The best toys for a pug
The best toys for a pug are ones that give them something to do without needing a long, high-energy chase to enjoy — think food puzzles, softer chew toys and short bursts of tug or fetch rather than anything built around sustained running. A pug's flat face makes hard breathing during exercise more of an effort than it is for most dogs, so toys that reward brain over lungs suit the breed well.
Why low-intensity play suits a pug
Pugs are a brachycephalic breed, meaning their shortened muzzle makes breathing during exertion noticeably harder work than it is for a longer-nosed dog. That doesn't mean a pug shouldn't play — it means the best toys are ones that don't rely on prolonged hard running to be fun.
Warm weather makes this more pronounced, since pugs also struggle to cool themselves as efficiently as other breeds. A toy that keeps a pug engaged while lying down or standing still, rather than sprinting flat out, suits the breed for more of the year than one that only works at full pace.
Puzzle and enrichment toys
A snuffle mat or a treat-dispensing puzzle toy plays to a pug's strengths — they're food-motivated dogs, and working for a treat by nosing or nudging a puzzle is genuinely tiring for them without a single lap being run.
These also help slow down a pug that eats quickly, which is common in the breed and can contribute to wind or an upset stomach. Rotating two or three puzzle toys rather than leaving one out permanently keeps a pug interested rather than the toy becoming background furniture.
Chew toys and short bursts of play
A sturdy but not overly hard chew toy suits a pug's jaw and gives them something to settle with for a while, which many pugs enjoy as much as active play. Very hard chews aren't ideal for any dog's teeth, so something with a bit of give is generally the safer choice.
Short sessions of tug or gentle fetch, kept to a few minutes at a time rather than a long continuous game, fit a pug's exercise tolerance better than an extended chase. Watching for heavy panting or the dog wanting to stop is the simplest way to judge when a play session has run its course.
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
- Why does my pug get out of breath so quickly during play?
- Pugs are a flat-faced, brachycephalic breed, and their shortened airway makes breathing during exertion harder work than it is for most dogs. It's normal for a pug to tire from exercise sooner than a longer-nosed breed would.
- Are puzzle toys actually good exercise for a pug?
- Yes, mentally if not physically. Working out how to get a treat from a puzzle toy is genuinely tiring for a food-motivated breed like the pug, and it doesn't demand the sustained running that hard breathing makes difficult for them.
- Should I play fetch with my pug?
- Short bursts are fine for most healthy pugs, but keep sessions brief and watch for heavy panting or the dog slowing down and wanting to stop, rather than pushing for a long, continuous game of fetch.
- Are hard chew toys safe for a pug?
- A chew with some give is generally a gentler choice for any dog's teeth than a very hard one. If you're ever unsure whether a specific chew is suitable for your pug, a vet can advise on what's appropriate.
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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.