Best Training Toys For Bulldogs
Bulldogs are strong-willed, stubborn, and built like tanks, but they’re also loyal, playful, and eager to please—when properly motivated. If you don’t keep their mind and body engaged, they’ll find their own way to entertain themselves. And trust me, you won’t like it—think chewed-up furniture, destroyed shoes, and a dog that flat-out ignores you when you try to train them.
As a veterinarian with ten years of experience and someone who runs a sanctuary for stray dogs and cats, I know firsthand that training a Bulldog isn’t about force—it’s about outsmarting them. The right training toys can make all the difference. They turn lessons into games and keep your Bulldog focused, engaged, and eager to learn.
1. Treat-Dispensing Puzzle Toys – Keep Their Brain Busy
Bulldogs love food, so if you want them to actually pay attention, use their stomach to your advantage. Treat-dispensing toys make them work for their reward, which keeps them mentally engaged and prevents them from getting bored.
👉 Best Options:
- KONG Classic – Fill it with peanut butter or kibble to keep them occupied.
- Outward Hound Puzzle Feeder – Makes them think before they get their treats.
- Starmark Bob-a-Lot – Wobbles around, forcing them to figure out how to get the food out.
💡 Pro Tip: If your Bulldog eats too fast, a puzzle feeder slows them down and prevents bloating—a real risk for this breed.
2. Tug Toys – Burn Energy and Build Discipline
Bulldogs are strong dogs with powerful jaws, and they love a good tug-of-war session. Tug toys aren’t just for fun—they teach impulse control and reinforce the “drop it” command.
👉 Best Options:
- Goughnuts Tug Toy – Tough enough for Bulldog jaws.
- Mammoth Flossy Rope Tug – Helps clean their teeth while they play.
- West Paw Bumi Tug – Stretches and bends, making it fun and challenging.
💡 Pro Tip: Always win the tug game—you’re the leader, not them. Teach them to release the toy on command.
3. Interactive Training Balls – Teach Commands Through Play
Bulldogs aren’t natural retrievers, but they still love to chase and pounce. Training balls help with obedience, coordination, and energy management.
👉 Best Options:
- Jolly Pets Bounce-N-Play – Big, tough, and perfect for Bulldogs that love to chase.
- Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Squeak Ball – Adds a squeak to keep them interested.
- iFetch Automatic Ball Launcher – Great for Bulldogs who need extra exercise.
💡 Pro Tip: Use training balls to teach “fetch,” “come,” and “drop it”—all essential commands.
4. Chew Toys – Save Your Furniture from Destruction
Bulldogs love to chew, and if you don’t give them something safe to chew on, they’ll go after your couch, shoes, or table legs. Chew toys help with teething, boredom, and anxiety.
👉 Best Options:
- Nylabone Dura Chew – Tough enough for heavy chewers.
- Benebone Wishbone – Flavored to keep them interested.
- Goughnuts MAXX Chew Ring – Nearly indestructible.
💡 Pro Tip: Rotate their chew toys every few weeks so they don’t get bored.
5. Scent Work Toys – Engage Their Nose and Brain
Bulldogs might not be natural hunters, but their noses are still powerful. Scent-based training toys tap into their instincts and keep them mentally engaged.
👉 Best Options:
- Snuffle Mat – Hide treats in the fabric for them to sniff out.
- Nina Ottosson Treat Puzzle – Makes them work for their food.
- K9 Nosework Kit – Trains them to recognize different scents.
💡 Pro Tip: Bulldogs get bored easily, so scent work is a great way to keep their brain engaged without overworking their body.
6. Flirt Poles – Build Focus and Coordination
A flirt pole is basically a giant cat toy for dogs—you hold a stick with a rope and a toy attached, and your Bulldog chases and grabs it. This helps with impulse control, coordination, and overall obedience.
👉 Best Option:
- Squishy Face Studio Flirt Pole – Built tough for strong dogs like Bulldogs.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the flirt pole to teach “sit,” “wait,” and “drop it” while burning off excess energy.
7. Balance and Agility Toys – Improve Strength and Control
Bulldogs have a sturdy build, but they can lack balance and body awareness. Agility toys help them gain control over their movements and build muscle strength.
👉 Best Options:
- FitPAWS Balance Disc – Strengthens their core and improves coordination.
- K9FITbone Balance Trainer – Great for body awareness training.
- Dog Agility Tunnel – Fun way to teach confidence and obedience.
💡 Pro Tip: Bulldogs aren’t the most agile dogs, but low-impact balance training keeps them fit and prevents injuries.
Final Thoughts: Train Smart, Not Hard
Bulldogs aren’t the easiest dogs to train, but they respond well to the right motivation. If you try to train them without making it fun, you’ll be met with stubborn refusal. The right training toys turn lessons into games, making your Bulldog engaged, obedient, and well-behaved.
✅ Use treat-dispensing puzzles to engage their brain.
✅ Tug toys teach impulse control and strength training.
✅ Interactive balls improve obedience through play.
✅ Chew toys prevent destructive behavior.
✅ Scent work toys tap into their natural instincts.
✅ Flirt poles build focus and agility.
✅ Balance training strengthens their body awareness.
Use the right training toys, and you’ll have a Bulldog that listens, learns, and stays out of trouble. Ignore their need for mental and physical stimulation, and you’ll have a stubborn, destructive, uncontrollable bulldozer in your house.
The choice is yours.
