The 7 Best Toys For Border Collies: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Border Collies are wonderful pets for both singles and families. They love spending time with their owners, although keeping up with their energy can be quite a task.

Of course, the best way to keep them entertained is with the best toys.

But which ones?

Today, we’ll go over the best toys for Border Collies out there, so you can make an educated choice. To provide all of the information you need to know, we teamed up with veterinarians, canine behaviourists and dog parents to form a panel of independent experts. We then spent months researching the best toys for Border Collies available in Australia, testing out several dozen choices before narrowing down this list of our favourites.

Along with the list of top Border Collie toys, we'll also share how to shop for the best toys for your beloved pooch. Let's get to it! 

Australia's Best Border Collie Toys Reviewed

Now that you know what to look for, here are the reviews of the specific products we recommend for your Collie. These are the toys our team of independent experts (and, of course, our dogs) loved to bits due to their durability, price point, and fun factor. Let's check them out.

Border Collies are full of energy, so sooner or later you’ll probably realize you need toys to keep them entertained for a while without your participation. The Bob-A-Lot proves that interactive toys don't have to be overly complicated to be entertaining.

This treat toy is challenging enough to keep your dog entertained, but it’s also fairly simple. So how does that work? Well, the Bob-A-Lot is a topple ball that I filled with treats or kibble. I then placed it on the floor in front of my pooch. The treats will then slowly fall out through a small opening on the side as my dog pushed the ball in different directions.

The cool thing that everyone on our team of independent experts liked is that you can adjust the size of the opening to make it suit different sizes of treats and kibble. You can also use this feature to make the game more or less challenging, as needed.

Related: The Best Dog Subscription Box Australia.

Another nice thing about the StarMark Bob-A-Lot is that it can hold quite a lot of food. You can fit about 3 cups of food in there. This could be a full meal for a Border Collie and is sure to provide hours of light indoor exercise. It's a bit difficult to wash, however, unlike the treat dispensing toy in spot number three that is dishwasher safe. 

Being an energetic breed, Border Collies seem to be tireless when it comes to physical exercise. So, instead of trying to keep them busy by running and performing tricks, it’s better to just give them puzzles to solve. And among such products, Nina Ottosson puzzles are the best option for your Border Collie.

The brand makes puzzles with different levels of difficulty, but for this breed, our team of independent experts suggest something challenging. The Dog Worker is a level 3 puzzle that will surely keep your pooch occupied. There are three steps towards uncovering the treats inside the hidden compartments. Your furry friend will have to swivel the flippers, spin the centre wheel and scoot the blocks to get them all out.

If it seems tough, that’s because it is. But that’s why this toy is great for keeping dogs busy, more so than our number one choice even. That’s a great way to keep them from getting destructive from boredom. What’s more, this toy can also keep your Fido distracted from fireworks, storms or anything else that might frighten the little pooch.

The toy is made from composite plastic and wood material, which is PVC, BPA and phthalate-free. That means it’s safe for your dog to use the toy, and it’s also easy to clean with just soap. However, plastic is not unbreakable, so it’s best to supervise your canine companion while playing with it.

Border Collies are known as workaholics, so they’ll love working for their food as well. For that reason, you can’t go wrong with a treat dispensing toy, like this one by PetSafe.

This toy is designed to slow fast eaters, which is the case with some Border Collies. But even if your pooch isn’t one of those voracious animals, the fun with this toy is guaranteed. This specific model is labelled as Large, and it’s 15 centimetres in diameter. That’s an ideal size for a Border Collie, as you can put the entire kibble meal inside.

Like the dispensing toy in our number one spot, this one leaves kibble behind as it rolls across the floor. Around the hole, the toy features a Treat Meter that prevents small kibble bites from being dispensed at once. In case your dog’s food is slightly bigger, you can trim the Treat Meter to let the kibble through easier.

The toy is made of sturdy plastic that can withstand quite a bit of chewing. And thanks to rubber bumpers all over its body, the plastic doesn’t make a noise when moving and doesn’t slide. At the same time, those bumpers also protect your wood floor from damage. I also loved how this toy is also safe to wash on the top rack of your dishwasher.

Many dogs love playing with plush toys. And we’re not talking about them getting entertained by shredding them to pieces. Some pooches genuinely like plush toys, and if yours is the same, then this Hide-a-Squirrel toy by Outward Hound is worth consideration.

Like other toys by this brand, this toy is designed to keep your pooch’s mind and body occupied. It features a tree trunk and three squeaking squirrel plushies that I hid at the base of the trunk. Then, I let my Fido’s natural hunting instincts kick in while figuring out how to take the squirrels out of the trunk.

What’s even better is that the fun doesn’t end when your dog succeeds in this task. Squirrel plushies are also great for playing fetch and even tug of war if your pooch is gentle when playing with such toys. And don’t worry if one of the squirrels ends up with a missing tail. The brand offers replacement toys as well. This feature alone made our panel of experts give this toy a hearty endorsement.

The plush material is very gentle on a dog’s teeth and gums, so it’s suitable for pooches of all ages. Of course, the material is susceptible to heavy chewing, so you should always supervise your canine companion when playing with this toy.

Border Collies seem to be tireless when it comes to playing fetch, and most pet parents can’t keep up with their energy. Whether you’re too tired to play with your furry friend or you have to go to work, an interactive fetch dispenser like this one by All For Paws would be a life safer for you.

