The Best Dog Chew Toys In Australia -
Perfect For Teething Puppies
Written By Olivia De Santos | Canine Coach, Professional Writer & Video Content Creator.
Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | Double B.A Journalism & Science.
Last Updated: 4th January 2024
Whether you have a rambunctious puppy or a surly senior at home, you can bet that your dog loves to chew.
Chewing is a great pastime for dogs, and we're sure that pet parents around the world would much prefer they concentrate their efforts on their own collection of chew-proof toys rather than your fragile cashmere jumpers.
One of the best and easiest ways to stop destructive chewing is to redirect their attention to the perfect chew toy for them. (1) But how do you find that illusive perfect chew toy for your dog? That's where we come in! We teamed up with veterinarians and canine behaviour experts to research the most popular dog chew toys in Australia. After months of tests and dozens and dozens of gnarled dog toys later, we were finally able to agree on the list below.
As you know, dog chew toys come in many shapes and sizes so we will start there. We’ll then discuss the qualities of an awesome chew toy before we give recommendations from our team of independent experts for the best dog chew toys on the Australian market.
Quick Picks - The Top 3
Our Number 1 Pick -
KONG - Classic Dog Toy
- Great reviews
- Vet recommended
- Dishwasher safe
- Comes in a variety of sizes and strengths
Runner Up -
Anything Pets Dog Chew Ball
- Budget friendly
- Non-toxic rubber
- Helps with oral care
- Comes in a nice selection of colours
Third Choice -
Rufus & Coco Junior Chew Toy
- Durable
- Treat dispensing
- Squeaky mechanism
- Floats in water
The Different Types of Dog Chew Toys
Chew toys come in all forms. In order to soothe your dog’s boredom, you need to choose the right toy for them. (2)
These are the types of dog chew toys our team of independent experts identified during our research phase:
Classic Chew Toys
Non-toxic rubber toys are what makes up the classic chew toy. They come in a range of strengths, colours, and shapes to keep your dog interested. Classic chew toys are great for most breeds and ages.
Some even come with added flavour mixed in with the rubber to make the toy even more enticing. You can’t go wrong with a classic chew toy to keep your dog happy.
Squeaky Toys
Most people relate squeaky toys to puppies. It makes sense I suppose. Only baby human play with rattles and are dazzled by loud noises. Or is that really true? I would argue that a phone with a ringtone is a squeaky toy for adults - don’t deny it!
Anyway, my point is, adult dogs love squeaky toys too. They are endlessly entertaining.
Now I won’t deny that it is incredibly annoying to have the constant squeal of a toy sounding off during the day. It’s just one of those things we do for the happiness of our dogs. It soon becomes background noise - I promise.
Rope Toys
We like rope toys because of their versatility. A rope isn’t just for tug of war purposes. Dogs love playing rope with you, with other dogs and even solo. They are great for a good session of gnawing alone.
A tensile rope can take a good deal of chewing before eventually disintegrating… but they will disintegrate at some point. No matter how strong the rope may be, at a certain point, you will find it melted into a fray of threads.
But don’t discount rope in your search for the best chew toy for your pup. A pack of chew rope products is relatively cheap and they will last a while. All I am saying is that for a toy that will last years and years and years, classic rubber chew toys are better.
Bone Toys
The jury is very much out as to whether it is safe to give your dog real raw bones to chew on. There are certainly benefits.
Mike Clark at DogTime remarks: “Raw bones are a good source of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. They have benefits to the digestive system, including strengthening the stomach muscles, preventing bloat, fostering healthy bowel movements, and preventing anal gland problems.” (3)
That said, our panel of experts share that bones can cause many issues. (4) For example:
So, for the sake of not settling this debate today, we are going to focus on fake bone-like toys. Bone toys can even be flavoured to give the meaty sensation your dog craves.
We will give you our best bone toy recommendation in the later reviews.
