The 7 Best Cheap (Inexpensive) Dog Toys On The Market: Our Guide
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But it doesn’t have to be that way.
There are some cheap dog toys on the market that cut out the bells and whistles and just focus on the basics. These toys are super fun for your pooch, but they’re not going to break within a matter of minutes of them playing with them.
The problem is, it’s very hard to separate the low-quality rubbish from the good value products – they all look the same!
Lucky for you, we’ve done the hard work for you. Today we’re going to review 7 of the best dog toys on the market that will provide your pooch with long lasting fun without breaking the bank.
Also Read: 8 Best Dog Toys for French Bulldogs in 2024
Let’s get started.
What is the Best Cheap (Inexpensive) Dog Toy?
Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Dog Toys
So what is the main difference between cheap and expensive dog toys? What are you missing out on by paying less for things for your pooch to play with?
The main thing that you’re going to notice between cheap and expensive toys is the durability of the products.
Cheap toys can often use inexpensive materials and poor manufacturing techniques to create products at such a low price point. This is the key issue with cheaper toys, and it’s one that’s hard to avoid.
Bad brands don’t care what you think of their products, because they’re not after repeat business. They cut corners at every opportunity to make huge amounts of profit on each product sold. They’re content in knowing that you’re probably never going to buy another one – because they’ve already got your money.
You need to know you’re dealing with reputable brands that are trying to build products that won’t disintegrate within a matter of seconds. This is much harder than it sounds, the vast majority of cheap dog toys are shockingly bad quality – which is why we’ve written this article and provided the recommendations below.
Cheap toys are also going to be much less inventive and clever than more expensive toys – which isn’t a problem, it just means you’ve got to stick to the classics. Things like bones, balls, rope toys and simple chew toys are what you should be looking for.
Best Overall Cheap Dog Toy
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The Best Inexpensive Dog Toys
Nylabone DuraChew Chicken Flavor Bone Dog Toy
Key Features :
- Supports dental health
- Delicious chicken flavor
- Durable nylon
- Freshens breath
Nylabone DuraChew Chicken Flavor Bone Dog Toy
The Nylabone DuraChew Chicken Flavor Bone Dog Toy has a delicious chicken flavor and provides entertainment on a budget. It is made from durable nylon and supports good dental hygiene, too.
There are several good value toys that we came across that are going to provide your pooch with playtime on a budget, but we think that this Nylabone DuraChew Chicken Flavor Bone Dog Toy is going to give you the biggest bang for your buck.
As we mentioned above, this product has everything you need to be looking out for in a cheap toy. It’s made from quality materials, it’s got no fancy bells and whistles, and it’s built to last a decent amount of time.
This is a durable nylon bone that’s got a chicken flavor infused into it – which makes it super tasty for your dog while they’re chewing away. As the toy gets more and more use it starts to form into bristles, which are great for your dog’s dental hygiene (and will freshen their breath too).
It’s made in the USA, it’s vet approved, and it’s easily one of the best high quality yet cheap dog toys on the market.
6 More Really Good Cheap Dog Toys
The bone above is our overall recommendation, it’s a classic toy that remains cheap while being high quality. Below are some of the other products we came across while researching this article that we’re comfortable recommending. Some of them are a little more expensive than others, but they’re not going to break the bank.
Booda Multi Color 2-Knot Rope Bone Dog Toy, Color Varies
Key Features :
- Cotton fibers
- Will floss teeth
- Durable
- Can be used in many ways
Booda Multi Color 2-Knot Rope Bone Dog Toy, Color Varies
The Booda Multi Color 2-Knot Rope Bone Dog Toy has cotton fibers that are good for your dog’s teeth and it is strong enough to handle some aggressive chewing.
Dog toys don’t get much simpler than this, it’s a high-quality rope based product that’s been made into the shape of a bone (more or less).
