Puppies are notorious chewers, especially between 3 and 7 months of age, and most pet supply stores sell a variety of toys that keep teething puppies busy and away from whatever you don’t want them to chew. Examples include Kong Puppy Chew rubber bones, binkies, tires, and classic Kong-shaped toys in pink or blue, plus Bininl Puppy Toys for Teething made of natural rubber, which come in six different shapes designed for chewing.
What To Look for When Picking the Best Dog Toys for Heavy Chewers
WDJ’s 2024 review of dog toys for serious chewers listed qualities to keep in mind while searching for toys that will survive your dog’s attention. In addition to looking for toys made of safe-for-pups materials, search for toys that are an appropriate size and shape for your dog and also have:
- No small parts (choking hazards)
- Some give or flexibility (aren’t brittle)
- Some weight or heaviness (aren’t flimsy)
- Minimal seams or no seams
Small parts to avoid include plastic eyes, noses, horns, or other projections. If a toy isn’t securely stitched together, your pup may enjoy removing stuffing and squeakers.
To choose the best size for your pup:
- Focus on anatomy and look for toys that extend beyond both sides of your dog’s mouth and are slightly wider than his nose. Whenever you have a choice between two sizes that are possible matches for your dog, choose the larger.
- Consider your dog’s age, as puppies need soft, flexible toys for teething, while adults enjoy dense rubber for jaw exercise, and most seniors prefer softer materials like plush toys or silicone.
- Match a toy’s durability to your dog’s chewing strength. For aggressive chewers, look for toys labeled “heavy duty,” “power chewers,” “extra strong,” or something similar.
- Press the toy with your fingernail to see if it leaves a mark, which is associated with appropriate hardness. Toys that are too hard to leave a mark can damage teeth, and toys that are too soft can break into small pieces. Avoiding hard toys is important for puppies, especially before their adult teeth grow into place.
No matter which new toys you offer your chew-happy dog, there are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to dog chews:
- Check the toy’s label or product website for instructions.
- Supervise your dog, especially with puppies or aggressive chewers.
- Separate chewing dogs if there is any chance of resource guarding or arguments.
- Don’t leave your dog in a crate with a new toy that is very hard, might splinter, or might break into pieces that could cause choking or an intestinal obstruction.
- Replace a toy when it’s chewed down enough for your dog to swallow, if you see deep cracks or sharp edges, or if the toy has lost its shape and no longer matches the original design.
- Pay close attention to the toy’s size relative to your dog’s mouth and jaw. The toy should be larger than your dog’s back molars when she bites down. Avoid any toy that could fit behind the canine teeth because that is a choking risk.
- Choose large, oversized, tough chew toys for aggressive chewers.
Replace rope or fabric toys that have long, loose strings that could be swallowed
Toughest Dog Toys for Heavy Chewers
| Product and Maker | Best for | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kong Extreme | Power Chewers | $9 – $27 | Natural rubber, market leader, 60-day satisfaction replacement/refund guarantee |
| Goughnuts | Aggressive Chewers | $25 – $40 | Engineered rubber, red safety indicator, lifetime replacement/refund guarantee |
| Monster K9 | Destructive Chewers | $20 – $25 | Proprietary rubber, recommended by many military/K9 handlers, lifetime replacement/refund guarantee |
| WestPaw Hurley | Fetch/Chew Combo | $13 – $21 | Zogoflex rubber/plastic, very low return rate, lifetime replacement/refund guarantee |
| Chew King Supreme | Moderate/Strong Chewers | $5 – $17 | Natural rubber, safety air vent, no replacement/refund guarantee |
Best Rubber Dog Toys for Strong Chewers
No toy is impossible for dogs to destroy, but, as the table above suggests, rubber toys are most often recommended for heavy chewers.
Kong Company’s “Extreme” toys are made of black heavy-duty rubber known for its durability. The collection includes goodie ribbons, bones, donuts, rings, tires, and balls in different sizes.
Goughnuts Chew Toys, made of carbon rubber that can float, roll, and bounce, include rings, sticks, balls, tug toys, and “work to eat” treat dispenser toys. These toys are built around a red core that is a built-in safety indicator. When the red rubber shows through, it’s time to replace the toy.
Monster K9 Dog Toys use industrial-strength natural rubber and are a favorite among police and military K9 handlers. These chew sticks, rings, aero discs, and balls are guaranteed to be the longest-lasting toy your dog has ever had.
West Paw’s puppy toys and chew toys like the Hurley are made of Zogoflex, a nontoxic rubber-like material made of recycled ocean-bound plastic, which is free from BPA, phthalates, latex, and FDA-compliant. Designed to bounce, stretch, tug, and withstand heavy chewing, Zogoflex toys also float.
Chew King’s Supreme Balls for heavy chewers are made of durable rubber with a rugged texture for gripping and fetching. A built-in safety air vent allows air flow if the ball is fully in a dog’s mouth.
