Beagles are scent hounds, bred primarily to hunt small animals like hares and rabbits. They are never happier than when following a scent, but their playful nature and cheerful disposition can make them an excellent family pet. They require careful training and can be headstrong, though, so you might have to get creative to keep them entertained and ensure that they are well behaved.
They can suffer separation anxiety, especially if they aren’t used to being left alone, so it is good to provide them with a host of toys and chews to keep their mind off the fact that you’ve gone to work without taking them with you. As you can imagine, there are thousands of different dog toys and beagle toys available, so we have developed reviews and a list of the best beagle toys you can buy for your family pet.
A Quick Comparison of our Favorites in 2022
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | KONG Classic Flyer |
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Best Value | Nylabone DuraChew Medley |
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Premium Choice | Nina Ottosson Dog Hide N’ Slide |
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Pet Zone IQ Treat Interactive |
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Hartz Dura Play Rocket |
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The 6 Best Beagle Toys
1. KONG Classic Flyer Frisbee Dog Toy – Best Overall
KONG has built a reputation for manufacturing high quality and incredibly durable rubber dog toys, and the Classic Flyer Frisbee takes this robust construction to make an appealing fetch toy for your dog.
Beagles don’t just love to follow scent, they enjoy the thrill of the chase, too, and a good frisbee replicates this chase. Surprisingly, the materials used in this toy also help keep your beagle’s teeth clean and gums healthy.
It is relatively inexpensive and should last for a long time, although there have been occasional reports of dogs managing to eat through the material, so this toy is best kept for the purpose it was designed – fetch and retrieve play. With any luck, having your pup chase the frisbee will tire them out so they will be less energetic when you get them home.
Although this isn’t suitable as a chew toy, we consider it the best overall toy for beagles because it will tire them out and enable your pup to interact with you while playing in the park or the yard.
- Made by KONG
- Good aerial flight
- An effective way to replicate natural chase
- Frisbees are thin so easy to chew through
2. Nylabone DuraChew Medley Dog Toy – Best Value
The Nylabone DuraChew Medley Dog Toy is one of the best beagle toys for the money because it is a durable toy that is designed for powerful chewers. Whether you want something to help prevent your pup from chewing household items or a chew toy that helps clean the teeth while chewing, this is it. The textured and scented ring is designed to attract dogs and keep them entertained while they’re busy gnawing away.
While the toy is designed for powerful chewers, there have been some reports from owners of big and powerful chewers (usually huskies) that either show no interest in the toy because it is too hard for them or that have managed to chew right through it. For most beagles, which do not have as powerful a jaw as a huskie, this shouldn’t be a problem, but it is a concern and kept the Nylabone toy from the top spot.
- Cheap
- Long lasting and durable for most dogs
- Cleans teeth
- Not suitable for power chewers
- Your dog might not find it interesting
3. Nina Ottosson Dog Hide N’ Slide Dog Toy – Premium Choice
Beagles are intelligent and love to use their nose and snout, which makes the Nina Ottosson Dog Hide N’ Slide Interactive Dog Toy the perfect choice for this breed. It is expensive, and this can be a risk because as any owner knows, there is a good chance that your dog will simply turn their nose up at a new toy, no matter how beneficial it is or how much it cost. The chances of this are lessened with this toy, though, because its interactive features reward your pup with a treat whenever they manage to figure out part of the puzzle.
It also has a grippy bottom so it should stay in place while your four-legged friend figures out the sliding sections and the pegs. Some owners have said that it has proven too easy for their dogs to figure out, but most have said that their animals have struggled and that it keeps them entertained for hours at a time.
- Keeps your dog entertained
- Textured bottom for grip
- Rewards dogs for clever behavior
- Unlikely to withstand serious chewing
- Could be too easy for more intelligent dogs
- Expensive
4. Pet Zone Treat Ball Interactive Dog Toy
We love interactive dog toys. They force your pup to think and to activate their brain and they use small treats as a reward for positive behavior. They offer more than just a simple chew toy, but they aren’t for all dogs or dog owners.
This Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball Interactive Dog Toy because it comes with difficulty levels so if your dog figures out the puzzle too quickly, ramp up the challenge and go again. One of the great benefits of this kind of toy is that you can use it to keep dogs entertained and prevent separation anxiety and bored chewing.
This particular toy does look a lot like a hamster exercise ball, though, so we wouldn’t recommend giving this to your dog and then leaving them alone with an exercising hamster. Some dogs have managed to simply twist the ball open to get to the treats inside.
- Interactive toy offers entertainment
- Varying difficulty levels to increase challenge
- Looks like a hamster exercise ball
- Dogs can simply twist it open
5. Hartz Dura Play Rocket Dog Toy
The Hartz Dura Play Rocket Dog Toy is durable and lightweight. It is designed so that you can comfortably launch it over a long distance and the bright colors make it easy for your pup to spot even if it lands in the bushes. The latex finish means that it is even suitable for young puppies and seniors that have softer teeth. It is bacon-scented so you shouldn’t have a problem getting your pet to pick it up and play with it. It also has a squeaker to ensure your dog is really engaged with the toy and the activity.
