Pet Educational Toys Market - By Type, By Material, By Pet Type, By Price Range, By Distribution Channel, Forecast 2025 - 2034

Pet Educational Toys Market Size

The global pet educational toys market size was valued at USD 8.6 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow from USD 9.3 billion in 2025 to USD 17.5 billion in 2034, at a CAGR of 7.2%. The demand for pet toys is fueled by the increasing number of pet owners, especially in cities. Along with improving a pet’s well-being, educational toys can stimulate them both mentally and physically. The rising perception of pets as family members has resulted in an increase in spending towards their enrichment and educational activities.
 

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) noted a USD 1.25 billion spending on pet toys in the United States for the year 2023, indicating the growing need for products aimed at improving the quality of life of pets. Moreover, a new report by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) shows that in 2023, 59% of pet owners in the UK bought toys for their pets which further focuses on the shift towards pet enrichment.
 

Educating toys serve for mental engagement and tackling boredom, thus making the life of pets better. From the point of view of favorable mental health and well-being, a pet’s educational toys should enable the pet to work both physically and mentally. They can help lower the level of anxiety and stress in pets by ensuring they are mentally engaged. Often educational toys assist in behavioral training. Pets can be trained to display desired behaviors with interactive and problem-solving toys, thus improving their obedience.
 

Due to the presence of numerous suppliers, the pet toys market is quite fragmented with respect to product offering. This may cause fierce competition which may impede the entrance of small or new firms. Quality and safety assurance of educational toys is important. There are cases of certain toys disassembling or becoming a strangulation risk for animals. To earn consumer confidence, there is a need to guarantee stringent limits on materials and design.
 

Pet Educational Toys Market Trends

• Pets can play with interactive toys that stimulate sound, motion or lights and engage them with pets. These toys usually come with features like sensors, timers, or remote-control capabilities which help in interacting with pets even when not physically present at home. There is an increasing trend of pet toys on the market that require pets to solve problems. For example, Outward Hound came up with the Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Puzzle Toy which is a cognitive puzzle toy that enables dogs to slide, lift, and remove pieces to find and help solve and keep them engaged. Pets can be rewarded for good behavior with puzzling and treat dispensing toys that offer mental and physical workouts.
   
• Furthermore, there is an increasing demand for pet toys made from organic, non-harmful, and eco-friendly materials. Pet owners are shifting towards purchasing sustainable eco-friendly pet toys which is in turn increasing the demand for pet toys.  Squishmallow's Chew Mees Pet Toys, a new toy line made from durable and reinforced materials, offers these chew toys with plush characters made from eco-friendly materials. The new collection has plush characteristics which decrease the negative impact on the environment. Eco-friendly multi-functional toys offer pets a better overall experience while providing convenience to pet parents.
   

Pet Educational Toys Market Analysis

• Based on type, the market is divided into plush toys, rope and tug toys, balls, chew toys, squeaky toys, interactive toys and others. In 2024, balls held the dominant market of USD 2.7 billion and is expected to reach USD 5.9 billion by 2034. Versatility is the most significant feature of a ball, as its form is appealing to pets and can be used in many active games. Throwing and fetch games with balls motivate pets to run and improve their cardiovascular fitness as well as agility.
   
• The use of balls for play motivates alertness and problem-solving skills which positively reinforces their mental development. Chewing minimizes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which causes dental hygiene issues and gum disease as well. Chewing toys can minimize anxiety and boredom by redirecting chewing to safe and approved assets instead of destructive ones.
   

• Based on material, the pet educational toys market is categorized into rubber, cotton, nylon, plastic and others. In 2024, rubber toys held the dominant market share of 41.3% and are anticipated to grow through the years. For pets who tend to aggressively chew on toys, rubber options are the most suitable because they do not get damaged and are highly chew resistant, making them tough. Rubber toys withstand rough play and prolonged use, giving pet owners the value for their money.
   