What to Look for in Dog Teething Toys
Durability
Of course, you want a good return on your investment, which means that the chew toy you choose can’t just crack as soon as your dog sinks their teeth in. Quite defeats the point, doesn’t it?
There are two main aspects to ensuring the longevity of the toy you choose:
Strength
When choosing a chew toy for dogs, you need to keep your pup’s strength in mind. Remember strength and size are different things. Whilst giant breeds are more likely to be stronger, a Boxer is still stronger than a Greyhound, even though the former is a medium dog and the latter is a large dog. (5) A Newfoundland puppy is also way stronger than an adult Chihuahua. Look out for a chew toy to suit your dog’s strength.
Materials
The second thing to factor in is what the chew toy made of. While Nylabones are incredibly hardy, they can sometimes be too tough for the average chewer. On the other hand, cheap materials may wear quickly.
Rope in general is quite durable but will eventually fall apart as I mentioned.
Figure out what will work best for your pup.
Flavoured vs Unflavoured
As I mentioned, some rubber toys have a flavour and smell artificially added to make the chewing experience more appealing to your dog. Generally, flavours last a while but it does fade eventually. Your dog may still enjoy chewing the toy after it has lost its flavour, but it is worth noting that it does fade - as does the smell.
My dogs are completely split when it comes to flavoured toys. One loves them and the other turns her nose up at them. I guess it’s as polarising as whether you like banana flavoured sweets - never quite tastes like a banana does it?
PRO TIP: The only real way to find out whether your dog likes the flavoured kind or not is to try!
The Best Dog Chew Toys Of 2024 Reviewed
Now that we know all the elements of a great chew toy for your dog, our team of independent experts share our favourite dog chew toys! These are the toys that stood up to our voracious chewers without breaking down (or breaking the bank). There are tonnes of wonderful options available in Australia, so we hope these reviews help you.
#1: Best Overall: KONG - Classic Dog Toy
What sets this product apart from the rest?
Are we surprised? No. Am I predictable? Absolutely! The KONG has long been the family favourite dog chew toy the world over and also makes it in our list of the best dog toys overall. My oldest dog got her first KONG toy at 3 months old. It was bright pink and small like her. The original KONG has been a long-standing fixture in our home ever since.
Related: What To Put In A Dog KONG Toy?
So, what’s the hype? The classic KONG toy owes its success to the simple fool-proof construction. The open hole at the bottom helps you to conceal treats inside, like our second and third choices, and your dog has the joy of attempting to get the treat out. It’s a barrel of laughs for your dog!
The KONG - Classic Dog Toy being tested by our independent expert team.
As a chew toy, it is made of durable rubber with no hard edges. The smooth rounded shape is ideal for chewing.
Everyone on our team of independent experts appreciated that KONG toys also come in a variety of colours depending on your dog’s age and strength. An added bonus is the fact that it is dishwasher safe, so it is incredibly easy to keep clean.
Versatile, durable, and fun; the OG KONG toy is a top choice in the dog toy world for a reason!
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#2: Budget-Friendly: Anything Pets Dog Chew Ball
Chew balls are a fab invention. They provide hours of entertainment and mental stimulation. And the best part of the Anything Pets Chew Ball is that it is dirt cheap!
The aim of the game is to stuff the sides of the ball with treats or kibble. Your dog will enjoy kicking and gnawing on it to release the goods.
Related: Best Dog Treat Ball.
Like our KONG in the number one spot, the Anything Pets ball is made of non-toxic rubber. The corrugated sides also have the added benefit of maintaining your dog’s oral hygiene. Yep - chew toys can do that too! The ball’s “teeth” massage your dog’s gums which can help reduce tartar build-up. It is also soothing for teething puppies.
The Anything Pets Dog Chew Ball being tested by our independent expert team.
