As dedicated editors at “Dog Care Story,” we understand the constant struggle many owners of large dogs face: finding toys that can withstand powerful jaws and endless play. How many times have you invested in a new dog toy, hoping it would last more than an hour, only to find it in pieces almost immediately? This common frustration leads many to search for truly indestructible options that keep their big canine companions entertained and stimulated.
We know that feeling all too well. As dog owners ourselves and caring for our extended canine family at the Benafim Dog Shelter, we have tried and tested hundreds of toys over the years. Our resident experts – the dogs themselves – have put a grand total of five “indestructible” toys through rigorous testing. These toys, including the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, the Kong Rewards Ball, the CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy Bone, the Hetoo Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy, and the Kong Wobbler, underwent a full week of chewing, playing, fetching, burying, and general mayhem. Our goal is to provide honest, reliable, and expert feedback to help you find the best dog toys for large dogs that truly live up to their claims.
Our Expert Reviews of the Best Dog Toys for Large Dogs
Our team of canine reviewers at Benafim Dog Shelter, including Nero, Max, Maya, Black Nero, Jean, and Pebbles, dedicated a full week to evaluating these five toys. Their reliable, honest, and often hilarious feedback is invaluable for any large dog owner seeking durable and engaging playthings.
Group of durable dog toys ready for testing by shelter dogs
Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy: The Ultimate Chewer’s Choice
The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, specifically the Bison-flavored XXL version, is marketed as perfect for the most powerful chewers and dogs over 23kg. Our senior Pitt bull, Nero, a dog often perceived as more intelligent than his human counterparts, spent hours meticulously chewing on this toy. To our delight, it barely showed a mark. Despite its large size, it’s surprisingly light, making it easy for large dogs to carry around. Its slightly curved design allows for an excellent grip, enhancing the chewing experience.
Maya, a 3-year-old rescued dog who initially had little experience with toys, immediately took to the Nylabone. This toy sparked her interest without any signs of confusion, leading her to enjoy a good chew and even playfully run with it, enticing Max and other dogs to chase her. This Nylabone also stands out for its practicality; it’s incredibly easy to clean (once you manage to retrieve it from a happy dog!), and its flavor is designed to last indefinitely. For owners who prioritize cleanliness, this bone produces no mess or unpleasant odors.
Nero, a strong Pitt bull, thoughtfully chewing on the large Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy
Black Nero, a Cane Corso cross known for his exceptionally powerful chewing—capable of shredding a large tree trunk—also put the Nylabone through its paces. Even when anxious and prone to chewing through strong fencing, Black Nero could not break this toy. What’s more, he genuinely enjoyed it. After countless hours of intense chewing, the Nylabone remained virtually unscathed, with hardly a tooth mark visible. This makes it a top contender among the best dog chews for aggressive chewers.
The Details:
- Bison flavored throughout (also available in chicken and turkey), designed to encourage chewing.
- Features raised bristles to help clean teeth and gums.
- Safe and non-toxic material.
- Measurements: 30.48 x 13.97 x 5.08 cm.
- Weight: 485 grams.
- Designed for dogs weighing 23 kg (50 lbs) and above.
Summary:
Every dog at our shelter would wholeheartedly recommend the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy. If you have a large dog who loves to chew, gets bored easily, and needs a durable, long-lasting, and flavorful toy to engage with, this is an excellent choice. It truly lives up to its “tough” claim, making it one of the safest dog chews for aggressive chewers.
Kong Rewards Ball: Combining Play and Treats
The Kong Rewards Ball, a treat-dispensing toy, initially received a mixed reaction from our canine reviewers. However, any initial lukewarm response was short-lived. The concept of a toy that combines active play with a rewarding treat dispenser proved to be a clever and engaging combination. From a human perspective, inserting treats was straightforward. For the dogs, the design allowed them to easily access the treats without excessive effort or complex problem-solving.
Intriguingly, our dogs seemed to appreciate the soft, bouncy, and “squidgy” side of the ball more for direct play than for its treat-dispensing function. Jean, in particular, absolutely adored this toy. He would spend hours chewing on its rubbery exterior before burying it and then eagerly unearthing it again. His best friend Komo, much to his dismay, rarely got a chance to play with it.
