The 10 Best Paw Patrol Toys
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2020:
Our list contains updates based on newly released items and careful consideration of available Paw Patrol toys. We replaced the outdated Zuma Super Pup, which is a single character, with the Zuma Hovercraft. Both toys cost about the same, but the latter features a vehicle alongside the character figure.
We replaced the Air Patroller with the Sea Patroller for several reasons. Firstly, the award-winning Sea Patroller has more interactive features than the former, including a moveable crane and connecting cage. It also comes with a car, a Ryder figure, floaties, and an octopus pal. We think these add-ons warrant the higher price point.
The newer and bigger Lookout Tower deserved a spot on our list over the Lookout Playset. They both feature lights and a turning periscope, but the tower is twice the height and has a multi-colored base for patrol cars. However, for some, these updates may not be worth the substantially higher cost.
The newer VTech Read To Me replaced the Treat Time Marshall because it includes just as many engaging activities and it's made of soft plush instead of hard plastic. You don’t have to deal with the dog bones that get lodged in the Treat Time Marshall, and you get the satisfaction of encouraging reading over snacking.
The Action Pack Rescue Team is no longer available and was replaced by the Pup To The Rescue Driver. This interactive game moves away from physical characters and puts your child in a position to experience adventures first hand. As a bonus, your toddler will be one step closer to completing driver’s ed.
The Rescue Transport got booted in favor of the more dynamic Launch ‘N Haul. While they look nearly identical on the outside, the Launch ‘N Haul accommodates more vehicles and offers three interactive rescue missions, while somehow managing to be less expensive.
If you’re all set on action figures and want adventure vehicles, there are some great choices on our updated list. The Tracker's Jungle Cruiser provides off-road fun and is good for backyard missions. However, if your kid is fascinated by firemen, the Ultimate Rescue Marshall Fire Truck is the best option on our list.
If you have a water baby, you may want to choose a land-to-water car like the Zuma Hovercraft. Its compact size makes it a great bath toy. If you want the look of a traditional boat, you may want to choose the Sea Patroller. However, it’s worth noting that it should not be fully submerged.
And finally, if you’re looking for something other than pups and plastic cars, there are a couple of items on our list that may suit you. The Pup To The Rescue Driver offers an exhilarating perspective, as your kid gets to be Ryder himself, racing through streets to the Paw Patrol theme song. Alternatively, for slower-paced fun, the VTech Read To Me teaches story structure, reading comprehension, and the valuable skill of listening.
November 07, 2019:
Even if every kid in your household loves the Paw Patrol characters, they may each like to play in a different way, or could be in various stages of development. We believe our selection of toys should keep cuties of most ages entertained and satisfied.
Those at a more advanced stage of creativity who like a product that can do multiple things might enjoy the Paw Patroller Rescue & Transport and the Mighty Pups Super Paws. While both do, when completely closed, seem like simple modes of transportation that kids can move around and pretend to operate, once open, they reveal command centers and cabins for figures to sit and interact with more features. Parents will also appreciate that these become quite compact and ready for storage once shut — and on that note, we removed the Adventure Bay Railway Track, as it can take up quite a bit of floor space and has a lot of little pieces that are easily lost.
If your children are just looking to expand their roster of figures, there is the Zuma Super Pups and the Action Pack Rescue Team. Since they're small, they can easily go in your kiddos' backpacks, so they can bring their beloved companions with them to school and beyond.
What Exactly Is Paw Patrol?
Now, I’m not inept when it comes to entertaining children, but Emily had one thing she wanted to do and one thing only: to watch Paw Patrol.
A few years ago, I went up to Seattle to visit a friend who I hadn’t seen in quite a while. In the time since I last visited, he and his wife had had the first of their two children, a young girl named Emily who was four years old at the time of my visit. They had also just had their second child, Theodore, who was still at an age that required a lot of maintenance and supervision.
