The best toys for English Bulldogs are interactive to stimulate their high intelligence. But, also durable to cope with their strong jaws. It’s also important to find toys your particular pet really likes! And whilst there will be some factors in common for the breed, your dog is unique. So her toy preferences may be just as one-of-a-kind as she is. Fortunately, we’ve found some options that we’re pretty sure will suit most English Bulldogs down to the ground, taking into account their natural traits and face shape.
Contents
- Strong and durable chew toys
- English Bulldog puppy toys
- Puzzle toys for clever dogs
- Plush toys that won’t disintegrate
What are the Best Toys for English Bulldogs?
The best toys for English Bulldogs are chew toys that are easy for them to pick up, but are also easy for you to clean and preferably work as a toy for playing fetch, too. Durable options are also always preferable.
English Bulldogs fall into a category of dog breeds known as “brachycephalic” or “flat-faced” dog breeds. Of course, this flat face is adorable – after all, these are one of the most popular dogs in the United States! But unless you have a veterinary medicine background, you may not know precisely how this cute flat face can affect your pup’s experiences of daily life. Take the following into account when picking his toys.
Short muzzles can make some toys tricky to hold
First is the simple visual difference – for comparison, think about a German Shepherd’s long muzzle and then look at your English Bulldog’s short muzzle. The difference in muzzle size, length, and shape is immediately apparent.
Crowded teeth can make picking things up hard too
Peer inside your English Bulldog’s mouth, and more differences become clear. Because there is less overall jaw space, the English Bulldog’s teeth tend to grow in and crowd together, which can make grasping toys and treats and chewing a challenge.
Breathing difficulties can make holding on inadvisable
Perhaps the most concerning health issue arising from having a flat face is problems with breathing. Your English Bulldog’s compressed facial anatomy makes it harder for air to flow freely as she breathes. This makes water play impossible and vigorous exercise unwise.
Best Chew Toys for English Bulldogs
Ask any longtime English Bulldog owner about their pup’s favorite hobby, and you are likely to hear “chewing.” English Bulldogs love to chew. They also love to eat. For this reason, flavorful chew toys are sure to be a hit, as are toys with an excellent “mouth feel” suitable for the bulldog’s larger, powerful jaw.
Mammoth Flossy Chews Rope Tug
The Mammoth Flossy Chews Cottonblend Color 5-Knot Rope Tug* is recommended for its thickness and durability. This toy will satisfy your pup’s need to chew in puppyhood and adulthood.
Nylabone Dura Souper Bacon Flavored
Nylabone Dura Chew Action Ridges, Bacon Flavor* are always a good choice for English Bulldogs, since these durable toys are both great tasting and long-lasting. Be sure to choose a size that your dog has no chance of swallowing accidentally! This toy comes in three sizes and has raised bristles to help clean teeth and gums while your dog chews.
Benebone Dental Dog Chew
The Benebone Real Flavor Dental Dog Chew Toy* is made with aggressive chewers in mind. It comes in three sizes and four flavors to keep your English Bulldog engaged and interested in new tastes. The toy itself has ridges to massage and clean your dog’s teeth and gums as he chews.
Best Toys for English Bulldog Puppies
English Bulldog puppies can have some special dental issues as their adult teeth begin to grow in. Underbite (where the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth) and too-crowded teeth can lead to chewing difficulties, infection and, in time, periodontal disease.
It goes without saying here that the best toys for English Bulldog puppies should include toys that help clean the teeth as well as toys to ease teething pains!
Nylabone Puppy Starter Pack Puppy Chew Toys
Breeders say the Nylabone Puppy Starter Packs Puppy Chew Toys* is a particularly good shape for teething puppies. It is too large and awkward to swallow and too durable to break apart. You can also freeze it for extra teething relief.
PetSafe Busy Buddy Bristle Bone Dog Toy
The PetSafe Busy Buddy Bristle Bone Dog Toy* features bristles to help naturally clean your puppy’s teeth and gums. You can also insert treat rings to help encourage chewing behavior. Choose from four sizes as your English Bulldog puppy grows up.
Petmate JW Dog Toy
The Petmate JW Pet Company Chompion Dog Toy* is infused with vanilla to help encourage chewing. It is made of hard non-toxic rubber with ridges and grooves to help keep teeth and gums clean and healthy. There are three sizes to choose from as your puppy grows.
Puzzle Toys for English Bulldogs
English Bulldogs are really smart! So the best toys for English Bulldogs will stimulate their brain. Since their breathing issues often prevent vigorous physical exercise and play, they need even more mental enrichment to stay happy and healthy. Happily, puzzle toys can fill this need perfectly.
OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Dog Toy
The OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy* is very popular with dog owners and pups alike. It harnesses your English Bulldog’s love of food along with her innate smarts – to get the treats, she has to figure out how to roll the ball just-so! The ball comes in two sizes and can be adjusted for a greater level of difficulty as your pup masters the basic levels.
West Paw Zogoflex
The West Paw Zogoflex Qwizl Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Puzzle Toy* is another popular and highly rated puzzle toy for dogs that is as durable as they come. In fact, the manufacturer offers a 100 percent guarantee of durability!
Jolly Pet Teaser Ball
The Jolly Pet Teaser Ball* is likely to keep your bulldog entertained. This ball-within-a-ball toy wobbles and bobbles and rolls around in ever-changing patterns to keep your dog’s attention.
Plush Toys for English Bulldogs
Plush dog toys for English Bulldogs fall into the category of “comfort toys.” Both puppies and adult dogs can benefit from having plush toys to snuggle with for comfort. Because your Bulldog does have a strong jaw, you want to look for plush toys that are “strong yet soft” like these plush toys!
Kong Cozies Dog Squeaky Toy
The KONG Cozies Dog Squeaky Toy* is reliably strong and safe. This plush toy comes in 10 colorful characters and features an extra layer of reinforced material for strength. It has a fun squeaker hidden deep inside to encourage your nap-loving bulldog to play with it.
Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel
With the Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel and Puzzle Plush Squeaking Toys for Dogs*, you can give your pup a sense of the thrill of the chase without having to entice him to go outdoors.
Tuff Beach Ball
The amazingly strong Tuff Beach Ball* is ideal for aggressive chewers and those with shorter muzzles. The filler is non-toxic poly and the seams are double-stitched for safety. The outermost material is soft yet durable and the inner liner is a patented strong mesh.
Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.
cheryl b says
I would not recommend toys like the hide a squirrel for english bulldogs.
We had a similar one that was a bunch of little dinosaurs in a volcano and he ended up swallowing one of the dinos whole, unbeknownst to us, and it caused all sorts of issues.
It didnt show up on xrays (it would have most likely have required surgery_ and we were fortunate he threw it up on his own over the course of 2 weeks but he almost went into septic shock and died.
Fortunately we caught on that something was amiss, and took him to the vet who gave him an antibiotic shot but I want to put the warning out there that these toys can def easily be ingested by dogs who tend to eat everything
SHIRLEY WEXLER says
hello, Would it be possible to get a high resolution photograph of that English Bulldog with the toy? I am searching everywhere for a photo like that for a project but cant find.
thanks