The best toys for Dachshunds are ones that let them do what they were bred for: dig, sniff out hidden things, chase and “kill” prey. Digging toys and snuffle mats, food puzzles, a flirt pole, and tough plush or chew toys cover most Doxies. Because Dachshunds are prone to back problems, choose toys and games that keep the action low to the ground rather than encouraging jumping and twisting.
The name Dachshund means “badger dog” in German, and the breed was developed to follow badgers and other burrowing animals underground. That history explains most of what you see at home: the digging, the strong urge to chase, the fondness for ripping plush toys apart, and a clever, stubborn mind that gets into mischief when bored. You can’t train those instincts out of a Dachshund, but the right toys give them somewhere better to go than your garden or your sofa.
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What to look for in a Dachshund toy
- Back-friendly play. Dachshunds are at higher risk than most breeds of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Favor games on the ground over high jumps, leaps off furniture and sharp spins. More on this in how common are back problems in Dachshunds.
- The right size. Miniatures in particular need toys they can comfortably carry, but nothing small enough to swallow.
- Toughness. Many Doxies are determined chewers and shredders. Check toys regularly and throw away any that are breaking apart, especially if pieces or squeakers come loose.
- Mental work. A bored Dachshund often becomes a noisy or destructive one. Puzzle and sniffing toys tire them out without a lot of running.
Best digging toys for Dachshunds
If your Dachshund digs up the garden, the carpet or the sofa cushions, give that instinct a proper outlet. These are my top suggestions.
iDig
The iDig, from the makers of the iFetch ball launcher, is built specifically for dogs that dig. You hide treats or a favorite toy among its fabric flaps, and your dog digs and noses through them to find the prize. It’s an indoor way to let a Dachshund dig to its heart’s content, and the problem-solving tires them out as much as the digging does. There is a soft, portable version you can take with you and a sturdier one for home.
Watch the video to see how it works, or view the iDig Go on Amazon.
Snuffle mat
A snuffle mat is a mat covered in strips of fleece where you hide kibble or small treats. Your Dachshund has to sniff and root through the strips to find them. It uses the nose and the digging-and-rooting instinct, it’s great for slowing down fast eaters, and it is completely back-friendly. Supervise at first, because a determined chewer may try to pull the strips off.
If you’re handy you can make one yourself, or check out the range of snuffle mats at Amazon.
Digging pit
If your Doxie keeps digging up the yard, give them a spot where digging is allowed. Fill a sandbox with sand or soil and bury chews or toys in it to show them that this is the place to dig. Praise them when they use it, and gently redirect them there when they start digging somewhere else. Sand can get very hot in the sun, so put the pit in the shade or wet it down in warm weather. For more ideas, see solutions to stop a dog digging under the fence.
Check out the range of sandboxes on Amazon.
Best puzzle toys for Dachshunds
Dachshunds are smart and independent, and they need something to think about. Food puzzles are one of the easiest ways to tire them out on days when a long walk isn’t possible. Just remember that treats count toward their daily food. Dachshunds put on weight easily, and extra weight puts more strain on their backs, so use part of their regular kibble.
Kong Wobbler
The Kong Wobbler holds kibble or treats, and your dog has to nudge and bat it with nose or paws to make it wobble and drop food out. It keeps most dogs busy for a good while, and it’s a good option for dogs that gulp their meals. It can be noisy on hard floors, so it works best on a rug.
View the Kong Wobbler on Amazon.
Kong Classic
No list of dog toys would be complete without the Kong Classic. Stuff it with food and it’s a puzzle, use it on its own and it’s a chew toy, and roll it along the floor and it bounces off in unpredictable directions for your Doxie to chase. A stuffed Kong is also one of the best things to give a Dachshund when you leave the house. Freeze it to make it last longer.
Kong makes several versions, including the Classic (the standard red one), the Puppy Kong in softer rubber for young teeth, and a Senior version in softer rubber for older dogs.
Kongs come in several sizes, and the packaging gives a weight guide. As a rough rule, the Small usually suits a miniature Dachshund and the Medium suits most standards. Too small a Kong holds very little food, and you never want one small enough to get stuck in your dog’s mouth.
Buster Activity Mat
The Buster Activity Mat is a base mat that different puzzle pieces snap onto. You hide treats in the pieces, and you can make each one easier or harder by how you fold it. What I like most is the versatility. You can change the puzzles around and add extra ones when your dog has worked out the ones you have, which matters with a clever breed that gets bored. It’s a sniffing and thinking toy rather than a chew toy, so if your Dachshund destroys everything, put it away when you’re not supervising.
View the Buster Activity Mat on Amazon.
Spinning bottle puzzle
This puzzle has treat-filled bottles on a frame, and your dog spins them with nose or paw to tip the treats out. It’s a good step up once your Dachshund has mastered simpler puzzles. Choose the smaller size for a Dachshund, and supervise so the bottles don’t get chewed.
