As dedicated owners and caretakers at “Dog Care Story,” we understand the constant quest to find truly “Good Toys For Dogs” that stand the test of time and provide genuine enjoyment for our furry companions. The market is flooded with claims of durability and endless fun, but often, these promises fall flat faster than a deflated squeaky toy. We know the frustration of watching a brand-new toy succumb to enthusiastic chewing within minutes, leaving both you and your dog disheartened.
Having tested hundreds of dog toys through our years of experience, both with our own pets and the many residents at our shelter, we’ve learned a thing or two about what truly works. Who better to offer honest, reliable, and trustworthy feedback than the dogs themselves? Our canine experts at Benafim Dog Shelter — including Nero, Max, Maya, Black Nero, Jean, and Pebbles — recently put five popular toys to the ultimate test. They gnawed, chased, buried, and retrieved, providing invaluable insights into what makes a toy genuinely good. Whether you’re looking for best ball launcher for dogs uk or something to keep a powerful chewer occupied, these reviews will guide you.
In this comprehensive review, we delve into five distinct toys, exploring their features, the dogs’ reactions, and ultimately, whether they earn the coveted title of “good toys for dogs” for various needs and play styles. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions, ensuring your dog’s playtime is both safe and stimulating.
Our Experts’ Unfiltered Reviews: What Makes a Toy Good?
Over a week, five distinct toys faced the relentless enthusiasm of our shelter dogs: 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. Each toy was put through its paces, enduring hours of chewing, playful interaction, water escapades, and even being buried and rediscovered. Our canine panel’s feedback is direct and unfiltered, offering a clear picture of what makes a toy a worthwhile investment for different types of dogs.
White Nero and other dog toys ready for testing
Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy: A Champion for Power Chewers
The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, specifically the XXL Bison flavored bone, claims to be the ideal choice for the most powerful chewers and dogs weighing over 23kg. Our nine-year-old Pitbull, Nero, a dog we often suspect is more intelligent than our human team, spent countless hours engaging with this toy. What truly makes this one of the good toys for dogs with strong jaws is its remarkable resilience; Nero barely left a mark. Despite its large size, it’s surprisingly light, making it easy for dogs to carry. The subtly curved design also provides a comfortable grip for their paws, enhancing the chewing experience.
Maya, a three-year-old dog with a history of neglect, immediately took to the Nylabone. Unfamiliar with toys in her early life, she showed no confusion, instantly grasping its purpose. She thoroughly enjoyed chewing and running with it, even inciting playful chases from other dogs like Max. This speaks volumes about its engaging design, making it a good choice even for dogs new to toys. One of the standout features for owners is its ease of cleaning and the fact that its flavor never diminishes, ensuring long-lasting appeal without mess or odor – a true win for dental hygiene and owner convenience.
Nero, a handsome white dog, happily chewing the Bison flavored Nylabone
Black Nero, renowned for his tree-trunk-chewing prowess and anxiety-induced fence-bending habits, met his match with this Nylabone. Even after hours of relentless effort, there was barely a tooth mark on the bone, proving its “Black Nero-proof” durability. This makes it an excellent option among chew toys for dogs who destroy everything else. The consensus from every dog at the shelter was a resounding recommendation, deeming it one of the top good toys for dogs who love to chew, get bored easily, and need something both tasty and exceptionally durable.
The Details
- Flavor: Bison (also available in chicken and turkey), flavored throughout to encourage chewing.
- Dental Benefits: Raised bristles and nubs help clean teeth and gums.
- Safety: Safe and non-toxic.
- Measurements: 30.48 x 13.97 x 5.08 cm
- Weight: 485 grams
- Recommended for: Dogs 23 kg and above.
Summary: The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy is an unequivocal success for extreme chewers. Its long-lasting flavor, robust material, and dental benefits make it a superior choice among good toys for dogs who require significant chewing outlets.
Kong Rewards Ball: An Engaging Treat-Dispensing Toy
The Kong Rewards Ball, an interactive treat-dispensing toy, initially received a mixed reaction from our esteemed canine panel. However, this initial lukewarm response quickly faded as they discovered its engaging nature. The clever combination of a durable play toy and a treat dispenser proved to be a winning concept. From a human perspective, filling it with treats was a breeze. Unlike some other treat toys, our dogs found it relatively simple to extract the rewards, requiring just enough mental stimulation without causing frustration, making it a truly interactive experience.