Jean, a shelter dog, focused on the Kong Rewards Ball, attempting to access treats
From massive Jambo to petite Star, every dog at the shelter engaged with the Kong Rewards Ball. Crucially, not a single tooth mark was found on any of the balls, and no treats were left inside, confirming its durability and the effectiveness of its simple treat-dispensing mechanism. This interactive toy is perfect for large dogs who enjoy both chewing and the mental stimulation of working for a reward.
The Details:
- Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm.
- Weight: 417 grams.
- Made from long-lasting Kong rubber.
- Designed for dogs weighing 16 kg (35 lbs) and above.
Summary:
The dogs collectively view the Kong Rewards Ball as an excellent all-around toy, skillfully combining two of their favorite activities: play and food. It’s a durable and tough toy that successfully withstands significant chewing, offers plenty of bouncing for interactive play, and features a simple yet effective treat dispenser. This makes it one of the cool dog toys for big dogs that provides both physical and mental enrichment.
CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy Bone: A Short-Lived Delight
The CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone was met with immense excitement upon unwrapping. However, this enthusiasm quickly dwindled once Black Nero, our powerful chewer, got his paws and teeth on it. While he undeniably had a blast for about 30 minutes, engaging in tug-of-war with its end handles, enjoying a good chew, and retrieving it from the lake, the toy’s “indestructible” claim quickly faltered.
With its soft, rubbery texture and pliable material, we had concerns about its ability to withstand extreme testing. Unfortunately, our fears were confirmed rather quickly by Nero. The results, as captured in our photos, show significant wear and tear. Within just 30 minutes, the bone had clear teeth marks and was almost split in two.
Black Nero, a powerful Cane Corso cross, testing the CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy Bone outdoors
While the CyunCmay bone provided short bursts of fun, particularly for retrieval games, its lack of true durability makes it a less ideal option for aggressive chewers. It proved not to be among the safest dog chews for aggressive chewers if left unsupervised.
The Details:
- Measurements: 32.9 x 12.2 x 3.8 cm.
- Weight: 330 grams.
- Made from TPR environmentally friendly material, advertised as having no chemical smell, safe, and non-toxic.
- Surface designed to help clean a dog’s teeth and control plaque and tartar.
Summary:
Despite being described as strong, durable, and suitable for medium to large dogs, our testing revealed a different story. “Indestructible”? No. Fun for a short while? Yes. If you’re seeking a toy for large dogs that will withstand prolonged chewing, this is not the right choice. However, if you need a fun toy for retrieval games where your dog won’t be left alone to chew it extensively, it proved popular for interactive play. Our dogs, however, were visibly disappointed when their fun with this particular toy came to an abrupt end.
HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy: More Dental Than Play
The Hetoo Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy, despite its “indestructible” label, left our expert reviewers largely unimpressed. The primary purpose of this toy is dental cleaning, and unfortunately, it failed to excite our dogs as a plaything. Even its built-in squeaker did little to spark enthusiasm; in fact, Maya ran and hid when she first heard the unusual noise from the strange-looking red object. She eventually showed a brief moment of curiosity, inspecting it cautiously.
To try and make the toy more appealing, we smeared peanut butter into its grooves, hoping to encourage our reviewers to chew. This strategy managed to keep Maya interested for a few minutes before she predictably wandered off, leaving the toy behind. Black Nero was also seen inspecting it, but his interest, like Maya’s, was fleeting. This particular toy did not live up to the standard of the best edible dog chews for aggressive chewers that offer both engagement and dental benefits.
Maya, a rescued dog, curiously inspecting the bright red Hetoo Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy
From a human perspective, the squeaker proved more annoying than entertaining, a detail we “party poopers” couldn’t ignore. While durable, its lack of engagement for our large dogs makes it less of a toy and more of a dental tool that requires a strong incentive (like peanut butter) to be used.
The Details:
- Made from natural rubber.
- Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm.
- Weight: 417 grams.
Summary:
The Hetoo toy did not manage to excite our large dogs or keep them entertained for more than a few minutes. Its squeak, rather than being a positive feature, was generally disliked by both dogs and humans. Black Nero and Maya were the only ones who showed any fleeting interest, which quickly faded. While the material is durable, its low engagement factor means it doesn’t rank high on our list for the best dog toys for large dogs focused on play.
Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy: A Wobbly Puzzle for Big Pups
The Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy elicited hilarious reactions from our canine testers. Its large size initially left some dogs, like our sweet Kilo, utterly perplexed by this “wobbly red object.” Made from a harder plastic polymer rather than rubber (unlike many other Kong treat toys), it presented a different tactile experience. From a human perspective, its twist-off lid makes filling with treats incredibly easy. However, our dogs initially struggled to understand how to get the treats out.
We humans quickly realized that the Kong Wobbler performs best on smooth surfaces, not the pebbly stone kennels our dogs usually inhabit. Additionally, the treat size needs to be compatible with the dispenser hole – a crucial “Doh!” moment for us. Once these adjustments were made, the Kong Wobbler became a huge hit. The large size, which initially seemed to be a hurdle, proved beneficial as it made it difficult for dogs to pick up and chew directly, thereby reducing the chance of destruction.
Pebbles, a shelter dog, engaging with the large, wobbly Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy
Our dogs, once they understood how this unique toy worked, found it both engaging and rewarding. Its design promotes mental stimulation and slow feeding, making it an excellent choice for large dogs who need a challenge. It’s truly among the best chew toys for tough chewers when used as an interactive puzzle rather than a direct chew item.
The Details:
- Made from a durable plastic polymer.
- Measurements: Diameter 13 x 19 cm.
- Weight: 485 grams.
- Designed for dogs weighing 12 kg (26 lbs) and above.
- Maximum Filling Capacity: 250 grams.
Summary:
Once both the dogs grasped the concept and we humans figured out the ideal usage conditions (smooth surfaces, appropriate treat size), the Kong Wobbler became a phenomenal success. Its substantial size, while initially challenging for some dogs to manipulate, serves to prevent direct destructive chewing. Our dogs unanimously declared it indestructible and easy to use, making it a fantastic interactive and slow-feeder toy for large dogs that provides both mental and physical engagement without being easily destroyed.
Conclusion – Our Dog’s Verdict on the Best Dog Toys for Large Dogs
After extensive testing, numerous spirited discussions (complete with barking and wagging tails!), our expert canine panel at Benafim Dog Shelter has reached its final verdict on these five “indestructible” toys, helping us identify the true contenders for the Best Dog Toys For Large Dogs.
For the ultimate chewers, the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy stands out as the undisputed champion. Its exceptional durability and long-lasting flavor make it a top recommendation for large dogs who need a truly robust toy to sink their teeth into.
If you’re looking for a toy that combines play and mental stimulation with a rewarding treat component, the Kong Rewards Ball is an excellent choice. It encourages active play while dispensing treats, keeping large dogs engaged and satisfied without being easily destroyed.
Finally, the Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy proved to be an ingenious solution for interactive play and slow feeding. Once understood, this wobbly puzzle provides hours of enrichment, challenging large dogs mentally and physically while remaining remarkably durable.
While the CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy Bone offered short-term fun for retrieval, its rapid destruction by our powerful chewers means it falls short of its “indestructible” claim for large, aggressive chewers. Similarly, the Hetoo Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy, though durable, failed to genuinely engage our dogs as a play item.
Ultimately, choosing the right toy depends on your large dog’s specific needs—whether they’re an extreme chewer, love interactive puzzles, or thrive on treat-dispensing challenges. Based on our shelter dogs’ honest reviews, the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, Kong Rewards Ball, and Kong Wobbler are highly recommended as truly effective and durable options among the best dog toys for large dogs. Always prioritize safety and choose toys appropriate for your dog’s size and chewing habits. For more insights into durable options, check out our guide on best chew toys for tough chewers.
