Best Husky Toys

What do Huskies Like to do for Fun?

Just about anything that involves some sort of physical activity and/or their brains!

Some of the obvious Husky hobbies point back to the pup’s true calling as a sled dog. So basically, running, pulling stuff while running, and running some more.

But that isn’t the only hobby a Husky has. The breed also likes digging, swimming, agility training, socializing, sniffing, playing, hiking, chewing, eating…

You know, typical dog stuff, just with a particularly large dose of enthusiasm.

What do Huskies Like to Play With?

The honest answer? Anything and everything they can get their teeth and paws on!

And that’s where you come in. Providing your Husky with enough stuff to keep him busy is key.

So, let’s get started.

1. Toys

Okay, yeah, fairly obvious. You should definitely provide your dog with some toys.

But what kinds of toys is the question. And the answer is–a wide variety. But we’ll go into greater depth about types of toys in a bit.

For now, I want to focus on helping your Husky get the most out of whatever toys he does have.

Chances are you have some sort of toy basket or bucket for all your pup’s playthings. But I can promise you–even if you fill it until it overflows with toys, your Husky is likely still going to get bored.

Let me guess. You’re probably thinking, “Well, that’s great. What’s the point of spending money on toys then?” But trust me, toys are still important!

But there’s a trick to the art of dog toys.

Instead of leaving your pup with dozens upon dozens of playthings, create a toy-rotation schedule.

Put away that big toy bucket and instead just bring out a few toys. But don’t just chuck ‘em at your dog and expect him to go for them on his own. Spend a few minutes getting your pup all excited about them first.

A few days later when your pup seems to have lost interest in those toys, put them away and bring out some different ones.

Then repeat!

This way, your Husky always has something seemingly exciting and new every few days. So he’s less likely to get bored of his toys and seek out your new pair of shoes!

2. Dirt

Obviously dogs don’t like playing with dirt the way a little kid would do–building sandcastles and such. But Huskies do like to dig.

So try to satisfy that urge by providing your dog with a place where he won’t get scolded for digging. A sand box or designated dirt pit out in the backyard would be perfect.

Spend some time encouraging your dog to dig there and only there. If you see him digging up your petunias, then firmly tell him “no” and lead him over to his digging spot instead.

You may even spend some time digging with him! Dig up several holes yourself and bury his favorite toys or some tasty treats. That’ll help him satisfy his urge to tear into the ground with all his might!

3. You!

Being the social and companion-type canines that they are, Huskies LOVE spending time with their people. And they love playing with their people, too.

So make sure you give your Husky lots and lots of attention and deliberate playtime.

But since chances are you can’t always be there to play with your pup, you may consider some stand-in substitutes.

Hiring a dog walker or bringing your pup to doggy daycare are both great ways to give your Husky the social interaction he needs.

Another option is to get your Husky a canine companion. After all, there’s no better playtime than a playtime spent with friends. So consider finding your pup a playmate!

How to Keep Your Husky Entertained (When You Can’t be With Him)

In the House

Even though you’re always going to be your Husky’s favorite one to play with, you’re likely not going to be available for playing 24/7.

That’s why it’s important to give your pup lots of things to keep him busy when you can’t be there.

Your Husky would be happiest with access to the yard while you’re away. But if that’s not an option, there’s plenty of entertainment you can provide around the house as well.

Toys are going to be very important. But before you go to the pet store and buy the first dog toy you see, read on! There are all sorts of toys on the market. And as I said before, it’s important for your pup to have a variety.

He’ll need something durable that he can chomp on when he feels that strong urge to chew. He should also have some puzzle and interactive-type toys filled with yummy treats to keep his brain active.

And if your Husky does have another dog friend, then some tug toys would be great, too! (Assuming you can trust your pups to get along and not fight over that enticing rope toy!)

If possible, leave some curtains or blinds open on your windows. Especially if your Husky is confined to the house only. This way he can get a small taste of the outside world. And he can (hopefully) choose to spend a good portion of his day just watching passersby instead of destroying things.

Window watching isn’t your pup’s only option, though. You might even consider leaving the T.V. on for him to watch! It may sound silly, but it’s true–YouTube has a variety of videos made specifically to entertain dogs. So take some time to experiment. Does your dog enjoy watching videos of scampering squirrels and tweeting birds? Or maybe he prefers watching his own kind: other Huskies!

