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The best hedgehog dog toys for determined chewers

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If your dog is alone when you’re at work, leave them company with a hedgehog dog toy that will keep them amused until you’re back home. These toys come in squeaky puzzle models and plushie replicas that offer your dog positive alternatives to chewing on furniture and other materials. To help you discover the right toy for your pet, we’ve disclosed the leading brands on the market here.

Hedgehog squeak toys are a staple in every pet home. There are classic plush chew toys that offer your puppy relief from teething or your senior dog from boredom. Traditional squeak toys are also a good idea for pets that need mental and physical stimulation.

Consider more complex designs like hide-and-seek hedgehogs that your pet needs to extract from their little den if you have a particularly energetic dog such as a Border Collie. Depending on your dog’s age and personality, the right toy for them will differ. Let’s see which product might be best for your home.

Outward Hound Puzzle Plush Dog Toy

Best Overall

Outward Hound takes the squeak puzzle dog toy to the next level. Shaped like a tree trunk with two hedgehogs peeping out, this cute toy hides squeakers your dog will dig for endlessly. The removable hedgehogs keep your puppy entertained for hours.

ZippyPaws Hide-And-Seek Plush Dog Toy

Best Squeaky Puzzle

The ZippyPaws dog toy is the best squeaky puzzle model on our list. It features three squeaky hedgehogs stuffed into their den for your pet to dig out. Round squeakers provide more satisfying squeaks as compared with traditional disk-shaped models.

Pawaboo Squeak Plush Dog Toy

Best Plush Doll

The Pawaboo hedgehog dog toy is the best plush doll alternative to hide-and-seek squeak toys. This toy is ideal for interactive play to teach dogs gentle handling and retrieval when you’re home and for independent play when you’re out. A triple-layer filling resists tearing and ripping.

Hedgehog toys are more than just cute plush toys for your pet. Squeaky puzzles and well-designed models offer your dog mental and physical stimulation, which is critical to preventing boredom-induced destructive behavior. These toys are also used to train young pups to be gentle in social situations and to chew on toys, not on furniture or valuable home goods. Try a toy from our list to sharpen your dog’s mind and body, and you’ll notice that your pet is more relaxed and obedient.

PawTracks Contributor
PawTracks Contributor
PawTracks Contributor
Why do dogs like sticks? (Plus, tips for playing with this toy safely)
You shouldn't let them chew on sticks, but they might be able to carry them around anyway
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Why do dogs like sticks?

Whether at the dog park, out for a walk, or in the backyard, your pooch will find sticks everywhere, as if they are drawn in like magic. And they might be! Truthfully, it really all comes down to their instincts that trace back to their wolfish ancestors. Here are a few reasons that dogs like sticks.
Gathering
While we think of some dogs as elite hunters, they also have a strong drive to gather food, bedding, and other necessities. Your pet could fulfill this need by bringing home sticks or playing with them so they feel that they have checked this activity off of their list.
Chewing
We know that chewing on Greenies is good for our dog's teeth, but what do they do when you're not around to provide dental treats? In the past, dogs had to rely on natural remedies to keep the pearly whites intact. Now you will especially find your puppies going for the sticks when teething. Adults also chew to strengthen their jaw muscles.
Smelling
Dogs explore the world with their noses first and foremost. They enjoy interesting scents — you may notice your dog sniffing leaves, grass, and trees on walks. Sometimes, your animal might decide to bring a bit of the outdoors in and carry a stick into the house for the musky perfume it offers.
Hunting
Some have suggested that dogs carry sticks because their predecessors frequently dragged around bones. There's some debate about this, but researchers point out that our beasties are actually omnivorous and have eaten plants for thousands of years as part of a varied diet.
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