The Best Dog Toys for Aggressive Chewers

If your dog destroys most toys, start with the KONG Extreme. It is made from KONG’s toughest natural rubber and comes in five sizes. This guide also covers four other tough picks and how to size, use and replace them safely.

Our picks at a glance

• Best overall: KONG Extreme Dog Toy
• Best for the toughest chewers: Goughnuts Ring
• Best flavored chew: Benebone Wishbone
• Best dishwasher-safe chew: West Paw Rumpus
• Best for fetch and tug: West Paw Hurley Dog Bone

The best dog toys for aggressive chewers

Best overallPhoto: KONG

Chew toys for dogs

KONG Extreme Dog Toy

Best for: Power chewers who like treat puzzles

KONG Extreme is made from 100% natural rubber and is built for power chewers. You can stuff it with kibble or treats, or freeze it so it lasts longer. It comes in five sizes. Skip it if you want a toy to leave with your dog alone, since KONG says to supervise use.

• Pro: Made from 100% natural rubber in KONG's toughest formula
• Pro: Can be stuffed with kibble or treats, or frozen
• Pro: Five sizes, from small to XX-large
• Con: KONG says power chewers may need to size up one or two sizes
• Con: Supervised use only; stop using it if it gets damaged

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Best for the toughest chewersPhoto: Goughnuts

Chew toys for dogs

Goughnuts Ring

Best for: Dogs who destroy other toys

This natural rubber ring has a red layer under the outer layer. If your dog chews down to the red, Goughnuts says it is time to replace the ring. Sizes cover dogs from about 10 pounds to over 100 pounds. Note that the black heavy-duty versions don’t have the red layer.

• Pro: Two-layer design with a red indicator layer under the outer layer
• Pro: Sizes for dogs from about 10 pounds to over 100 pounds
• Pro: Floats in water and cleans with warm water
• Con: The black heavy-duty versions don't have the red indicator layer
• Con: Rings are made for chewing, not for unsupervised play

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Best flavored chewPhoto: Benebone

Chew toys for dogs

Benebone Wishbone

Best for: Dogs who like a flavored chew

A curved nylon chew with real flavor, in bacon, peanut butter or chicken. It is meant to be chewed, not eaten, and Benebone says to replace it when it wears down. Skip it if your dog tends to swallow chunks of what they chew.

• Pro: Durable nylon with a curved, paw-friendly shape
• Pro: Comes in bacon, peanut butter and chicken flavors
• Pro: Sizes for dogs under 30, 60 and 90 pounds, plus tiny and giant
• Con: Not edible, and Benebone says to replace it when it's worn
• Con: Needs supervision while your dog chews

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Best dishwasher-safe chewPhoto: West Paw

Chew toys for dogs

West Paw Rumpus

Best for: Dogs who shred softer toys

Rumpus has three chew zones and is made of Zogoflex, a material West Paw makes in Montana. It is dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning easy. It only comes in small and medium, so very large dogs may need another pick.

• Pro: Three chew zones made for gnawing
• Pro: Dishwasher safe and floats in water
• Pro: Free of BPA, latex, silicone and phthalates
• Con: Only two sizes, small and medium
• Con: West Paw says no toy is indestructible, so supervise play

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Best for fetch and tugPhoto: West Paw

Chew toys for dogs

West Paw Hurley Dog Bone

Best for: Active dogs who fetch and chew

Hurley is a bone-shaped toy for fetch, tug and chewing, and it floats. West Paw says it won’t splinter like a real bone. It comes in extra small, small and large. Skip it if you want a stuffable treat toy.

• Pro: Made for intense fetch, tug and chew sessions
• Pro: Floats in water
• Pro: Comes in extra small, small and large
• Con: No medium size
• Con: West Paw says to supervise play and stop using it if it's damaged

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How to choose a toy for an aggressive chewer

Pick the right size

The AKC says a toy should be sized for your dog so they can’t swallow it whole. Check the weight range on the package. KONG adds that power chewers may need to go up one or two sizes. Goughnuts and Benebone also list sizes by dog weight.

Look at the material

Natural rubber, nylon and Zogoflex are the main tough materials in this guide. Each brand makes its own durability claims, and we can’t verify them. The AKC says to avoid toys that break apart easily, because swallowed pieces are a risk.

Check the shape

The AKC says rubber toys should have a hole at each end. That stops suction from trapping your dog’s tongue.

Think about how your dog plays

Some dogs like puzzles and treats, so a stuffable toy fits. Others want to fetch or tug. Pick a toy for the way your dog plays, so they use it as intended.

Safety tips

• Supervise chewing. KONG, West Paw and Benebone all say to supervise.
• Inspect toys often. The AKC says to throw away any toy that is damaged or losing pieces. Pieces can cause choking or a blockage.
• Replace worn toys. Benebone says to replace its chews when worn. KONG and West Paw say to stop using a damaged toy.
• Remove all packaging first. KONG says to take off packaging before giving a toy to your dog.
• Don’t count on “indestructible.” West Paw says no dog toy is indestructible.
• Skip real bones. Toys like Hurley are meant as an alternative. Read why in can dogs eat cooked bones.
• Call your vet if your dog swallows a piece of a toy or acts sick afterward.