Best Toys for Tough Chewing Dogs: Real Reviews from Real Pups

You’ve done it countless times: bought a new dog toy, optimistically believing this one would finally withstand more than an hour, maybe even a day, or with a stroke of luck, a week. Yet, before you’ve truly savored the joy on your dog’s face with their new treasure, before the packaging is barely off, and before you’ve had a moment of contented peace, a deep sigh escapes you. Sadly, it’s not a sigh of relief, but one of sheer exasperation as you spot the first tell-tale signs of a broken toy. Finding the Best Toys For Tough Chewing Dogs can feel like an endless quest.

We know that feeling all too well. As dog owners ourselves, and with the immense responsibility of caring for our extended canine family at the Benafim Dog Shelter, we’ve encountered hundreds of toys – some outstanding, others disappointingly flimsy. When we say “we,” we’re truly referring to our canine residents; they are the ultimate experts! Yes, our dogs know a thing or two about what makes a toy genuinely durable. Making the claim that a toy is “indestructible” is a bold statement, but we put five of these highly-touted toys to the ultimate test with a diverse group of our shelter dogs, including Nero, Max, Maya, Black Nero, Jean, and Pebbles. Here is their unfiltered, honest, and utterly reliable feedback – because diplomacy isn’t exactly their strongest suit! If you’re searching for durable dog toys that truly stand up to the challenge, you’ve come to the right place.

Nero, a strong white dog, surrounded by various durable dog toys, ready for testing.

Why Tough Chew Toys are Essential for Power Chewers

For dog owners with tough chewing dogs or “power chewers,” selecting the right toys isn’t just about entertainment; it’s crucial for their physical and mental well-being. Dogs, especially those with strong jaws and an innate desire to chew, need toys that can withstand their relentless efforts.

High-quality, durable chew toys offer numerous benefits:

• Dental Health: Many tough chew toys are designed with textures and nubs that help clean teeth, reduce plaque and tartar buildup, and massage gums, promoting overall oral hygiene.
• Mental Stimulation & Boredom Relief: Chewing is a natural canine behavior. For dogs prone to boredom or anxiety, a challenging chew toy provides an engaging activity that can keep them occupied for hours, preventing destructive behaviors directed at furniture or household items.
• Anxiety Reduction: The act of chewing can be incredibly soothing for dogs, helping to alleviate stress, separation anxiety, and fear. A suitable dog chew toy can be a great comfort.
• Physical Exercise: Retrieving, carrying, and manipulating robust toys can provide valuable physical activity, especially for large and energetic breeds.
• Safety: Flimsy toys can quickly break into small pieces, posing a choking hazard or leading to internal obstructions if swallowed. Investing in safe chew toys specifically designed for aggressive chewers is paramount. For example, knowing what makes the best chew toys for power chewers can prevent unwanted vet visits.

Our Rigorous Testing Process: Meet the Experts (The Shelter Dogs)

To truly evaluate the claim of “indestructible” and determine the best toys for tough chewing dogs, we invested in five popular and highly-rated toys. These included 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. Over a full week, these toys were subjected to the ultimate stress test by our diverse pack of shelter dogs. Our canine reviewers—Nero, Max, Maya, Black Nero, Jean, and Pebbles—chewed, played, bounced, stared with wide-eyed curiosity, took them into the water, buried them, rediscovered them, and put them through every conceivable paces.

Our goal was to provide an honest assessment from the dogs’ perspective, revealing which toys truly stood up to powerful jaws and which quickly succumbed. The results are in!

A selection of five supposedly indestructible dog toys, including Nylabone and Kong, lined up for review by tough chewers.

In-Depth Reviews: Top Toys for Tough Chewing Dogs

Here’s what our expert testers, the Benafim Shelter dogs, had to say about each toy:

Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy

The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, a large bison-flavored bone designed for powerful chewers.

The Bison-flavored XXL Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy proudly states it’s perfect for the most powerful chewers and suitable for dogs over 23kg (50 lbs). Our nine-year-old Pitbull, Nero, who is arguably more intelligent than the human team combined, spent hours gnawing on this toy, barely leaving a mark. It’s substantial in size yet light enough for dogs to comfortably carry in their mouths. Its subtly curved design makes it easy for paws to grip, simplifying the chewing process and making it more satisfying for persistent chewers.

Nero, a white Pitbull mix, intensely chewing the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, showing its durability for tough chewing dogs.

