Best Chew Toys for Dogs

Besides different breeds, dogs come in multiple shapes and sizes. Very much like humans, a dog's personality varies greatly not only across species but also from one canine to another. However, almost all dog breeds have razor-sharp teeth that they use optimally for grasping, chewing, tugging, lifting, and defence.   

Nevertheless, by and large, canines press their incisors, canines, premolars, and molars primarily for chewing to masticate food. At the same time, chewing and munching enable dogs to keep their teeth and gums in perfect shape. However, if your Fido is a forceful and vigorous chewer, you must be at your wits’ end trying to control his wayward behaviour. One of the most effective ways to rein in your dog’s aggressive chewing habit is to provide him with a durable chew toy.

The best chew toys for dogs, on the one hand, fulfill their chewing instincts and, on the other, offers mental stimulation. Additionally, top-quality dog chew toys help support their dental health and hygiene and keep your stuff out of harm’s way. 

Buying Guide

Digestible chew toys come in handy for puppies having an instinctive urge to chew and help clean their teeth. Such edible chew toys for dogs are fortified with vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements that support holistic growth and development. However, these toys will not be able to stand up to forceful gnawing by adult dogs and therefore disintegrate sooner than later.

Therefore if you’re looking for a high-quality and durable chew toy that calls for massive effort on your dog’s part to destroy it, then buy toys labelled ‘indestructible’ or ‘unbreakable.’  In this context, it’d be worth noting that no chew toy for dogs is thoroughly chew-safe, unbreakable, and indestructible. Nevertheless, the dog chew toys we reviewed in this article are tremendously tough and resistant to damage.     

Besides being enormously hard-wearing, the chew toy brands for dogs appraised below are entirely safe and come with built-in flavours. In the following sections, we’ve highlighted the different types of chew toys and the factors to keep in mind while shopping for a premium product.

Chew Toy Types

Rubber Chews

Most vets and trainers recommend rubber chew toys, and hence this chew toy type is the best for your dog. Chew toys crafted out of natural rubber tend to be heavy-duty and the safest amongst chew toy types.

Plastic and Nylon Chew Toys

Bones made of nylon and plastic are ideal for light and moderate chewers and are readily available across pet stores. However, such chew toys more often have toxic or hazardous components, so ensure to read the label. 

Natural/Real Bones

Animal bones are the oldest and most time-honoured chews for dogs that also double up as excellent amusement toys. You’ll find different types of animal bones such as rib bones, patella, femurs, fibulas, etc. Nevertheless, always consult your vet before buying natural bones that serve as chew toys, as these have their pros and cons.  

Antlers

Antlers or the branched horns borne by reindeers, moose, and elks enjoy extensive popularity as quality chew toys for dogs. For a start, antlers are, for the most part, regarded as relatively safe, durable and resilient and are nearly odourless. You can pick and choose from various antlers at your neighbourhood pet store.

Antlers sourced from young elks and reindeers tend to be more complex and capable of withstanding aggressive chewing. Older antlers, of course, are more affordable because they’re fragile and vulnerable to splintering or breaking easily. Hence ensure to purchase this popular chew toy for dogs from an established pet shop enjoying goodwill with its customers.

Dental Chew Toys

Many dog owners are hesitant to buy dental chew toys for their pooches even though these are pretty safe. Misgivings and hesitancy stem from the belief held by vets that dental chew toys could lead to choking and gastrointestinal blocking. The high-quality and reputed dental chew toy brands available nowadays enjoy the backing of vets, the FDA, and other authorized regulatory bodies. So you can go ahead and buy such chew toys and have peace of mind they won’t harm your dog.

You’ll also come across many other kinds of dog chew toys, including but not limited to bully sticks and Himalayan Yak chew. However, you could be spoilt for choice if you consider so many options while choosing the best chew toy. Narrow down your alternatives to a maximum of 5-6 types, and then pick a product most suitable for your dog.

At the same time, stay away from products such as latex chew toys, plush chews, and squeakers. These types of dog chews are made of toxic materials that might harm the dog’s health and cause choking hazards. To say the last but not the least, always buy a chew that is broader than your dog’s muzzle to stay on the safe side.

Aspects to Consider Before Selecting a Chew Toy for Your Dog

Scent

Make sure you choose a product that comes with a fragrance or an aroma which appeals to your dog and entices him to chew or bite.

Durability

Whether you buy an edible or non-edible chew toy, ensure that the same can stand up to endless hours of vigorous grinding and chomping. Or else your cumulative expenses on the best chew toys for dogs will sooner or later burn a hole in your pocket.   

Flavour

It does not emphasize that the food types your dog prefers gels very much with his personality and behaviour. So choose a chew toy integrated with a flavour that tastes like their choice foods or treats.

Comparison Table

Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Diamond Plate Ball

Nearly Indestructible Chew Dog Toy

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The Orbee-Tuff Diamond Plate Ball from Planet Dog, created especially for dogs with destructive behavior, is almost unbreakable. This toughened Orbee Diamond Plate Ball/Chew Dog Toy is made of premium TPE rubber which is completely free of phthalate, lead, and BPA. On the other hand, this TPE rubber ball is US-made; so you do not need to worry about product quality.

Being jaunty and bouncy, the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Chew Dog Toy will keep your pet pooch entertained and amused for hours. A small aperture in this Diamond Plate Ball comes in handy for caching treats that incentivize your dog for obeying your commands. This chew dog toy is available in two distinct sizes-3” and 4” and in a wide variety of bright colors.  

