Best Heavy-Duty Dog Toys
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Best heavy-duty dog toys for your dog and wallet
Dogs are some of the most playful creatures on the planet. When you get home after a long day at work, there’s nothing more stress relieving than seeing puppies play in a video on your Facebook feed. Pet channels and fan pages rack up millions of views on social media sites because there is something in the human psyche that is hardwired to enjoy cute, delightful creatures playing, whether they’re dogs, cats, or funny-talking parrots.
If you’re a dog owner, you have firsthand knowledge of how important playtime is for dogs. Toys are not only important to keep your dogs occupied, they’re essential to their mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Dogs start playing at an early age to develop their motor skills. They chase each other, play fight while tumbling on the floor, and look for objects that they can shake, tug, and bite. It is through this animated physical play that they develop instincts about what to do when knocked off balance, how hard they can play-bite, and how to cope with surprising events.
Finding the right toys for your pup is essential. A durable dog toy can withstand a dog’s bites, throws, and everyday rowdiness, which will help your pet develop strong jaws and teeth with the bonus of sharpening its mind through routine stimulation. If your dog has a suitable toy, it will most likely stop gnawing at your shoes, pants, and furniture because it will view playing with the toy as a treat.
So whether your dog is the size of a sneaker or bigger than a Great Dane, here are some of the most indestructible dog toys that will outlast its desire to chew.
The Best Heavy-Duty Dog Toys
Best Heavy-Duty Dog Toy: KONG Extreme Goodie Bone Dog Toy
Best Organic or Natural Dog Toy: Buck Bone Organics Elk Antler Dog Chew
Best Budget Dog Toy: Outback Jack Water Buffalo Bully Horns 100% Natural Dog Treats
Best Dog Toy for Large Dogs: Nylabone DuraChew BIG Chew Turkey Leg Flavored Dog Chew Toy
First Honorable Mention: West Paw Zogoflex Large Tux Tough Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy
Second Honorable Mention: GoughNuts Pro 50 Ring Dog Toy
Best Heavy-Duty Dog Toy: KONG Extreme Goodie Bone Dog Toy
Pros:
- Designed and manufactured in the U.S.
- You can play fetch with your dog with this toy
- Long life span
- Conditions your dog’s gums
- Efficiently cleans your dog’s teeth
- Available in two sizes for medium and large dogs
- You can freeze this and stuff it with treats
Cons:
- Not available for small dogs
When it comes to extremely durable dog toys that can serve even the most powerful chewers, KONG is the gold standard. Although they say on their company page that no dog toy is 100% chew-proof, the KONG Extreme Dog Toy comes pretty close. It’s a large bone composed of natural hardened rubber that can stand up to even the most playful breeds like the Malinois and the Labrador.
Unlike its earlier versions, this adaptation of the extreme dog toy is a little softer. It also has a smooth texture along its length with ridges on the left and right ends to clean your dog’s teeth. You can stuff these openings — a feature KONG calls the Goodie Gripper — with your dog’s favorite snack that will challenge your dog to work for its treats.
KONG has an eco-system of products that you can use with the Goodie Bone. Their Stuff’N or Easy Treat paste is the best addition to the Goodie Gripper, which will turn this bone from a regular toy to a mentally stimulating challenge.
Perhaps the only drawback of the Goodie Bone is that it does not have a variant for smaller dogs.
Best Organic or Natural Dog Toy: Buck Bone Organics Elk Antler Dog Chew
Pros:
- Sourced and manufactured in the U.S.
- Contains minerals and vitamins
- Does not make a mess when chewed
- Maintains a slime-free surface even when chewed for a long while
- Every one-pound bag contains around three to four chews
- Unprocessed elk antler with no fillers and additives
- High durability, and can withstand aggressive chewers
Cons:
- Can sometimes splinter
- A bit more expensive than other organic antler chews
- Can have an odor when it is wet
In a way, elk antlers are the original dog chews. The first dogs were bred from the wild by humans to be their hunting companions in the world’s forests and tundra. Even today, the elk antler’s significance in the life of your pup is undeniable.
Elk antlers contain essential minerals and vitamins that your dog needs every day, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, which prevents osteoarthritis by improving the health of your dog’s cartilages, and phosphorous, which enhances the health of its bones.