• Some rubber toys are made to encourage dental hygiene by chewing the toy, enabling gum massaging and plaque removal. As with nylon toys, these are also highly sought by owners, as their strength and resilience make them appealing. Stronger or larger breed dogs easily get tired of their toys because of vigorous chewing and playing, so durable toys make things easier. Certain nylon toys are waterproof so they can be used in outdoor and water sports activities.
   

• U.S. held a pet educational toys market of USD 2.4 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5.1 billion by 2034. Pet owners in the U.S. place high importance on their pets' well-being and health. For complete wellness, they look for educational toys with physical and mental exercise components along with dental health promotion. Such toys aid in problem solving and boredom alleviation. This growing population of pets has led to an increased demand of diverse toys, even those which are educational in nature for different species and age groups.  
   
• The German market maintained a considerable position in Europe. The country has a significant number of pet owners for dogs, cats, and other small animals. The growing number of pets creates need for all kinds of toys, especially those which are educational for the different pet species and age groups. German consumers are very favorable of innovations in the pet toys market, which makes parents also purchase such items. The popularity of interactivity in toys for pets is increasing, along with smart and programmable functionalities, as well as remote-controlled ones that encourage challenge in the physical and mental abilities of the pets.
   
• China is supposed to grow at the highest rate of 7.8% in the region. With the rapid rate of urbanization in China, there comes an expansion of the middle class with more money to spend. There is a growing acceptance of pets among urban households, causing the need for better quality products, such as educational toys that can aid in the health and general wellbeing of pets.
   

Pet Educational Toys Market Share

• In 2024, market players such as KONG Company, Nina Ottosson, PetSafe, Trixie Pet Products, West Paw Design, ZippyPaws, Outward Hound and OurPets Company collectively held around 5%-10% market share.
   
• KONG focuses on creating physically strong, interactive and mentally challenging toys for pets. The brand KONG offers classical rubber chewable toys which pets can try to solve a problem with. Keeping pets engaged for a much longer period is accomplished. KONG continues to innovate by introducing variations like KONG Genius which interlocks to offer more difficulty, and KONG Wobbler which is a puzzle that dispenses treats and challenges pets to solve it to get food.
   
• PetSafe stays competitive by combining technology with toys for pets. The Automatic Ball Launcher allowing dogs to autonomously play fetch keeps them entertained. FroliCat Bolt Laser Toy is a laser activated toy for cats. Smart Feed Automatic Pet Feeder fuses toads and feeding creates a stimulating challenge for pets, who have to use the device in order to get food.
   

Pet Educational Toys Market Companies

Major players operating in the pet educational toys industry are:

• BarkBox
• KONG Company
• Kyjen Company, Inc.
• Nina Ottosson
• OurPets Company
• Outward Hound
• Pet Qwerks
• PetSafe
• Petstages
• Planet Dog
• SmartPetLove
• Starmark Pet Products
• Trixie Pet Products
• West Paw Design
• ZippyPaws
   

 Pet Educational Toys Industry News

• In November 2023, BARK, a global omnichannel dog brand, partnered with Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation on a collection of dog toys. Under this partnership, guests visiting Dunkin’ restaurants can take home a Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Combo Dog Toy for a $15donation or a Dunkin’ Sausage, Egg and Cheese Dog Toy for a $13 donation.
   
• In November 2022, Nylabone, a popular brand of Central Garden & Pet Company, announced the launch of its new range of play toysfor creative fun activities.
   

The pet educational toys market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) (Thousand Units) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

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Market, By Product Type

• Plush toys
• Rope and tug toys
• Balls
• Chew toys
• Squeaky toys
• Interactive toys
• Others

Market, By Material

• Rubber
• Cotton
• Nylon
• Plastic
• Others

Market, By Pet Type

• Dogs
• Cats
• Birds
• Others

Market, By Price Range

• Low (upto 10$)
• Mid (10$-30$)
• High (Above 30$)

Market, By Distribution Channel

• Online
  • Company owned websites
  • E-commerce 
• Offline
  • Supermarkets
  • Departmental stores
  • Others (individual stores, etc.)

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico 
• MEA
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa