Best Dog Rope Toys
Dog rope toys can offer hours and hours of fun for your pet, and at the fraction of the cost of some more expensive dog toys. Read on to learn more about the benefits and the potential hazards of these toys and decide if one of the choices from our list could be a perfect match for your dog’s playing style!
Pooches love to play regardless of their age – a dog in his golden years can enjoy a fun toy or some interactive playtime with his owner as much as a puppy does. This means you should take care to meet your pet’s need for mental and physical stimulation that playtime offers, and the best way to do this is to offer a diverse assortment of dog toys. Not unlike kids, dogs also tend to have their own preferences for certain types of toys. Some pooches are crazy about playing fetch, so dog balls and frisbees are their favorites. Others may get bored easily and only interactive dog toys and puzzles can keep them occupied for hours on end. There are those that prefer stuffed toys, squeaky toys, bouncy toys, chew toys… The list goes on! And for many pooches, at the very top of the list are dog rope toys. You’d be hard-pressed to find a canine that isn’t a sucker for some quality tug of war!
Why are dog rope toys a good choice?
At first glance, rope toys for dogs are a simple toy, but don’t let that fool you: for most dogs, this simplistic design is more than enough to provide hours of fun. In solo play, dog rope toys are a good choice for mild chewers that don’t get destructive with their toys. But it’s when they’re used interactively that these toys shine: whether it’s a fun game of tug of war or playing fetch, rope toys will make your pooch go bananas and really burn off that excess energy.
Dog rope toys have their advantages and disadvantages, the same as all pet toys. Naturally, dog rope toys aren’t a good choice for extreme chewers, as the fibers of the rope can cause intestinal blockages if your pet manages to eat parts of the toy. In other cases, with supervision if you’re unsure about your pet’s chewing habits, these toys are as safe as any others.
However, even when the toy happens to be safe for your pet, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t any other factors to consider. Dog rope toys come in varying designs and qualities, and there can be a world of difference between two seemingly similar rope toys. To help you make the right choice for your pet, we’ve rounded up all types of dog rope toys in one place – all loved by thousands of other pet parents and their fur kids. Scroll through our picks below to find the perfect one for you and your pet!
1. Editor’s Choice – Jolly Pets Romp-n-Roll Dog Toy
What could be better than combining two old favorites into one new, fun toy? Romp-n-Roll is a versatile toy that can provide fun for hours on end, even if your pooch has high standards when it comes to his entertainment. You can play tug of war or fetch with this fun rope toy, or let your pooch chase it on his own, on land or in water – the ball floats, too! To boot, the ball is made from puncture-resistant material, so it will stand up to heavy-duty playing. This toy is tough and available in multiple sizes and various colors – an all-round excellent choice.
2. Runner Up – Pacific Pups Rope Toys Set
If you’re unsure what kind of dog rope toys would be the most interesting to your pet, why not get them all? And without breaking the bank! This assortment of most popular dog toys includes designs such as large ropes with knots for big dogs, floss rope toys for better dental health, rope toy frisbee and many more. The set contains 11 different toys, so any pooch can find a perfect match – or a few! These rope toys are high-quality and very durable, so this pack can last you a long time. This product has been highly rated and is a top pick among many customers – it’s easy to see why!
3. Best Design – Frisco Plush with Rope Squeaking Monkey
For dogs that love plush toys or squeaking toys, this design will be a hit. With two tough rope loops on the stuffed monkey’s arms and legs, you can play tug of war with your pet. Or if you have two pooches, let them have fun on their own. The rope goes through the plushie’s whole body, so it won’t rip easily. And once your pooch has had his fill of tugging and making the toy squeak, he can curl up with it and take a nap. A design that offers all of this in one toy is a clever one indeed!
4. Best for Safety – Corspet Laika Dog Toy
If your pet loves to gnaw on his rope toys and you’re worried about them accidentally swallowing some strands, this design might be a good solution. With a rubber horn covering most of the rope, it will be the rubber portion of the toy that gets the most chewing action and not the twisted cotton strands. The rubber horn has nubs that will massage your dog’s gums and promote good oral health, and the rope’s ends make this toy suitable for playing fetch or tug of war. This toy is recommended for breeds including Beauceron, American Foxhound, American Coonhound, Belgian Malinois, Bloodhound, Bullmastiff, Canaan Dog, English Foxhound, Irish Setter and Rottweiler.
