The Best Nerf Dog Toys Reviewed: Pros, Cons, and Analysis
Table of Contents
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What Are the Best Nerf Dog Toys?
- Best Overall Nerf Dog Toys: Nerf Dog Vortex Chain Tug Dog Toy with Squeaker
This reasonably priced football comes in a few variations and multi-packs and serves many different play styles, from fetch to tug of war. - Best Tug of War Nerf Dog Toys: Nerf Dog Rubber 3-Ring Tug Dog Toy
The rings on this toy allow your dog to get a good grip on them while they pull during a game of tug of war. - Best Floating Stick Nerf Dog Toys: Nerf Dog Tire Stick Dog Toy with Interactive Squeaker
This floating stick is brightly colored, so it is hard to lose, and has a squeaker for more relaxed and laid-back play sessions. - Best Squeaker Ball Nerf Dog Toys: Nerf Dog Rubber Ball Dog Toy with Squeaker
This hexagonal-shaped dog ball has flat sides to provide dogs with a firm area to grasp when the ball is wet, muddy, or otherwise harder to grip. - Most Color Options in a Nerf Dog Toys: Nerf Dog Rubber Tire Flyer Dog Toy Frisbee
This toy is available in multiple colors and in packages of different sizes to offer dog owners a myriad of choices. - Best Ball-Style Nerf Dog Toys: Nerf Dog Crunch and Squeak Rubber Ball Dog Toy
This dog toy is as close to a classic Nerf ball as a dog might be able to get with its rubber exterior and ability to float. - Best Nerf Dog Toys for Dental Health: Nerf Dog Rubber Chew Barbell Dog Toy
Lightweight and uniquely textured to rub the gums of a dog, this dumbbell-style dog toy is great at stimulating blood flow to the gums and cleaning plaque off teeth. - Most Durable Nerf Dog Toys: Nerf Dog TPR/Foam Megaton Competition Stick
This robust toy is made specifically with moderate and heavy chewers in mind with its thickened rubber midsection.
- Nerf-quality materials make our Vortex Chain Tug Dog Toy perfect for all day play
- The squeaking football head paired with the durable tug body creates hours of interactive fun
- Lightweight, durable, and weather & water resistant
What Is a Nerf Dog Toy?
Nerf dog toys are a brand of high-quality dog toys. The brand Nerf is owned by Hasbro. Nerf, the longtime child toy manufacturer and inventor of the Super Soaker added pet toys to their product in 2013.
Since then, their trademark blue/orange coloring has helped introduce unique dog toys like the trackshot, infinity tug, and tennis ball blaster. Their launchers and tug toys are great alternative toys to add fun and style to your dog’s toy arsenal.
Are Nerf Toys Safe for Dogs?
Yes, Nerf dog toys are safe. In fact, Nerf dog toys can offer dogs a host of benefits, some of which we have listed below:
- Fun: Has anyone ever had a bad time with a dog or a Nerf toy? Combining the two is a recipe for a good time.
- Exercise: During the fun, dogs will receive a ton of exercise that helps keep their heart healthy, and their mind sharp, and helps to support overall wellness.
- Safety: Nerf has been making children’s toys since 1970, so they know a thing or two about making high-quality, safe toys.
The Best Nerf Dog Toys Reviewed
Nerf dog toys come in many different designs – plush toys, squeaker toys, ball toys, tug toys, chew toys, etc. To help you choose, we have reviewed several best-selling Nerf dog toys, you can find on the brand’s site or online retailers like Amazon and Chewy.
Price: $7.17
Toy Type: Tug toy
Pet: Dogs
Lifestage: All life stages
Recommended Uses: Offer the toy to your medium or large dog and show them there’s a squeaker inside if needed. It can be tossed around during a game of fetch or used for tug of war also.
Material: Rubber; Fabric
Summary: Fetch is a staple game for dogs, and this football dog toy serves that purpose well. It is brightly colored, so you can see it from a distance, and features a long tail that can be used in a tug of war. The football head of the toy is made with a squeaker inside of it to provide entertainment for nearly any dog.
The hard rubber this ball is made from is bite resistant and heavy. The tail is woven tightly to resist unraveling during intense play sessions. It is able to be used in water for dogs who enjoy a good swim as well.
