As a dedicated dog owner, you’ve likely experienced the familiar frustration: you bring home a new toy, filled with hope that this one will last, only to find it in tatters within hours, or even minutes. For dogs that love to chew, finding truly Strong Toys For Dogs That Chew can feel like an endless quest, leading to a pile of broken plastic and rubber, and a sigh of defeat. At Dog Care Story, we understand this challenge all too well, both as pet parents and through our extensive work with the wonderful dogs at Benafim Dog Shelter. We’ve seen countless toys come and go, promising durability but delivering disappointment. That’s why we enlisted our expert team of shelter dogs—Nero, Max, Maya, Black Nero, Jean, and Pebbles—to put five of the market’s most acclaimed “indestructible” dog toys to the ultimate test. Their honest, reliable, and sometimes brutally frank feedback will help you find the perfect durable dog toys for your powerful chewer. If you’re looking for the very best, dive into our comprehensive reviews and discover strong dog toys for big dogs that truly stand up to the challenge.
Real, Honest, and Reliable Reviews from Our Expert Panel: The Benafim Shelter Dogs
We spent a week observing our canine critics as they thoroughly tested five popular “indestructible” dog toys. These weren’t just casual play sessions; these toys were subjected to intense chewing, vigorous play, enthusiastic burying, and even water retrieval. Our furry experts left no chew mark unturned. The contenders 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. Let’s see which ones truly earned their stripes as strong toys for dogs that chew.
A collection of five dog toys laid out, ready for testing by shelter dogs.
Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy
This XXL Bison-flavored Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy boasts its suitability for the most powerful chewers and dogs weighing over 23kg. Our seasoned tester, Nero, a 9-year-old Pitt Bull cross with an intellect that might surpass our human team’s, dedicated hours to chewing this toy. Remarkably, it barely showed a mark. Despite its large size, it’s surprisingly light, making it easy for dogs to carry around. Its subtly curved design also allows for an easy and satisfying grip with their paws.
Nero, ever the meticulous chewer, found this Nylabone incredibly engaging. But it wasn’t just him; Maya, a 3-year-old who was initially unfamiliar with toys due to her past, immediately took a keen interest. She didn’t display any confusion; instead, she instantly began to chew and thoroughly enjoyed running with it, even prompting Max and others to chase her. This toy proved to be a fantastic introduction to playtime for a dog previously deprived of such joys.
Nero, a white Pitbull, intensely chewing on a large, bone-shaped Nylabone toy.
One of the significant advantages for us humans is its ease of cleaning—assuming we can get it back from a determined dog, of course! Furthermore, the Nylabone maintains its flavor indefinitely, which is a huge plus. For owners who prioritize cleanliness, this toy is a dream: absolutely no mess or lingering odors.
Even Black Nero, renowned for his destructive chewing habits—capable of reducing a massive tree trunk to splinters and bending strong fencing when anxious—met his match with this Nylabone. He absolutely loved it, and even after extended chewing sessions, there was barely a tooth mark visible. This toy genuinely lives up to its claim as one of the truly extra strong chew toys for dogs.
Black Nero, a Cane Corso cross, forcefully chewing on a large Nylabone bone, proving its durability.
The Details
- Flavor: Bison (also available in chicken and turkey)
- Features: Encourages chewing, raised nubs for dental cleaning, safe and non-toxic.
- Measurements: 30.48 x 13.97 x 5.08 cm
- Weight: 485 grams
- Designed for: Dogs over 23 kg
Summary
Without a doubt, every dog at the shelter would heartily recommend this Nylabone. Their collective advice: if your dog loves to chew, gets bored easily, and needs a genuinely tasty and durable toy, this is an excellent choice. It consistently proved its worth as one of the most effective strong toys for dogs that chew among our test group.
Kong Rewards Ball
The Kong Rewards Ball initially received a somewhat less enthusiastic reception from our discerning dog reviewers compared to other toys. However, this reaction was fleeting. The clever combination of a toy for interactive play and a treat dispenser proved to be a winning concept, keeping the dogs amused for hours. From a human perspective, filling it with treats was incredibly straightforward. Unlike some other treat dispensers, it didn’t require excessive effort or “brain power” from the dogs to extract their rewards, which meant more immediate gratification and sustained interest.
