Choosing Dog Toys for Destrucitve Chewers

There are some dogs that are naturally strong and destructive chewers. Every toy that you hand to them comes back in pieces moments later, or in the case of stuffed animals they are promptly gutted and all their stuffing remains are on the floor. When I adopted my first dog I had no idea what I was in for -- she was a horribly destructive critter who could get a brand new toy and break it in 0 to 60 seconds. And once that toy was destroyed she went onto other items which usually got her into a lot of trouble. After having ripped the stuffing out of a new comforter, shredding wooden decorations, and gnawing a vacuum to death I decided to find out on my own what toys worked for dogs that had a built in chew and destroy mechanism.

Don't buy cheap toys!

You may think you are saving money buying cheaper toys but in the long run you end up spending more. Cheap toys are broken apart in seconds -- and can pose a hazard to your dog if the pieces are swallowed. The more expensive toys are made with heavier cloth or plastic which is harder for your dog to chew through. There is the possibility that you may be able to save stuffed toys temporarily by re-sewing them, but honestly your new stitches won't last long.

Buy larger toys

This does sound a bit odd but does work, and is easier to do with small dogs than larger dogs. If your dog can not get its mouth around a toy it is harder for them to chew through. They may get through it eventually, but it will take a whole lot longer. It is a great trick for smaller dogs and tends to wear them out in the process because it takes more effort to drag them throughout the house. I own a Jack Russell mix, and she has no problem toting anything larger than her around and trying to chew it.

Stick to pressed bone chews

There are two things that I have noticed about pressed bone. The first is that it doesn't have or break off into sharp edges like other bone chews, which can hurt your dog. The second is that they are much harder to chew through. If you buy a larger than normal pressed bone chew it will take hours rather than minutes for your dog to get through.

Stay away from toys that shred

Such as tug ropes that have the floss look to them. They seem like they are a great idea until they are chewed for awhile. Then they start to shred to pieces and become a choking hazard to your dog. You should keep an eye on your dog when they are playing with a toy or chew, but that is impossible to do 100% of the time. There will always be a moment where you turn your back and they break or tear apart something that they are not supposed to.

Interactive toys

I never knew that I would have to buy interactive toys to keep my dogs chewing at bay, but they really do work. Each toy is stuffed with a treat that you dog has to work at to get out. These chew toys are made with thick plastic that is extremely difficult to chew through and are almost impossible to destroy. Also, they occupy your dog and give them something to work and figure out instead of just chewing on a toy. Depending on which toy I give my dog, it can take 30 minutes to several hours to get the treat out, and even after the treat is gone she will still continue to chew on it. And all of these toys have barely a mark after being used for several months.

Nylabone Chew Toys

Nylabone is an actual brand/line of products that are made for your dog that are difficult to chew through and designed for heavy chewers. Some are tougher than others, so you may have to try several before you find out what works for you and your pet. They will need to be replaced periodically, but not nearly as often as normal chew toys.

Always keep an eye on your pet whenever they are playing with a toy to keep them safe from choking hazards. And if you see a toy is damaged take it away, and do not give it back unless it is safe -- you don't want to take an unexpected trip to the vet's office. By choosing a toy that is slightly larger than recommended you can delay the replacement of some toys. Also, talk to other dog owners, vets, and representatives at the pet store to find out what will work out best for you and your pet.