Dog toys for anxious dogs
The toys that genuinely help an anxious dog are not the exciting, squeaky kind but ones built for slow, repetitive, self-soothing activity: things to lick, sniff, or work at gradually rather than chase and pounce on. The aim is giving a nervous dog something calming to focus on, not more stimulation.
Why the type of toy matters here
A dog that is anxious is already in a state of heightened alertness, so a toy designed to excite, like a squeaky ball meant for a game of fetch, can add to that rather than settle it. Toys built around licking or slow foraging work differently, tapping into a calming, repetitive behaviour rather than a high-energy one.
This is the same idea behind why some dogs settle with a long-lasting chew during fireworks or a thunderstorm: the repetitive chewing motion itself has a soothing effect, separate from whatever is actually on the chew.
Lick mats and slow feeders
A lick mat spread with something a dog enjoys, then frozen, turns a few minutes of eating into a much longer, slower activity that keeps a nervous dog occupied and focused on one calm task. Freezing it stretches the time out further, which is particularly useful around a specific stressful event like visitors arriving or a trip to the vet.
Slow feeder bowls work on a similar principle at mealtimes, forcing a dog to work a bit for each mouthful rather than eating in a rush, which can take the edge off general background anxiety around food and routine.
Snuffle mats and foraging toys
A snuffle mat, where treats or kibble are hidden in fabric strips for a dog to sniff out, uses a dog's nose in a way that is naturally calming and mentally tiring in a good way. It is a useful option for a dog that paces or struggles to settle, giving it a job to focus on instead.
Start with treats or kibble easy to find so your dog learns what the mat is for, then hide them a little deeper as your dog gets the idea. A short session before a known stressful event, such as guests arriving, can take the edge off the initial excitement or nerves.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Chase Buddy Boredom-Busting Dog Toy
An interactive chase toy that gives a restless dog somewhere to put its pursuit instinct, providing mental and physical exercise indoors or in the garden.
£14.99
Smart Choice Treat Dispensing Birthday Cake Dog Toy
TPR birthday cake treat dispenser dog toy, approximately 14cm, in assorted colours
£5.99
Wobble Carrot Tumbler Treat-Dispensing Dog Toy
A wobbling carrot-shaped tumbler that dispenses treats as pets nudge it, rewarding play and slowing eating.
£17.99
Takeaway Snuffle Hide-and-Seek Dog Toy Set
A novelty takeaway-bag snuffle toy with squeaky, crinkle plush food pieces to hide inside. Encourages natural foraging to keep your dog's nose and brain busy and beat boredom.
From£23.99
Nina Ottosson Treat Tumble Dog Toy
A level 1 treat-dispensing ball that turns a handful of biscuits into a job
£10.00
Duck Treat-Dispensing Puzzle Toy
A duck-shaped puzzle toy that dispenses treats when your pet presses the paddle.
£36.99
Kingdom Fruit Rope Dog Toy
A plush fruit-shaped rope toy with a squeaker in both the head and the body
£6.99
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
Smart Choice Squeaky Plush Birthday Present 2in1 Dog Toy
A 20cm plush present with a squeaker, a crinkle and a hidden vinyl toy inside it
£9.99
Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw Dog Toy
Meet the Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw — one of the toughest dog toys we stock. Tuffy build their toys in multiple bonded layers with several rows of stitching and protective webbing on the seams, so they stand up to serious chewers far better than an ordinary plush. They float, and they’re machine washable (air dry).
£13.99
Kingdom Marine Animal Dog Toy
A plush marine animal toy with a hidden squeaker, in four assorted designs
£5.49
Common questions
- Do calming toys actually work for anxious dogs?
- They can genuinely help by giving a dog a repetitive, low-arousal activity to focus on, which is a real and useful tool for mild everyday anxiety. They are not a substitute for addressing an underlying cause of severe anxiety, which is worth discussing with a vet.
- What toy helps a dog with separation anxiety?
- A long-lasting lick mat or a stuffed, frozen chew toy given just before you leave can help some dogs cope with the first stretch of being alone by giving them something absorbing to do. For more persistent separation anxiety, a vet or a qualified behaviourist can help identify the wider approach needed.
- Are chew toys good for anxious dogs?
- Yes, for many dogs the repetitive motion of chewing is genuinely calming, similar to how licking is. Choose a size and firmness appropriate for your dog to avoid it being swallowed or causing dental damage, and supervise a new chew the first few times.
- Can the wrong toy make a dog more anxious?
- A toy that is overly exciting, noisy, or that a dog cannot figure out how to use successfully can add frustration rather than calm. If a toy seems to wind your dog up rather than settle them, it is probably the wrong kind for that moment, even if it is a perfectly good toy in other contexts.
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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.