Providing things to keep him busy is definitely high on the priority list. But don’t forget the other basic necessities.

Your Husky should have a cozy place where he can go to feel safe and get some sleep. This could be an open crate or just an extra comfy dog bed. Food and water should also be available.

In the Yard

If access to the yard is an option, then be sure to take full advantage! There’s all sorts of potential fun to be had outside.

For starters, provide him with the same things you would if he were to stay indoors. Toys, food, water, shelter. And be sure to not skimp on the water and shelter bit.

Depending on the weather, a Husky will get a lot hotter outside than he ever would in the house. So make sure he has plenty of water and shade.

But enough with the basics. Let’s move on to the fun!

Remember how it’s a good idea to provide your Husky with a window when indoors? Well, the same applies for outdoors! (Well, sort of.)

If you have a tall, solid fence, you might consider building your Husky a lookout post. For instance, a tall pile of gravel or a sturdy wood structure would give your dog some height so that he can overlook his domain. Just be sure that his lookout tower is far enough away from the fence that he won’t be able to use it as a staircase to escape!

I’ve mentioned it before, but a dirt or sand pit is definitely a must!

You may also consider filling up some kiddie pools. Most Huskies love splashing around and would much appreciate a cool patch of water to wade in.

Treat hunts are also a great option. Again the sandpit is a great place to bury treats. But you can also hide other yummy surprises around the rest of the yard, too.

5 Fun Siberian Husky Games

1. Hide and Seek

This game is my pup’s all-time favorite, and I’m sure your Husky will love it, too!

The rules are simple. First, have your dog sit-stay in a designated location. Then, go and hide somewhere in the house or yard. Shout out, “Come find me!” to have your pup come seek you out. When your dog does find you, give lots of praise and even some treats.

It’ll probably take some time to teach your Husky the object of the game (and the commands if he doesn’t know them already). But with some practice, he’ll get the hang of it and will eagerly come running to find where you are.

As he gets better at the game, you can make it more difficult by hiding in harder places. You can even try to give him some false leads. For example, open and close the closet door, but then go hide in the bathroom.

2. Tug of War

Tug of war is definitely a traditional go-to dog game. Just grab a good tug toy such as a braided rope and go for it!

There’s one rule to follow when playing this game, however: if your Husky’s teeth come in contact with your skin, the game stops. This reinforces to your dog that mouthing people isn’t acceptable, not even in play.

Besides practicing and following this important rule, you can also use tug to teach your dog some other manners.

For example, playing tug gives you the perfect opportunity to practice the “give it” command. Start out playing as normal. Sometimes you’ll win. Sometimes he’ll win. But every so often, tell him to “give it.”

When he hears this command, the game should stop until you cue him to start playing again. It may take some practice at first (and some tasty rewards for actually letting go of the toy). But it’s definitely a golden opportunity to teach your pup some good habits.

3. Frisbee

Frisbee is another common favorite. It’s basically just fetch, but with a disc.

Still, some dogs prefer a frisbee over a ball or stick simply because it gives them an excuse to leap into the air and catch something on the fly. Plus a frisbee tends to go farther than other objects, so more exercise for your pup and less throwing for you.

Win-win!

4. Soccer

It’s pretty funny to watch a dog try to bite a ball that’s way too big for his mouth. Sometimes he’ll even get a bit obsessive with trying to defeat-deflate it!

Hint: find a soccer ball that’s sturdy and not easily punctured.

Once you find a good ball, the game is on! You and your Husky will probably spend hours running around after it. And your pup will quickly become an expert at kicking it around with his paws and nose.

5. Agility

Doing agility with your dog can be really fun and is great exercise for both of you.

But if signing up for an agility class with your dog isn’t an option, you can still create your own agility course at home.

Just look around and use what you can find! You can stack up books for your dog to jump over, create tunnels from cardboard boxes, and use chairs for him to crawl under.

It’s a great way to spend an afternoon with your pup!

Best Chew Toys for Huskies 

As I’m sure you’re all too aware, Huskies are chewers. And not just Husky puppies. Nope. These dogs take their active jaws with them into adulthood.

And it takes a very sturdy toy to keep Huskies busy for more than a couple of minutes.

Of course there are many indestructible toys available for purchase. But often times even these are “indestructible” for only a short period of time.