Despite the treat-dispensing feature, our dogs seemed to particularly enjoy the ball’s squishy, soft, and bouncy texture. Jean, in particular, absolutely adored this toy, often burying it after hours of chewing the rubbery side, only to rediscover it later. His best friend Komo, much to his chagrin, rarely got a look in.
The Kong Rewards Ball endured rigorous testing from all our shelter dogs, from the enormous Jambo to the petite Star. Not a single tooth mark was found, nor were any treats left inside. This is a clear indicator of both its impressive durability and its effective, simple treat-dispensing mechanism. It truly functions as a best dog chew toys for strong chewers that also offers mental stimulation.
The Details
- Features: Treat dispensing, durable for chewing and bouncing.
- Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm
- Weight: 417 grams
- Designed for: Dogs 16 kg and above
Summary
The dogs unanimously consider the Kong Rewards Ball an excellent all-around toy, skillfully combining two of their favorite activities: play and food. It’s a durable and tough toy that can withstand extensive chewing, bouncing, and interactive play, while also serving as a straightforward and effective treat dispenser. It provides both physical and mental stimulation, making it a fantastic addition to any dog’s toy collection, especially for those who need long-lasting dog toys.
CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone
The CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone generated immense excitement upon unwrapping. However, this initial enthusiasm was short-lived once Black Nero got his formidable paws and teeth on it. While he undeniably had a tremendous amount of fun for about 30 minutes—playing tug-of-war using its end handles, enjoying a good chew, and retrieving it from the lake—the toy’s true durability was quickly revealed.
With its soft, rubbery texture and pliable material, we had concerns about its ability to withstand the intense, serious testing conducted by our dogs. Sadly, Black Nero swiftly confirmed our fears. The results, as pictured below, speak volumes. Within half an hour, the toy showed significant teeth marks and was almost split in two.
A bright orange CyunCmay dog bone toy with visible teeth marks and nearing a complete split.
Pebbles, though gentler, also enjoyed playing with the XL orange bone. However, for a toy marketed as “indestructible,” its performance fell far short of expectations when faced with an aggressive chewer like Black Nero. This highlights the crucial difference between a fun fetch toy and a truly tough chew toy designed to last.
The Details
- Material: TPR environmentally friendly material, no chemical smell, safe and non-toxic.
- Features: Surface designed to help clean a dog’s teeth and control plaque and tartar, handles for tug-of-war.
- Measurements: 32.9 x 12.2 x 3.8 cm
- Weight: 330 grams
Summary
Despite being described as strong, durable, and suitable for medium to large dogs, our dogs’ rigorous testing painted a different picture. “Indestructible?” No. “Fun for a short while?” Yes. If your primary goal is finding strong toys for dogs that chew and will not be broken in minutes, this is not the toy for your dog. However, if you’re looking for an enjoyable toy for your dog to retrieve and play with under supervision, this toy was very popular with our dogs and encouraged a lot of running and interactive play. Our dogs, however, were left visibly sad and disappointed when they realized their chewing fun was incredibly short-lived.
HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy
Admittedly, the primary purpose of the HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy is dental cleaning, but its introduction was met with such unenthusiastic expressions from our canine experts that we were left perplexed. Even its squeak, which is often a dog magnet, failed to excite them. Maya, initially, even ran and hid upon hearing the strange noise emanating from this odd-looking red object. However, her brave spirit soon took over, and she cautiously inspected it for a few moments.
To try and spark some interest in this “toy,” we resorted to spreading peanut butter within its grooves. This strategy kept Maya engaged for a brief few minutes before she eventually wandered off, leaving the toy behind. Black Nero also showed fleeting interest, but like Maya, his engagement was very short-lived. This suggests that while it may have dental benefits, its appeal as a standalone toy for aggressive chewers or even moderate chewers is limited.
Maya, a shelter dog, cautiously inspecting a red Hetoo dental chew toy.
