Indestructible Dog Toys: What Really Stands Up to a Chew

Bringing a new toy home for your canine companion should be a moment of joy, but for many dog owners, it’s a recurring cycle of disappointment. You eagerly watch your dog engage with their new present, only to witness it dismantled within minutes, leaving you with the familiar sigh of frustration. This common experience led us to test a range of toys marketed as “indestructible” to see if they truly live up to the claim. Through rigorous testing by our pack of dogs at Benafim Dog Shelter, including Nero, Max, Maya, Black Nero, Jean, and Pebbles, we’ve gathered honest feedback to help you make informed choices.

Expert Reviews from Benafim Shelter Dogs

To put these toys to the ultimate test, we acquired five highly-touted options: 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. These toys endured a week of intense chewing, playing, burying, and rediscovering, all under the discerning watch of our resident canine experts. Their insights, though perhaps lacking in diplomatic phrasing, are undeniably reliable.

Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy

The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, particularly the Bison-flavored XXL version, is designed for powerful chewers weighing over 23kg. Our 9-year-old Pitt bull, Nero, a dog of considerable intellect and chewing prowess, spent hours with this toy, leaving barely a scratch. Its substantial size is balanced by a lightweight design, making it easy for dogs to carry. The curved shape with raised “noodles” provides an excellent grip for paws, enhancing the chewing experience and aiding in dental cleaning.

Maya, a 3-year-old rescue who initially lacked experience with toys, was immediately drawn to the Nylabone. She enthusiastically chewed and played with it, even engaging Max in a game of chase. The toy is remarkably easy to clean and, crucially, retains its flavor permanently, a significant plus for owners who dislike messy or smelly toys.

Black Nero, known for his destructive chewing habits, which have previously bent strong fencing, also found this Nylabone to be a worthy adversary. Despite his powerful chewing, the toy remained largely unscathed, and he thoroughly enjoyed engaging with it for hours.

Gallery of dogs enjoying the Nylabone:

• Image: Komo with Nylabone
• Image: Nora with Nylabone
• Image: White Nero with Nylabone

Details:

• Flavor: Bison throughout (also available in chicken and turkey).
• Features: Raised bristles to help clean teeth and gums; safe and non-toxic.
• Measurements: 30.48 x 13.97 x 5.08 cm.
• Weight: 485 grams.
• Designed for dogs over 23 kg.

Summary: The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy receives a resounding recommendation from our shelter dogs. It’s an ideal choice for dogs who love to chew, get bored easily, and require a tasty, durable outlet for their energy. For owners of powerful chewers, this toy offers exceptional durability and engagement. You can find tough chew toys for big dogs like this on Amazon.

Kong Rewards Ball

The Kong Rewards Ball offers a dual function: a durable play toy and a treat dispenser. While initially met with slightly less enthusiasm than some other toys, its appeal quickly grew. The concept of combining playtime with a rewarding treat puzzle is clever and user-friendly for both dogs and owners. Inserting treats is straightforward, and the toy doesn’t require excessive effort from the dog to dispense rewards.

Our dogs seemed to favor the soft, bouncy texture of the ball itself over the treat-dispensing aspect. Jean, in particular, adored this toy, spending hours chewing its rubbery exterior before burying and rediscovering it. Even larger dogs like Jambo and smaller ones like Star thoroughly enjoyed playing with and chewing this durable toy without leaving any marks.

Gallery of dogs interacting with the Kong Rewards Ball:

• Image: Nora with Kong Rewards Ball
• Image: Jean with Kong Rewards Ball
• Image: Baldo with Kong Rewards Ball
• Image: Star with Kong Rewards Ball
• Image: Jambo with Kong Rewards Ball

Details:

• Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm.
• Weight: 417 grams.
• Designed for dogs weighing 16 kg and above.

Summary: The Kong Rewards Ball successfully merges two of a dog’s favorite activities: play and food. It’s a durable and tough toy that withstands significant chewing and interactive play, while also serving as a simple and effective treat dispenser. For those looking for dog chew toys for heavy chewers, this is a solid option.

CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone

The CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone generated significant initial excitement among the dogs. However, this enthusiasm was short-lived, particularly when Black Nero took hold of it. While he enjoyed a good tug-of-war using the handles and had a satisfying chew for about 30 minutes, the toy’s soft, pliable rubber material proved not durable enough for intense play.

Our initial concerns about its durability were validated quickly. Within half an hour, significant teeth marks were visible, and the bone was close to splitting in two. Although popular for retrieval games, this toy is not recommended for dogs who engage in prolonged or aggressive chewing.

Gallery of dogs playing with the CyunCmay XL Bone:

• Image: Jean with the orange bone
• Image: Nora with the orange bone
• Image: Kilo with the orange bone
• Image: Jean with the orange bone (second view)
• Image: Pebbles with the orange bone
• Image: Pebbles lying down with the orange bone
• Image: White Nero with the orange bone

Details:

• Material: TPR environmentally friendly material, no chemical smell, safe and non-toxic.
• Measurements: 32.9 x 12.2 x 3.8 cm.
• Weight: 330 Grams.
• Features: Surface designed to help clean a dog’s teeth and control plaque and tartar.

Summary: Despite its claims of durability, the CyunCmay XL Bone is not suitable for persistent chewers. While it provided short-lived fun for retrieval and light play, it quickly succumbed to the power of determined dogs. If you’re seeking a toy that can withstand significant chewing, this is not the one. However, for interactive fetch, it proved popular. Many owners opt for options like the nylabone flavored durable dog chew toy for more robust play.

HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy

The HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy, designed primarily for dental cleaning, was met with a puzzling lack of enthusiasm from our canine testers. Even the squeaky feature failed to generate excitement; in fact, Maya was initially frightened by the sound and appearance of the toy. To encourage interaction, peanut butter was added to the grooves, which briefly captured Maya’s interest before she lost focus.

Only Black Nero and Maya showed any significant interest in this toy, and even that was very brief. The squeaking feature, while potentially intended to be engaging, proved more of an annoyance to the dogs than a draw.

Gallery of dogs testing the HETOO toy:

• Image: Black Nero with the HETOO toy
• Image: Maya with the HETOO toy

Details:

• Material: Made from natural rubber.
• Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm.
• Weight: 417 Grams.

Summary: The HETOO toy failed to engage or entertain our dogs for more than a few minutes. Its squeak was not a redeeming feature, and overall interest was minimal. This toy is not recommended for owners seeking a durable or engaging chew option.

Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy

The Kong Wobbler presented a novel and amusing challenge to our dogs due to its substantial size and unique shape. Made from a harder plastic polymer rather than rubber, its twist-off lid allows for easy filling with treats. Initially, the dogs struggled to figure out how to dispense the treats, perplexing some, like Kilo.

Upon realizing the toy performs best on smooth surfaces and that the treat size must be appropriate for the dispensing hole, the dogs quickly grasped its function. The Wobbler’s size makes it difficult for dogs to get a strong grip with their teeth, reducing the likelihood of destruction. Our dogs confirmed its indestructibility and ease of use once the initial learning curve was overcome.

Gallery of dogs interacting with the Kong Wobbler:

• Image: Komo with the Kong Wobbler
• Image: Kilo with the Kong Wobbler
• Image: Climber with the Kong Wobbler
• Image: Pebbles with the Kong Wobbler

Details:

• Material: Made from a plastic polymer.
• Measurements: Diameter 13 x 19 cm.
• Weight: 485 grams.
• Designed for dogs weighing 12 kg plus.
• Maximum Filling Capacity: 250 grams.

Summary: Once the dogs understood its function and the humans optimized its use on a suitable surface with appropriate treat sizes, the Kong Wobbler became a favorite. Its large size is a deterrent to destructive chewing, and our dogs deemed it both indestructible and easy to use. This toy is a great option for engaging playtime, similar to toys for 4 month old puppy that encourage mental stimulation.

Conclusion: Our Dogs’ Verdict on Indestructible Toys

After extensive testing and numerous “board meetings” (lots of barking and happy tail wags), our canine panel has reached a consensus on these five so-called indestructible toys.

• Great for Chewers: Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy
• Great for Players: KONG – Rewards Ball
• Great interactive toy: KONG Wobbler