If you're looking for durable dog toys, try these, which stood up to my dog's rough play and avid chewing.
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If you're looking for durable dog toys, try these, which stood up to my dog's rough play and avid chewing.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Giving your dog non-edible chew toys and bones massages their gums and provides scraping action on their teeth, much like a dental hygienist descaling the plaque from human teeth. This Dinosaur BarkBone chew toy is perfect for avid chewers with its drool worthy taste. This Nylon toy has REAL BACON in it, which gives dog the best of two worlds: a long-lasting chew along with the irresistible taste of bacon. It helps healthy chewing and makes for a more entertaining experience and it discourages destructive behavior when they get bored.
Kongs are an extremely popular dog toy, as their hollow bodies are ideal for stuffing with food or treats. If your dog is an aggressive chewer, you’ll want to opt for the Kong Extreme. (Kong color-codes its toys by durability — regular toys are red, puppy toys are light blue or pink and extra-durable products are black.)
On days when my dog has a lot of energy, I’ll stuff a Kong with peanut butter, dog treats and/or fruit. She’ll spend an hour or more digging the food out of the toy, which is made from extra-durable rubber. Even after years of use and heavy chewing, our Kong Extreme looks as good as new, and I love that you can clean it in the dishwasher. Plus: If you like this, chances are you’ll like the BarkBox Super Chewer subscription, too.
My dog loves playing fetch, but when the game is over she often chews on the balls. Given the chance, she’ll pull the fabric off tennis balls and rip apart the rubber, which is why we now solely use Chuckit! Ultra Balls. The thick rubber construction of these balls has held up extremely well. As a bonus, their bright orange color is easy to spot in long grass.
After cleaning up the pieces of one too many real sticks from my floor, I bought the Pet Qweks BarkBone Stick for my dog. She’s not generally a big fan of faux bones, but to my surprise she loves it — probably because of its peanut butter flavor. A few of the end nubs have been chewed down, but overall the heavy-duty nylon construction has stood up well to several months of nightly gnawing.
The Kong Extreme Ball is another product that we’ve found can withstand aggressive chewing. This heavy rubber ball is great for fetch, but it also has a hole through the center where I’ll occasionally stuff bully sticks for my dog to chew. The product is puncture-resistant yet extremely bouncy. So if your dog likes balls but often ruins them, this one is worth a try.
Most fabric toys last only a matter of minutes in our home, but the one product that’s still in one piece after several months is the DuraForce Ring. It’s woven from plastic-coated fibers that are much more durable than regular fabric, and the edges are sewn shut with industrial-grade webbing. After a few months my dog finally ripped a small hole in the toy and got one of its squeakers out, but it’s still usable and one of her favorites for tug-of-war.
Another durable and engaging Kong toy is the Kong Genius Mike Toy. Similar to a regular Kong, this cylindrical toy has a hollow center where you can place treats. But the openings are smaller and it’s more challenging to get the food out, keeping your dog busy longer. My dog ripped a few small pieces off the edges of the toy, but we still use it several times a week.
When in doubt, your avid chewer will love gnawing down on a real deer antler. We like USA Bones & Chews Deer Antlers, which are 100 percent natural, extremely hard and long-lasting. They come in several sizes to suit your dog’s need. We usually have several in our home at any time.