20 Things From Target That’ll Help Your Pet Enjoy Backyard Time As Much As You Do
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1.A tough toy with a tennis ball inside that your dog will chase for hours. No, your pup can’t get the inner ball out of its rubber casing. But that won’t stop them from trying! Toss the ball to your furry BFF or let them go wild chasing it solo.
2.A rope to play tons of tug-of-war with! Are you searching for an affordable option that also offers plenty of ways to play? This is it — the knotted design is durable and perfect for a backyard game, or two, or three, or four...you get the idea.
3.A squeaky doggy soccer ball so your pup can play goalie. This lightweight, durable toy is bright, bold, and soft enough for your canine companion to easily catch and carry. You don’t need a golden retriever to play a game of toss and retrieve with this noise-maker — any breed of dog will adore this pick!
4.An elevated cooling pet bed with a removable canopy for hours of shaded rest outdoors on a sunny day. *You’ve* got a comfy lounger for the back patio, so why shouldn’t your dog or cat have one too? This cooling pet bed features a raised mesh cot and an umbrella-like top, and packs in its very own travel bag for on-the-go outdoor activities.
5.An elevated dog bowl to keep your pup’s water out of the dirt. Your canine companion needs plenty of hydration on a warm day but you don’t want to put their water bowl directly into the garden or on the hot ground. Enter the elevated option — you can even use this water/food dish for your feline friends too!
6.A light-up Nerf squeaky ball for some nighttime backyard fun. Outdoor play doesn’t have to stop when the sun sets and this toy means your puppy pal will easily find it when you toss it at night. Bonus: The LED light shines bright for 24-hour games of fetch!
7.A maple and bacon flavored chew toy that your dog can take outside. Sticks aren’t exactly safe to chew because while your playful pup will eagerly gnaw on the real deal, sharp pieces of wood and bark can cut Fido’s mouth, throat, or GI tract. Even though these faux sticks aren’t edible, they will satisfy your dog’s urge to turn every tree in your yard into their bountiful brunch.
8.A two-pack of squeaky tennis balls for twice the amount of play. Tired of your pup chewing through your tennis balls? Well, now you don’t have to sacrifice your own sports gear for your dog’s tireless playtime. These balls are made with a special non-abrasive felt that is gentle on your pet’s teeth and have a squeaker inside for an extra layer of sensory stimulation.
9.A Chuckit! Ball Launcher to keep your pup on their toes — or rather, their paws. Don’t have a pro-level baseball pitching arm? No problem. This handy gizmo lets you, as the name implies, chuck it farther than you could on your own.
10.A water-resistant rain slicker for your pet, just in case you both want to spend a drizzly day outdoors. This sweet slicker has a seersucker lining, so it will keep your pup dry and in the height of canine style!
11.A three-pack of flea and tick treatments to protect your pup from outdoor playtime pests. Teeny, tiny biting insects may lurk in the grassy corners of your yard, but you can keep them away with this easy-to-apply, fast-acting, waterproof protection. Not only does it kill adult fleas, it also works on flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, and chewing lice — just be sure to pick the pack that best fits your dog’s size/weight.
12.A flying disc that’s made for your backyard-loving dog, allowing the two of you to get active and play the day away! Forget about those hard discs that can damage your dog’s teeth — the Kong Flyer is made from a soft rubber that is easier on your pup’s mouth during a game of catch.
13.A sturdy rubber ball for your dog to chase and fetch. The faceted design makes this playtime pick more visually interesting than your average ball. Even though your pup might not appreciate the aesthetics, they will still enjoy the toy.
14.A corkscrew-shaped stake to keep your canine from wandering out of the yard. This gives your pup 360 degrees of freedom but won’t let them dash into the neighbor’s space. And don’t worry about a painfully long installation process, this handy little stake is easy for almost every pet parent to use.
15.A cat wand toy to keep your feline friend busy in the backyard. Your indoor/outdoor cat loooooves chasing after birds, but they get their little kitty heart broken every time one of the neighborhood sparrows flies away. Instead of chasing birds that they’ll never catch, your cat can enjoy jumping, rolling, and dashing after this sturdy fishing pole-like toy.
16.A water bottle that’s made for your dog to use during their days of outdoor play. This leakproof bottle is BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and can hold 14 ounces of water. The easy-slide lock makes the bottle, well, easy to use. If you want to take your pup on a jaunt around the neighborhood after a few hours in the backyard, the carry strap makes traveling with this bottle a breeze.
17.A 60-count pack of unscented grooming wipes to keep your cat clean after a messy day outside. Your curious cat may get into just about anything and everything, but when anything and everything happens outside, this means Fluffy ends up covered in a thick layer of grass clippings, mud, plant, stems and more. These hypoallergenic wipes are 99 percent water, made from plant-based ingredients, paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, and don’t include dyes or alcohol.
18.Or a 100-count pack of dog grooming wipes because cats aren't the only pets that deserve some post-play cleanliness! Your pup would gladly spend the rest of the day caked in mud and muck, but you’re not exactly ready to snuggle up to the dirt shirt that is currently covering your doggo. Enter this lavender dog wipe!
19.A tough Tuffy tug-of-war toy that can also float. Looking for toys that can go into your paddling pool? This interactive activity-maker plays well on the grass or in the water. And don’t stress about getting it dirty, because it’s machine washable too!
20.A collapsible bowl to feed your pet easily outdoors. This on-the-go bowl is perfect for playtime feedings in your own backyard, at the park, or at your BFF’s outdoor bash. Simply squish the bowl (okay, so you actually collapse it into itself), toss it into your pet bag, and go. You can also hook it onto the edge of your backpack with the attached carabiner clip!
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.