Interestingly, our dogs seemed to appreciate the soft, bouncy rubbery side of the ball more than the treat-dispensing aspect itself. Jean, in particular, developed an intense affection for this toy. He would spend hours chewing on the rubbery surface before burying it, only to unearth it again for more playtime. His devotion was so absolute that his best friend, Komo, couldn’t get a look in. The Kong Rewards Ball also proved to be remarkably durable. From the massive Jambo to the petite Star, every dog at the shelter played with and chewed on it, yet not a single tooth mark was found. This attests to its quality as a durable dog toy, and its ability to keep dogs entertained for extended periods.
Jean, a shelter dog, attempting to chew the Kong Rewards Ball
Furthermore, the fact that no treats were ever left inside is a testament to its effectiveness as a simple and rewarding dispenser. This makes it one of the good toys for dogs that need both physical activity and mental engagement, promoting healthy eating habits through play. If you’re looking for a ball thrower to complement interactive play, this toy could be a fantastic addition to your dog’s collection.
The Details
- Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm
- Weight: 417 grams
- Recommended for: Dogs 16 kg and above.
- Features: Ultra-durable, interactive, treat-dispensing.
Summary: The Kong Rewards Ball is considered an all-around good toy by our dogs, expertly blending play and food. Its durability, bounce, and effective treat-dispensing mechanism make it an excellent choice for keeping dogs amused and stimulated, even for those with strong chewing tendencies.
CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone: A Short-Lived Sensation
The CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone generated immense excitement upon its unwrapping. However, this initial enthusiasm was, regrettably, short-lived, particularly once Black Nero got his formidable paws and teeth on it. While the toy provided about 30 minutes of intense fun – including tug-of-war thanks to its handles, enthusiastic chewing, and successful retrieves from the lake – its “indestructible” claim quickly faltered. Its soft, rubbery, and pliable material raised our initial concerns about its longevity under the rigorous testing of our shelter dogs, and unfortunately, our fears were confirmed.
Black Nero, our resident expert in toy destruction, proved our assessment correct with disheartening speed. The images below vividly illustrate the outcome: significant teeth marks and the toy nearly split in two within half an hour. This experience highlights a crucial aspect of choosing good toys for dogs: material composition is paramount when dealing with power chewers. While it was immensely popular for fetching and interactive play when supervised, it utterly failed the durability test.
CyunCmay orange bone showing significant teeth marks and damage after 30 minutes
Our dogs were visibly disappointed when their fun with this particular toy came to an abrupt end. It underscores the importance of matching a toy’s design and material to a dog’s chewing style. If your dog is a gentle player or enjoys fetching more than intense chewing, this toy might offer some fun under supervision. However, for serious chewers, it falls far short of being a “good toy” that will last. For those seeking truly resilient options, exploring best ball thrower for dogs uk that are designed for durability might be a better route.
The Details
- Measurements: 32.9 x 12.2 x 3.8 cm
- Weight: 330 Grams
- Material: TPR environmentally friendly material (claims non-toxic).
- Dental Features: Surface designed to help clean a dog’s teeth and control plaque and tartar.
Summary: Despite being marketed as strong and durable, and suitable for medium to large dogs, the CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone did not live up to its name with our strong chewers. While it offers short-term fun for retrieval and supervised play, it is not a good toy for dogs prone to destructive chewing.
HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy: A Missed Opportunity
The HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy, primarily designed for dental hygiene, failed to ignite much enthusiasm among our expert canine reviewers. The initial reaction to this strange-looking red object was perplexity, and even its squeak, which often excites dogs, fell flat. Maya, for instance, initially ran to hide upon hearing the unfamiliar noise. Although she eventually showed bravery by inspecting it, her interest, like that of other dogs, was fleeting.
To try and make the toy more appealing and encourage engagement, we resorted to smearing peanut butter into its grooves. This strategy held Maya’s attention for a few minutes, but she soon wandered off, leaving the toy behind. This toy highlights a common challenge in finding good toys for dogs: while a toy might offer functional benefits like dental care, it must also be inherently engaging to capture a dog’s interest long-term. Without that inherent appeal, even a squeak or a tasty treat can only do so much.