5. Best for Tug-of-War – LECHONG Dog Rope Toy
Is your pooch a tug of war fiend? Look no more, because this rope toy will give your pooch, or pooches, hours of fun. The rope is twisted in a figure eight, with a PVC pipe joint in the middle that keeps it all tightly together. There are no unraveled ends to worry about, and it makes it more difficult for your pet to ruin the toy, too. The rope is extra thick and durable (1.18 inches in diameter) so this toy is suitable for medium and large dogs.
6. Best Basic: Leaps & Bounds Rope Tug Twisted Dog Toy
Simple but durable, this twisted rope toy for dogs comes in medium or extra-large to suit the needs of tougher-playing pooches. As a result, the rope braid can have 2 or 4 knots along its length, and comes in different colors. Either way, this is a tried-and-true design that brings back what the rope toys were all about: no bells and whistles, but lots of chewing fun. Of course, this means that aggressive chewers shouldn’t be indulged with this toy and that your pet should be supervised while nibbling on his new prized possession.
7. Best Treat: PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug
When treats and toys are combined into one, no dog is indifferent. This rope toy has a spiky rubber ball and a treat-dispensing bottle on one end, to make sure your pooch is always motivated to play. It will work to support good dental health and ensure your pet eats his meals at the right pace, as this toy makes your pup work for food. The bottle holds up to 3.5 cups of kibble and can be filled either with whole meals or some dry crunchy treats. Ideal for greedy eaters or highly intelligent dogs that enjoy a challenge, this toy is also available in three sizes: extra small, small and medium-large.
8. Best for Dental Health: Fresh and Floss 2-Knot Spearmint Toy
You know the importance of flossing, but do you know the same goes for your pooch? Rope toys for dogs are popular for their benefits for canine oral health, and this design goes one step further to ensure it. In addition to the all-natural cotton fibers in the rope, it also ensures mint-flavored floss threads that will keep your pet’s canines sparkly clean. The threads are infused with baking soda and fluoride to keep plaque and tartar at bay.
9. Best for Large Dogs: Frisco Rope with 5 Knots Dog Toy
Ideal for big dogs, this large rope toy has 5 knots your pooch can chew on, use to toss the toy, or grab onto while you’re tugging on the other end of the rope. This affordable toy is surprisingly durable and suitable for indoor and outdoor play. Like all rope toys for dogs, it’s not a great choice for destructive chewers, so be sure to keep an eye on your pet while he’s playing.
10. Best for Fetch: Leaps & Bounds Toss and Tug Red Rope Ball
If playing fetch is your dog’s idea of fun, this rope ball will be their new favorite toy. Not only is it fun to chew on, but this rope ball can also fly pretty far – and the loop handle makes it easier to do this. Just pay attention to the size – the 6.5 inches diameter of the ball makes this a perfect choice for smaller dogs.
11. Best for Aggressive Chewers: AMZpets Set of Durable Rope Dog Toys
This variety pack of durable chew toys is ideal for heavy chewers. All of the toys are made from high quality materials, and can help to calm your dogs anxiety and stress.
Created to withstand the sharp teeth and eager minds of medium to large sized dog breeds, these AMZpets set of durable rope dog toys were made from a cotton and nylon blend. Each set includes 7 rope toys that range in shape and design to provide your pooch with the opportunity to play different games. With two tug of war ropes, two double chewer knots and three rope balls, your dog will have plenty of new toys to keep them entertained.
Are dog rope toys safe?
One of the most frequent questions that arise when talking about rope toys for dogs is the question of their safety. This is only natural, as your pet’s safety should always be your primary concern, regardless of whether you’re picking out a toy or any other pet product. With rope toys, the primary concern is the ingestion of the rope strands.