The Details
- Material: Natural rubber
- Measurements: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm
- Weight: 417 grams
- Features: Designed for dental care, includes a squeaker.
Summary
The Hetoo toy did not manage to excite our dogs or keep them entertained for more than a few minutes. Did we mention this toy squeaks? Annoyingly for us humans, it certainly does. Black Nero and Maya were the only ones who showed any interest whatsoever, and even that was very short-lived. While it claims to be indestructible and offers dental care, its low appeal means it won’t be a go-to choice for dogs seeking engaging strong toys for dogs that chew.
Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy
The dogs’ initial reaction to the Kong Wobbler was absolutely hilarious! “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? A UFO, perhaps?” This confusion was likely due to its substantial size – it’s quite big! Unlike many other Kong treat toys on the market, this one is crafted from a harder plastic polymer rather than rubber. From a human perspective, the twist-off lid makes it incredibly easy to fill with treats. However, our canine experts initially struggled with this wobbly red object. They wanted to play with it (all except our sweet Killo, who was utterly perplexed), and they understood treats were inside, but they couldn’t get them out.
It took some human intervention to realize that the Kong Wobbler performs best on smooth surfaces, not the stone-pebbled kennel floors our dogs had. Also, a crucial “Doh!” moment occurred when we understood that the treat size needed to be compatible with the dispenser hole. Once these adjustments were made, the toy became a huge hit.
Pebbles, our energetic tester, quickly learned how to interact with the Wobbler, showcasing its potential for mental stimulation. The large size, which initially caused some confusion, actually makes it difficult for dogs to pick up in their mouths, potentially reducing the chance of them getting their teeth firmly stuck into it and causing destruction. This design feature contributes significantly to its durability, making it an excellent candidate among safe dog chews for aggressive chewers when used correctly. Find more options for large breeds and strong jaws in our guide to best dog toys for large dogs.
Pebbles, a happy shelter dog, intently interacting with a red Kong Wobbler treat-dispensing toy.
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
Once our dogs understood the mechanics of this toy, and we humans grasped the importance of surface and treat size, the Kong Wobbler became an instant success. Its large size, which makes it challenging for dogs to pick up and bite down on firmly, contributes to its impressive durability. Indestructible? According to our dogs, yes. Easy to use? Yes, once the humans understand the small nuances of treat size and surface. This toy offers both mental engagement and physical activity, making it one of the most effective strong toys for dogs that chew that also provides rewarding mental stimulation.
Conclusion: Our Dog’s Verdict on Strong Chew Toys
After extensive discussions, numerous seemingly serious meetings, and a cacophony of barks (we won’t name the loudest!), our Benafim Dog Shelter experts have reached their final verdict on these five “indestructible” toys. When it comes to finding strong toys for dogs that chew, not all claims hold up to the rigorous standards of an enthusiastic canine.
For the ultimate chewing experience and undeniable durability, the Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy emerged as the clear champion. It withstood Black Nero’s legendary chewing power with barely a scratch, making it a top recommendation for even the most aggressive chewers.
If you’re looking for a durable toy that combines both play and mental stimulation through treat dispensing, the Kong Rewards Ball and the Kong Wobbler are excellent choices. While the Wobbler requires a smooth surface and appropriate treat size, both offer long-lasting engagement without succumbing to powerful jaws. The Kong Rewards Ball also serves as a fantastic interactive toy for dogs who love to play, offering extra strong chew toys for dogs benefits.
Unfortunately, the CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone and the HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy fell short of the “indestructible” label, particularly for strong chewers. While the CyunCmay bone provided short bursts of fun for retrieval, it couldn’t withstand serious chewing. The Hetoo toy, despite its dental benefits, simply failed to capture our dogs’ interest for more than a few fleeting minutes.
Choosing the right toy for your dog’s chewing style is paramount for their safety, happiness, and your wallet. Investing in truly strong toys for dogs that chew not only provides long-lasting entertainment but also helps prevent destructive behavior and keeps your furry friend engaged. Always consider your dog’s size, chewing intensity, and preferences when selecting a new toy. For more insights and recommendations, be sure to explore other articles on dog care and product reviews on Dog Care Story!