Maya inspecting the Hetoo Dental Care Toy
Black Nero and Maya were the only dogs who showed any interest in the Hetoo toy whatsoever, and even their engagement was very short-lived. From a human perspective, the constant squeaking was quite irritating, which further detracts from its overall appeal as a “good toy” for the household. While dental health is crucial, a toy that doesn’t encourage play ultimately won’t serve its purpose.
The Details
- Material: Natural rubber.
- Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm
- Weight: 417 Grams
- Features: Squeaky, designed for dental cleaning.
Summary: The HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy struggled to excite or entertain our dogs for more than a few minutes. Despite its dental claims and squeaky feature, it proved to be an unpopular choice. It may not be among the good toys for dogs if your primary goal is sustained engagement and enjoyment.
Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy: A Learning Curve with High Rewards
The Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy elicited hilarious reactions from our dogs. Its large, unfamiliar shape led to comical confusion – was it a bird, a plane, or a UFO? This particular Kong toy stands out from others on the market due to its construction from a harder plastic polymer rather than rubber. For humans, the twist-off lid makes filling it with treats incredibly easy. However, our canine testers initially struggled. They understood that treats were inside and wanted to play, but couldn’t quite figure out how to get them out, much to the perplexity of our sweet boy Kilo. This initial struggle, however, is part of what makes it one of the more mentally stimulating good toys for dogs.
We humans soon realized our mistake: the Kong Wobbler performs best on smooth surfaces, not the stone pebbled kennel floors, and the treat size must be compatible with the dispenser hole. Once these adjustments were made – a crucial learning curve for both dogs and humans – the Wobbler became a huge hit. Its large size makes it challenging for dogs to pick up and aggressively chew, which inadvertently contributes to its “indestructible” nature, minimizing the chance of damage.
Pebbles engaging with the Kong Wobbler treat dispenser
According to our dogs, once they mastered the technique, it was easy to use and certainly indestructible. The Kong Wobbler is an excellent choice for providing mental enrichment and slowing down meal times, promoting healthier eating habits. This makes it a fantastic addition to the category of good toys for dogs that benefit from problem-solving and extended engagement. If you’re looking for best toys for small dogs uk that offer mental challenges, similar principles of interactive design apply, albeit in a different scale.
The Details
- Material: Plastic polymer (harder than traditional Kong rubber).
- Measurements: Diameter 13 x 19 cm
- Weight: 485 grams
- Recommended for: Dogs 12 kg and above.
- Maximum Filling Capacity: 250 grams.
Summary: After a brief learning period, the Kong Wobbler proved to be an excellent, durable, and interactive treat-dispensing toy. Its robust construction and design that encourages mental stimulation make it one of the top good toys for dogs needing enrichment and a way to slow down eating.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Verdict on Good Toys for Dogs
After extensive testing and countless “meetings” (accompanied by much barking and tail wags), our Benafim Dog Shelter experts have delivered their final verdict on these five “indestructible” toys, allowing us to categorize them into truly good toys for dogs.
For dogs who are power chewers and need something incredibly durable and flavorful, the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy stands out as a clear winner. Its ability to withstand even the most determined jaws, combined with its dental benefits and long-lasting appeal, makes it an essential item for these dogs.
For those seeking an interactive and treat-dispensing toy that also offers robust play, the Kong Rewards Ball is an excellent choice. It successfully combines physical activity with mental stimulation, proving to be a durable and engaging option that satisfies a dog’s natural instincts for play and food. Similarly, the Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy, while requiring a slight learning curve, delivers significant mental enrichment and durability, making it perfect for slowing down enthusiastic eaters and providing sustained engagement. If you own a tennis ball launcher for dogs uk, these interactive toys can complement an active play routine.
Unfortunately, not all toys lived up to their claims. The CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone proved to be enjoyable for retrieval and short bursts of play but failed miserably in the durability department for strong chewers. Likewise, the HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy, despite its intended dental benefits, failed to capture our dogs’ interest for more than a few minutes, highlighting that even good intentions don’t always translate to effective engagement.
Ultimately, choosing “good toys for dogs” means understanding your dog’s individual play style, chewing habits, and need for mental stimulation. Our reviews from the Benafim Dog Shelter provide a roadmap to help you select toys that are not only safe and durable but truly bring joy and enrichment to your beloved companion. Investing in the right toys can make a significant difference in your dog’s happiness and overall well-being.