Using this toy is no rocket science, and your Border Collie will surely quickly get the hang of it. Once the ball is dropped through the top chute, the machine forces it out through the bottom hole for your pooch to fetch it. After it dispenses the ball, the toy also dispenses treats to reward your good boy or girl.

Once mastered, rest assured your canine companion will spend hours playing with this machine. No batteries or power source is needed for this toy, as it uses gravity to work. For that reason, our team of independent experts appreciated how you can use it both indoors and outdoors. 

The toy comes with a single ball, which I have to admit isn’t of the best quality and can easily be chewed through. Luckily, you can use any standard-sized tennis ball you might have laying around.

A snuffle mat is a great toy for just about any dog. But it’s exceptionally useful for very energetic breeds like Border Collies that need mental stimulation as much as a physical one. This product by Schitec is basically a gym for your pooch’s nose and mind.

Made of polar fleece, this snuffle mat is very durable and not easy to tear with teeth. Furthermore, it’s also hypoallergenic and gentle on your dog’s nose. The design is very colourful and features different places to hide food, like dense grass and flower petals. Similar to the puzzle in spot number two, there are so many hiding positions for food, you can rest assured your pooch will be occupied for a long time.

To prevent your canine companion from sliding all over the floor while sniffing, the mat features a non-skid bottom. When not in use, the snuffle mat is easy to pack, thanks to the long strap that allows you to roll and tie it tightly. Alternatively, you can use the strap to attach the mat to the furniture and prevent it from moving around.

And when it gets dirty, you can just throw it in the washing machine. Just make sure to use a gentle wash cycle, and the mat will come out as new.

Some dogs love playing with balls above all else. And if your Border Collie is the same, then you should buy a high-quality ball that won’t get destroyed after a few fetching sessions. And these Ultra balls by Chuckit! are just that.

Made of natural rubber, the balls are designed to bounce high. Rest assured your canine companion will run like crazy after these balls. According to our team of independent experts, the material is light and very gentle on a dog’s gum and teeth, but that doesn’t mean it’s soft or easily chewable. These balls are built to last, even if your pooch is a heavy chewer. This sets it apart from the ball that accompanies our number five choice. Furthermore, the material is easily cleaned with just a wipe.

The balls are also buoyant, meaning they can be used on a trip to the beach. And thanks to vivid orange and blue colours, they’re highly visible. So even if they end up in high grass or mud, your energetic Fido will quickly find them.

This specific set features two medium balls, which are the ideal size for a Border Collie. But in case your canine companion prefers smaller or larger ones, you can get them in sizes ranging from S to XL as well.

What I Look For In A Border Collie Toy

Technically, you can get your Border Collie pretty much any toy. But given they’re a very active and intelligent breed, these dogs can easily get bored.

For that reason, you want to find something that can keep your pooch’s mind and body occupied (2).

Of course, there are other things to keep in mind when searching for the right toy. These are the features our team of independent experts suggest you consider:

Material

Given they easily get bored, Border Collies can quickly turn their destructive mode on. And with flimsy toys, that means it can take no more than a few minutes to turn them into a pile of trash.

But durability is not the only thing to keep in mind when looking at the toy material. You also want to keep your pooch safe as well. Nowadays, tons of manufacturers use shady materials to make their toys for less money.

One of the best materials for toys is rubber. It’s durable and gentle on a dog’s teeth and gums. The only thing you need to make sure of is that the rubber used is natural and non-toxic.

Plastic can be both good and bad, depending on how heavy of a chewer your Border Collie is. When choosing a plastic toy, always go with one that’s BPA and phthalate-free.

Finally, plush and polyester toys are only for dogs that are gentle with their toys. These materials aren’t risky unless your pooch chews and swallows them, as they can be a choking hazard.

Size

Border Collies are medium dogs, and their toys should be adequate for their size. A toy that’s designed for smaller dogs can be swallowed by accident.

Toys for larger dogs, on the other hand, can be too difficult to play with.

Your Dog’s Age

Is your pooch just a pup or maybe an old soul? Not all toys will work for dogs of all ages.

For puppies, you want to find something that’s durable. When teething, these little guys will chew on anything in their reach, including their toys. And if you get your young Collie a plastic puzzle, for instance, that will more likely end up being used in the wrong way.

I know from personal experience that elderly pooches might not have the energy or physical condition to play fetch as they used to in their younger days. But while they’re not as fit as they used to be, that doesn’t mean their mind is still not as sharp. Dispensing toys and puzzles are always fun for elderly pooches. (3)

My Final Verdict

No dog is the same, but every member of our team of independent experts could agree that you can’t go wrong by choosing the Bob-A-Lot treat dispenser.

It’s great for Border Collies of all ages and suitable for use even when you’re not home. Since it’s interactive, this toy will keep your pooch occupied for a long time. Between the food it dispenses and its rollicking, unexpected movements, you can rest assued the game remains entertaining.

References

1. Paul, T. June 8, 2022. “Border Collie Dog.” PetMD. Retrieved October 24, 2022. https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_border_collie
2. Watson, E. July 19, 2018. “Why interactive toys are good for your dog.” Animal Wellness Magazine.  Retrieved October 24, 2022. https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/interactive-toys-2/
3. PetMD Editorial. May 30, 2013. “Exercise for Your Senior Dog.” PetMD. Retrieved October 24, 2022. https://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_dg_exercise_for_your_senior_dog