Dogs have tons of therapeutic benefits and are just great at companionship. They can be part of the family and are one of the best kinds of pets to keep around. However, people don’t always have the time, resources, or strength to care for real dogs. That’s why some people turn to robotic dogs as an alternative. Are you looking for a robot dog toy for yourself or to give to someone else? In this article, we’ve listed the best ones you can find today.
What Is a Robot Dog Toy?
A robot dog toy is exactly what its name sounds like. It’s a robot toy dog that can look and act like a true dog. Some can bark and respond to your touch or voice. Others can wag their tail, tilt their head, engage in races, and even dance around for entertainment. It all depends on the manufacturer, age rating, and what kind of robot dog toy you want.
Regardless, these robotic companions can serve as a substitute for a pet. They’re great for parents whose kids want a dog but aren’t old or responsible enough to have one. What are robot dog toys called? You can call them anything you want. Like a real dog, you can name these pets or ask them to do what you want (within their programming).
Apart from kids, a robot dog toy can also serve as a decent companion for adults. Sure, they don’t act exactly like real dogs. Nonetheless, they’re good enough for folks who are always in a rush and don’t have the time or resources to care for live dogs.
12 Best Robot Dog Toy Models Today
Key Features:
- Looks at you based on your voice’s direction
- Realistic “fur” that’s easy to clean
- Low volume barking
Are there any realistic robot dogs? If realism is your top priority in a robot dog toy, then the Ageless Innovation Joy For All Golden Pup should be your number one choice. That’s because it was specifically curated to become your lifelike pet. It’s great for kids who want a real dog or seniors who need a companion in their old age.
How is it realistic? For one thing, this robot dog toy’s head turns towards its owner. It does this by figuring out the direction your voice is coming from, allowing it to seem truly responsive. Moreover, you can play with the robot dog toy while standing or sitting. It also responds to your touch with puppy noises.
To top it off, Joy For All’s robot dog toy has a mechanical “heartbeat” you can listen to and feel. As a result, it’s great for cuddles and skinship. However, it is quite a bit expensive and can cost $130 to $140, depending on the model.
Key Features:
- Remote controlled
- Four songs included
- Able to dance
- Rechargeable
If you need the best interactive dog toys, we recommend the Dimple DC13991 Interactive Robot Puppy. It’s remote-controlled, so you can make it do anything you want. The robot dog toy can sing, dance, and even talk to your child to keep them company.
In addition, the dog even has educational modes, teaching your child the alphabet through song and a display. It’s also rechargeable so batteries are not needed to maintain its juice. However, its battery life is poor and can only last 30 minutes at a time. Nonetheless, for $44 to $45, it’s a solid choice for children.
Key Features:
- Voice control with 7 commands
- Interactive touches
- Programmable
- Remote-controlled
Fisca’s Remote Control Dog is a dancing robot dog toy that’s deeply interactive and fun. It’s high-tech and offers numerous features. For example, you can use voice commands to control the dog and have it respond.
It also reacts to chin touches, making cute sounds and movements. In addition, this robot dog toy can even play music and dance around. You and your family can have fun with it all you want because of so much variety packed into it.
However, what truly distinguishes it is its programmable nature. Hence, even adults can have fun “training” the dog, teaching it new tricks to respond to different cues. It has sensors and is nimble enough to move the way you want it to. Best of all, it costs less than $45 on Amazon.
Key Features:
- Remote-controlled
- Touch responses
- Performs light shows, sings, and dances
- Programmable
- Power-saving
- Battery-powered
What is the best robotic dog? One could argue that Fisca’s Remote Control Interactive Robot Puppy takes the crown. That’s because it has all the bells, whistles, and essential features you might want in a robot dog toy.
For example, it’s remote-controlled, so you can manage its movements and reactions to your child. In addition, the dog can also act on its own by responding to different touches. It can blink when you pat it, turn its head around, walk, run, and more. The robot dog toy can even sing, dance, and put on a light show for your kids.
Best of all, it’s reprogrammable so you can teach it to do tricks based on different cues. Hence, you can have fun with your child as both of you train the dog. It even has a power-saving mode so you can avoid charging all the time. However, it is somewhat more pricey and can cost $53 to $67.
Key Features:
- Soft and “furry”
- Can “poop” and “eat” like a real dog
- Makes realistic puppy sounds
- Detachable leash
A robot dog toy is usually a more convenient substitute for real dogs. However, the FurReal Friends Pax My Poopin Pup Plush Toy is a little different. That’s because it can “poop” like a real dog while it’s on walks. Hence, you can teach your child to clean up after a real puppy by using this one as training.
