Chew Toy Guide for Tough Chewers: Keeping Your Dog Happy (and Your Wallet Intact)
Does your dog chew through toy after toy?
Over the years, most of our dogs have been Newfoundlands—including our current gentle giant—and every one of them has been a toy destroyer. Newfoundlands are powerful chewers. They love to swim, tug, and in general “help” by carrying things. As working dogs, they were bred to use their jaws for pulling, carrying, and retrieving, so it’s no surprise that many are naturally mouthy.
Which has been the case with our dogs, they liked to carry things especially when excited. Rather than discouraging this instinct, teach your dog to find a toy whenever they feel the urge to carry something. This can make a huge difference when visitors arrive. Instead of an overenthusiastic greeting at the door, your dog will run off to find their favorite toy soothing them, giving them a job, and allowing your guest to walk in without being slobbered instantly.
Newfoundlands are sweet, gentle dogs, but they’re also incredibly strong. Their size, mouthiness, and powerful jaws mean that most toys don’t stand a chance. They get shredded quickly, create a mess, waste money, and can be a safety hazard if pieces are swallowed.
If you have tough chewers you know the frustration of buying a new toy only to watch it fall apart within minutes. What you need are toys that keep your dog entertained while standing up to serious chewing. While we’d all love to find an indestructible dog toy, the truth is that no toy is completely indestructible. But over the years —and probably after purchasing well over 100 toys—we’ve learned a few things.
Some toys marketed as “tough” don’t interest our dogs at all. Others simply aren’t as durable as advertised and many are too small. The toys featured in this guide are the ones our tough chewing dogs genuinely enjoyed, aren’t too hard and have held up through years. A chew toy should be durable enough to withstand heavy chewing but not so hard that it risks damaging your dog’s teeth. In most cases, high-quality rubber toys strike the best balance between durability and safety.
Finding the right chew toy is often a balancing act. If a toy feels impossible to destroy, some dogs lose interest. If it’s too soft, it may only last a few minutes. The goal isn’t to find a toy your dog can’t destroy—it’s to find one that they like and lasts as long as possible while remaining safe and engaging.
What to Look for in a Chew Toy
Material
Look for toys made from durable yet slightly flexible materials. The best chew toys are tough enough to withstand heavy use while remaining gentle on teeth. Aggressive chewers typically destroy stuffed plush toys quickly, creating a mess and potential choking hazards. If your dog enjoys soft toys, consider stuffing-free options.
Size
Always choose a toy appropriate for your dog’s size. Giant breeds need large toys to reduce the risk of swallowing pieces or the entire toy (every single cat toy was swallowed by our Newf)
Below, find some of the dog toys for tough chewers tested and approved by our giant breed dogs.These are the toys that have survived years of Newfoundland-approved chewing. Many of our Newfoundlands have had a nightly chewing routine before bed and these have lasted day after day, night after night and even been hand me downs from one dog to another.
Every dog is different. These toys have survived years of testing by our Newfoundlands, but no toy is truly indestructible. Always supervise play, regularly inspect toys for damage, and replace them when they become unsafe. These are simply the toys that have lasted the longest and been loved the most in our house.
Best Durable Chew Toys
Jolly Ball
Every Newfoundland we’ve owned has loved a Jolly Ball in the largest size. These oversized balls are designed for pushing, chasing, carrying, and roughhousing. Even when punctured, they won’t deflate, making them one of the longest-lasting toys we’ve tested. Best for: Chasers, tuggers, and giant breeds.
Romp-n-Roll
If I could only recommend one toy for giant breeds, this would be near the top of the list. The durable ball and rope combination can handle tugging, chasing, carrying, and water retrieval. Even when punctured, the ball keeps its shape and continues to float. Our dogs have spent countless hours playing with these. Best for: Multi-dog households, tugging, retrieving, and water play.
Gnawt-a-Rock
Inspired by natural rocks, this uniquely shaped toy bounces unpredictably, making every game of fetch different. It also doubles as a treat dispenser, encouraging dogs to think and work for rewards. We love toys that engage both the brain and the body, and this one does both. Best for: Treat-dispensing fun, enrichment, and active chewers.
Toppl
The Toppl from West Paw is a great entertainer. I fill it with kibble, and occassionaly treats,. For an extra challenge, and summer treat you can freeze it. It’s a lifesaver on days when you need to keep busy dogs occupied. Best for: Mental stimulation, treat time, and slowing down fast eaters.
Qwizl
West Paw’s Qwizl is another clever puzzle for dogs, holding treats and encouraging longer chewing sessions while providing mental enrichment. Durable, easy to clean, and surprisingly tough. Best for: Extending chew time and reducing boredom
Hurley Bone
The Hurley is one of the toughest bone-shaped toys we’ve found that still has enough flexibility to be gentle on teeth. It floats, bounces, and stands up well to everyday chewing. For dogs that love carrying around a bone but tend to destroy the real thing, this is an excellent alternative. Best for: Heavy chewers, fetch, and water-loving dogs.
KONG Jumbler Ball
This toy combines several things dogs love: a ball, a squeaker, and a challenge. The internal tennis ball keeps dogs engaged while the handles make it easy to pick up and carry. Our dogs enjoy chasing it around the yard and figuring out how to get at the ball inside. Best for: Fetch lovers, problem-solvers, and active dogs.
Teaser Ball
The Jolly Pets Teaser Ball has always been a huge hit in our house/yard. It’s a tough big ball with a smaller ball trapped inside. They work hard at getting the ball out by throwing it, pawing, shaking and while they can’t get the smaller ball out. It’s a great boredom buster fantastic for dogs that like mental stimulation. Best for: Smart dogs, independent play, and mental enrichment.
Tirebiter
Built from a durable natural rubber formula inspired by real tires, the Mammoth TireBiter II is ideal for dogs that love rugged interactive play. It works well for fetch, tug, and supervised chewing sessions while remaining gentler on teeth than many hard plastic toys. Best for: Moderate-to-heavy chewers and interactive play.
Ogee Stick
If your dog loves sticks but destroys every real branch they find, the KONG Ogee Stick is a safer alternative. The curved design makes it easy to grab during tug games, while the flexible rubber material has enough give to satisfy chewing instincts without being too hard on teeth. It also floats, making it a favorite for Newfoundlands and other water-loving dogs. Best for: Fetch, tug, water play, and moderate chewers.
Wubba XL
The KONG Wubba has been a longtime favorite in our house. The long floppy tails make it perfect for shaking, carrying, and interactive tug games. While it’s not designed for unsupervised power chewing, it’s fantastic for active dogs that love to play fetch and tug with their people. Best for: Tug-of-war, fetch, and dogs that love to shake their toys.
Tug-n-Toss
The built-in handle gives dogs an easy way to carry this oversized ball around the yard. It bounces, floats, and stands up surprisingly well to rough play. Watching a giant Newfoundland proudly parade around with a giant Jolly Ball is worth the purchase price alone. Best for: Fetch, carrying, chasing, and outdoor play.