Best Toys for a Shih Tzu

Overview

Having a good supply of toys for your Shih Tzu goes beyond just picking out some cute ones. Dog toys can be extremely helpful in a variety of ways. It's best to think of toys as tools that can fulfill your Shih Tzu's requirements and are tailored to their specific necessities based on age and situation.

The 5 main types of toys for a Shih Tzu are: Teething toys for puppies with itchy gums and strong urges to chew, interactive toys that can help keep a dog busy with independent playtime, chew toys for dogs that like to work their jaws, interaction toys and games for you and your Shih Tzu to play together, and companion toys for puppies or dogs that spend time alone and could use a friend. 

Please note: AllShihTzu is reader-supported. Some links below are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission on products through these, at no extra cost to you.

This article includes:

#1 Teething Toys: To satisfy strong chewing urges with young puppies

#2 Interactive Toys: For independent play

#3 Chew Toys: Regular and for Aggressive Chewers

#4 Owner and Dog Interaction Toys: Retrieval Toys and Puzzle Games

#5 Companion Toys: Offering a friend for a lonely dog 

Toy Tips: Quick list of elements to keep in mind

#1 Teething Toys: To satisfy strong chewing urges with young pups

Shih Tzu puppy with teething toys - example, illustrated
What to know: From about 4 to 9 months old, a Shih Tzu puppy undergoes teething, where their 21 milk (deciduous) teeth are replaced by 42 adult teeth. This period often involves intense gum itching and discomfort, leading to strong chewing urges. A puppy might chew on almost anything to alleviate teething sensations. With suitable teething toys, they can quickly find relief.

Elements of good teething toys:


  • Size: The toy must fit in a young pup's mouth; otherwise, it's useless.
  • Textures: Teething puppies experience rapidly changing sensations of pain and itching. Toys with different textures, like small nubs and twisted rope, help 'scratch' and soothe.
  • Shapes: To reach itchy spots in hard-to-reach areas, toys should come in various shapes for maneuvering into small crevices.
  • Durability: It's essential to have sturdy toys that can withstand constant use, rather than breaking apart quickly.
Recommended teething toys: 

#1: Volacopets 4 Pack Puppy Teething Balls. This set offers a puppy lots of variety and options; it comes with four balls of various textures including a colorful rope ball. And their 2-inch diameter is sized great for Shih Tzu puppies.

#2: PetStages Mini Bone Tug Toy. This is a cute toy with three interconnected pieces covered with small nubs that feel good on a teething puppy's itchy gums. 

#3: PetStages Cooling Stick. This is a wonderful fabric teething toy. It's colorful to attract a pup's attention and it's meant to be made wet and then frozen, to offer cooling relief to a puppy's sore gums. There is an abundance of fabric pieces so a Shih Tzu can choose just the right pieces to chew on.

#2 'Stay Busy' Interactive Toys: For independent play

Shih Tzu interactive toys
What to know: The important element for the best toys to keep a Shih Tzu occupied is that the toy interacts with them in some way. This can be through movement, sound or via a reward (such as treats being released). When a toy responds to a dog, this offers a sense that play is a two-way street and this aspect can help keep a Shih Tzu busy for quite some time. These sorts of toys are perfect to teach independent play or when your puppy or dog is home alone. 

Recommended Interactive Toys:

#1: Multipet Deedle Dude Singing White Rabbit. This is a super cute and highly amusing bunny that sings the Deedle anthem. It's great for both independent play and playing fetch. This may just become your Shih Tzu's favorite singing buddy. 

#2: ZippyPaws Spencer The Crinkle Monkey has been one of our favorite interactive toys for a while. This happy monkey that comes in either pink or purple has crinkle paper in his limbs. There's also a squeaker and rattle, so it provides three different noises and is lots of fun. 

#3: Youngever Treat Ball Food Dispensing Toy 2 Inch Size. This is a pretty straight-forward toy that packs serious interaction. It's a set of two colorful balls, each with 'teeth' that hold a few pieces of dry kibble. You fill it up, give it to your Shih Tzu and let them get to work. This is particularly useful for if you're going to be away from home during a mealtime; it can keep your Shih Tzu busy and offer a snack. 

#4: Pet Snuffle Mat by GoxRunx. This fabric snuffle mat is a fun bone shape with a big flower in the middle and lots of loops and flaps. Once you get it ready by hiding treats inside, your Shih Tzu will get to work foraging and sniffing their way through the mat for lots of fun. 

#3 Chew Toys: Regular and for Aggressive Chewers

Shih Tzu adult dog with chew stick
What to know: Chewing urges do not always stop once a pup matures, many adults like to chomp down on things and work their jaws. In some cases, chewing is a form of stress relief and for others it's a habit that helps pass the time. If a Shih Tzu wants to chew, but doesn't have a nice collection of chew toys, they may direct their urges elsewhere, like your shoes, tote bags, etc. 

What to look for:


  • Properly sized. As with many care items and supplies for this toy breed, sizing is important. If a Shih Tzu struggles to fit a toy in their mouth or has trouble carrying it around, they may not even bother trying. 
  • Consistency. The right consistency to make it pleasurable to chew on and for a rewarding workout for the jaws. 
  • Durability. For strong chewers with sharp teeth, the toy must be as close to indestructible as possible. While no toy lasts forever, those for strong chewers should last at least a month without ripping or deflating.

Recommended for regular adult chewers:

#1: Otterly Pets Rope Toy Set. For Shih Tzu dogs that like to chew on fabric, these are ideal. It's a set of 4 different cotton rope toys. There's 3 twisted knotted ropes and a fun rope ball.

