We like the machine-washable Huggie Pup for situational anxiety, though pet parents who are looking for a nighttime crate-training aid may prefer the Snuggle Pup, since its heat, though not reusable, is longer lasting. I always have several food extracting toys, especially ones that double as chew toys, such as KONGs,” Hartstein said. Unlike in many other dog heartbeat toys, however, the heat pack in the Huggie Pup is reusable—just reheat it in the microwave and tuck it back into the toy. We like the sizing options for different breeds, though pups who like heat might want to hold out for a heartbeat toy with a warming device.

It’s still a relatively small market, but trainers and vets have been impressed by their effectiveness, and our test pups had largely positive experiences.

The soft, puppy-shaped plush has a Velcro slit in its belly that holds both a plastic disc “heart” powered by AAA batteries (included) and a disposable hand-warmer to generate gentle heat. This little Bluetooth speaker uses sounds to soothe your anxious pup, but it isn’t heartbeats—it’s music. The only thing I will say that it would of been nice to get some sort of notification that Zog had taken flight and was on his way. I bought it for a nursery, and the kids adore the characters, and it helps them learn the stories by allowing them to act out events from the books with the toys. Pet parents who are trying to get their dogs acclimated to using a crate might prefer the flexibility of a heartbeat device without the plush toy.

Treat dispensers: When your dog plays with these toys, the toys will slowly release treats for her — which is definitely a reason for her to keep playing.by 3-inch disc anywhere you want your pup to tuck in and get a soothing sleep—for example, zip it into their crate pad or under a blanket. The Dodo broke down the different types of interactive dog toys, and reached out to certified trainers for their top recommendations, so you can find your dog her next favorite toy. They’re super durable for tough chewers, and you can stuff a KONG with so many different treats, like dog biscuits, a frozen banana, dog-safe peanut butter or a mix of all three! And even though interactive dog toys will allow your dog to play independently, she still needs her human to engage with her often throughout the day.