Is your home a battleground of shredded plush and splintered plastic? Do you find yourself constantly replacing dog toys, only to watch them meet their demise within hours, or even minutes? If so, you’re not alone. As devoted dog owners and caretakers of a bustling shelter family, we’ve been on a relentless quest for toys that can withstand the enthusiastic jaws of our canine companions. We’ve tested countless options, and this time, we put five toys marketed as “indestructible” to the ultimate test with our discerning panel of shelter dogs.
We’ve poured over £76.31 into acquiring these toys, and our dogs – Nero, Max, Maya, Black Nero, Jean, and Pebbles – have put them through their paces. Their feedback is direct, honest, and unfiltered, offering a reliable guide for fellow dog owners seeking durable playthings. This review dives deep into what truly stands up to aggressive chewing and what falls short, helping you make informed decisions and save both your sanity and your wallet.
Real, Honest, and Reliable Reviews from Benafim Shelter Dogs
The five toys under scrutiny were 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. For a full week, these toys endured enthusiastic chewing, vigorous play, curious inspection, submersion in water, and even the occasional burial and rediscovery. Here’s the unvarnished truth from our expert testers.
Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy
The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, in a Bison flavor and XXL size, is designed for powerful chewers weighing over 23kg. Nero, our 9-year-old Pitt bull, a dog of considerable intelligence and chewing prowess, spent hours with this toy, leaving barely a mark. Its substantial size is surprisingly light, making it easy for dogs to carry. The curved design also provides a comfortable grip for paws, enhancing the chewing experience. This toy is a fantastic option for aggressive chewers.
Maya, a 3-year-old dog who was previously unused to toys, took an immediate liking to the Nylabone. Despite a potentially toy-less start in life due to abandonment, she engaged with it enthusiastically, even prompting playful chases from Max. The toy’s durability extends to its ease of cleaning, and impressively, its flavor never diminishes. For owners who dislike messy or smelly toys, the Nylabone is a champion, offering no offensive odors or residues.
Black Nero, known for his destructive chewing habits – capable of demolishing large branches with ease and prone to anxiety-induced chewing that has even bent fencing – found his match in this Nylabone. He not only failed to destroy it after hours of chewing but thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. The toy remained virtually unscathed, a testament to its robust construction.
Nero testing the Bison flavored Nylabone
The Nylabone features a Bison flavor throughout, with options for chicken and turkey, designed to encourage chewing. Raised bristles aid in cleaning teeth and gums, and the material is safe and non-toxic. Measuring 30.48 x 13.97 x 5.08 cm and weighing 485 grams, it’s built for dogs over 23kg.
Summary: Every dog at the shelter wholeheartedly recommends the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy. It’s the perfect choice for dogs who love to chew, get bored easily, and require a tasty, durable outlet for their energy.
Kong Rewards Ball
The Kong Rewards Ball initially met with a lukewarm reception, but this was short-lived. The concept of combining an interactive toy with a treat dispenser is brilliant. For humans, inserting treats is simple, and it doesn’t require excessive effort from the dogs to dispense them. However, our canine testers seemed to favor the soft, bouncy rubber exterior over the treat-dispensing aspect.
Jean absolutely adored this toy, spending hours chewing its rubbery surface before burying and retrieving it. His companion, Komo, was notably left out. Despite this, all the dogs at the shelter enjoyed playing with and chewing the Kong Rewards Ball, finding no tooth marks on it after extensive play. It appears to be an effective and simple treat dispenser.
Jean eating from the Kong Rewards Ball
This toy, measuring 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm and weighing 417 grams, is designed for dogs of 16kg and above.
Summary: The dogs consider this an excellent all-around toy, merging their love for play with their enjoyment of food. It’s a durable, tough toy that withstands significant chewing and interactive play, while also serving as a straightforward treat dispenser.
CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone
The CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone generated the most initial excitement among the dogs. However, this enthusiasm quickly waned when Black Nero got his teeth on it. While he enjoyed playing tug-of-war with the handles and chewing for about 30 minutes, the toy’s soft, rubbery, and pliable texture proved to be its downfall under extreme testing. As the photos show, significant teeth marks appeared, and the toy was nearly split in half within the hour.
Black Nero playing with the orange CyunCmay bone
This toy measures 32.9 x 12.2 x 3.8 cm and weighs 330 grams. It’s made from TPR, an environmentally friendly material that is non-toxic and odorless. The surface is designed to help clean a dog’s teeth, control plaque, and tartar.
Summary: Despite being marketed as strong and durable for medium to large dogs, this toy failed our durability test. While it provided short-lived fun, it’s not suitable for dogs who enjoy aggressive chewing. However, it was popular for retrieval games, keeping the dogs engaged for a brief period.
Hetoo Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy
The Hetoo Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy was met with a surprising lack of enthusiasm. Designed primarily for dental cleaning, its squeak failed to excite most of our canine testers. Maya, initially startled by the sound, eventually inspected it, but lost interest quickly. To enhance engagement, peanut butter was added to the grooves, which briefly held Maya’s attention before she moved on.
Maya inspecting the Hetoo Toy
Made from natural rubber, this toy measures 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm and weighs 417 grams.
Summary: The Hetoo toy failed to captivate our dogs for more than a few minutes. Only Black Nero and Maya showed any interest, and even that was fleeting. The squeaking feature, while potentially annoying for owners, did little to prolong engagement.
Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy
The Kong Wobbler initially baffled the dogs with its large size and wobbly nature. While its hard plastic polymer construction differs from other Kong toys, the twist-off lid makes for easy filling. The dogs struggled initially to dispense the treats, likely due to the pebbly surface of their kennels and an incorrect treat size. Once placed on a smooth surface and with appropriately sized treats, the dogs understood its function.
Pebbles interacting with the Kong Wobbler
This toy measures 13 cm in diameter and 19 cm in height, weighing 485 grams. It’s designed for dogs over 12kg and has a filling capacity of up to 250 grams.
Summary: Once the dogs grasped how to use the Kong Wobbler and humans realized its need for a smooth surface and the correct treat size, it became a hit. Its large size makes it difficult for dogs to get their mouths around, reducing the risk of destruction. According to our dogs, it’s both indestructible and easy to use, provided the humans get the treat dispensing mechanics right. This interactive treat-dispensing toy is great for engaging play.
Conclusion – Our Dog’s Verdict
After extensive testing and numerous “serious” canine meetings, our shelter dogs have reached a consensus on these five “indestructible” toys.
| Brand & Item | Features | Flavor | Material | More Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, Monster Bison Bone, XXL, >23 kg | Extremely tough, bristles clean teeth, perfect for chewers. | Bison, Chicken, Turkey | Tough, durable nylon | Click For Price |
| KONG – Rewards Ball – Ultra Durable Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy | Dispenses treats, great for dogs who love to play. | N/A | Long-lasting Kong rubber | Click For Price |
| KONG Wobbler – Interactive Dog Toy for Treat Dispensing | Can be stuffed, dishwasher proof. | N/A | Long-lasting Kong rubber | Click For Price |
While the CyunCmay bone and the Hetoo toy fell short of “indestructible” claims, the Nylabone, Kong Rewards Ball, and Kong Wobbler proved to be durable and engaging options. For owners of powerful chewers, the Nylabone is a top recommendation. For those seeking interactive play and treat dispensing, the Kong Wobbler and Rewards Ball offer excellent value and entertainment. Remember to consider your dog’s specific chewing habits and size when selecting the perfect toy.