#2: Crinkle Dog Toys by SharLovy. This is set of 5 amusing animals, which are stuffing-free but with a squeaker in the head, a squeaker in the tail, and entertaining crinkle paper in the body. 

Recommended toys for strong chewers:

Aggressive or strong chewers will need something a bit more durable to withstand some seriously sharp teeth and enthusiastic gnawing.

#1: Petstages Dogwood Wood Alternative Dog Chew Toy, Small. This has all the taste and texture of a natural tree branch, but won’t splinter. It's made for strong chewers and it lasts a long time. A cool feature is that it starts to turn color once it finally wears down, so you know to toss it out. It starts at size extra-small. And it has options of safe scents including real wood or Mesquite BBQ. The small size is slightly over 5 inches, with a petite option at 4 inches for puppies or small adults, and a medium size at 7.5 inches for larger adults.

#2: KONG Ring for Small Dogs. It's hard to go wrong with a KONG toy; they offer one of the best lines for aggressive chewers. This classic ring is for dogs up to 35 lbs., but is sized great for the Shih Tzu breed, with a diameter of 3.5 inches. 

#4 Owner and Dog Interaction Toys: Retrieval Toys and Puzzle Games

Shih Tzu playing fetch

What to know: For creating and maintaining a strong bond with your Shih Tzu, consider some interaction toys that you'll play together with them. These include fetch toys and puzzle games. Fetch is a marvelous way to engage your Shih Tzu in some cardio exercise. And puzzle games can be for those rainy days when you may both be looking for something to do.

Recommended retrieval toys: 

#1: Zanies Mini Tennis Balls for Dogs. Small dogs should be able to play with tennis balls, and these make it possible. These are brightly colored miniature tennis balls, and if you lose one or two, it's just fine because it comes in a pack of 6.

#2: Chuckit Flying Squirrel Fetch Dog Toy. These make for great fetch toys. It's a flat canvas toy with a shape reminiscent of a flying squirrel that catches air and offers a smooth glide, allowing a dog time to line themselves up to successfully make a catch. 

#3: Outward Hound Puppy Hide n Slide Interactive Puzzle Toy. We absolutely love Outward Hound's Nina Ottosson's line of puzzle toys. These are meant to give a dog some brain exercise and it automatically rewards them for doing so. Most dogs require some level of guidance to solve the puzzles, so it's a fun bonding experience as you play teacher and your Shih Tzu is the student. There's four levels of toys to choose from: Easy, intermediate, advanced and expert, so as your Shih Tzu learns what they're doing, they can have new challenges. 

#5 Companion Toys: Offering a friend for a lonely dog

Separation anxiety toy for shih tzu dog, example
What to know: This type of toy serves two purposes. It can help a puppy settle down at night and it can help ease the loneliness that often develops when dogs are home by themselves.  

New puppies often stay up at night, a bit fearful and hesitant about their new surroundings. Away from dam and littermates, it can be a rough transition. Giving a new puppy a companion toy can really help in this regard.

For dogs home alone, separation anxiety is a very real and very common issue. The feelings of isolation can be overwhelming. While there are other steps to help resolve this such as having the right supplies including a playpen, looping music that helps calm a dog, leaving on lights, etc., another crucial step can be to offer a toy that serves as a companion. 
Our recommendation:

We very highly recommend the SmartPet Love Snuggle Puppy. This is a good-sized durable stuffed animal dog that emits a rhythmic heartbeat and (optionally) a comforting warmth. It's incredibly realistic. It's also washable (take out the heart device first) and you can purchase both replacement hearts and warming packs (as needed), so it will essentially last forever.


Note: Be aware of imposters; since this toy grew in popularity, there's been some other companies that have tried to mimic this, but produce inferior versions. You want the original SmartPet. 

Toy Tips

#1 Think of toys as being tools. Your Shih Tzu can only have so many toys, so each one should be there to serve a function. When you are going to add to their toy collection, give consideration to how well the toy fits the role that you'd like it to serve. 


#2 Quality is better than quantity. Go for quality toys that are durable. Having 10 toys your Shih Tzu loves is far better than having 50 piled in a corner that are ignored. 


#3 Toys should be regularly checked. It's very common for toys to rip or wear down over time, even those made for strong chewers, since the material used for dog toys can only be so durable. Check your Shih Tzu's collection every week or so and toss out old ones. 


#4 Toys should be regularly cleaned. Every month or so, launder what you can with warm water and hypoallergenic detergent. And hand-wash what you can using hot water and dye-free dish soap. 


#5 Consider your Shih Tzu's changing needs. Certain toys are needed for each age and developmental stage. What once worked to satisfy chewing urges or to keep a pup busy may need to be replaced with different ones that cater to a maturing dog's needs. In some cases, this can happen rapidly, within just a few months. If once-favorite toys are ignored, reassess them. 


#6 Rotate existing toys to keep things fresh. Dogs can get bored with the same toys, so keep a small selection available at one time (always keep their favorites out, of course) and rotate them every few weeks. This can make old toys seem new and exciting again.

More Articles:

How to Fix Shih Tzu Bad Breath - If your Shih Tzu's breath is a bit stinky, this is helpful guide. See what causes this and some great at-home treatments.

Shih Tzu Itchiness Issues - Being itchy is a very common issue seen with the Shih Tzu breed. There can be an itch with no other symptoms or lots of other problems like rash, hot spots, or dry skin. See exactly how to remedy this.