Still, such toys are the best we got when it comes to Husky entertainment. At the very least, so-called indestructible toys are definitely going to last longer than some of the alternatives.

So look for durable toys meant for heavy chewers. Toys made of strong rubber, thick rope, or nylon are great options.

On the other hand, plushies and toys made of soft or even hollow rubber (think rubber ducky) should be avoided. Not only will these types of toys live a very short life, but they can also pose a choking hazard to your Husky.

In short, if a toy looks like it can be ripped up in less than 5 minutes, odds are it will be.

Best Puzzle Toys for Huskies

Since the Siberian Husky has such an active mind, he’s going to need a bit more than your average chew toy to keep him satisfied.

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Luckily, there’s lots of puzzle toys available to make your Husky think. These types of toys are very engaging because they require your pup to work for his favorite thing–food!

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Thus even if your dog is getting tired of his new puzzle toy, chances are he’s going to keep working at it just so he can get the tasty reward.

So what do puzzle toys look like exactly? Well, there’s a wide variety.

Some look sort of like a board game, with compartments that must be opened by nudging a little plastic door or sliding around a small disc.

Others require your pup to flip a hanging bottle upside down to deposit a tasty treat.

And puzzle toys can even be homemade! For instance, just grab a cupcake pan, pop a few treats in each of the compartments, then stick a tennis ball over each hole. These fuzzy, green “cupcakes” may not look very tasty to us. But your dog is sure going to have a party nudging all the balls aside to get to the treats!

Interactive Dog Toys for Huskies

Puzzle toys are one type of interactive dog toy, but there’s also other things out there to keep your Husky entertained.

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For example, some dog toys are battery-operated, so they bounce and move around on their own. There’s also gadgets that throw a ball for your pup so you don’t have to.

Of course, like with any toy, your dog may lose interest after a while. And even with treat puzzles, your smarty-pants Husky is going to get the knack of it soon enough.

But never fear!

You can put yourself one step ahead of him by rotating his interactive toys along with all his other playthings. That way he always has something “new” to play with and rediscover!

You can also shake things up by hiding treat-filled toys and puzzles around the house. That way, your pup has to search around before he can even begin to work for the actual treat part!

Best Toys for Husky Puppies

All dogs chew, but a puppy’s urge to chew is especially strong. Especially during the teething stage. So you’ll definitely want to be prepared with lots of chew toys!

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Otherwise you may have to say goodbye to your favorite pair of slippers…

Best Chew Toys for Husky Puppies

So, what kinds of chew toys are best for Siberian Husky puppies?

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Well, you’ll need to find something durable, safe, and interesting.

(Which may seem daunting.)

But trust me, it isn’t as hard as it sounds.

Durable

Your Husky may be a puppy, but he’s still a Husky, which means he’s still got some strength to his bite. So any chew toys you get him need to be durable (unless you want to be buying a new one every few days!)

Finding a durable toy for a Husky puppy isn’t too different from finding one for an adult. You can refer back to the above section on chew toys for adult Huskies. But as a general rule, you’ll want things made of strong rubber, thick rope, or nylon.

Safe

Safety is of course an important concern when it comes to chew toys. And there’s a few things to be aware of when it comes to keeping your pup safe.

First, you’ll need to ensure that chew toys are appropriately sized for your growing dog. A toy meant for a young puppy can get stuck in an older pup’s throat. So make sure to replace smaller toys once your Husky outgrows them.

The same goes for a partially-chewed toy. If your puppy is starting to pull off little bits of toy, you’ll probably want to retire it and get a new one. Again, your pup can easily choke on small parts.

Interesting

Ah, now here’s the trickier bit. You’ll need to provide chew toys that are more enticing to your pup than the leg of the dining table.

Still, this isn’t too difficult. Especially since food-stuffed toys are just as exciting to a Husky puppy as they are to an adult. So be sure to invest in some treat-filled toys!

In addition, you’ll want to get some toys that can provide relief for your teething pup’s sore gums.

Toys with texture can help. For instance, a strong rubber chew toy that also has some bumps and ridges is just the thing. Cold chews are also a good idea. You can purchase toys designed to be frozen.

Or you can simply freeze some beef broth into cubes and give those to your pup.

Related Reading

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• Can Huskies be Service Dogs?