Finding a dog toy that can withstand the most enthusiastic chewing is a constant challenge for pet owners. Many toys are advertised as “indestructible,” but quickly fall apart, leaving both dogs and owners disappointed. This review puts five popular “indestructible” dog toys to the ultimate test, with real dogs providing their honest feedback. We’ve compiled their insights to help you choose the most durable and engaging toys for your furry companions.
The Ultimate Test: Shelter Dogs Weigh In
At Benafim Dog Shelter, we have a unique opportunity to test dog toys with a diverse group of canine experts. Our dogs, including Nero, Max, Maya, Black Nero, Jean, and Pebbles, have collectively tested hundreds of toys. For this review, we selected five 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. These toys underwent a rigorous week of chewing, playing, burying, and retrieving to assess their durability and entertainment value.
Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy: A Chewer’s Dream
The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy, particularly the Bison-flavored XXL version, proved to be a resounding success. Designed for powerful chewers weighing over 23kg, this toy held up exceptionally well. Nero, a 9-year-old Pitt bull, spent hours chewing it with minimal wear. Its large size is manageable for dogs to carry, and the curved design makes it easy to grip. Even Maya, a timid rescue dog, took an immediate liking to it, finding joy in chewing and playing fetch with the Nylabone.
Black Nero, known for his destructive chewing habits, also found this toy to be a formidable opponent. Despite his tendency to chew through tough materials, the Nylabone remained largely unscathed after extensive use. The toy is easy to clean and, importantly, retains its flavor, providing long-lasting enjoyment for dogs. The raised bristles on the toy also aid in cleaning teeth and gums during chewing. Browse other durable dog toys for aggressive chewers.
Key Features:
- Flavor: Bison (also available in chicken and turkey)
- Material: Tough, durable nylon
- Size: XXL, suitable for dogs over 23 kg
- Dimensions: 30.48 x 13.97 x 5.08 cm
- Weight: 485 grams
- Benefits: Cleans teeth and gums, long-lasting flavor, non-toxic.
Summary: The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy is highly recommended by our shelter dogs for its extreme durability and engaging chewing experience.
Kong Rewards Ball: Interactive Fun with a Treat Bonus
The Kong Rewards Ball offers a clever combination of play and treat dispensing. While initially met with less immediate enthusiasm than some other toys, its interactive nature quickly won the dogs over. The ball is easy to fill with treats and requires moderate effort from the dog to dispense them, providing mental stimulation. Dogs enjoyed both chewing the durable rubber exterior and engaging with the treat dispenser.
Jean, in particular, loved this toy, spending hours burying it and chewing it before rediscovering it. Despite its tough exterior, it withstood significant chewing from various dogs without any visible tooth marks. The toy is also designed to bounce and roll, encouraging interactive play. Find the best puppy chew toys on Amazon to keep your young dogs entertained.
Key Features:
- Material: Long-lasting Kong rubber
- Size: Designed for dogs of 16 kg and above
- Dimensions: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm
- Weight: 417 grams
- Benefits: Dispenses treats, durable, promotes interactive play.
Summary: The Kong Rewards Ball is an excellent all-around toy that combines the dogs’ love for play with the excitement of receiving treats.
CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone: Short-Lived Excitement
The CyunCmay Indestructible Dog Toy XL Bone initially generated significant excitement due to its pliable, rubbery texture and convenient handles for tug-of-war. Dogs enjoyed fetching and chewing it, and it even withstood some lake play. However, its durability was short-lived. Within approximately 30 minutes, Black Nero managed to leave significant teeth marks and almost split the toy in two.
Despite its soft texture and design intended for cleaning teeth, this toy did not live up to its “indestructible” claim for strong chewers. While it provided initial fun, it is not suitable for dogs who are prone to destroying toys quickly. Discover chewy dog toys for large dogs that are built to last.
Key Features:
- Material: TPR environmentally friendly material
- Size: XL
- Dimensions: 32.9 x 12.2 x 3.8 cm
- Weight: 330 grams
- Benefits: Soft texture, designed to clean teeth, non-toxic.
Summary: While fun for a short period, this toy is not recommended for powerful chewers due to its lack of durability.
HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy: Lacking Appeal
The HETOO Indestructible Squeaky Dental Care Dog Toy, designed primarily for dental hygiene, failed to capture the dogs’ interest. Even the squeaking feature did not elicit much excitement, with Maya initially hiding from the sound. To encourage engagement, peanut butter was added to the grooves, which provided temporary interest but did not lead to sustained play.
Only Black Nero and Maya showed brief interest in this toy. The dogs seemed generally unimpressed, and the squeaker, while potentially annoying to owners, did not effectively engage the canine testers.
Key Features:
- Material: Natural rubber
- Dimensions: 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.07 cm
- Weight: 417 Grams
- Benefits: Squeaky feature, designed for dental cleaning.
Summary: This toy did not perform well in engaging the dogs or proving its durability, resulting in a short-lived interaction.
Kong Wobbler Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy: A Wobbly Success
The Kong Wobbler, a treat-dispensing toy made from a hard plastic polymer, proved to be a durable and engaging option once its use was understood. Its large size initially perplexed some dogs, including Killo. However, once placed on a smooth surface and filled with appropriately sized treats, the dogs quickly learned how to interact with it.
The Wobbler’s design makes it challenging for dogs to pick up and chew, contributing to its indestructibility. The ability to stuff it with treats and its dishwasher-safe feature add to its practical appeal. The main considerations are using it on a suitable surface and ensuring the treat size is compatible with the dispensing hole. Explore indestructible dog toys for pit bulls and other strong breeds.
Key Features:
- Material: Plastic polymer
- Size: Suitable for dogs of 12 kg plus
- Dimensions: Diameter 13 x 19 cm
- Weight: 485 grams
- Benefits: Treat dispensing, durable, interactive play, dishwasher-safe.
Summary: Once the initial learning curve was overcome, the Kong Wobbler became a favorite for its interactive treat-dispensing capabilities and robust construction.
Our Dogs’ Verdict: The Top Indestructible Toys
After extensive testing, our canine panel has reached a consensus. The Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy stands out for its exceptional durability for chewers. The Kong Rewards Ball is highly recommended for its blend of interactive play and treat dispensing. Finally, the Kong Wobbler is a great choice for an engaging, durable treat-dispensing toy. While other toys offered some initial amusement, these three proved to be the most successful in terms of longevity and canine approval.