- 2-in-1 toy function
- Weather and water resistant
- Tightly knitted fabric chain is made to resist unraveling
- Features a squeaker football
- BPA-free and non-toxic
- Best suited for medium and large dogs
- Made in China
Customer Reviews: Dog owners loved this toy, and so did their dogs. Many reviews mentioned how much their dogs enjoy fetching and chasing this toy as it flies through the air. They love chasing it as it bounces in all directions, and the squeaker kept their dogs engaged during less intense play sessions.
Critical buyers said the tail was worn out after a couple of days of intense use, with a smaller number of reviews complaining the stitches came apart within minutes.
Onevet.ai Review: Our team at onevet.ai is giving Nerf Dog Vortex Chain Tug Dog Toy with Squeaker an overall 9/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (9/10): Many dogs enjoy tug of war and fetch, and Nerf dog toys are great for both of those.
- Material Quality (9/10): The material is BPA-free and non-toxic and is very tough and resistant to wear and tear.
- Cost Effectiveness (8/10): At under $8.00, these nerf dog toys are very affordable.
- Customer Feedback (9/10): Almost 4,000 reviews have been written about this football tug toy, and roughly 10% of them were one or two stars, which is normal.
- Care and Cleanability (8/10): This toy requires no regular cleaning, but the tail is hard to care for.
- Product Variety (10/10): These Nerf dog toys are available in four variations, including a multi-toy gift set.
Price: $8.14
Toy Type: Tuff tug
Pet: Dogs
Lifestage: Adult dogs
Recommended Uses: Entice your dog to bite the rings and gently pull away to see if they understand the game. If they do, then provide firm resistance to their tugging while allowing them to win occasionally. Be careful of their sudden or overly violent headshakes, as these could lead to tooth and mouth injuries.
Material: Rubber
Summary: The ring shape of these tugging toys is great for allowing your dog to get a good grip before they ensue in a game of tug and war. The dense rubber is bite and chew-resistant, so it can stand up to some aggressive chewers. Each ring also features a texture that helps to clean teeth and strengthen gums as dogs play.
The non-toxic rubber of these tug rings is BPA-free and safe to ingest. The ring set is roughly 11 inches long and is best suited for medium and large dogs.
- Non-toxic
- Helps keep teeth clean and gums strong
- Weather and water resistant
- Builds your dog’s confidence
- Good for heavy chewers
- Best suited for medium to large breeds
- The most recent reviews complain that the rubber is dry and flaky
Customer Reviews: Buyers say these rings are great for their heavy chewers. They held up to large dogs, like German shepherds, chewing aggressively on them, and they have quickly become their dogs’ favorite toys.
Complaints were due to the rubber flaking off as their dog chewed on it, and others said the quality had taken a dive in recent years.
Onevet.ai Review: Our team at onevet.ai is giving Nerf Dog Rubber 3-Ring Tug Dog Toy an overall 8/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (9/10): Dogs enjoy a good chew toy, and many dogs like a good game of tug of war, both of which this toy is perfectly suited.
- Material Quality (8/10): The rubber used in Nerf dog toys is heavy-duty and not prone to breaking.
- Cost Effectiveness (8/10): At $8.00, this is about the average price for a dog toy.
- Customer Feedback (7/10): Just over 3,100 reviews have been written on Amazon, but the average rating is 4.3 stars, which is slightly lower than average for a product with this many reviews.
- Care and Cleanability (10/10): These Nerf dog toys are brightly colored and easy to care for and to see, find, and care for, and they are made of rubber that does not attract dirt.
- Product Variety (9/10): These Nerf dog toys come in different color options and two sizes.
Price: $6.60
Toy Type: Fetching and squeaking stick
Pet: Dogs
Lifestage: All life stages
Recommended Uses: This fetching stick can be thrown and retrieved and has a squeaker for supervised entertainment while inside or having a more laid-back play session.
Material: Rubber
Summary: Fetch is a great way to keep your dog fit and healthy, and this squeaker stick provides a great opportunity for that. It is brightly colored and easily seen at a distance, so when your dog loses the stick, you can still find it. It features a squeaker for downtime and is made of food-grade rubber to be non-toxic and safe to ingest.