Maya, a three-year-old who wasn’t accustomed to toys due to her difficult past, took an immediate liking to the Nylabone. Abandoned and initially fearful of humans, she had no prior experience with playthings. Yet, this toy sparked instant interest; there were no confused looks or uncertainty. Maya promptly began to chew and thoroughly enjoyed carrying it around, even encouraging Max and others to chase her. It quickly became a favorite among our best toys for tough chewing dogs contenders.

This Nylabone is remarkably easy to keep clean – if we can manage to retrieve it from a dog, that is! What’s even better is that the Nylabone never loses its flavor, providing enduring appeal. For dog owners who prioritize cleanliness and hate lingering smells, this bone is a dream; it produces absolutely no mess or odor.

Maya and Max engaging in playful interaction with the durable Nylabone chew toy, demonstrating its appeal to multiple dogs.

Black Nero, our Cane Corso cross, is renowned for his incredibly powerful chewing style. He can effortlessly pick up a massive tree trunk and chew through it as if it were a piece of cake. When anxious or left alone, Black Nero has even managed to chew and bend robust fencing material. Despite his formidable strength, this Nylabone proved to be “Black Nero proof.” What’s truly fantastic is how much he genuinely enjoyed it. After hours upon hours of chewing, there was barely a single tooth mark on the bone, solidifying its place as a top choice for indestructible dog toys for golden retrievers and similarly strong breeds.

Black Nero, a strong Cane Corso mix known for powerful chewing, struggling to leave a mark on the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy.

The Details
This Nylabone is flavored throughout (also available in chicken and turkey), encouraging continuous chewing. It features raised nubs and bristles designed to help clean teeth and gums. Made from safe, non-toxic materials, it measures 30.48 x 13.97 x 5.08 cm and weighs 485 grams, specifically designed for dogs weighing 23 kg (50 lbs) and above.

Summary
Every dog at the shelter would, paws on heart, wholeheartedly recommend this Nylabone. Their collective advice: if you have a dog who absolutely loves to chew, gets easily bored, and needs something truly tasty and exceptionally durable to sink their teeth into, this is undeniably one of the best toys for tough chewing dogs you can buy.

Kong Rewards Ball

The Kong Rewards Ball, a red, bouncy, treat-dispensing toy designed for large and tough chewing dogs.

The Kong Rewards Ball wasn’t met with the immediate, overwhelming enthusiasm that some other toys received from our wonderful dog reviewers. However, this initial reaction was very temporary and short-lived. The ingenious combination of a toy dogs can play with for hours and a treat dispenser is a clever concept. From a human perspective, inserting treats was incredibly easy. Unlike some more complicated treat dispensers, it didn’t require too much brainpower or effort for the dogs to actually benefit from the dispenser and successfully retrieve the treats.

That being said, our dogs seemed to appreciate the soft, bouncy, and “squidgy” side of the toy more than its treat-dispensing feature. Jean, in particular, absolutely adored this toy, so much so that he continuously buried it, chewed on its rubbery side for hours, and then diligently unearthed it again. His best mate, Komo, barely got a look-in, much to his dismay. This toy certainly proved its worth as one of the reliable Kong dog toys for large dogs.

Jean, a determined dog, chewing vigorously on the Kong Rewards Ball, highlighting its impressive durability for powerful chewers.

But don’t just take Jean’s word for it; we aim for a balanced review! All our other fantastic dogs also put it through its paces. From huge Jambo to small Star, every single dog at the shelter had a play and a chew. Not one tooth mark was found, nor were any treats left inside. This is a definitive sign of an effective and simple treat dispenser, and a truly robust toy for tough chewers.

The Details
This Kong Rewards Ball measures 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm and weighs 417 grams. It’s specifically designed for dogs weighing 16 kg (35 lbs) and above, making it an excellent option for medium to large tough chewing dogs.

Summary
Our dogs unanimously feel that this is an all-around excellent toy, combining two of their favorite activities: play and food. It’s a durable and tough toy that admirably withstands extensive chewing, vigorous bouncing, and interactive play, all while functioning as a simple and effective treat dispenser. It’s certainly a contender when considering best toys for tough chewing dogs.

CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone

The CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone, an orange bone-shaped toy marketed for aggressive chewers.