For aggressive chewers that tend to destroy all their toys fairly easily, rope toys are among the most dangerous toys out there, if not the most dangerous. According to experts, strands of rope count as linear foreign bodies which comes with a whole other set of potential hazards (as if ‘only’ swallowing foreign objects wasn’t bad on its own!). If your pet happens to swallow the strands from his rope toy, the following may happen: one part of the strand will end up in his stomach, while the other remains stuck inside the intestines. As their body tries to pass the foreign object out, the rope will cinch (like a drawstring on sweatpants), wreaking havoc on your pet’s body in the process. The cinching of the swallowed rope may cause your dog’s intestines to draw into a ball, which is extremely painful. Without fast and proper treatment and contacting your vet as soon as possible, this can also leave life-long damage.
Even if the strands of the rope your pet swallowed aren’t long, the danger of intestinal blockage still remains: chew off and swallow enough of those short strands and obstruction will form in no time. For that reason, dog rope toys are NEVER to be given to pets that are extreme chewers, as the risk is far too great. Even if your pet is not an aggressive chewer, you should still make sure to supervise them while they’re gnawing on their new toy. Especially if you’re unsure about the quality of the toy, as cheap dog rope toys tend to fall apart with greater ease, making it possible for a curious pooch to get into big trouble.
For dogs that have a normal, non-destructive play style and are under their pet parent’s supervision during playtime, dog rope toys are perfectly safe. Even for puppies, they’re OK to play with if your pup is under your watchful eye at all times. In other instances, toys designed for aggressive chewers, made from heavy-duty nylon or rubber, are definitely the safer and smarter choice.
Features to consider
Dog rope toys come in all shapes and sizes, and with varying price tags attached to them. Naturally, we all have different budgets when it comes to splurging on our pets, and that will play a big role in any pet parent’s choice, but regardless of that, you have to ensure that the toy you’re getting is safe and suitable for your pet’s needs. Luckily, with some maneuvering, you can manage to find dog rope toys that are well-made without breaking the bank- as long as you know what you need to look for, you’re all set.
Toughness and durability
Not only does the durability of the toy determine if it offers good value for money, but it’s also important for the safety of your pet. When you’re splurging on a new toy for your pooch, you want it to last as much as possible. And in this case, there are other reasons for that besides cost-effectiveness. Dog rope toys need to be durable to prevent your pet from chewing off parts of the rope and swallowing it. This could lead to potentially fatal health complications, so it’s of the utmost importance to ensure that the rope toy is well-made from quality materials. The rope needs to be tightly woven from a heavy-duty string that won’t unravel or break easily. This is especially important if your pet is large or eager when chewing his toys. Again, rope toys are not recommended for extreme chewers, and it’s something you should always have in mind. No rope is tough enough for an aggressive gnawer looking to destroy his newest toy.
Size
Dog rope toys are meant to be carried in your pet’s mouth. Whether you’re playing tug of war, tossing the toy in the park and waiting for your pooch to fetch it, or if they’re simply tossing it around and nibbling on it on their own, your dog will be using his jaw a lot with rope toys. This means that size is a really important factor to consider. You wouldn’t expect a strong Staffy and a petite Toy Poodle to play with the same toy and get the same fun out of it, right? If the rope toy is too big for your pet, it’s highly likely that it will be too heavy for them to carry around in their mouths, which kind of defeats the purpose. Similarly, if the toy isn’t big enough, your strong dog will have no problem ruining it in days. Even if they’re not big on chewing things, they simply won’t get as much out of it as it may not suit their play style. To avoid wasting money, be sure to check the dimensions of the toy before buying it!
Design
You might think that dog rope toys don’t offer much in terms of versatility – I mean, it’s just a rope that your pet loves to tug, right? But you’d be surprised at the creativity and cleverness of the many rope toy designs you can find on the market. There are rope toys with different accessories attached for more fun and greater versatility. Balls, stuffed toys, rubber shapes, treat dispensers – all of these can be attached to a rope toy to jazz it up. There are also designs centered around certain play styles: dog rope balls for playing fetch, or rope toys made especially for tug of wars, with certain reinforcements and perks for the pet parent on the other end of the rope. There’s plenty to choose from and plenty to consider. Your pet’s preference should be your guide!
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A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.
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