The toy comes in five designs: blue, red, green, yellow and a duotone style. The size is quite small, measuring only 7 cm in diameter. Perfect for puppies and tiny dogs but our panel thinks that it's perhaps not great for giant breeds. I think a Great Dane could swallow this whole.
But for the price, this is a great addition to your dog’s collection of toys.
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#3: Best Teething Toy for Puppies: Rufus & Coco Junior Chew Toy
If you have ever had the fun of having a wisdom tooth come through or spending time with a curmudgeonly teething baby, you’ll know how uncomfortable it is to grow new teeth. Tiny shards of enamel piercing through sore, fragile gums is as unpleasant as it sounds.
We can’t stuff a dummy in your puppy’s mouth, but a teething toy will be just as effective.
Related: Best Puppy Toys.
Our pick is the Rufus & Coco Junior Chew Toy. It is a versatile little toy. Like our first two toy choice, it could be seen as a treat-dispensing toy. However, it's also a dog puzzle toy, teething toy, and a squeaky toy. My furry bundle of joy had so much fun, gnawing and squeaking away.
The Rufus & Coco Junior Chew Toy being tested by our independent expert team.
Made of a durable, non-toxic rubber-blend, it is built to withstand the sharpest of puppy teeth whilst being gentle enough on those teeth.
Overall, it’s a good starting chew toy for young pups.
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#4: Best for Strong Chewers: Nylabone Dura Chew Power Chew Textured Ring
Nylabone toys are known for being mega-tough. They are not for the faint-hearted or tender-gummed, let’s say. Nylabone make rock hard chew toys for super aggressive chewers, setting it apart from our first three choices.
If you have a dog with a destructive chewing habit and seemingly jaws of steel, then this might be the pick for you! Your dog would have to be the strongest dog in the world to destroy this toy.
The textured ring by Nylabone has a few added benefits. First is the flavour. They call it a “flavour blend” meaning to say that it has a general meaty flavour that your dog will enjoy.
The Nylabone Dura Chew Power Chew Textured Ring being tested by our independent expert team.
The texture helps clean teeth with the ring shape making it easier for your dog to hold as they dig in.
The product measures 14 cm x 14 cm which is a good size for medium and large dogs alike.
Related: The Best Dog Subscription Box Australia.
Reviewers attest to how durable this toy is for extreme chewers. That said, it is imperative you don’t give this to a puppy or soft chewer. They may hurt themselves!
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#5: Best Squeak Chew Toy: Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Squeak
Squeak toys are delightful for dogs, albeit quite irritating to us. But the perfect squeaky toy can make you happy too when your dog is obviously having so much fun.
We chose the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Squeak ball because it is interactive. As it is a ball, similar to our second choice, I was able to use it to play fetch with my dog, the perfect bonding opportunity.
This squeaking toy is incredibly hardy; it is advertised for tough chewers.
The Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Squeak being tested by our independent expert team.
It is just over 7 cm in diameter, which is not bad for the full squeak experience. Every member of our panel of independent experts noted that it would be good to have other sizes, however.
The ball comes in two bright, easy-to-spot colours - a mid-tone blue and a vivid orange.
If you are in the market for a squeak toy, your dog may love this one!
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#6: Best Rope Chew Toy: Youngever 6 Pack Dog Rope Toys
If you don’t fancy buying a rubber chew toy for your dog, but would rather something even more versatile, rope may be the ideal solution.
Many dogs enjoy gnawing on rope. One of my dogs prefers rope much more than classic rubber toys like the KONG, our number one choice.
The Youngever pack comes with six rope toys of varying colours, sizes and knotting. It also includes a rope ball. The variety here is amazing. Having all of these in one pack is also much better value for money. As I said before, rope does eventually wear down so it’s good to have a reserve of options to swap out any that get destroyed.
Of course, these can also double up as tug-of-war games. An even greater return on investment.
This pack is ideal for medium to extra-large dogs. The 100% natural cotton rope is said to be heavy-duty and long-lasting, and our team of experts agreed.