The CyunCmay toy sparked the most excitement and immediate enthusiasm as we unwrapped it. Sadly, that excitement came to an abrupt end once Black Nero got his formidable paws and teeth into it. To be fair, he did have an enormous amount of fun with it for about 30 minutes. He enjoyed tug-of-war thanks to the handles at each end, had a good old chew, and loved fetching it from the lake.

Black Nero vigorously shaking the CyunCmay XL bone, putting its 'indestructible' claim to the test as a chew toy.

With its soft, rubbery texture and bendy, pliable material, we initially feared it wouldn’t withstand the rigorous and extreme testing by our dogs, who take their job very seriously. Sadly, Nero quickly proved our fears founded – big sigh. The results, stark and undeniable, are visible in the photos below. This toy, despite its “indestructible” claim, clearly did not make the cut for tough chewing dogs.

Close-up of the CyunCmay XL bone, showing significant teeth marks and damage after only 30 minutes of chewing by a tough dog.

Pebbles relaxing with the CyunCmay XL bone, demonstrating its initial appeal before succumbing to strong chewing.

The Details
The CyunCmay XL bone measures 32.9 x 12.2 x 3.8 cm and weighs 330 grams. It’s made from TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber), marketed as an environmentally friendly, chemical-free, safe, and non-toxic material. Its surface is designed to help clean a dog’s teeth and control plaque and tartar.

Summary
Although described as strong, durable, and suitable for medium to large dogs, the real-world results from our tough chewing dogs speak volumes. Indestructible? A resounding no. Fun for a short while? Yes. If you are specifically seeking a chew toy that will not be destroyed in minutes, this is definitely not the toy for your dog. However, if you’re looking for a fun toy for your dog to retrieve and play with, but not to be left alone to chew, this toy was very popular with our dogs and certainly had them running around and wanting to play. Ultimately, our dogs were left sad-faced and disappointed when they realized their chewing fun was very short-lived with this particular toy.

HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy

The HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy, a red, spiky sphere designed for teeth cleaning.

Admittedly, this toy is primarily designed with the main purpose of cleaning a dog’s teeth. However, it was met with such unenthusiastic faces from our expert reviewers, the dogs, that we were left utterly perplexed. Even its squeak failed to excite them. Well, Maya did run and hide when she heard the strange noise emanating from this peculiar-looking red object. But Maya, being the brave girl she is, eventually gave it another go, carefully inspecting it for a few moments. This toy, despite its dental claims, seemed to miss the mark for tough chewing dogs looking for engaging play.

Maya cautiously inspecting the HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy, evaluating its appeal for tough chewers.

To try and make this “toy” more interesting, we strategically placed peanut butter within its grooves, hoping to encourage our reviewers to engage in some chewing. This trick managed to keep Maya interested for a few minutes before she predictably wandered off, leaving the toy behind. For owners of best chew toys for pit puppy or other energetic young chewers, engagement is key, and this toy struggled.

Black Nero showing minimal interest in the HETOO dental toy, indicating its limited engagement for a power chewer.

Maya with the HETOO dental chew toy, showcasing an attempt to entice tough chewing dogs with peanut butter.

The Details
Made from natural rubber, the HETOO toy measures 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm and weighs 417 grams.

Summary
The HETOO toy simply didn’t excite our dogs or keep them entertained for longer than a few minutes. Did we mention this toy squeaks? And annoyingly for us humans, it squeaks quite a lot – oh yes, we know we’re party poopers! Black Nero and Maya were the only ones who showed any fleeting interest whatsoever in this toy, and sadly, even this was very short-lived. While it aims for dental care, its lack of appeal makes it hard to recommend for engaging tough chewing dogs.

Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy

The Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy, a large, red, weighted toy designed to engage and dispense treats.

The dogs’ initial reaction to this Kong Wobbler was absolutely hilarious. Was it a bird? Was it a plane? A UFO, perhaps? Its sheer size certainly contributed to their confusion – it is, indeed, quite large! Unlike many other Kong treat toys on the market, this one is constructed from a harder plastic polymer rather than rubber. From a human’s perspective, the twist-off lid makes it incredibly easy to fill with treats. However, we’re not the experts here; the dogs are, and they seemed to struggle with this toy initially. They clearly wanted to play with it (well, all except our sweet boy Kilo, who was utterly perplexed by this wobbly red object). They understood there were treats inside but simply couldn’t figure out how to get them out. This highlights that even the best toys for tough chewing dogs need some user-friendliness.