This toy is expensive, and it is very easy to chew, so if your beagle chews at all, it is best avoided otherwise you will be buying replacements regularly.
- Easy to throw
- Bacon scented
- Floats and is easy to spot
- Very easy to chew
- Expensive
6. Otterly Pets Assorted Rope Dog Toys
The Otterly Pets Assorted Rope Dog Toys is a pack of rope toys suited to medium to large dogs. Rope toys are great for chewers because they are difficult to break down and they can be used for active games like tug of war. They can also be thrown, although we recommend throwing them outdoors to avoid collision and breakages.
It is possible that your dog can chew some of the strands off the toy and ingest them, and some owners of hardcore chewers have reported that their dogs have managed to easily chew through these toys. So, if your beagle can easily tear through rope, you should consider a hard rubber toy instead.
- Cheap
- Pack contains multiple rope toys
- Rope is great for tug of war
- The rope can fray and break off
- Hard chewers can still tear these apart
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Beagle Toys
The dog product market is massive and there are thousands of beagle toy options out there. While some of the decision will come down to personal preference and the likes of your beagle, it is worth considering the following when deciding which toy is best for your beagle baby.
Toy Type
Beagles are scent dogs and incredibly alert and attentive, so they can benefit from the following types of dog toy:
- Chew – Chew toys keep your dog entertained and, if they are textured and made from the right materials, they can even promote good tooth and gum care. Beagles can chew through a lot of materials, although they are not considered especially aggressive or hard chewers, so try to steer clear of soft foam toys. They can chew these apart and swallow the bits.
- Chase – Beagles love to hunt. Throwing a toy that you beagle can retrieve not only excites them, but it can tire them out, giving you peace and quiet when you get home. Choose a toy that is easy to spot, that your beagle can easily fit in their mouth, and that you can throw or launch over a reasonable distance. Some toys that are designed to be thrown high or far are made from lightweight materials – ensure that you take these off your dog once you’ve finished playing or they will tear through them in no time.
- Interactive Treat – There is an increasing range of interactive treat toys available. These challenge your dog to solve puzzles or work out how to get to the treats that are stored inside and while some are as simple as sticking their tongue in the hole at the end, others have sliding pegs and doors that need to be opened and can really challenge your dog. These can be effective if your dog suffers separation anxiety while you’re out, because they will be too busy trying to get to the hidden kibble to think about you.
Features to Look For
It can be a major disappointment if you buy a dog toy only to have your beagle turn their nose up at it. Consider the following to ensure that the toy is beneficial for your dog but also appeals to them enough that they will want to play with it.
- Color – Brighter colors are easier to spot and look more entertaining. When looking for balls or toys for chasing, your dog may need to find them in overgrown plants and a bright color will make it easier. Choosing a toy that floats is a good idea if you throw it on the beach or near another water source.
- Scent – Some toy manufacturers add a subtle scent to their toys to attract dogs. You will find toys with bacon, chicken, and other scents. These are meant to replicate the real thing and will naturally encourage your dog to chew them. These scents have varying degrees of success, though, and some dogs can instinctively tell that the smell isn’t real. Beagles are scent hounds so they are led by their olfactory senses, but they are also very good at detecting and determining smells so they might not be fooled by synthetic flavors.
- Teeth Benefits – Good dental care is as important to your beagle as it is to you, but it isn’t always easy to brush and floss. Toys that offer dental care tend to be made from hard rubber and might have textured elements to help remove plaque. These should never be used to replace good tooth brushing, but they can help to supplement your efforts.
How Can I Keep My Beagle Entertained?
Beagles are intelligent and lively, which means that they need to be entertained. A bored beagle can become a destructive beagle. Buy them toys that they like, play with them regularly, and ensure that they get two good walks a day. Find new and inventive ways to play and use healthy treats as a reward during training.
Are Beagles Aggressive Chewers?
Beagles are considered to be chewers, and if you don’t discourage this when they are puppies, it will manifest in their later lives too. They are especially prone to chewing when bored, so keep your beagle as busy and entertained as possible, and if you do have to leave them alone, ensure that you leave toys and other activities that will stave off separation anxiety and limit the likelihood of aggressive chewing.
Conclusion
Beagles are friendly, alert, and active dogs, and they love nothing more than to follow a scent or chase small prey. A well trained and happy beagle makes a great family pet, and we recommend making sure that they have a handful of good quality toys to play with, including those for chasing and some for chewing. We hope that our list of the best beagle toys has helped you find a new favorite toy for your beagle baby.
During our testing we found that the KONG Classic Flyer Frisbee was the best overall choice – it was relatively inexpensive and an excellent toy for throwing and chasing. If you’re on a tight budget, or your dog tends to go through toys quicker than you get paid, the Nylabone DuraChew Medley Dog Toy will last for ages and keep your pet busy for hours at a time while costing less than most other toys.
Featured Image: RogerMayhem from Pixabay