The material this product is made from is a rugged cotton blend of twisted rope that has two huge knots on either end. It’s more than strong enough to handle anything your pooch can throw at it (and you’re not going to have any nasty surprises if you want to play tug of war with it either).
Like the product above, the fibers in this product are good for your dog’s teeth and will clean them as they play. It comes in 5 different sizes to ensure they’re comfortable for all breeds and jaw sizes (with slightly different costs) and they come in random fun colors too!
You may like to Read: 9 Best Dog Toys for Golden Retrievers in 2024
KONG Squeezz Ball Dog Toy
Key Features :
- Squeaks
- Very durable
- Unpredictable bounce
- Various colors
KONG Squeezz Ball Dog Toy
The KONG Squeezz Ball Dog Toy is a great toy from a really popular brand. Kong is known for its extreme durability and this ball has a squeak too, adding extra fun for your dog.
KONG is one of the biggest and most well-known brands of dog toy manufacturers on the planet. They’ve earned a reputation for providing incredible quality products that can withstand even the most powerful and playful pooches.
Quite honestly we were surprised to see a KONG product in this kind of price bracket, their products are usually much more expensive. This is a super high quality (yet simple) toy, which explains how they are able to provide it at this price point.
It’s a durable rubber ball that has a lovely little squeak to it that your pooch is going to love. The ridged nature of the toy means that it’s got an unpredictable bounce to it – and when you throw it for them it’s going to go in random directions, which your dog will find a whole lot of fun!
They come in various jewel colors and the durable materials they are made from are all non-toxic – ensuring countless hours of safe fun for your pooch for under $3.
Note: This product is available in several different sizes, the medium size product for medium sized dogs is $3 – there are larger products available for around $4.50 that are suited to larger dogs. Don’t consider getting a smaller product for a bigger dog to try and save extra cash – the additional power in their jaws will destroy it.
Hyper Pet Bacon Flav-A-Bone Dog Chew Toy
Key Features :
- Non-toxic
- Infused with bacon flavor
- Made from nylon material
- Resists breaking and splintering
Hyper Pet Bacon Flav-A-Bone Dog Chew Toy
The Hyper Pet Bacon Flav-A-Bone Dog Chew Toy has a real bacon flavor infused into the entire toy, not just on the surface. It is made from nylon material and there are no toxic materials in this product.
This is one of the most durable flavored bones on the market in this price bracket. It’s made from a nylon material that has been blended with real bacon flavor that your dog is going to love. Unlike some other cheaper products, this toy has the bacon flavor infused throughout the entire product instead of just the surface – which means from start to finish there’s nothing but delicious fun for your pooch.
Despite being cheap, it’s a high-quality product that’s going to resist breaking and splintering that can often be issues with other similar products in this price bracket. There’s no toxic materials or other nasty stuff that could harm your pooch, and it’s a great way for them to deal with separation anxiety (or to get them to stop chewing your furniture).
Multipet Nuts for Knots Ball Dog Toy
Key Features :
- Freshens breath
- Helps clean dog’s teeth
- Can be used in many ways
- Durable cotton
Multipet Nuts for Knots Ball Dog Toy
The Multipet Nuts for Knots Ball Dog Toy is a fun rope ball that your dog can chew on or play fetch with. It will help clean your dog’s teeth and freshen their breath, too.
This is a great rope ball that’s going to stand up to anything your pooch can throw at it. Like most rope based products it’s going to clean your dog’s teeth and freshen their breath at the same time. It’s got a huge amount of strength to it, and the durable cotton rope it is made from is unlikely to disintegrate in a hurry.
Dog’s love chewing on this toy alone, but it’s also good for a game of fetch or two too. The different ridges and bumps on this product will also provide a nice random roll around the floor after you’ve thrown it, and your dog will love trying to predict what it’s going to do next.