Features:

• Ergonomically designed to drift and bounce
• Shaped out of a single piece of premium TPE rubber
• Phthalate-, lead-, and BPA-free
• Mint-flavored
• Amphibious: Usable inland as well as water 

Pros

1. Durably designed for dogs that chew or gnash forcefully
2. Floats for hours and bounces to a great height keeping dog amused
3. Crafted out of top-quality TPE rubber: Long-lasting and completely safe
4. Choose from two different sizes and a range of colors

Cons

1. Some dog owners complained about allergic reaction
2. The available sizes may be a tad too oversized for toy and small dog breeds

Kong -Extreme Dog Toy

Toughest Natural Rubber, Black-Fun to Chew, Chase, and Fetch

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The Kong- Extreme Dog Toy comes in a range of sizes to seamlessly go with your dog that chomps viciously. Kong promotes and retails the Extreme Dog Toy in five different sizes, making it easier for you to choose the right one for your Mastiff or poodle. You can rest assured the Kong dog toy will withstand your pooch’s mishandling and yet hold its own, thanks to its natural rubber construction.

The rubber material imparts a unique shape to this toy enabling it to bounce and hover unpredictably even when handled gently. The innovative design of this Extreme Dog Toy makes it rebound in a countless number of ways, stimulating running and hounding instincts. This toy comes with a cavernous cavity allowing you to stuff it with a wide variety of treats to reward your pet for diligence. 

Features:

• Available in small, medium, large, extra-large, and XXL sizes
• Made in the US using high-quality materials sourced from all over the world
• Helps tackle teething and facilitate crate training
• Ultra-durable construction: Designed for most aggressive chewers

Pros

1. Helps deal with weight management, chewing, teething, separation anxiety, digging, and barking
2. Comes in four distinct varieties for beginner, aging, average, and power chewers
3. The Best Chew Toy for Dogs: Highly recommended by trainers and vets throughout the world
4. A perfect plaything for encouraging mental stimulation and meeting instinctive needs

Cons

1. Susceptible to leaving behind black spots or marks
2. Has a foul smell that goes away eventually

Milk-Bone Original Brushing Chews Daily Dental Dog Treats

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Milk-BoneOriginal Brushing Chews Daily Dental Dog Treats works as an efficient and easy means of maintaining dental hygiene. Vets and trainers advocate using these daily brushing chews & dog treats for fighting halitosis and keeping tartar at bay. This avant-garde oral care brushing chew by Milk-Bone has been designed intelligently to help clean your dog’s teeth and gums.

Features:

• Mouth-watering flavour

• Contains 26.95 ounces (764g) of dental treats for dogs weighing over 50lbs

• It helps prevent bad breath and tartar buildup

• Twisted design for accessing hard-to-reach areas inside the dog’s mouth  

Pros

1. Certified by VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council)

2. Nearly 99% of dogs find the treats irresistible.

3. Patented folds and rims work as toothbrush bristles, helping boost teeth cleaning. 

Cons

1. Many dog owners reported that their puppies were verge of suffocating or choking.

West Paw Zogoflex Tux Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy

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Dogs’ chewing, which is akin to a duck gliding on water-it and comes naturally to canines-helps them keep stimulated, mentally and physically. Opting for a treat-dispensing toy goes a long way in enabling your dog to stay in perfect physical and mental shape. And that is precisely where the West Paw Zogoflex Tux Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy comes to your aid.

This dog chew toy with a built-in treat dispenser has been shaped out of super-durable extraordinary proprietary material, making it hardwearing and virtually indestructible. On the other hand, the toy material is non-toxic, phthalate and BPA-free, and recyclable, making it one of the safest dogs chew toys. Please fill up the tux dog chew toy with kibble or treats, and catch your Fido by surprise while he plays.

On the one hand, West Paw's tux treat dog chew toy keeps your dog entertained and mentally stimulated. On the other hand, the plaything serves as a good diversion for the dog, which helps protect your bits and pieces.  

Features:

• Recyclable and thoroughly non-toxic

• Made in the US: Top-quality toy with an extended shelf life

• Easy to clean: Dishwasher-friendly

• Easily graspable

Pros

1. The most versatile treat-dispensing dog chew toy: Stimulates your dog to work out and develop good social habits.

2. They are fully guaranteed against damage.

3. Designed ergonomically to make the toy bounce and buoy: Compatible with a myriad of playing styles

4. Pick and choose from easily identifiable colours rendering them ideal for playing in water, snow or grass.

Cons

1. Treats eventually fall off: The concave opening for treats is overly shallow 

Arm & Hammer for Pets Super Treadz Dental Chew Toy for Dogs

Dog Dental Chew Toys Reduce Plaque & Tartar - Dog Chew Toys

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If you’re looking for a handy, safe and heavy-duty toy for your pup, do not look any further. The Super Treadz Gator & Gorilla Chew Toy for Dogs from Arm & Hammer helps support your puppy’s dental health. At the same time, this dental dog toy helps keep your dog playfully engaged for hours on end.

Designed with meticulous care, this beneficial toy checks plaque and tartar accretion, strengthen teeth and gums and aids in freshening breath. On the other hand, the ultra-durable body can effectively endure the most aggressive gnawing and grinding by dogs. The rugged rubber body is infused with baking soda that aids in gently cleaning the teeth.

Features:

• Gorilla-shaped chew toy keeps puppies riveted for hours. 

• It helps reduce plaque and tartar accumulation

• Supports the development and maintenance of strong teeth and gums

• Fights bad breath

Pros

1. Moulded from top-quality natural rubber: Endures most aggressive chewing and is nearly indestructible.

2. Dishwasher safe: Can be cleaned easily

3. It comes equipped with a treat dispenser

Cons

1. Many customers complained that the toy is quite destructible