If you live with a high energy dog, you know the feeling. You come back from a long walk and your dog looks at you as if to say, "Great warm up, what's next?" More running only builds a fitter dog who needs even more.
The dogs who settle best usually get a mix of three things across the day: something for the body, something for the brain and something that helps them wind down. The right toys for energetic dogs make each of those easier. Here's how to choose them and fit them into an ordinary day.
What counts as a high energy dog?
A high energy dog is one whose need for activity and things to do is well above what a typical dog walk covers. Some of that is breed and some of it is age.
Many breeds in the AKC herding, sporting and working groups were bred to work all day, moving sheep, finding birds or pulling sleds. Border collies, Australian shepherds, Labradors, pointers and huskies are classic examples, along with many terriers and their mixes.
Age matters just as much. Most dogs between about six months and two or three years old go through a stage where they never seem to run down. Our guide on how to tire out a puppy covers the youngest ones.
Why isn't exercise alone enough for a high energy dog?
Because running mostly works the body, and these dogs were bred to use their heads too. A dog with plenty of exercise but nothing to think about is often still restless, and a dog who only ever sprints can get so wound up that settling becomes the hardest part of the day.
That's why a balanced day for a busy dog has three parts. Physical play gets the energy out. Brain work, like sniffing, problem solving and short training, uses a different kind of energy. Calm activities, like licking or a slow sniff, help them shift down a gear afterward. We go deeper on the walking and exercise side in how to tire out a dog, and on the thinking side in mental stimulation for dogs.
What are the best toys for high energy dogs?
The best toys for high energy dogs are the ones that match how your dog likes to spend energy: chase toys and tug for the body, nose work and puzzles for the brain, and lick mats for settling. Most busy dogs do best with one from each group. When cold weather keeps you inside, our picks of the best indoor dog toys for winter are sorted the same way.
Chase toys
Chasing is the purest outlet for a driven dog. Balls that move on their own work well indoors, because the dog has to watch, guess and pounce. Short bursts with rests in between are easier on joints than one long session, so look for toys that stop and start.
Tug toys
Tug lets a strong dog pull and shake with their whole body, and it's a game you play together. Ending each round with a "drop it" turns it into training as well as exercise.
Nose work toys
Sniffing is hard work for a dog's brain. A snuffle mat, with kibble hidden in the fleece, gives your dog a searching job that many find both tiring and settling.
Puzzle toys
Puzzles ask your dog to slide a cover or flip a lid to get a treat. They suit clever dogs who get bored with toys they've already worked out. Start easy so your dog wins.
Lick mats for settling
Licking is slow and steady, and many dogs find it soothing. A lick mat spread with something soft and frozen is a good way to end an active session.
Which Borkly toys suit a high energy dog?
For chasing, the BorkBall Disco is built around short bursts. A nudge from a paw or nose sets it rolling, spinning and glowing for about ten seconds, then it rests, and if your dog wanders off it lights up and moves again to call them back. Crazy mode is the faster setting for a quick dog, and Normal Roll is there for an easier pace. At 80 mm it's our largest ball. The BorkBall Zoom hops sideways when touched, so it never moves the same way twice, which keeps sharp dogs guessing. The BorkBall Tug rolls and barks on its own, and its cotton rope turns the chase into tug the moment you join in. All three are for supervised play, then put away.
For the brain and the wind-down, the BorkBrain Puzzle has 16 treat wells and 11 sliding covers on a rotating disc, the BorkBrain Sniff is a washable fleece snuffle mat, and the BorkBrain Lick is a silicone lick mat with a suction base that goes in the freezer and dishwasher.
What about high energy dogs who destroy toys?
A lot of high energy dogs are also strong chewers, and a determined chewer will take apart most chase toys, ours included. No toy is truly indestructible. Rolling and light-up balls are chase toys, not chew toys, and they have a battery inside, so they belong in games where you're in the room.
If your dog's first move with any toy is to lie down and chew, keep chase toys for short games, put them up high afterward and give chewing its own outlet. Our guide to why dogs destroy toys explains what's behind it and what tends to help.
How do you keep a high energy dog entertained indoors?
Rotate short sessions of body, brain and calm through the day instead of saving everything for one big burst. A toy that only comes out at its own time of day also stays exciting for weeks. Here's a simple routine to adjust to your schedule.
- Morning: a walk with plenty of sniffing time, then breakfast served in a snuffle mat or puzzle instead of a bowl.
- Midday: five to ten minutes of chase or tug with you, followed by a few minutes of easy training, like sit, down and wait.
- Afternoon: a frozen lick mat during your quiet hour so your dog learns that this part of the day is for resting.
- Evening: a second walk, then a short indoor chase game, ending with something calm before bed. For dogs who still want a game once the house goes quiet, here's what to do when your dog wants to play at night.
Stop chase games while your dog still wants more. If you're out for part of the day, keep battery toys put away and use the options in toys for dogs home alone. And remember that toys help you, but they never replace walks, play and time together.
Quick answers
What are the best toys for hyper dogs? A mix works best: a chase or tug toy for the body, a snuffle mat or puzzle for the brain, and a frozen lick mat to help them settle afterward.
What are good toys for high energy puppies? Soft tug toys, snuffle mats and easy puzzles, with short play sessions and plenty of naps. Keep chase games gentle while their joints are still growing, and ask your vet what's right for your puppy.
What toys keep high energy dogs busy? Food toys keep them busy longest. A snuffle mat or a frozen lick mat gives a dog a job that takes real time and effort.
Are there high energy dog toys for large dogs? Yes, but size matters. Pick balls clearly bigger than your dog's mouth, sturdy tug toys and large lick mats, and supervise any toy with a battery.