Are Nylon Chew Toys Safe for Heavy Chewers?
Since 1955, Nylabone has manufactured nylon chews for dogs of all ages. Its 57 Power-Chew toys come in different shapes, sizes, and flavors, all made of nontoxic nylon and designed to withstand hours of heavy chewing.
At the same time, Nylabone toys are controversial because some dogs have died or been injured after swallowing a chunk or piece or whole Nylabone. Some veterinarians have blamed nylon chews for tooth fractures, other dental damage, and gastrointestinal problems associated with nylon particles in the digestive tract.
According to the Nylabone website, it’s important to follow these guidelines when offering nylon toys to super-chewers:
- Select the proper size and type of chew for your dog’s weight and age.
- Always supervise the use of chews and toys.
- The product is not intended to be eaten or ingested. During normal chewing, small bristle-like projections will be raised, which help clean teeth. If you think your dog swallowed a large piece, take the product away and contact your veterinarian.
- Inspect the toy before giving it to your dog to make sure it’s whole and intact. Check frequently and replace the toy if it’s damaged, the ends are worn down, or it becomes too small to chew safely.
- To clean, hand-wash with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
Other manufacturers have helped make nylon chews among the world’s most popular dog toys.
Benebone started with a curved bacon-flavored wishbone-shaped toy and now offers nylon chews in different shapes, multiple sizes, and natural flavors, including tripe, bacon, salmon, and maplewood.
Ethical Pet’s Bambones combine nylon and bamboo in different shapes, sizes, and flavors for chewing dogs.
Kseroo makes a variety of heavy-duty nylon chew toys in beef, bacon, and peanut butter, all designed for aggressive chewers.
Nylon-free Bones for Dogs Who Like to Chew
Because real bones can splinter, break with sharp edges, or in other ways cause damage or injury, some companies make “safe” nylon-free bones out of cellulose and vegetable oil. Examples include Woof’s HonestChew and BetterBone’s Dog Chews.
Are There Any Stuffed—or Unstuffed—Soft Toys for Heavy Chewers?
When it comes to soft toys with or without squeakers—and with or without stuffing—many owners of heavy chewers just laugh and walk past the display. “My dog would annihilate that in two minutes,” they say. They might be right, but a few companies have improved their toys’ life expectancy with new materials, designs, and construction techniques. That’s good news for heavy chewers who like to sink their teeth into toys.
Tall Tails stuffless toys use high-pile plush fabric with an inner mesh layer that prevents toys from losing their shape during vigorous play by adding structural support. Built around an inner rope and double-stitched, stuffless toys are easy to clean and extra sturdy. Tall Tails overstuffed toys use recycled plastic bottle stuffing protected in a fabric pouch stitched into the seam to maintain shape and prevent spillage. Squeakers are protected in fabric pouches and stitched into seams. These interactive, attractive animal toys are built for fetch, tug, and chase games rather than prolonged chewing.
Tuffy Dog Toys, which their manufacturer calls “the world’s toughest soft toys,” aren’t squishy or fluffy. They’re made of very sturdy fabrics stitched in multiple layers and designed for active use with aggressive chewers. Tuffy toys come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Several are water-resistant and float. All are designed for interactive activities and are not sold as chew toys.
Outward Hound makes sturdy, soft, plush toys like the Durablez Gecko with heavy duty binding, a strong interior layer, and triple stitched seams to withstand active play. They are not sold as chew toys but last longer than most plush dog toys.
Firehose Toys for Strong Chewers
Firehose toys are not indestructible, but they last longer than most fetch and tug toys, and they satisfy a dog’s urge to bite deeply into a yielding object.
According to Tug and Go Dog Toys, municipal Boston firefighter Shannon Blair wanted to find a toy that his energetic Boxer couldn’t destroy. He realized that repurposed firehoses might make good dog toys, and the result was Tug and Go, which makes ring toys, tuggable hoops, and professional tugs for bite-work training.
Outward Hound offers 11 interactive and fetch toys made of firehose.
Hyper Pet makes flying discs and other firehose toys.
Toys for Dogs Who Like Chewing on Wood
“Why Does My Dog Chew on Wood?” describes how wood, which offers a natural odor and satisfying texture that a dog can chew and pull apart, is nature’s favorite toy. Puppies like to chew on wood to help soothe their sore gums and adults like to chew to relieve boredom, stress, or anxiety. While not a food or edible treat, there are some woods sold as dog chew toys. These are considered safe if ingested because they don’t splinter but gradually break down as their fibers separate. Made-for-dogs wood chews that are shaped for interesting chewing and designed for safe use include:
- WarePet’s Gorilla Chew, made of coffee wood
- WildFang’s Chew Sticks, made of olive wood
- Petstages Dogwood Dog Chews, made of a wood blend