These fetching sticks are available in two colors and three package sizes. This makes it a great choice for multi-dog households. The BPA-free, non-toxic rubber is safe for dogs, and, because it is food-grade rubber, it is safe for humans as well.
- Lightweight, durable, and weather & water resistant
- Brightly colored for easy visibility
- Available in multiple colors
- Floats
- Made of food-grade rubber
- Not ideal for small dogs
- Not made for heavy chewers
Customer Reviews: Satisfied buyers liked the functionality of this stick. They liked how easy it was to see at a distance and said it was their dog’s favorite toy, but even positive reviews said the rubber was chewy and not meant to be gnawed on.
Unhappy pet owners were upset at the rubber and its tendency to come apart with medium chewing. Many other negative reviews said the squeaker did not last as long as they had hoped it would and called the toy “dangerous” for various reasons.
Onevet.ai Review: Our team at onevet.ai is giving Nerf Dog Tire Stick Dog Toy with Interactive Squeaker an overall 7/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (7/10): Fetch is a staple for dog ownership, and this is a great option for that. It is, however, not great for heavy chewing.
- Material Quality (7/10): The rubber is not made for aggressive chewing and can be torn up rather easily.
- Cost Effectiveness (8/10): This is an affordable toy, especially for Nerf dog toys.
- Customer Feedback (6/10): Fewer than 300 reviews have been written about this product on Amazon, but they give this toy a low average rating of 3.4 stars.
- Care and Cleanability (10/10): The durable rubber of the Nerf dog toys do not require special care or cleaning.
- Product Variety (10/10): Two colors and three package options are available for these Nerf dog toys.
Price: $4.99
Toy Type: Squeaker ball
Pet: Dogs
Lifestage: All life stages
Recommended Uses: This ball can be tossed and chewed on. It is brightly colored, so it can be thrown around in grassy areas. It floats, so it is able to be used around water as well.
Material: Rubber
Summary: Some squeak ball dog toys are completely smooth, which makes them tricky to pick up if it is wet or muddy. This squeaker ball is hexagonally shaped to provide dogs with multiple sides on which to grab. This enables them to enjoy playing with the ball in the water as much as in the grass.
The lightweight rubber that makes up this ball is weather resistant and floats on water to provide a more encouraging swim. It is available in multiple colors and in two packs, so you don’t have to worry about losing one.
- Brightly colored and easy to see
- Floats
- Hexagon texture to give dogs something to grab
- Weather and water resistant
- Squeaker
- The two-pack is more expensive than individually sold balls
- The squeaker is quick to stop squeaking
Customer Reviews: This dog toy is often described as “perfect” and “durable.” Dog owners liked that these balls held up to their large dogs’ chewing and rough playing and were happy with the price.
Critical reviews mention the poor-quality squeaker inside the ball stopped squeaking almost immediately after giving it to their dogs. A few other reviews mentioned that their dog was able to chew through the rubber.
Onevet.ai Review: Our team at onevet.ai is giving Nerf Dog Rubber Ball Dog Toy with Squeaker an overall 8/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (9/10): Most dogs enjoy fetching, and this ball features a squeaker for dogs who do not often play with ball toys.
- Material Quality (8/10): The squeaker can be easily destroyed, and the rubber may fall apart with some heavy chewing, but overall the Nerf dog toys is of good quality.
- Cost Effectiveness (6/10): Although the balls are priced at $6 individually, they are $14.00 when bought in the two-pack.
- Customer Feedback (10/10): A relatively high average rating of 4.6 stars is given to this dog toy, with 5,100 reviews in total. Only 5% of reviews were negative or critical of the product.
- Care and Cleanability (9/10): This rubber stick is easy to keep clean and hard to lose, but it can break off in small pieces even with good care.
- Product Variety (9/10): There are two color options and three package options for these Nerf dog toys.
Price: $8.59
Toy Type: Floating ring dog toy
Pet: Dogs
Lifestage: All life stages
Recommended Uses: At the beach, pool, or pond, you can throw this floating ring to provide your dog with a goal while swimming. This is especially handy on hot summer days.
Material: Plastic
Summary: Made of durable plastic, this tire is great for dogs who enjoy a good gnaw. This flyer floats and is perfect for the beach, the pool, or the lake.
This 10-inch tire is brightly colored, so it is easy to see from a distance. It is sized appropriately for medium and large dogs and is great for playing in the water. It is weather resistant and floats to provide entertainment for swimming dogs everywhere.
