rope Dog Toy
A plush fruit-shaped rope toy with a squeaker in both the head and the body
£6.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs with Pump
A large inflatable herding ball with pump that taps into your dog's chase instinct.
From£19.99
Plush Strawberry Snuffle Mat
An interactive foraging mat with removable plush strawberries that hide treats and kibble. Encourages natural snuffling and slows feeding, providing mental enrichment for dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs alike.
From£13.99
Durables Toy Crocodile
A crocodile dog toy from Red Dingo's Durables range: a 150g character toy for fetch, tug and carrying about, backed by Red Dingo's five-year guarantee.
£20.49
Tuffy Junior Zoo Hippo Dog Toy
A junior-sized Tuffy hippo built in bonded layers with webbed, multi-row stitched seams, light enough for smaller dogs and puppies, that floats and is machine washable.
£18.99
Sportspet High Bounce Glow in the Dark Balls
Sportspet High Bounce glow in the dark dog balls: charge them in daylight and keep playing after the sun goes down.
From£4.99
Ancol Orva Puzzle Ring
A 30 x 3.5cm dog puzzle ring for treats or paste, with a built-in lick mat
£21.99
Common questions
- Are tug toys safe for Dachshunds?
- A gentle floor-based game of tug is generally fine, but avoid lifting a Dachshund off its feet or letting play get rough enough to twist their back. Choose toys designed for a determined chewer, and keep the game low to the ground.
- Why do Dachshunds like to shred and dig at toys?
- It comes directly from their history as a breed bred to dig and tunnel after badgers underground. Digging-style toys, snuffle mats and tough chew toys give that instinct a legitimate outlet rather than leaving a Dachshund to redirect it onto furniture or bedding.
- Should I avoid toys that involve jumping for a Dachshund?
- Yes, it is sensible to limit games that involve repeated jumping or leaping, given the breed's susceptibility to back problems. Floor-based fetch, tug and scent games give an active Dachshund an outlet without the same strain on their spine.
- What toys are best for a Dachshund puppy?
- Soft, appropriately sized chew toys for teething, alongside simple puzzle feeders introduced gradually, work well for a young Dachshund. Keep an eye on jumping and rough play from an early age, since the habits that protect their back later start with what you allow now.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.