What’s more, this robot dog toy can also “eat” like a true pet. It comes with reusable treats you can feed it to simulate feeding your pet. Moreover, it has a detachable leash so you can walk it like a real dog. Best of all, it only costs $25 to $28 on Amazon.
Key Features:
- Remote-controlled
- Touch-sensitive eyes
- Sings, dances, patrols, and barks
- Adjustable volume
- Programmable and rechargeable
The Hi-Tech Remote Control Robot Dog is one of the best robot dog toy models around. Like many others, you can control it via remote even from as far as 30 feet. The dog reacts to touch, and its eyes light up and can even change colors. It’s also packed with features so it can sing, dance, and bark all you want.
Best of all, it has adjustable volume controls, a rechargeable battery, and is programmable. Hence, you can teach it new tricks and bond with your kid through training. It’s also relatively affordable and only costs $35 to $48, depending on the model.
Key Features:
- Available in different breeds
- Eight actions and four levels of volume
- Soft material
- Battery-powered
If you want a realistic robot dog toy, we recommend the Marsjoy Barking Electronic Toy. It’s realistic in that the material is made of soft plush. However, this doesn’t hinder its abilities as it packs eight different actions. It can bark, walk, and even do push-ups or handstands based on claps and touches. The robot dog toy even has different volume levels you can choose from.
However, it does need four double-As to work. Nonetheless, it’s certainly a great choice, especially because you can pick between a Bulldog, Husky, or Pekingese. Moreover, it costs less than $26 on Amazon.
Key Features:
- Remote-controlled
- Infrared and gesture sensors
- Rechargeable
- Programmable
The RACPNEL Remote Control Robot Dog Toy is an awesome companion for those who want flexibility. That’s because it’s not only remote-controlled but it can also respond to gestures and movement. It also has built-in sensors that help it avoid obstacles, allowing for a bit of autonomy.
Best of all, it’s rechargeable and programmable so you can teach it using treat keys. The plastic is also made of durable and safe ABS, so even toddlers are safe to play with it. It also costs less than $34 so it’s relatively affordable.
Key Features:
- Remote and voice-programmable
- 12 different built-in instructions
- Able to imitate other animals
- Performs stunts and tricks
One of the best robot dogs for adults is the Top Race Remote Control Robot Dog Toy. Like most robot dog toy models, it can walk, bark, and even dance for you to entertain you.
However, what distinguishes it is that it can imitate up to 10 other animals. Hence, even though it looks dog-like, it can become a different pet altogether. In addition, it can follow 12 different instructions based on voice or remote control. You can even program it to make different moves.
Finally, it can perform tricks and stunts, so it’s much more entertaining than your average robot dog toy. It’s even rechargeable, so you don’t need batteries unless it’s for the remote control. However, it is expensive because it costs nearly $80 on Amazon.
Key Features:
- Good for toddlers
- Customizable
- Includes four play modes with one that can tell stories
- Educational
The VTech Paw Patrol Treat Time Marshall is one of the best robot dog toy models for toddlers. That’s because not only is it interactive, but it’s also safe to play with and educational. The robot dog toy even comes with various “bones” you can feed it, and it’ll respond with educational facts.
Apart from this, the toy has various play modes, and it can even tell you stories. It also has motorized ears and eyes so he can respond to your child’s interactions.
However, it isn’t the most “robotic” like other dogs because movement isn’t in its skill set. Moreover, it uses double-A batteries and isn’t rechargeable. Nonetheless, it’s affordable and costs less than $35 (but that jumps to $53 or $57 if you get accompanying accessories).
Key Features:
- Programmable
- Controllable via remote, voice, and clapping
- Can do tricks and dances
- Rechargeable
The Yiman Remote Control Robot Dog Toy is a great programmable toy for children. It responds to multiple inputs such as voice, claps, and those from your remote control. Moreover, the dog has a variety of tricks up its sleeve. For example, it can dance to three songs, walk, do handstands, push-ups, and more.
In addition, the dog is rechargeable so you don’t need extra batteries to power it up. It also has a smooth surface and no sharp edges, so it’s safe even for smaller children. Best of all, it costs $31 to 50, depending on the seller.
Key Features:
- A mix of fabric and plastic exterior
- Digitized eyes that can respond to users
- Sensitive to touch and sounds
- Learns 25 tricks
- Rechargeable
The Zoomer Playful Pup is a fun robot dog toy that can accompany you and your kids. It has digital eyes that can respond to your child’s various inputs, whether touch or voice. The dog’s eyes can light up, dim down, or even change in color.
