So, we have all been there, our new furry friend has arrived and has started to destroy anything and everything in sight! Dogs chew. They need to chew, whether it’s teething puppies or adult dogs who need to keep their teeth clean and jaw muscles strong, research shows that chewing also helps to reduce boredom and anxiety too.
So what’s the logical next step? Get them some toys of course. But what are the best, safest and most durable chew toys for dogs?
With so many toys on the market today made from a wide range of materials, it can be very tricky for a dog owner to know which ones are going to be best for their pup, so choosing the right ones is a very important step for the health and well-being of your canine friend.
At perfectpuppypal.com, we are not qualified veterinarians or animal nutritionists. The information that we provide is general and educational information only and is not a substitute for professional advice.
The right or wrong material?
Today we are going to be focusing on what are the more durable toys for even the most aggressive of chewers to keep them stimulated and entertained for hours and hours.
As mentioned above, chew toys are produced from a wide range of materials these days but which are the safest and which are possibly not so good for your dog? Although no toy can claim to be totally indestructible, some of them do come quite close.
Rubber
To start with, rubber is a favourite of many manufacturers, and are produced in all shapes and sizes from balls and frisbees to doughnut shapes and bones. 
Hard rubber toys are generally considered one of the best on the market for durability and safety.
It’s worth noting though that there are many different grades or qualities of rubber available out there and the cheapest options typically don’t last long so are better avoided. They may seem a cheaper therefore preferable option at the time of purchase but beware if pieces begin to break off with ease and are then consumed by your dog they could become a choking hazard or cause an intestinal blockage which could result in sky-high vet bills or in some extreme cases, worse.
Antlers
Elk and deer antlers are a popular choice for many owners, these extremely hard chew toys are very durable and can last an incredible amount of time even with the most aggressive chewers. Generally, there are mixed opinions when referring to these.
On the plus side, antlers are 100% natural and the marrow found in them is full of many nutrients including; glucosamine, chondroitin, calcium, zinc and phosphorus. These nutrients are essential to a dogs health as they can help promote healthier bones, coats and teeth.
Being 100% natural, antler chews are predominantly odour free (thus saving your furniture or carpet the foul smells and mess sometimes associated with some artificially manufactured chews), but most dogs will still be strongly attracted to them. They also last longer than pretty much any other chew (depending on your pups chewing habits of course!) and no two antlers are the same shape so the variety out there is enormous.
On the downside, although less likely to split or chip than bones, there is still the possibility it can happen. This can result in small splinters becoming lodged in the throat of your pet or if digested internal bleeding. Another issue often associated with these hard chew toys are fractured, chipped or broken teeth from your furry friend just chomping down too hard. So as with any chew toy purchased for your dog, supervision is advised at all times.
Nylon
Nylon chew toys are another type of durable toy which are desired by many dog owners. They are very hard therefore difficult for your dog to destroy as well as being cheap to produce hence easier on your wallet. Also, they are available in an extensive variety of sizes, shapes and even flavours for your pooches enjoyment!
However, as with antlers, being as hard as these toys are, there is always the possibility of fractured, chipped or broken teeth. Additionally, while they are designed to degrade slowly and help keep your dog’s teeth clean, there have been reports of larger parts breaking off and being digested causing serious internal problems as after chewed the pieces have a tendency to become razor-sharp.
Rope toys
Rope toys are a good choice of toy for numerous dogs who prefer a good old game of tug-of-war as these toys are durable and come in various types of textures. Again depending on the type of chewer you have on your hands, these toys need to be monitored carefully as if you have an inhaler or a destroyer then the pieces of cord can break free from the toy and are easily consumed and not so easily processed by your pups digestive system, therefore, causing discomfort and sometimes internal blockages.
Rawhide
Rawhide chews are the ones that are probably the most divisive amongst dog owners. Some swear by these tough durable chews as they can keep Fido busy for hours on end happily chewing and chomping away to his heart’s delight.
One of the problems many dog owners have against these products is that they pose a serious choking risk. Firstly, (depending on your dogs chewing habits of course!) large parts of rawhide can break off and be ingested and we all know the dangers that this can present for our dog’s health. Also, the fact that once chewed the density changes to an almost chewing/bubble gum-like consistency which can expand inside your dog’s digestive system!
Then we come to the way these products are produced. Many believe rawhides to be a leftover from the meat industry when in fact they are a by-product of the leather industry. The process to produce rawhides includes various steps involving numerous chemicals to give you the end product that you buy from your local pet store.
What type of dog do you have?
We all know that dogs come in various shapes, sizes and colours etc. But what type of chewer do you have? 
Good question you may ask. Chewers are in general divided into three categories (but note that categories have the possibility to overlap).
First, you have your Nibblers. If you are thinking who are Nibblers. Well, nibblers, as the name suggests, are the calmer type of dog who prefer to take their time when devouring their favourite snacks or chews, do not tend to destroy toys too fast and are happier with the slower pace of their chewing life.
Then you have your Destroyers. Again as the name suggests these lively little critters have a tendency to rip apart and destroy pretty much anything and everything they can get their chompers into (please trust me, I have one!). Ingestion of the parts or pieces that have been gnawed off is not a certainty but definitely a possibility so care, attention and explicit supervision is recommended at all times during their chewing activities.
Lastly from this category of three, we have the so-called Inhalers. These monsters will be able to hastily chew off parts from a huge number of toys or anything else for that matter and devour them without a seconds thought.
Chew toy quality
Another point that needs to be genuinely understood by all dog owners is that it is incredibly rare for any two dogs to have the exact same ability to chew, so what might seem perfect for one dog of a particular breed isn’t necessarily the perfect fit for another of the same breed or even the brothers or sisters of the same litter.
At the end of the day, as in most walks of life, I believe it is better to purchase quality over quantity. Why waste your hard-earned money replacing a poor quality toy with another, again and again, therefore, risking the health of your beloved pet (not excluding potential vet bills occurred as mentioned above), when it’s obviously the better choice to invest in a higher quality product in the first place.
So, what type of chew toy do I buy my dog?
After reading the content above I hope you now have a better idea about what type of chew toy would be most fitting for your best friend. As I mentioned at the beginning, I will have to stress again that no toy can claim to be 100% indestructible and while your furry friend is playing supervision is advised at all times.
So, after analyzing what type of chewer your pooch is and doing some research into the different toys available in the various materials on the market, I hope you are able to find the perfect match for your companion.
If you have any experience to share about your dog and what chew toys you would recommend, please feel free to leave a comment below.