Every dog owner knows the feeling: you bring home a shiny new toy, full of hope, only to find it in shreds mere minutes later. If you have a dog that chews aggressively, finding durable toys that stand up to their determined jaws can feel like an impossible quest. Destructive chewing isn’t just frustrating for pet parents; it can also be a sign of boredom, anxiety, or simply a dog’s natural instinct to explore their world through their mouth. Providing the right outlet for this behavior is crucial for their well-being and the longevity of your belongings.
At Benafim Dog Shelter, we’re all too familiar with power chewers. Our extended dog family includes a variety of breeds and personalities, from gentle nibblers to canine demolition experts. We’ve collectively witnessed hundreds of toys meet their untimely demise. That’s why we decided to put some of the most popular “indestructible” dog toys to the ultimate test. We invested £76.31 in a selection of highly-rated chew toys, putting them through a week of rigorous, real-world testing with our resident experts: Nero, Max, Maya, Black Nero, Jean, and Pebbles. They know a thing or two about what makes the Best Toys For A Dog That Chews, and their honest, often hilarious, feedback is invaluable. If you’re looking for toys for dogs that chew up toys, read on for insights directly from the chewers themselves!
The Challenge of Finding Truly Indestructible Dog Toys
The market is flooded with dog toys claiming to be “chew-proof” or “indestructible,” but many fall short when faced with a truly committed canine chomper. The challenge isn’t just about preventing destruction; it’s about providing a safe, engaging, and satisfying experience for your dog. Chewing is a fundamental behavior for dogs, serving multiple purposes:
- Dental Health: It helps keep teeth clean and gums healthy.
- Mental Stimulation: It provides an engaging activity that can relieve boredom.
- Stress Relief: Chewing can be a comforting and calming activity, especially for anxious dogs.
- Natural Instinct: It’s how dogs explore and interact with their environment.
Ignoring this need can lead to your dog finding less desirable items to chew on – think furniture, shoes, or even dangerous household objects. This is especially true for strong chewers or those with a lot of energy. For smaller breeds that still pack a powerful bite, finding the right option can be even more specific, requiring consideration for size and material, and sometimes leading owners to search for indestructible dog toys for small dogs.
Our Rigorous Testing Process at Benafim Dog Shelter
Our team of four-legged critics at Benafim Dog Shelter took their job very seriously. We selected five prominent chew toys – 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 – and gave them a week of intensive play. Our dogs chewed, chased, gnawed, buried, retrieved, and played tug-of-war with these toys, pushing them to their limits. Their candid “reviews” offer real-world insights that go beyond marketing claims.
We understand that every dog’s chewing style is unique, which is why having a diverse testing panel allowed us to assess each toy’s performance across different levels of chewing intensity and play preferences.
Top Picks for Aggressive Chewers: Detailed Reviews
1. Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy
Nero chewing a large Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy
The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, specifically the XXL Bison flavoured bone, is marketed for the most powerful chewers and dogs over 23kg. Our dogs, particularly Nero, a 9-year-old Pitt bull mix known for his intelligence and methodical chewing, spent hours with this toy.
Shelter Dog’s Experience:
- Nero: Despite extensive chewing, Nero barely left a mark on it. Its curved design and lightness made it easy for him to grip with his paws and carry around, providing a satisfying chewing experience.
- Maya: At 3 years old, Maya, who came to us terrified and unfamiliar with toys, took to the Nylabone immediately. It encouraged her to play and even engage Max in a game of chase, demonstrating its appeal even to dogs new to toys.
- Black Nero: Our impressive Cane Corso cross, Black Nero, is infamous for his ability to chew through thick tree trunks and even bend strong fencing when anxious. If any dog could break this, it would be him. Yet, even after hours of his powerful chewing, the Nylabone showed barely a tooth mark. It was truly Black Nero proof!
Why We Loved It: This Nylabone excelled in durability. Beyond its toughness, we appreciated that it’s easy to clean, doesn’t lose its appealing bison flavor, and generates no mess or unpleasant odors – a huge plus for any dog owner. Its raised nubs are also designed to help clean teeth and gums.
The Details:
- Flavoured throughout (Bison, Chicken, Turkey options)
- Safe and non-toxic
- Measurements: 30.48 x 13.97 x 5.08 cm
- Weight: 485 grams
- Designed for dogs 23 kg and above
Summary: Our shelter dogs unanimously give the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy a resounding “paws up.” If your dog is a dedicated chewer, gets bored easily, and needs a durable, flavorful, and clean toy, this is an excellent choice.
2. Kong Rewards Ball
Jean, a shelter dog, attempting to chew the durable Kong Rewards Ball
The Kong Rewards Ball promises an interactive experience, combining play with treat dispensing. While initially met with less immediate enthusiasm than some other toys, its appeal quickly grew among our canine reviewers.