In addition, the robot dog toy can perform up to 25 programmable tricks, so it’s certainly fun to play with in different ways. It’s also made with a mix of fabric and plastic, so it’s both durable and slightly realistic. Best of all, it’s rechargeable so you don’t need to buy batteries to get it to work.
However, it’s the most expensive item on this list and costs up to $300. Hence, it’s not the most easily accessible, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Nonetheless, it’s a good choice if you can afford it.
How Does a Robot Dog Toy Work?
Like any other robot, a dog robot toy works through programming and certain inputs. Depending on the manufacturer, some robo dogs can do simple things like walking, barking, and wagging their tails. Others can even sing or dance, depending on the model you purchased.
These actions are sometimes reactionary, taking cues from the user’s voice or touch inputs. For example, saying “hello” might make the dog bark. On the other hand, other developers choose to give control purely to the user. This is where remote-controlled robot dog toy models usually come in. Meanwhile, some robot dog toy models incorporate a mix of both, allowing for remote control and voice inputs.
Regardless, there will always be cues or an input source from the user before the dog will react. That is unless the robot dog toy was programmed to perform certain actions after specific time frames.
It will then use its mechanical parts, wheels, motors, and gears to move and perform each action. Most robot dog toy models also have sensors to become “aware” of their surroundings. This will keep it from bumping into people or objects while performing tricks. Moreover, sensors can also help the dog track or locate the human when it has to perform something interactive.
What to Look for When Buying a Robot Dog Toy
There are many robot dog toy models available on the market. However, sometimes the number of choices can cripple purchasing decisions because you don’t know which to pick. What should be your main priority when it comes to buying a robot dog toy? Here are some things you might want to consider.
Price
How expensive is the robot dog? That’s one of the first things you have to think about before you purchase a robot dog toy. After all, this is likely a luxury item you’re buying with disposable income. Unless you have tons of extra cash, you’ll need to establish a budget for this.
Most robot dog toy models only cost $30 to $50, give or take a few dollars. However, some premium models do cost over $100, but those come with better quality and extra features. Regardless, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons and see whether or not the price is worth it.
Material
There are two types of robot dog toy models: plastic-based or fabric/plush-based. The former usually comes with some metal components and is usually shiny and hard to the touch.
They’re much easier to clean compared to the plush or fabric-based types. However, they’re more susceptible to damage when a child is roughhousing with the toy. Moreover, these toys are slightly less realistic compared to plush-based robot dog toy models.
Meanwhile, the plush or fabric-based toys are usually much more realistic – at least outwardly speaking. Touching them gives the sensation of petting a real dog as if you’re touching something with fur. Furthermore, they’re less susceptible to damage because they can withstand bumps and rough play better.
On the other hand, they’re not as easy to clean because of the nature of their material. It’s not like you can bathe them, either. In addition, real pets around the house might mistake them for chewing toys so they can break that way.
Features
A robodog isn’t complete without a full set of interactive features. After all, if the dog can’t at least walk or bark, you might as well buy a plush toy. That’s why features are a big consideration when purchasing a robot dog toy. Moreover, if the item is expensive, you should make sure you’re getting your money’s worth from what it can do.
Thankfully, most robot dog toy models can walk, bark, and make a few other noises. However, some higher-end models use artificial intelligence to enhance interactions. These robot dog models can “learn” and respond accordingly, depending on what you teach them.
Finally, some toy dogs let you control them remotely. This is great for kids who are old or intelligent enough to operate remote-controlled toys. Other robot dog toy models respond to voice commands, making them kind of remote-controlled but more realistic.
Battery Life
Like most electronic items, a robot dog can only operate on battery power. Hence, you should consider battery life when purchasing a robot dog toy. How long will it last? Will it last long enough until your kid’s naptime or bedtime? On the other hand, does it only last for an hour on a single charge?
In addition, you should also consider the way the dog toy charges. The ability to charge via USB cable is a big plus because all you’ll need is a cable and outlet. However, cheaper models do tend to require physical batteries that you have to replace.
Try Out a Robot Dog Toy Today!
Dogs are life companions but not everybody’s always ready for the responsibility. Thankfully, there are several reliable robot dog models you can choose from online. These usually come with different lifelike qualities, allowing you to feel like you have a living animal with you. Moreover, many of them are quite inexpensive so nearly anyone with a bit of disposable cash can buy one.