View the spinning bottle puzzle on Amazon.
iFetch Frenzy
The iFetch Frenzy is a puzzle where the ball, not food, is the reward. Your dog drops a ball in the top and it rolls out of one of several chutes at the base, so they have to guess where it will appear. It’s a good fit for ball-mad Doxies, and because the ball rolls along the floor there’s no jumping involved. It uses small balls, so it suits smaller dogs. Swap the balls for new ones if they get chewed.
View the iFetch Frenzy on Amazon.
Best chase toys for Dachshunds
Dachshunds have a strong prey drive and will chase anything that moves, which is a problem when that something is the neighbor’s cat. Chase toys give that drive a safe outlet and burn energy fast. With a Dachshund, keep the chase low and on a soft, non-slip surface, and stop before your dog gets overexcited.
Flirt pole
A flirt pole is like a giant cat teaser for dogs: a long handle with a rope or bungee and a lure on the end. You drag the lure along the ground and your dog chases it. It’s one of the quickest ways I know to tire out a Doxie. For a Dachshund, keep the lure moving along the ground in wide, gentle curves. Don’t flick it into the air to make them jump, and avoid tight, fast circles that make them spin. Keep sessions short, and use it to practice “drop it” and “leave it” as part of the game.
View the range of flirt poles on Amazon.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=90cv9l_Jm9g
Light-up fetch balls
Balls with lights and sounds make fetch more interesting and are easy to find in the dark or long grass. Roll them along the ground rather than bouncing them high, so your Dachshund chases instead of leaping. Choose a ball too big to be swallowed, and put it away if it starts to crack.
See the light-up fetch balls on Amazon.
Automatic ball launchers
If your Doxie would play fetch all day but your arm gives out, an automatic ball launcher lets them play on their own once they’ve learned to drop the ball in. Pick a model made for small dogs that lets you set a short, low throw distance. Limit sessions, though, because some dogs get obsessive with launchers and will keep going long after they should stop.
See automatic ball launchers on Amazon.
Best plush toys for Dachshunds that shred
Plenty of Dachshunds love to “kill” a plush toy and pull the stuffing out. That’s prey drive at work, and it’s far better aimed at a toy than at your shoes. To save yourself the cleanup, the answer is either plush toys with no stuffing or plush toys built to survive. Whatever you choose, check toys often and remove loose squeakers and torn pieces before they get swallowed.
Tuffy plush toys
Tuffy toys are soft toys made with several layers of tough fabric and reinforced stitching, so they hold up far longer than ordinary plush. They’re a good choice for Doxies that love to shake and tug a soft toy. No soft toy is truly indestructible, so supervise a dedicated shredder.
Check out the Tuffy plush toy range at Amazon.
Outward Hound Invincibles
The Invincibles range has no stuffing at all, so there’s nothing to pull out and spread over the floor. The squeakers are designed to keep squeaking even after they’ve been punctured, which keeps a Doxie interested. It’s a great choice if your dog’s main goal is to destroy the toy.
Check out the Outward Hound Invincibles range at Amazon.
Chew toys for Dachshunds
Chewing keeps a Dachshund busy and helps them settle, and it’s much better aimed at a toy than at the table legs. Choose sturdy rubber or nylon chews sized for your dog. Avoid anything hard enough to risk cracking a tooth, and anything small enough to swallow. If you have a puppy, see how to stop your puppy from chewing things.
See chew toys for Dachshunds on Amazon.
Interactive toys that move
Toys that move, vibrate or make noises on their own can keep a Dachshund entertained when you’re busy. They’re fun, but they don’t replace playing with your dog. Always supervise your dog with battery-powered toys, and take the toy away if your dog starts chewing into it, because batteries are dangerous if swallowed.
Doggie Tail
The Doggie Tail is a battery-powered plush toy that wiggles, vibrates and makes noises when your dog touches it. If the outer cover gets damaged, you can buy replacement covers.
Zeus Bulldog
The Zeus Bulldog barks, shakes and rolls around unpredictably, which suits a Doxie that loves to stalk and pounce. It has a removable cover you can wash when it gets slobbery.
Wicked Bone
The Wicked Bone is a smart toy that moves around on its own. You can either let it play automatically or steer it with an app on your phone. Driving it yourself is good fun for a Doxie that loves to chase, and you control how fast and how far they run.
Wicked Ball
If your dog is ball mad, the Wicked Ball rolls and bounces around by itself with flashing lights, and it starts up again when your dog nudges it. No app or remote is needed. It has play-and-rest cycles, so it doesn’t run nonstop. Rolling along the floor makes it a good low-impact chase toy for a Dachshund.
View the Wicked Ball on Amazon.
Getting the most out of your Dachshund’s toys
- Rotate them. Keep a few toys out and swap them every few days. Old toys feel new again, and your Dachshund stays interested longer.
- Play together. Most Doxies would rather play with you than alone. A few short sessions of tug, flirt pole or hide-and-seek each day goes a long way.
- Watch for boredom. Digging, chewing, barking and restlessness are often signs a Dachshund needs more to do. See signs of boredom in your dog, and things Dachshunds love to do for more ideas.