Shelter Dog’s Experience:
- Jean: This toy quickly became Jean’s favorite. He spent hours happily chewing its soft, bouncy rubbery side, then burying it and digging it up again, much to the chagrin of his best friend Komo.
- Overall: The treat dispenser was clever and easy for both humans to load and dogs to extract treats from, without excessive effort or “brain power.” However, the dogs seemed to prefer the squishy, bouncy texture of the ball itself more than the treat-dispensing feature.
- Durability: From massive Jambo to petite Star, every dog at the shelter had a go. Not a single tooth mark was found on the durable rubber, and all treats were successfully retrieved, confirming its effectiveness as both a plaything and a treat dispenser.
Why We Loved It: This toy seamlessly blends two of a dog’s favorite activities: play and food. Its durable Kong rubber construction held up remarkably well against chewing, bouncing, and interactive play. The simple design of the treat dispenser made it accessible and rewarding for the dogs.
The Details:
- Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm
- Weight: 417 Grams
- Designed for dogs 16 kg and above
Summary: The Kong Rewards Ball offers a great combination of durability and entertainment. It’s a tough toy that can withstand significant chewing, making it suitable for active dogs who enjoy both solo play and the rewarding challenge of a treat dispenser.
3. CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone
Black Nero, a powerful chewer, jumping to grab the CyunCmay Indestructible XL Bone
The CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone was initially met with immense excitement. Its bright orange color and bone shape immediately caught the attention of our dogs, prompting a flurry of enthusiastic play.
Shelter Dog’s Experience:
- Black Nero: The excitement, sadly, was short-lived for this particular toy. Black Nero, our resident super chewer, got his paws and teeth into it. While he had a fantastic 30 minutes playing tug-of-war (thanks to the handles) and retrieving it from the lake, the soft, pliable rubbery texture proved no match for his jaws.
- Durability Failure: Within just 30 minutes, our fears were confirmed. The “indestructible” claim quickly crumbled, as evidenced by the significant tooth marks and near-split appearance captured in our photos.
- Other Dogs: While it didn’t last for Black Nero, other dogs, like Pebbles, still enjoyed playing with it, especially for retrieval games.
Why We Didn’t Love It (for chewers): Despite its “strong and durable” description for medium to large dogs, this toy failed the “indestructible” test for our power chewers.
The Details:
- Measurements: 32.9 x 12.2 x 3.8 cm
- Weight: 330 Grams
- Material: TPR environmentally friendly material (claimed safe and non-toxic)
- Surface designed to help clean teeth and control plaque/tartar.
Summary: While the CyunCmay XL Bone offers good initial fun for fetching and light play, it is not suitable for dogs that chew aggressively or will be left unsupervised. Our dogs, especially the strong chewers, were left disappointed by its short lifespan. If you need a toy that won’t be broken in minutes, this isn’t it. However, for supervised play and retrieval, it was a popular choice, though its “indestructible” claim is misleading.
4. HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy
Maya, a shelter dog, inspecting the Hetoo Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy
This Hetoo toy is primarily designed for dental care, featuring grooves for cleaning teeth. However, its reception among our expert reviewers was, to put it mildly, unenthusiastic.
Shelter Dog’s Experience:
- Lack of Enthusiasm: Even the squeak, often a dog magnet, failed to excite most of our dogs. Maya, initially, was startled by the strange noise and appearance of the red object but eventually mustered the courage to inspect it.
- Peanut Butter Test: To encourage interaction, we smeared peanut butter into its grooves. This briefly held Maya’s interest for a few minutes before she wandered off, leaving the toy abandoned. Black Nero also showed minimal, short-lived interest.
Why We Didn’t Love It: The toy simply didn’t engage our dogs. Its squeak was more annoying to humans than enticing to canines, and its primary dental purpose was overshadowed by a lack of interactive appeal.
The Details:
- Material: Natural rubber
- Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm
- Weight: 417 Grams
Summary: The Hetoo Dental Care Toy proved largely unsuccessful in captivating our dogs’ attention or providing lasting entertainment. While it aims to offer dental benefits, its lack of engagement means it’s unlikely to be a go-to chew toy for most dogs, particularly those who are aggressive chewers seeking stimulation.
5. Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy
Pebbles, a shelter dog, engaged with the Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy
The Kong Wobbler, with its unique, top-heavy design, elicited quite a reaction from our dogs – a mixture of curiosity and perplexity. Unlike other Kong treat toys made of rubber, this one is crafted from a harder plastic polymer.
Shelter Dog’s Experience:
- Initial Confusion: Our dogs initially struggled with this large, wobbly red object. Kilo, in particular, was utterly baffled. They knew treats were inside but couldn’t quite figure out how to get them out.
