The 13 Best Dog Toys For Tough Chewers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

KONG Tires Dog Toy

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  5 /5
• Engagement
  4 /5

The Kong Tires Dog Toy is made out of durable rubber and shaped like a car tire, so it’s bouncy, chewable, and can be stuffed with food that appeals to your dog.

We tested this tough chewer toy from Kong with a 60-poundAmerican Staffordshire Terrierwho loves plush toys but destroys them within a matter of hours. After two weeks of play, the Tires Dog Toy remained intact and continued to challenge our participant.

The circular design and hollow inner rim can hold a variety of dog-safe foods, like bite-sized treats, cheese, boiled chicken, peanut butter, and plain yogurt. The sidewalls of the rubbery toy are designed to rebound when a dog chews which makes it more challenging for a dog to scoop out the food inside. Dogs use their front paws to grip and move the tire creating an active chewing experience and a puzzle challenge. The toy can also be frozen along with food inside for an extra challenge.

With most dogs, the tire can be used to play fetch and tug-of-war, but if your dog has a very large mouth, even the larger size of the Tires Dog Toy might be too short (4.5 inches) for a resistance round between you and your dog.

After each play session with food inside, the tire toy should be cleaned with soap and warm water to remove any remaining residue. For treat-motivated dogs, this tough chewer will instantly engage their sense of smell and unlock their desire for a snack, but they may lose interest in the toy once they’ve freed all the food.

The Tires Dog Toy from Kong is manufactured in the United States and comes in two sizes, small, recommended for dogs up to 20 pounds, and medium/large. There is also a version of the Tires Dog Toy for puppies that are constructed with rubber formulated to ease teething gums. The puppy version comes in two sizes and in two colors, pink and blue.

Price at time of publish:$16

_{Lifestage:All |Colors:Black, pink (puppy only), blue (puppy only) |Play Styles:Chew, puzzle, fetch, tug-of-war, treat}

Best Overall, Runner-Up

牛lymake Steak Dog Toy

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  4 /5
• Engagement
  5 /5

The Steak by Bullymake chew toy has the chops to withstand tough chewers. The durable toy is made out of FDA-approved phthalates-free nylon that’s extremely rigid. The Steak can be tossed to entice a dog into a game of fetch, but its primary purpose is to give dogs something to chew on. The toy’s textured surface—resembling grill marks—keeps dogs interested and engaged.

The toy is very dense so if you have hard flooring surfaces, like tile or wood, you might hear the occasional loud thud as your dog plays. After two weeks with a seven-year-oldLabrador Retrieverchewing to their heart’s content, the steak-shaped toy showed minimal signs of use.

The red-colored toy is available in one size and is suitable for adult dogs weighing 20 to 180 pounds. It’s manufactured in the United States and comes with a 30-day guarantee from BullyMake. If your tough chewing dog makes a dent in the steak, they’ll replace it for free.

Price at time of publish:$20

_{Lifestage:Adult |Colors:Red |Play Styles:Chew, fetch |Dimensions:4.75 x 1 x 6.25 inches}

Best Balls

Chew King Fetch Balls Extremely Durable Dog Toy Balls

5

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  5 /5
• Engagement
  5 /5

For dogs that love to chase and chew, the Rubber Fetch Balls from Chew Kings will not disappoint. The balls are made out of non-toxic natural rubber that provides a satisfying bounce.

The virtually indestructible balls can also carry treats inside to be dispensed during playtime for an extra level of appeal, and the double-hole design will keep a dog’s tongue from getting stuck inside as they try to unlock more treats.

We tested a pack of three fetch balls–each with a three-inch diameter–with a 75-pound mixed-breed dog who thoroughly enjoyed playing fetch with all three balls at once before selecting one to chew on while they lay in the yard. After weeks of play, primarily outdoors in the elements, the balls looked practically brand new. The balls can be used indoors as well, but their weight and buoyancy could wreak havoc on home decor.

The dishwasher-safe balls are available in three sizes with a diameter of 2.5, 3, or 4 inches which are sold in packs.

Price at time of publish:$20 for 8-pack

Lifestage:Adult |Colors:Purple, green, blue |Play Styles:Chew, fetch, treat |Dimensions:2.5, 3, or 4-inch diameter

Best Bone

Playology Dual Layer Bone Dog Toy

5

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  5 /5
• Engagement
  5 /5

The Dual Layer Bone from Playology pairs the classic bone shape with a highly durable, non-toxic rubber construction making it ideal for chewing, tug-of-war, fetch, and solo play. The dual-layered toy is designed to replicate the sensation of chewing on a meaty bone, with a soft outer shell and tougher inner core.

Without the need to add a treat, these dog toys use the flavor and scent of dog-friendly foods to appeal to a canine’s chewing tooth. The yellow-colored bone is chicken flavored, the blue is peanut butter, the green is sweet potato, and the red is beef. We gave the chicken version to a 95-pound Pit Bull mix and they were instantly entranced with chewing on the bone.

The toy is dishwasher-safe and comes in three sizes–small, medium, and large to meet the gnawing needs of all dogs.