Nylabone Puppy Chew Bone Chicken Flavor Dog Toy
Key Features :
- Infused with real chicken flavor
- Soothes discomfort
- Made for puppy jaws
- Made in the USA
Nylabone Puppy Chew Bone Chicken Flavor Dog Toy
The Nylabone Puppy Chew Bone Chicken Flavor Dog Toy is made for puppies with smaller and more sensitive jaws than adult dogs. It’s great for teething and soothing discomfort and has a real chicken flavor.
This toy is specifically made for puppies who have slightly gentler jaws than adults (but still love to chew). It’s a great teething toy that will soothe their discomfort and it’s regularly recommended by veterinarians for people who want a great quality chew toy on a budget.
It’s been infused with a real chicken flavor that will entice your pooch to pick this toy to chew on instead of your furniture – which makes it perfect for little monsters who are still learning the rules of your home.
It’s under $3 and will provide your pup with hours of fun, and as an added bonus – it’s made in the USA too!
KONG Tugga Wubba Dog Toy
Key Features :
- Durable nylon blend
- Multiple color combos
- Rope tugging toy
- Cleans dog’s teeth
KONG Tugga Wubba Dog Toy
The KONG Tugga Wubba Dog Toy is another toy by the popular Kong brand. It is durable and affordable and comes in three different color combos.
This is a great toy from KONG that also provides their well-known durability and quality at an affordable price point. It’s a rope tugging toy that has had tails added on both ends that wave around randomly when you’re playing with your pooch.
As it’s a KONG toy it’s as durable as you’d expect and it’s not going to break and disintegrate like some other cheaper rubbish rope toys you can find at this price point. Dogs love playing with this product on their own too, you can leave them for hours on end while they chew away (cleaning their teeth at the same time).
It comes in three different multi-color combinations (which is going to be chosen at random) and it is made from some of the strongest nylon blend material you’re going to find in this price bracket.
Chew toys don’t get much better than this at this kind of price, and at around $3.50 it’s one of the best value products we’ve seen.
Can Cheaper Dog Toys be Just As Effective?
Dogs don’t care how much you’ve spent on a toy – they like what they like, regardless of how much it cost.
They don’t care if their latest toy is Wi-Fi enabled and comes with a downloadable app – they just want to chase and chew stuff. In fact, we’ve been in situations with our dogs where they like the packaging more than the toy – which proves our point nicely.
Cheap toys can be exceptionally effective in terms of the amount of fun they provide – but they might not be as “cost-effective” as you might think.
Cheaper products break much more easily, and despite them being much more inexpensive than a quality product you’re going to need to replace them much sooner. It’s usually better to buy one quality toy that’s going to stand the test of time instead of buying multiple cheap toys over and over again.
That being said, you can certainly find cheap toys out there that are going to provide you with a decent amount of life before they give up the ghost – you just need to know where to look.
| Inexpensive Dog Toy Comparison Table | |||
| Rank | Toy | Price | Rating |
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#1 |
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$ |
A+
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#2 |
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$ |
A+
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#3 |
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$ |
A+
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#4 |
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$ |
A+
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#5 |
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$ |
A
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#6 |
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$ |
A
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#7 |
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$ |
A
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Conclusion
So there you have it, that’s what we think are the best cheap dog toys on the market right now.
The truth of the matter is that dogs really don’t care whatsoever about how much you’ve spent on their toy. We’ve all been in the situation where we’ve given a pooch a present that’s cost a fortune and they seem to be more interested in the packaging it came in instead of the toy itself.
The only thing you’ve got to think about here when you’re shopping around for cheap toys is durability. A cheap product that needs to be replaced quickly might be inexpensive – but it’s bad value for money if it’s only going to last for an hour or two.
We’re not going to sit here and tell you the products above are going to last as long as premium toys with premium price tags – because they’re not. But they will provide you with a decent amount of “working life” before they start to degrade – which is about as much as you could ask from a toy that costs less than $3.
They represent the best of the budget price bracket, and they are all more than worthy of your consideration.