- Human Intervention: We humans quickly realized two key factors: the Wobbler needs to be used on smooth surfaces (not the pebbly kennels), and the treat size must be compatible with the dispenser hole. Once these adjustments were made, the toy became a hit.
- Durability: The hard plastic polymer proved very durable, with dogs finding it difficult to get their teeth into it due to its size and movement, thus preventing destruction.
Why We Loved It: Once the learning curve was overcome (for both dogs and humans!), the Kong Wobbler proved to be a fantastic interactive toy. It’s a great slow feeder, promoting healthy eating habits and providing mental stimulation. Its robust construction ensures it holds up against attempts to destroy it, making it one of the best toys for small dogs uk when considering smaller, but still active, breeds, or larger dogs that need mental engagement.
The Details:
- Material: Plastic polymer
- Measurements: Diameter 13 x 19 cm
- Weight: 485 grams
- Designed for dogs 12 kg and above
- Maximum Filling Capacity: 250 grams
Summary: The Kong Wobbler is a durable, engaging, and highly recommended interactive toy. It provides excellent mental stimulation and serves as an effective slow feeder. While it requires a bit of understanding from both dog and owner regarding its proper use and treat compatibility, it stands as a truly robust option for dogs that chew.
Choosing the Best Chew Toy for Your Dog: Key Considerations
Selecting the right chew toy for a dog that chews vigorously involves more than just picking the toughest-looking option. Consider these factors:
- Chewing Style:
- Mild Chewers: Can enjoy softer plush toys or gentle rubber.
- Moderate Chewers: Need tougher rubber or nylon toys.
- Power Chewers (Aggressive Chewers): Require highly durable, virtually “indestructible” options made from specialized materials like those in the Nylabone Extreme or Kong’s toughest lines. Always choose toys specifically labeled for aggressive chewers.
- Size and Breed: A toy too small can be a choking hazard, while one too large might be unmanageable. Match the toy size to your dog’s mouth and jaw strength. Breeds like Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers typically require the toughest toys.
- Material Safety: Look for non-toxic materials like natural rubber, specialized nylon, or hard plastic polymers. Avoid toys that splinter easily or can be chewed into small, ingestible pieces.
- Dental Benefits: Many chew toys are designed with textures or nubs to help clean teeth and massage gums, contributing to better oral hygiene.
- Interactive vs. Solo Play: Some toys are best for independent chewing, while others, like treat dispensers, offer interactive mental stimulation. A good mix can keep your dog engaged.
- Safety Tips: Always supervise your dog, especially with new toys, to ensure they are using them safely. Regularly inspect toys for wear and tear and replace them when they show signs of damage to prevent ingestion of broken pieces.
Beyond the Toy: Managing Destructive Chewing
While the right chew toy is a critical tool, it’s also important to address the underlying reasons for destructive chewing:
- Boredom & Anxiety: Ensure your dog gets enough physical exercise and mental stimulation. Daily walks, playtime, puzzle toys, and training sessions can significantly reduce destructive behavior.
- Training: Teach your dog what is appropriate to chew and what is not. Positive reinforcement and redirection to appropriate toys are key.
- Veterinary Consultation: If destructive chewing is sudden, excessive, or accompanied by other behavioral changes, consult your veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical or anxiety issues.
Conclusion – Our Dog’s Verdict
After a week of intense scrutiny, countless chews, and many “expert” meetings, our Benafim Dog Shelter residents have delivered their final verdict on the five “indestructible” toys. The drum roll, barking, and happy tail wags confirm their top recommendations for the best toys for a dog that chews:
- Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy: A clear winner for serious chewers. This toy proved truly robust, withstanding the most powerful jaws and providing hours of satisfying, mess-free chewing. Its flavor and dental benefits make it a top choice for durability and engagement.
- KONG Rewards Ball: A fantastic blend of durability and interactive fun. While not designed for constant, aggressive chewing on its treat dispenser side, its rubbery texture and treat-dispensing capabilities make it an excellent choice for active dogs who enjoy varied play.
- KONG Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy: An outstanding interactive toy for mental stimulation and slow feeding. Its unique design and hard plastic construction make it incredibly durable, as dogs struggle to get a destructive grip. It’s a superb long-lasting option once your dog learns how to interact with it.
Sadly, the CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone and the HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy fell short of their “indestructible” claims or failed to engage our experts. This rigorous testing highlights that not all “tough” toys are created equal.
Choosing the right chew toy is essential for your dog’s happiness, health, and for protecting your home. Always prioritize safety, durability, and your dog’s individual chewing style. Remember, a truly good chew toy isn’t just about surviving; it’s about providing enriching, satisfying, and safe playtime for your beloved companion.