- Brightly colored and easy to see
- Floats
- Many color options are available
- Lightweight, durable, and weather & water resistant
- Great for large dogs and water dogs
- Heavy chewers will likely be able to get through this toy
- Can be tricky to throw
Customer Reviews: Owners of big dogs loved this toy as it stood up to their dog’s powerful bites. It floats nicely and provides their swimmers with a great form of exercise and mental stimulation as they chase the toy into the water.
Critical reviews, however, made up nearly 15% of total reviews, and these people had dogs who tore through these Nerf dog toys in “less than 5 minutes,” as one reviewer put it. Other reviewers echoed this feeling frequently.
Onevet.ai Review: Our team at onevet.ai is giving Nerf Dog Rubber Tire Flyer Dog Toy Frisbee an overall 9/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (9/10): Most dogs enjoy the play styles this toy encourages but not every dog will take to it, and it is only suitable for medium and large dogs.
- Material Quality (9/10): The rubber is durable, but it can feel brittle or flaky.
- Cost Effectiveness (7/10): The Nerf dog toys are priced at about average for dog ball toys.
- Customer Feedback (9/10): Almost 10,000 reviews left on Amazon give this a relatively low average rating of 4.1 stars.
- Care and Cleanability (10/10): As with many Nerf dog toys, this product requires no special care or cleaning.
- Product Variety (10/10): These Nerf dog toys come in multiple color options (translucent green, green, blue, translucent blue, red, and orange).
Price: $7.12
Toy Type: Crinkle ball
Pet: Dogs
Lifestage: All life stages
Recommended Uses: This ball can be used for fetch in the grass, on the water, and indoors for dogs of all sizes.
Material: Rubber
Summary: More durable than a standard tennis ball, this rubber ball is made to last during long fetch sessions. The exterior is thick, non-toxic rubber that is made to float and provide some protection against biting. The crinkle interior is made of a nylon bag that makes a crunching sound when it is compressed.
This ball is appropriately sized for dogs of medium size and larger. It floats, so it is a great water toy and encourages healthy, low-impact exercise. They are made in three colors and in packs of up to two balls, so you’ll have a spare.
- Crinkle noises add to the enjoyment of chewing
- Multiple colors available
- Lightweight and durable
- Brightly colored
- Durable rubber outside protects the crinkle interior
- Not for heavy chewers
- The nylon bag
Customer Reviews: Many reviews tout this ball as being great for fetching in the water and on land. People like that the rubber makes it just bouncy enough to provide dogs with a great form of exercise but also provides protection against accidentally eating the bag inside of the ball.
Most of the critical reviews said their dogs chewed the toy apart almost immediately, but many of those reviews said their dogs loved the balls and even took them to bed with them.
Onevet.ai Review: Our team at onevet.ai is giving Nerf Dog Crunch and Squeak Rubber Ball Dog Toy an overall 9/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (9/10): This ball is great for fetching of all kinds, but not all dogs are interested in fetching.
- Material Quality (9/10): The rubber is great for standard and light chewers, but for more aggressive chewers, this isn’t the best option.
- Cost Effectiveness (7/10): Nerf dog toys are priced around average for a dog ball.
- Customer Feedback (7/10): Fewer than 1,000 reviews have been written, and over 10% of them were critical of the product.
- Care and Cleanability (7/10): The rubber can be easily ripped, and the nylon crinkle bag inside can be torn, which makes caring for it a little tricky but cleaning it is a breeze and can be done by hand.
- Product Variety (10/10): There are multiple color and package options available for the Nerf dog toys.
Price: $11.49
Toy Type: Tuff chew toy
Pet: Dogs
Lifestage: All life stages
Recommended Uses: This toy can be used for fetch, chewing during relaxation, or stress relief.
Material: Rubber
Summary: As far as fetch toys go, this is a fantastic option. The balls on either end of the midsection provide random and multidirectional bouncing to increase your dog’s agility and coordination. The hard rubber plastic is great for heavy to moderate chewers and floats, so swimming dogs can enjoy it as well.
The rubber used to make this dog toy is BPA-free and non-toxic to dogs. It is brightly colored, so it can be seen from a distance. Available in multiple colors, this dog toy is available in options for most dog owners.