Price at time of publish:$20(large)

_{Lifestage:Adult |Colors:Yellow (chicken), blue (peanut butter), red (beef), green (sweet potato) |Play Styles:Chew, fetch, tug-of-war|Dimensions:3.6 x 1.5 x 1.25 inches (small); 4.6 x 2 x 1.25 inches (medium); 5.6 x 2.5 x 2 inches (large)}

Best Bone for Big Dogs

Nylabone Power Chew Flavored Durable Chew Toy for Dogs

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  3 /5
• Engagement
  4 /5

The Power Chew Durable Dog Toy from Nylabone was given to a seven-year-old Pit Bull who regularly destroys chew toys within 10 minutes, but the Power Chew endured for weeks and continued to captivate their interest throughout our testing trial.

The chew toy is made out of nylon that is sturdy and coated with a flavoring to mimic foods dogs can’t resist—chicken, bacon, and peanut butter. Nylabone manufactures the Power Chew bone in the United States in five sizes, but we recommend this one for bigger dogs. The x-large version—intended for dogs over 50 pounds—is textured with ridges and grooves that are not present in the smaller versions of the bone-shaped toy.

The toy is easy to wipe clean with water. It can be used to play fetch, but it is primarily intended for use as a chew in a horizontal position requiring a dog to use their front paws to stabilize—which doesn’t appeal to every dog. The Power Chew may also help to reduce buildup on a dog’s teeth, but it should not be used as a replacement for brushing your dog's teeth.

Price at time of publish:$14 (x-large)

_{Lifestage:Adult |Colors:Tan |Play Styles:Chew, fetch |Dimensions:8 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches (x-large)}

Best Bone for Small Dogs

Benebone Bacon Flavor Wishbone Tough Dog Chew Toy

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  4 /5
• Engagement
  2.5 /5
• Value
  4.7 /5

The Benebone Wishbone is a long-lasting nylon dog chewer that’s flavored using real food—bacon, chicken or peanuts. For small dogs, the chewer comes in two sizes, Tiny is intended for dogs under 15 pounds and Small is for dogs under 30 pounds.

The wishbone-shaped dog toy is very dense but not too heavy, so little dogs are able to pick it up and carry it over to their preferred location for chewing. Benebone Wishbones are manufactured in the United States. As a dog chews on a Wishbone, the tough nylon can help to reduce buildup on their teeth. But you might find that your dog’s gums are bloody after the first few days of chewing. It’s similar to the bleeding a human experiences in their gum line when they haven’t flossed in a while (no judgments here!). It could also be an indication that your dog is in need of a more thorough dental cleaning. The flavoring also wears off over time which might cause your dog to lose interest in the toy.

Price at time of publish:$11(small)

_{Lifestage:Adult |Colors:Brown |Play Styles:Chew |Dimensions:1.5 x 3.75 x 7.25 inches}

Best Tug Toy

Goughnuts Maxx Heavy Duty Tug Dog Toy

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  4.5 /5
• Engagement
  4 /5

With a figure-eight shape and an extra tough rubber composition, the Goughnuts Maxx Heavy Duty Tug Dog Toy is ideal for intense games of tug-of-war.

在e ring is in your dog’s mouth, you can safely grip the opposite ring. This separation makes it less likely that your dog’s teeth will come into contact with your hand. We tested this toy with a large Golden Retriever who loves to chew and has a lot of energy. After several weeks of play, the durability of the Maxx Heavy Duty endured and it barely showed a scratch.

The Maxx Heavy Duty Tug Toy comes in two sizes, medium for dogs 30 to 70 pounds and large for dogs 60 to 100 pounds. It can also be used to play fetch, but the toy is relatively heavy (over a pound) so a prolonged game of fetch is not recommended. It also doesn’t have a squeaker inside which some dog parents prefer.

Price at time of publish:$40(large)

_{Lifestage:Adult |Colors:Black, green, yellow, orange, grey |Play Styles:Chew, tug-of-war, fetch |Dimensions:9 x 5 x 1.4 inches (medium); 11 x 6 x 1.5 inches (large)}

Best Puzzle Treat Toy

West Paw Zogoflex Qwizl Dog Puzzle Treat Toy

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5 /5
• Durability
  5 /5
• Engagement
  3.5 /5
• Value
  4.5 /5

With a treat lodged inside, the Zogoflex Qwizl Dog Puzzle Treat Toy from West Paw commands canine attention.

The spongy rubber toy has a chewy consistency that highly appealed to a four-year-old Yorkie-Poodle mix. They diligently devoted themself to freeing treats lodged inside, and through multiple missions of treat retrieval full of chewing and pawing, the Qwizl emerged unscathed.

The cylinder-shaped toy is lightweight for games of fetch, and if your dog loves jumping into the pool, the Qwizl is designed to float. The toy is dishwasher safe and regular cleanings are recommended as the toy mixed with dog slobber can get sticky. The toy is made in the United States in two sizes and three bright colors. Plus, when your dog gets tired of the Qwizl, it can be recycled.