Buck Bone Organics Elk Antler Dog Chews are raw, unprocessed, uncolored elk antlers with no fillers and additives. These dog chews go through only two manufacturing processes, sanding and splitting, so your dogs can enjoy the healthy bone marrow without injuring their gums. Most of the chews are whole.
Because the antlers have no chemical anti-odor coating, they will have a mild smell when your dog chews them. They can also splinter when aggressively chewed, so supervise your dog as it plays.
Best Budget Dog Toy: Outback Jack Water Buffalo Bully Horns 100% Natural Dog Treats
Pros:
- 100% water buffalo horn with no synthetic additives and fillers
- Ethically sourced from buffaloes that are grass-fed and free-range
- Very little fat content which supports a heart-healthy diet
- High protein for the healthy development of muscles
- The horn’s texture takes a long time to wear away
- Free of any preservatives
- Great for dogs of all ages, from puppies to senior chewers
Cons:
- Can have a pungent smell
- Some pieces might be curved and unappealing for dogs
The horns of the water buffalo are one of the oldest chew toys for dogs. Their origins date back to the days when humans trained dogs for herding and wild animal control. Like elk antlers, water buffalo horns are a natural chew toy that improves the dental and physical health of your dog.
The Outback Jack Water Bully Horns come from grass-fed and free-range water buffaloes from India. Unlike other budget options, Outback Jack’s buffaloes don’t eat artificially processed feed from a feeding trough and are free-range. As a result, their buffalo horns have retained all the natural proteins and good fats that will help your dog grow stronger and smarter.
These horns sometimes have a uniquely pungent odor that only buffalo horns can give.
Best Dog Toy for Large Dogs: Nylabone DuraChew BIG Chew Turkey Leg Flavored Dog Chew Toy
Pros:
- Designed and manufactured in the U.S.
- Remains odorless no matter how long your dog chews on it
- Made with durable materials that can last a long time
- Good weight proportions
- Great for medium and large dogs
- Also available in chicken, bison, and beef flavors
- Helps maintain good oral health
Cons:
- Some parts might break into shards when aggressively chewed
Nylabone has been in the business of making toys for dogs to chew when they’re anxious, bored, or hankering for a snack since 1955. Their DuraChew BIG Chew Turkey Leg Flavored Chew Toy is part of their product line for dogs that are over 50 pounds with strong, developed jaws for chewing.
Unlike many chicken and turkey leg toys on the market, the DuraChew does not have curves and nubs that your dog can attempt to break off while chewing. But Nylabone provides different flavors and sizes, so you can gauge which one your dog likes.
The bulkier section of the DuraChew is weightier and helps your dog hold the toy down while it chews on the smaller end. This design means the minor end might disintegrate faster, but the rest of the toy is guaranteed to stay intact for a long time.
First Honorable Mention: West Paw Zogoflex Large Tux Tough Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy
Pros:
- You can put this toy in the top rack of the dishwasher
- Can withstand aggressive chewers
- Food-grade compliant with the FDA
- Designed and made in the U.S.
- Can be used for chew therapy
- Zogoflex material allows the toy to float
Cons:
- Might show tearing after a few months
West Paw is an industry leader in toys that are FDA compliant, meaning if your dog somehow tears them apart, they can ingest the torn-out chunks and be completely fine. The West Paw Zogoflex Tux Treat Toy can be stuffed with nearly every treat imaginable, helping your lazy dog to look forward to playtime. Use peanut butter, meaty bits, and biscuits to get your dog in a playful mood.
The West Paw Zogoflex Tux’s material stretches and bounces on the ground, allowing your dog to play with more excitement and curiosity. You can also use this toy in the bathtub or the pool if your dog loves to swim.
Second Honorable Mention: GoughNuts Pro 50 Ring Dog Toy
Pros:
- Made in the U.S.
- Durable even when aggressively chewed
- GoughNuts offers a guarantee to replace it if its inner layer comes out
Cons:
- Has a pungent factory-like rubber scent
- Can only be used by medium and big dogs
The GoughNuts Pro 50 Ring Dog Toy is one of those chew toys that you can use in any environment. If you’re indoors, you can use it as a static chew toy to keep your dog occupied. Outdoors, you can turn it into a fetch toy that can float on ponds and pools.
The Pro 50 is one of the most versatile dog toys out there, but it has a rubber smell that might repel your pup, and GoughNuts also requires that you send back the damaged toy at your own expense so you can take advantage of their guarantee.