- Multiple colors available
- Unique texture cleans teeth and strengthens gums
- Lightweight and highly durable
- Encourage agility development
- Great for moderate to heavy chewers
- Not suitable for small dogs
- The rubber compound can be chewed up into sharp pieces
Customer Reviews: Dogs seem to love the versatility of this toy. Reviewers said their dogs are heavy chewers and were not able to destroy this ball, while others were impressed that their dogs had become so attached to it.
Critical reviews came from dog owners whose dogs were able to chew up the toy into bits and pieces of what it originally was. Others said the sharp edges formed from their dog’s chewing had caused mouth injuries.
Onevet.ai Review: Our team at onevet.ai is giving Nerf Dog Rubber Chew Barbell Dog Toy an overall 9/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (9/10): The random bouncing is great for a pet’s health, and the hard rubber is great for standing up to heavy chewing. Overall, these are excellent Nerf dog toys.
- Material Quality (9/10): The rubber is brightly colored and chew-resistant. It also floats and is brightly colored.
- Cost Effectiveness (9/10): This dog toy is priced slightly above average for a dog ball but provides a potentially more enriching playtime.
- Customer Feedback (7/10): Fewer than 1,000 reviews have been written on Amazon, but the average rating is 4.4 stars, with over 80% being positive.
- Care and Cleanability (9/10): There is no care or cleaning with this toy.
- Product Variety (9/10): The Nerf dog toys come in several colors, but there are no size options.
Price: $12.99
Toy Type: Fetching stick
Pet: Dogs
Lifestage: All life stages
Recommended Uses: Use for fetch when outdoors to avoid injury or property damage. This stick can be thrown a good distance and requires no cleaning.
Material: Foam; Plastic
Summary: The plastic and foam this toy is made of are non-toxic to dogs and safe to ingest. However, it is made to be sturdy against heavy chewing. The durable foam middle helps the stick float but also protects the rest of the fetching stick from chewing damage.
Great for fetching, this stick floats and can be easily seen from a distance, thanks to its bright colors. It is great for tugging as well because of its length and design, which is safe for dogs to yank on from any direction. Two sizes are available for this product to provide options for dogs of all sizes.
- Multiple sizes available for small to large dogs
- Great for moderate chewers
- Perfect for fetching, chewing, and tugging
- Floats
- Non-toxic
- Can be chewed apart
- Few ratings give us an unclear picture of what to expect when buying this item
Customer Reviews: Reviews were sparse with this product. The majority of buyers give this a positive rating and say it is a great toy for their dog. Their dogs enjoy fetching and chewing on it as they pass the day away.
There were few negative reviews and fewer than ten negative ratings. The review simply said the toy did not last long with their dogs.
Onevet.ai Review: Our team at onevet.ai is giving Nerf Dog TPR/Foam Megaton Competition Stick an overall 9/10-star rating. The breakdown of our ratings is below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): This toy encourages healthy playing via fetch, tugging, and chewing. It supports all of the play styles a dog may enjoy.
- Material Quality (9/10): The material is great at standing up to heavy chewers and long-lasting games of fetch, but it can be chewed up during chewing sessions.
- Cost Effectiveness (9/10): For a fetching stick, this is priced at about average, but the quality of the stick is higher than the average fetching stick.
- Customer Feedback (5/10): Fewer than 200 ratings have been left on these Nerf dog toys, and this leaves something to be desired.
- Care and Cleanability (9/10): This toy can be hand-washed and easily inspected for damage.
- Product Variety (9/10): There are no other color options available for the Nerf dog toys, but there are sizes for dogs of any size.
What Should I Look for in Nerf Dog Toys?
Here are some factors to consider when choosing shopping Nerf dog toys.
- Size: First, you need to get the proper toy size for your dog. Small toys pose a choking risk for large dogs, and large toys are hard to play with when given to small dogs.
- Function: The function of the toy best for you will depend on your dog’s play style. A water-resistant floating fetch stick would be great for a water dog, while a tire infinity tug would be better for dogs with go-all-day stamina.
- Durability: The durability of any pet supply is imperative regardless of the manufacturer. Toys made of TPR foam, for instance, would be less durable against chewers than a heavy-duty rubber ball.
