I have a basket in my living room overflowing with dog toys (pictured above) with probably more if you count the ones hiding under the couch. You’d think my dog hit the jackpot, right? But here’s the thing: if I leave all those toys out at once, he’ll sniff around, maybe grab one, and then wander off to stare out the window. Within ten minutes, he’s bored. Every. Single. Time.

I used to wonder why my dog lost interest in his toys so quickly. Was I buying the wrong toys? Was he just picky? Turns out, the problem wasn’t the toys—it was that he had too many choices at once. That’s when I discovered the power of dog toy rotation.

Rotating Dog Toys

One weekend, I was cleaning up and decided to stash most of the toys in a closet. I left out just three: his favorite squeaky donut, a rope tug, and a treat ball. The next morning, it was like my dog had never seen the donut before—he was tossing it in the air, carrying it around, and basically acting like it was the best thing ever. A week later, I swapped out the donut for a plush fox he hadn’t seen in a while, and boom—same excitement.

Now, I keep most of his toys hidden away and just rotate a few out every week or so. It’s honestly kind of hilarious to watch him “rediscover” a toy he’s had for years. He gets so amped up, and I get a break from feeling guilty about not buying him new stuff all the time. Rotating dog toys has truly solved the problem of dog toy boredom in my house.

The “Special” Toy: Making Playtime Unique

Here’s something else I’ve noticed: there’s one toy I keep just for when we play together. For us, it’s this ridiculous squeaky rubber chicken. I don’t know what it is about that chicken, but if I pull it out, my dog loses his mind. He knows it’s playtime with me, not just solo chewing. I think he actually likes that it’s our thing—he’ll bring it over and drop it at my feet, tail wagging, waiting for me to join in.

Saving a favorite toy for interactive play makes it extra special. If you want to know the best way to keep dogs interested in toys, try having one or two “special” toys that only come out for playtime with you.

How to Rotate Dog Toys

If you’re like me and have a small mountain of dog toys, try hiding most of them and only leaving out a few at a time. Swap them every week or whenever your dog seems bored. Here’s a simple routine that’s worked for me:

• Sort all your dog’s toys and pick 3–5 to leave out.

• Hide the rest in a closet or bin your dog can’t access.

• Rotate toys every week to keep things fresh.

• Keep one or two “special” toys for playtime with you only.

This easy system keeps my dog excited and engaged, and it’s honestly the best way I’ve found to prevent dog toy boredom.

Why Dog Toy Rotation Works

Dogs love novelty. When you rotate toys, every “new” batch feels exciting and different, even if your dog has played with them before. This approach also helps toys last longer and keeps your dog mentally stimulated—especially important if you’re busy or working from home.

Dog toy rotation has made my life easier and my dog way more interested in his toys. No more buying new stuff every month, and no more sad puppy eyes when he’s bored. It’s a win-win.