At a certain point, it felt to me to keep an eye on young Emily while my buddy and his wife attended to the needs of their youngest. Now, I’m not inept when it comes to entertaining children, but Emily had one thing she wanted to do and one thing only: to watch Paw Patrol. I don’t have children of my own quite yet, so I had never heard of this particular show. It’s also worth noting that my inner child is alive and well, so when the first episode started, I was about as excited as Emily was.
If you are as unfamiliar with the show as I was before I first saw it, let me give you a brief synopsis. Essentially, Paw Patrol is a television show about a team of painfully cute puppies who each have jobs somewhere in the public service sector of what I believe is meant to be San Francisco, though the city in the series is technically called Adventure Bay.
On any given day, this group of adorable workers heads out into the field to utilize their specific skills for good within their community. There’s a police dog, a mountain climbing dog, a dog in charge of recycling, and a firefighting dog who, as you may have guessed, is a dalmatian. In addition to the exciting story lines involving heroism and bravery on the part of the animals, the show helps teach kids about caring for animals and for their world, maintaining their communities through voluntary acts of public service.
I spent the afternoon getting up to speed on all the pups, their individual talents and jobs, and what to expect out of a given episode. I am by no means an expert on the series at this point — nowhere near the level that you and Emily had attained in her brief years on this planet — but I left Seattle with a firm sense that the generation coming up right now has at least one good cartoon that is smart, entertaining, and food for the soul.
The Best Paw Patrol Toys For Your Kids
Before you endeavor to pick out a Paw Patrol toy for your child, it would be smart to get a firm grasp of which of the characters they connect with most. There are enough dogs on the show that your son or daughter probably has a favorite, and they might even have one or two that they don’t like so much. The last thing you want to do is show up with a toy that centers on the character most alien to them. If your selection can show them that you’ve been paying attention to their likes, it’ll be all that much more meaningful to them.
If your selection can show them that you’ve been paying attention to their likes, it’ll be all that much more meaningful to them.
That said, I remember being a kid and wanting nothing but Jurassic Park toys. It didn’t matter which one. All that mattered was that they had anything at all to do with the film. In that sense, there’s a good chance that whichever of the toys you select from our list, your kid’s going to like it.
From a parenting perspective, some of the toys on our list may offer additional benefits when compared to others. Something that requires a little construction, for example, a replica of the station where all the pups hang out, or a train set or similar toy, will give your kids a sense of accomplishment in putting it together, as well as the increased motor skills associated with that kind of building toy.
If your child has a particular fascination with one character, you can certainly get them a toy figure of that character, many of which come with the vehicle that they drive in the show. This can help reinforce ideas that the show has to teach them about community service. On the other hand, if your kids are new enough to the show that they might not have a favorite character just yet, you can get them a set of figures with all of the dogs in it, and see which one they gravitate to before buying a larger toy for one specific dog.
Turning Ideas Into Action
One of the great things about Paw Patrol is what it has to teach our children about caring for our community and caring for animals. As your kids start to get a handle on what each dog’s job is, you have a unique opportunity to teach them even more about that job, and even give them little tasks that can make them feel like they’re part of the show.
Chase the police dog will help you begin to teach your kids about right and wrong.
For example, some episodes focus on Rocky, the dog responsible for waste management. If your kid seems to like those episodes, they make a great introduction to a conversation about recycling and sustainability. They might also give you a chance to invite your kids to help you with chores like sorting recyclables or taking out the trash. Creating a firm, fun foundation in these kinds of activities from a young age can make them into more responsible members of society later in life.
Marshall the firefighting dog gives you an opportunity to emphasize the tenets of fire safety around your home. Chase the police dog will help you begin to teach your kids about right and wrong. And Rubble the construction dog might be just the thing to help you finally teach your kids to clean up after themselves around the house. There are more dogs, and more lessons laying in wait with each episode, and combined with the right set of toys, Paw Patrol has the potential to be a wonderful addition to your child’s upbringing.