10 Outdoor Dog Toys Your Dog Will Love This Summer

From exploring trails to taking a dip in the lake, summer is the perfect time to get outside with your pooch and have a new adventure together! While many indoor activities are off limits this year due to COVID-19, there’s practically no limit to the fun things you can do with your dog in the great outdoors this summer.

No matter what your summer plans are, one thing’s for sure. If you’re bringing your dog along, they’ll need plenty of fun and engaging toys! Keep reading to discover exciting outdoor games to play with your pup during the hotter months and check out our top 10 favorite outdoor dog toys!

Types of Outdoor Games

Playing with your dog outside doesn’t start and end with fetch. Dog toys have different purposes, and having a variety of toys at your disposal to make sure your pup has all their playtime needs met is essential!

Here are the broad categories of outdoor dog games:

• Retrieval games
• Treat-based games
• Agility and training games
• Mental stimulation games 

Whether you’re playing with your dog in the backyard, at a park, or in the wilderness, toys are a great way to make sure your dog has an awesome summer! From glow-in-the-dark balls to treat-dispensing puzzles, there are lots of ways to use toys and fun outdoor games to keep your dog healthy, exercised, trained, and entertained! 

Top 10 Outdoor Dog Toys

1. Chuck It! Fumble Fetch & Max Glow Football

You can’t go wrong with good old-fashioned fetch! Regardless of where you are, having a great toy for playing fetch with your dog is always a good idea. While there’s nothing wrong with tennis balls, irregularly shaped toys like the Chuck It! Fumble Fetch & Max Glow Football can add to the fun! The football shape means that when the toy hits the ground, it bounces randomly and your dog won’t know where it will land! It’s also puncture resistant and waterproof!

2. Fluff & Tuff Phoebe & Joey Kangaroo

Snuggly companion toys are absolutely essential, especially if your dog is at all prone to anxiety. If you’re planning a camping trip with your dog this summer, bring a soft, cozy toy for them to snuggle with at night that’s also tough enough to withstand the elements. The Fluff & Tuff Phoebe & Joey Kangaroo companion toy is an awesome choice, because it’s soft, durable, and super cuddly.

3. Kong Puzzlements Monkey Toy

Puzzle toys are great for mental stimulation and staving off boredom in dogs. They can keep your dog busy, sharp, and entertained for long periods of time and are great for relaxed outdoor fun. The Kong Puzzlements Monkey Toy is a super versatile 3-in-1 toy with varying levels of difficulty, so it’s great for even the smartest breeds like Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers. It also squeaks and crinkles for added entertainment!

4. SmartPetLove Bounderz Treat Dispensing Toy

You can keep your pup entertained and interested for hours with interactive treat-dispensing toys like the SmarPetLove Bounderz Treat Dispensing Toy. Just insert your dog’s favorite treats or even just a few pieces of kibble into the opening and watch your dog enjoy the challenge of trying to get them out! These are great toys to pack for hiking or backpacking trips with your dog, since they’re super versatile. With treats, they act as an interactive puzzle toy, and without treats, they’re great for catch, fetch, and chewing!

5. Big Tether Tug

If you have a Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Doberman, or other big dog and you’re looking for ways to make sure they get enough outdoor time and exercise this summer, look no further! The Big Tether Tug is designed to stand up to dogs who weigh 70+ pounds. It allows for 360-degree pulling and slides into a super-strong ground base so no matter how big and tough your dog may be, they’ll be able to tire themselves out.

6. TIKR Interactive Timer Dog Treat Ball

Looking for ways to keep your dog entertained for longer periods of time, like on road trips or when you stop for a picnic while hiking? The TIKR Interactive Timer Dog Treat Ball is designed to provide over 45 minutes of entertainment for your pup in one go! Just load some snacks of different sizes into the toy and set the built-in-timer. As the timer unwinds, snacks will begin to fall out of the holes in the toy according to their size. It’ll keep your furry friend mesmerized!

7. West Paw Zogoflex Air Dash Frisbee

Frisbee is one of the most fun and high-energy games for dogs. It offers tons of benefits, including exercise, mental stimulation, and plenty of bonding with you. West Paw Zogoflex Air Dash Frisbees are aerodynamic and soft, making them super safe, easy, and comfortable for your dog to catch and bring back to you! It's great fun for your pup to retrieve on land or in the water!

8. Zippy Paws Z-Stitch Floaterz Shark

High-quality, fun toys for your dog to play with in the water is a must for the summer months! When the weather heats up, it can be hard to keep your dog cool. Throwing a toy into a lake or river for them to fetch is an awesome way to make sure they get exercise without overheating. The Zippy Paws Z-Stitch Floaterz Shark is a super cute and water-friendly option. It's light enough to float, tough enough to withstand some chewing, and squeaks for added entertainment!

9. West Paw Tizzi Interactive Dog Toy

Interactive toys are fantastic for keeping your pup engaged for long periods of time. They’re also extremely fun and great for training purposes! Whether you have a new puppy you’re looking to treat-train or an older dog that enjoys fetch and puzzles, the West Paw Tizzi Interactive Dog Toy is great for the outdoors. A secret treat compartment? Check. Lockable handles for fetch? Check. Waterproof and able to float? Double check! It’s the perfect all-around summer toy!

10. Cycle Dog High Roller Plus Toy

If you’re going road tripping, backpacking, hiking, or camping with your dog this summer, one of the main things you need from a toy is something easy to pack and carry! You also want to get a lot of different uses out of just one toy. That’s why we love the Cycle Dog High Roller Plus Toy! Roll it, throw it, fill it with peanut butter — there’s not much you can’t do with it to make playtime fun with your dog while you’re out exploring the great outdoors. It also couldn’t be easier to pack!

Looking for awesome outdoor toys for this summer and beyond?

At King Duke’s, our shelves (both in-store and online) are well-stocked with all the toys your furry family member could dream of! From puzzle games, to soft companion toys, to tough chew toys and high-energy games, we’ve got it all!

Shop our online store or come by our Beaverton, OR location and check out all our toys, treats, gear, and other dog products! Your canine friends are welcome too!