Choosing the right toys for your Shih Tzu puppy is about more than just fun – it's about safety, dental health, and mental stimulation. The wrong toy can cause choking, intestinal blockage, or broken teeth. As a breeder at Delasa Forever Shih Tzu with over 10 years of experience serving families across the USA and Canada, I've tested hundreds of toys with my puppies. This guide shares the best (and worst) toys for Shih Tzus of all ages.
Why Proper Toys Matter for Shih Tzus
Shih Tzus have unique needs when it comes to toys. Their small size means many "small breed" toys are still too large. Their flat faces make picking up certain toys difficult. Their small jaws can't handle hard materials that larger breeds can. The right toys provide:
- Mental stimulation: Prevents boredom and destructive behavior
- Teething relief: Soothes sore gums during puppyhood
- Dental health: Some toys help clean teeth
- Bonding: Interactive play strengthens your relationship
- Exercise: Encourages healthy activity indoors
Safety First: Toy Shopping Rules for Shih Tzus
- Size matters: Toy should be larger than your Shih Tzu's mouth to prevent swallowing
- No small parts: Eyes, noses, buttons on plush toys are choking hazards
- Supervise play: Especially with new toys, until you know how your dog plays with them
- Check for wear: Discard toys that are torn, shedding stuffing, or have loose parts
- Hardness test: If you can't dent it with your fingernail, it's too hard for Shih Tzu teeth
- Avoid magnets: Swallowing magnets causes life-threatening intestinal perforation
🦷 Chew Toys (For Teething & Dental Health)
Best choices:
- Kong Puppy (small size) – fill with peanut butter or wet food
- Nylabone Puppy Chew Toys (chicken or bacon flavor, not hard bone-style)
- Petstages Dogwood Stick (small size) – real wood-like texture without splinters
- Benebone Puppy Wishbone (small) – curved for easy gripping
- Frozen washcloth – cheap, effective, and safe (supervise)
Avoid: Real bones, antlers, hard nylon bones, deer antlers, cow hooves – all can crack Shih Tzu teeth.
🧩 Puzzle & Interactive Toys (Mental Stimulation)
Best choices:
- Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel (small) – hide plush squirrels inside a tree trunk
- Nina Ottosson Dog Twister (beginner level) – slide blocks to reveal treats
- Snuffle mat – hide kibble in fabric strips for sniffing enrichment
- Treat-dispensing balls – roll to release treats
- Muffin tin game – hide treats under tennis balls in a muffin tin
Puzzle toys are excellent for mental exercise – 15 minutes of puzzle play is as tiring as a 30-minute walk.
🧸 Plush & Cuddly Toys (Comfort & Retrieving)
Best choices:
- Small stuffing-free toys (like the "flat" animals with crinkle paper inside)
- Lambskin floppy toys (supervise for ingestion)
- Multi-texture toys (squeaker + crinkle + rope)
Safety note: Many Shih Tzus are aggressive chewers who will disembowel plush toys in minutes. If your dog eats stuffing, avoid plush entirely. If they just carry them around, plush is fine.
🪢 Rope Toys (Tugging & Fetch)
Best choices: Small rope rings or short rope toys for small breeds.
Safety note: Rope toys fray over time. Loose strings can be swallowed, causing intestinal blockages. Inspect regularly and discard when frayed. Only use rope toys for supervised interactive play, not as chew toys.
Toys to Avoid for Shih Tzus
- Rawhide: Choking hazard, not digestible, often treated with chemicals
- Cooked bones: Splinter into sharp shards, cause internal injuries
- Antlers and hard nylon: Most common cause of slab fractures in dog teeth
- Tennis balls: The fuzzy coating wears down teeth like sandpaper
- Toys with small parts: Eyes, noses, buttons, bells – all choking hazards
- String or ribbon: Linear foreign bodies that can saw through intestines
- Latex toys: Small breeds can bite pieces off and swallow
Age-Appropriate Toy Guide
Shih Tzu Puppy (2-6 months – Teething)
Focus on: Soft, flexible chew toys. Frozen washcloths, puppy Kongs, rubber teething rings. Avoid hard toys entirely. Rotate toys frequently to maintain interest.
Young Adult (6-18 months – Active)
Focus on: Interactive and puzzle toys for mental exercise. Durable fetch toys. Supervised rope toys for tugging. Introduce treat-dispensing toys.
Adult (18 months - 7 years)
Focus on: Variety – 2-3 chew toys, 2 puzzle toys, 2 plush toys (if safe). Rotate weekly to prevent boredom.
Senior (7+ years)
Focus on: Soft toys for gentle play. Puzzle toys for mental sharpness. Avoid hard chews as senior teeth are more brittle.
DIY Toy Ideas for Shih Tzus
- Frozen Kong: Fill with plain yogurt, mashed banana, or wet food – freeze overnight
- Snuffle box: Cardboard box filled with crumpled paper and hidden treats
- Treat hunt: Hide kibble around a puppy-proofed room for natural foraging
- Muffin tin game: Place treats in muffin tin cups, cover with tennis balls
How Many Toys Does a Shih Tzu Need?
Quality over quantity. A good Shih Tzu toy rotation includes:
- 2-3 chew toys (for different textures)
- 2 interactive/puzzle toys
- 1-2 fetch toys (ball or soft ring)
- 1-2 plush comfort toys (if your dog doesn't destroy them)
Rotate toys every few days to keep them interesting. Your Shih Tzu doesn't need 50 toys – they need the right toys used effectively.
Find Your Shih Tzu Puppy
At Delasa Forever Shih Tzu, we send each puppy home with a starter toy kit appropriate for their age and chewing style. View our available Shih Tzu puppies for sale or contact Carolina for personalized toy recommendations.