Price at time of publish:$30(large)

_{Lifestage:Adult |Colors:Aqua blue, tangerine, granny smith |Play Styles:咀嚼、获取、治疗、puzzle |Dimensions:5.5 x 2.25 x 2.25 inches (small); 5.91 x 2.36 x 6.5 inches (large)}

Best Budget Puzzle Treat Toy

KONG Extreme Dog Toy

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The Kong Extreme Dog Toy is the ultra-tough rubber version of the Kong Classic Dog Toy. The black-colored chew toy has a cone-like shape with three bulbous sections—like a snowman—and a hollow center where bite-sized treats can be placed inside.

Every time you give your dog the Kong with food inside, they have to figure out how to drop and bop the toy to set their treat free. The combination of movements is never the same and you can fill the Kong with a variety of dog-safe treats, including cheese whiz, peanut butter, and plain yogurt. The dishwasher-safe toy can also be frozen with food inside to make it more difficult for your dog to unleash.

We tested the Kong Extreme with a one-year-old Chocolate Labrador who regularly destroys toys–even those labeled as indestructible, but the Kong Extreme held up throughout our trial period and continued to excite with each treat-focused play session. The promise of treats being inside was enough for our tester to keep the toy nearby throughout the day, but for most dogs, it will require the addition of food to keep their attention and their chewing directed towards the Kong.

Price at time of publish:$16(large)

_{Lifestage:All |Colors:Black |Play Styles:Chew, fetch, treat |Dimensions:4 x 2.75 x 2.75 inches (large)}

Best Squeak

HuggleHounds Knotties Dog Toys

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  3.8 /5
• Engagement
  5 /5

HuggleHounds Knotties dog toys are soft and cuddly with a durable corduroy fabric on the exterior. From pigs and cows to octopi and frogs, Knotties are available in a variety of animal shapes.

From the moment we presented a Knottie to a one-year-old Border Collie/Spaniel mix, they would not stop playing and chewing. Each Knottie has a squeaker inside which quickly absorbs the attention of most dogs, and each lightweight plushy is suitable for games of fetch and tug-of-war. Our participating tester was ultimately able to rip off one of the limbs from their Knottie, but the arms and legs on the HuggleHounds Knottie toys are not as reinforced as the center of the toy.

Each Knottie from HuggleHounds is machine washable and comes in two sizes, small or large.

Price at time of publish:$25 (large)

_{Lifestage:All |Colors:Various |Play Styles:Chew, fetch, tug-of-war |Dimensions:Various}

Best for Teething

Nylabone小狗嚼橡皮奶嘴工具包

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  4 /5
• Engagement
  4 /5

To ease the pain and discomfort that comes from teething, Nylabone Puppy Chew Toys & Treat Triple Pack offers three durable dog chews for each stage of puppyhood dental development.

The three bones are intended to be given one at a time, starting with the pink or blue bone that has soft spikes throughout. This chicken-flavored chew toy is the most gentle out of the trio and is designed for puppies in the process of losing their puppy teeth. Once the puppy has their adult teeth, they can graduate to the white-colored power chew that is also chicken flavored. And finally, when a puppy has all of their adult teeth and is at least six months of age, they can chew on the brown-colored dog bone in the pack. This Nylabone is bacon-flavored to keep your young dog in the habit of chewing on chew toys.

We tested this pack with two Jack Russel Terrier puppies who particularly enjoyed the bacon-flavored Nylabone but were easily able to chew down the textured Nylabone with their puppy teeth.

Price at time of publish:$9 for 3-pack

_{Lifestage:Puppy |Colors:White, brown, pink, blue |Play Styles:Chew |Dimensions:7.5 x 6.625 x 1.35 inches}

Best Bouncy Toy

Playology Puppy Bounce Ball Dog Toys

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5 /5
• Durability
  5 /5
• Engagement
  4.5 /5

The Playology Puppy Bounce Ball has an unconventional shape with four rounded sections, an internal squeaker, and a bouncy rubber construction, so playing a game of fetch becomes unpredictable and exciting. We tested the Puppy Bounce Ball with a rambunctious Golden Retriever puppy who enjoyed chasing, catching, and chewing on the toy.

The chew toy from Playology is designed for puppies as young as four months to help them expend energy and focus their attention on an object suitable for chewing. The ball has a textured surface of soft spikes for nibbling, and it comes in two flavors which are designated by color—the red version is beef and the blue is peanut butter.

Like all of Playology’s toys for dogs, the Puppy Bounce Ball is manufactured in the United States and is certified to be free of lead, phthalates, and other hazardous toxins. But with dog drool, the rubbery toy tends to pick up dirt, grass, and lint, so we recommend rinsing it often with soap and water to help keep hair and other loose bits from ending up in your dog’s digestive tract.

Price at time of publish:$19(large)

_{Lifestage:Puppy |Colors:Red (beef), blue (peanut butter) |Play Styles:Chew, fetch, squeaky |Dimensions:5.5 x 6.5 x 7.5 inches}