Cocker Spaniel Toys: How to Choose & Types Available

Dog toys serve a few important purposes for your Cocker Spaniel. They can stave off boredom and keep your dog entertained, provide mental stimulation, and take care of any chewing urges to save your furniture!

It is safe to say a healthy stash of dog toys offers a wide range of benefits. But which types of toys should you buy?

If you are anything like me, you buy far too many of them and may have a dozen plush dog toys in a box because they were cute or you wanted to give your Cocker a treat. However, there are actually quite a few types of toys you should get for your dog.

In this article, I'll be guiding you through everything you should look for when getting a toy for your Cocker Spaniels, as well as which types of dog toys you should have.

Ready to upgrade your Cockers toy collection? If so, read on!

Types of Dog Toys

When you think of a dog toy, you probably picture a plush toy or dog ball. However, there are actually several different types that you should know about and that serve different needs of your dog.

From mental stimulation, improved dental care, helping anxious dogs relax more, or even just promoting exercise. There are toys for all of your Cocker Spaniels needs.

Let's take a look at the main types you should know about.

Balls

A dog ball is a staple of any respectable dog toy collection. It needs to be hard-wearing and high-visibility for your dog. Remember, they can't see certain colours. The best colour for your dog's ball is blue.

Blue will stand out the best against grass or bushes, helping your dog see where you threw its ball. With that in mind, take a look at these Chuckit blue dog balls. This ball is very hard-wearing and will last longer than a typical dog ball.

Interactive Dog Toys

Mental stimulation is one of the biggest things your Cocker Spaniel craves, and interactive dog toys do a great job of stimulating your dog's mind.

This is just as important as taking your dog for a walk, so if you don't have any dog toys that make your dog think, this should be your next purchase.

There is a wide range of toys you could choose from to exercise your Cockers mind. We have this Nina Ottosson Brick Puzzle. Definitely keep your dog thinking! Hide a few treats under the bricks, and you'll keep your Cocker Spaniel occupied for ages.

Rope Toys

Rope dog toys provide entertainment and have the added bonus of improving your dog's dental health. Biting into the rope acts as flossing getting between, and removing bits of food that can lead to plaque, cavities, or even bad breath.

As some parts of the rope can come apart during play, it's best to leave a rope toy for adult Cocker Spaniels and away from puppies.

This type of dog toy is great for games such as tug of war, allowing you to find new ways of playing with your Spaniel. If you are looking for a rope toy, consider this durable Youngever dog rope toy that has been built to last. It's the perfect size for a Cocker Spaniel.

Chew Toys

Chew toys are great for your dog's dental health and can also help teething puppies. Having your pup chew a toy instead of your furniture while teething will be far easier and less destructive.

The key thing to look for in a chew toy is durability. Benebones's are built to last and are ideal for aggressive chewers like Cocker can be at times. A great choice if you are looking for a dog chew toy.

Stuffed Toys

Stuffed toys are another common part of most dog toy collections. They make up a large number of your dog's toys. If you are anything like me, you'll find yourself constantly buying new ones because they are cute, or you feel your dog deserves a treat.

Despite this, soft toys do have a purpose. This gives your Cocker Spaniel something to play with and chase, which is great for a breed with a prey drive. This type of dog toy can help comfort your dog easing separation anxiety.

Just because soft toys are not made from some solid material doesn't mean they can't be incredibly durable. For example, we actually have this Duck soft dog toy, and it has endured years of abuse from our Cocker Spaniel and is still going strong!

Treat-Dispensing Toys

Any Cocker Spaniel owner will tell you how this breed is very motivated by food, and this is where treat-dispensing toys shine.

By combining playtime with treats, they will keep your dog mentally engaged in chasing that treat while they are actively trying to make the treat come out.

This style of dog toy is a bit different from a puzzle where your Cocker is trying to work out how to access the treat. Instead, it is often a ball your dog will push around for treats to fall out. A great way for your dog to work for its food!

Check out the Zellar Treat Dispensing ball if you are looking for a treat dispensing toy.

Kong's

I've put Kong's separate to treat dispensing toys as while they do have food inside, your Cocker has to lick it to get it. This can be a great way to keep your dog occupied for quite a long time.

Kongs are also a great way to deal with separation anxiety in Cocker Spaniels. A common problem. Get your Cocker a Kong if you don't have one. One of the best toys you can buy.

There are dozens of options for what you can fill a Kong with. Dog peanut butter is a great option.

What Should I Look for in a Cocker Spaniel Toy?

There are a few things you should consider when choosing a dog toy for your Cocker Spaniel. This includes having a varied range of toy types, not having small parts that came come off and hurt your dog, and how durable the toys are.

Varied Collection of Toys

By now, you will see just how many types of dog toys are available. Knowing this, the last thing you want to do is just have 20 of the same type. You wouldn't be doing your dog any favours doing this.

Instead, try to pick toys out of different categories. Your Cocker Spaniel will get different things out of a chew toy and a dog puzzle.

No Small Parts

This one is most important when choosing a toy for Cocker Spaniel puppies, as small parts can choke your dog or lead to complications that involve surgery.

Make sure you visually inspect any toys you are buying, looking for any parts that could just fall off and potentially cause problems.

Durability

Finally, you want your dog's toys to last for years to come. The best way to ensure this is to buy high-quality dog toys and steer away from cheap options that will break in no time.

This is not to say that a Cocker Spaniel won't be able to just rip through a toy with their sharp teeth, but it will be far less likely.

Conclusion

Building a varied collection of dog toys for your Cocker Spaniel can help engage your canine companion physically and mentally.

From a dog ball to throw around in the park to an interactive toy to mentally stimulate your Cocker. There is a broad selection of dog toys you will want to have at your disposal.

Hopefully, this guide to the best dog toys for Cocker Spaniel puppies has helped you find new ways to entertain and exercise your dog.