Then, we humans had an epiphany: this Kong Wobbler is designed to be used on smooth surfaces, not the stone pebbly ground our dogs have in their kennels. And, of course, the size of the treats needs to be compatible with the size of the dispenser hole – Doh! Once these factors were adjusted, the fun truly began.

Pebbles interacting with the Kong Wobbler, demonstrating how this treat-dispensing toy provides mental stimulation for dogs.

This particular toy is a fantastic choice for providing mental enrichment and a slow-feeding experience, making it a great option for Kong dog toys for large dogs who might otherwise gulp down their meals.

Komo playfully nudging the Kong Wobbler, engaged in retrieving treats from the durable interactive dog toy.

Kilo observing the Kong Wobbler, initially perplexed by this large, wobbly interactive toy for tough chewing dogs.

The Details
The Kong Wobbler is made from a durable plastic polymer. It measures 13 cm in diameter and 19 cm in height, weighing 485 grams. Designed for dogs weighing 12 kg (26 lbs) and above, it has a maximum filling capacity of 250 grams, making it suitable for a variety of treats or kibble.

Summary
Once the dogs finally understood the mechanics of this toy, and we humans realized it wouldn’t wobble effectively on an uneven surface, this Kong Wobbler went down an absolute treat. Its large size makes it challenging for dogs to pick up and carry in their mouths, which is arguably a good thing, as it reduces the chance of them getting their teeth stuck into it and attempting to destroy it through intense chewing. Indestructible? According to our dogs, yes, in terms of its intended use. Easy to use? Yes, once the humans realize the treat size placed into the Kong can’t be too large for the dispensing hole, which is quite small relative to the toy’s overall size. For tough chewing dogs that also need mental stimulation, this is a strong contender.

Choosing the Right Tough Chew Toy for Your Dog

Selecting the ideal toy for your tough chewing dog involves more than just picking something labeled “durable.” Consider these key factors to ensure you’re making the best choice for your furry friend:

1. Dog’s Chewing Style: Is your dog a moderate chewer, an intense gnawer, or a destructive power chewer? Some dogs just enjoy holding a toy, while others are on a mission to dismantle it. A Pitbull puppy, for example, will need a far more robust toy than a Chihuahua puppy, underscoring the importance of understanding the best chew toys for pit puppy versus best chew toys for chihuahua puppies.
2. Size and Breed: Always match the toy size to your dog’s breed and mouth size. A toy that’s too small can become a choking hazard, while one that’s too large might be unmanageable. Look for toys designed for large breeds if you have a powerful chewer like a German Shepherd, Rottweiler, or a Golden Retriever (consider indestructible dog toys for golden retrievers).
3. Material Safety & Durability:
   • Hard Rubber: Excellent for strong chewers (like many Kong products). It’s flexible enough to be satisfying but tough enough to resist damage.
   • Nylon: Very durable for extreme chewers (like Nylabone). Always ensure it’s solid nylon, not hollow, and inspect for sharp edges as it wears.
   • TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber): Offers a good balance of durability and flexibility. However, as our CyunCmay review showed, quality can vary greatly between brands.
   • Avoid toys with small, easily detachable parts or those made from soft plastics that can splinter.
4. Purpose of the Toy: Are you looking for a toy for dental health, mental stimulation, anxiety relief, or just plain fun? Treat-dispensing toys combine entertainment with a reward, while puzzle toys provide excellent mental challenges.
5. Supervision: Even the most “indestructible” toys aren’t truly infallible. Always supervise your dog, especially with a new toy. Inspect toys regularly for wear and tear, and discard them if they become damaged to prevent accidental ingestion of small pieces.

Conclusion – Our Dog’s Verdict

Drum roll, please! Accompanied by lots of barking and joyous smiles from our dogs (we promise not to name and shame the loudest ones!), they have deliberated at length, held numerous seemingly serious meetings, and finally confirmed their ultimate verdict on these five “indestructible” toys.

For owners of tough chewing dogs, the quest for durable and engaging toys is ongoing. Our rigorous testing at Benafim Dog Shelter, powered by our expert canine panel, has revealed clear winners and some notable disappointments. Investing in the right chew toy isn’t just about entertainment; it’s about promoting dental health, providing mental stimulation, reducing anxiety, and ensuring safety for your beloved companion. Based on our real-world, honest reviews, we hope this guide helps you make informed choices and finally find the perfect match for your power chewer.