I think we can all agree that dogs love to play. No matter what their age and no matter where they are, they are always looking for a good time.
This is also true when you take long trips and your dog is accompanying you. The thing is, dogs don’t really understand the concept of sitting in cars and taking trips.
And while they certainly enjoy sticking their head out of the window and having fun, they also can get very impatient with just sitting there quietly. The best way to mitigate that? Bring along a toy!
But what toys do you bring with you? It’s important to consider it very carefully. Perhaps your dog is a puppy – then toys made of hard materials aren’t a good idea.
A chew toy is perfect for a teething puppy. While toys might be a great tool to keep them distracted, you must factor in your dog’s physical structure and judge which toy to pick.
In this article below, we take a look at some of the best dog toys that you can bring in the car for long journeys that’ll keep your pooch entertained and will allow you to drive distraction-free to your destination.
My top recommended dog toys for car journeys
These are my three personal favorite dog toys that I highly recommend you get for your pooch for your car journeys together.
All three of these toys are fantastic at keeping your pooch entertained and lets you drive freely with zero distractions.
I’ve used all three toys with my dog and am happy to report that they were instant hits. I understand how hectic car rides with dogs can be, which is why you should totally consider investing in these awesome toys below.
Benebone real bacon chew toy
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This is a fantastic travel companion for your dog that it’ll enjoy enormously. The Benebone chew toy is designed to be a long lasting treat that your dog can play around with and have fun.
It’s a chew toy so they can munch on it for a long time and it’s made of real bacon which will always have them coming back for more. The toy is structured such that it can also roll around, meaning your dog can play with it freely at the back of the car while you drive in peace.
This is a perfect toy for pups and young dogs since they can chew on it and also get their entertainment fixes. What’s more, it lasts a long time and is super cheap so it will never burn a hole in your pocket. I highly recommend the Benebone chew toy for your pooch. They’ll thank you for it.
Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy
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This Hide-A-Squirrel toy from Outward Hound is an amazing investment and a must-have for dog owners with energetic dogs.
This is a perfect toy to bring on the road in the car with you for your pooch since it is not only engaging but also helps in sharpening their minds and helping them boost brainpower.
Your dog will love figuring out how to take the squirrels out of the plush log and will have fun playing with the squeaking squirrels once they’re out.
This is a great boredom buster and can entertain your dog for long hours during those cross-country trips. The Hide-A-Squirrel also comes in multiple sizes so you can choose which will be best suited for your dog.
Nina Ottosson Dog Smart by Outward Hound
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The Dog Smart by Outward Hound is a superb toy to get for your dog. It is suitable for all breeds and all sizes of dogs can equally enjoy the Dog Smart.
Essentially, the Dog Smart is an interactive puzzle game that stimulates your dog’s intellect and boosts their memory. It has nine hidden compartments that you can hide their favorite treats in and cover them up with removable bone pieces.
This is great because it teaches your pooch to associate smell and memory as they try to nudge and paw their way to the treats.
This game reduces boredom massively and your dog would absolutely love being engaged with this new interactive toy.
It’s a fun and rewarding game for them which also reduces their anxiety so you won’t have to worry about any destructive behavior from your dog while you drive to your destination.
These toys are designed with your pet’s health in mind so they are completely free of any toxic plastics including PVC. They are easy to clean too and require only soap and warm water.
They have a great build quality and if maintained properly, this toy can last for a lifetime. I’ve personally used it with my dogs and they love it. I’m sure your dog will love it just as much. You really can’t go wrong here.
Can my dog get sick from playing with plastic toys?
It is possible that they get sick from playing with plastic toys. If the plastic is not of top-grade, it can contain multiple chemicals like phthalate which is toxic in nature if consumed.
Since dogs lick an awful lot, they inadvertently end up consuming some plastic off the surface, and if its low-quality plastic, it can make your dog sick.
This is why it is important to make sure that the plastics we use are free of all chemicals and cannot harm us in any way.
If you think your dog is sick and it is because of their plastic toys, my advice would be to get your pet checked out by a vet soon.
Vets can usually run some preliminary tests and tell you what’s going on. If you don’t want to take your dog to the vet just yet, you can switch all their toys with either metal or high-quality plastic toys and see if the sickness goes away. If it does, it was because of the bad plastic.
In any case, when we buy plastic products (be it toys for the dog or even things for us), we must always make sure that it is made with high-quality plastic which does not have such dire health and environmental consequences.