To top it all off, Youngever offers a 100% money back guarantee if you are dissatisfied with the products when they arrive. For chewers who prefer rope and fabric, this is the perfect stocking filler.
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#7: Best Dog Bone Toy: Tasty Bone Nylon Trio
Finally, we have a bone toy to pick for you!
The Tasty Bone Nylon Trio toy is the ideal bone toy for your pup. Granted I have never seen a bone with three sides like this, but it gives the same satisfaction as chewing on bones, without the drawbacks.
The Tasty Bone Nylon Trio being tested by our independent expert team.
It is made of super tough nylon, infused with strong flavour to keep your dog engaged for hours. The flavour does fade, like with our Nylabone option in spot number three, and with all flavoured chew toys. After the taste has worn off, you can wash the toy with water to keep it in good condition.
The bone has the added benefit of being good for oral hygiene. It has a textured surface that massages the gums.
It comes in two sizes: large and small. Most breeds should be happy with one of the two. Our team of experts with extra-large breeds said their dogs still found it too small.
If you need a tough bone toy for your dog, we highly recommend the Tasty Bone model.
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Top Pick: Best Dog Chew Toys
According to our team of independent experts, the KONG toy is always a winner. It has been a worldwide favourite for many years for very good reason. The options they have, the durability, and the price point all point to an all-round wonderful product that your dog will love.
As a runner-up, we recommend the Tasty Bone Trio toy for strong chewing dogs who love meaty smells. The added bonus is that the Tasty Bone is far safer than any real bone. All the fun and none of the danger.
Want more information on dog toys? Check out our below guides:
FAQ
This is a great question! The short answer is it depends on who you ask. Some say that bones are terrible for your dog’s health, whilst others believe that bones are better as chew toys than any artificial rubber toy. Of course, this depends on the type of bones.
Never give your dog cooked bones as they are more prone to splintering. It is possible to buy whole lamb femurs which are supposedly the safest. But again, depends on who you ask!
Nylabone toys are bad to some experts and okay for others. (6)
Antlers have very have mixed reviews. (7) Rawhide toys are also controversial. (8)
It’s all a question of who you ask. If you want to be the safest possible, we advise speaking to your veterinarian for personalised advice. At the end of the day, we can only make decisions for our own dogs.
One thing that most agree on is that sticks are the devil. I can personally attest to having pulled out a stick that was lodged in my dog’s mouth. Sticks splinter too which can be dangerous if swallowed. All in all - avoid sticks. The rest is very much up for debate.
References
- Berger, J. April 27, 2023. “How to Keep your Dog from Chewing and Scratching Everything”. PetMD. Retrieved May 29, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/how-to-stop-dogs-from-chewing-and-scratching-everything
- Madson, C. August 30, 2019. “10 Boredom Busters for Your Dog”. Preventative Vet. Retrieved May 29, 2023. https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/boredom-busters-for-your-bored-dog
- "Which Dog Bones Are Safe?”. April 18, 2023. DogTime. Retrieved May 29, 2023. https://dogtime.com/dog-health/dog-food-dog-nutrition/52539-ok-give-dog-bone-bones-safe-dogs
- Stregowski, J. December 12, 2021. “Are Bones Safe for Dogs?”. The Spruce Pets. Retrieved May 29, 2023. https://www.thesprucepets.com/are-bones-safe-for-dogs-1118289
- Jamieson, A. May 15, 2023. “10 of the strongest dog breeds in the world”. Care.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023. https://www.care.com/c/stories/6113/top-10-strongest-dog-breeds/
- Tuner, B. August 18, 2021. “Potential Dangers of Popular Dog Chews”. Preventative Vet. Retrieved May 29, 2023. https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/potential-dangers-of-popular-dog-chews
- Burke, A. November 2, 2017. “Are Antlers Safe for Dogs?”. American Kennel Club. Retrieved May 29, 2023. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/are-antlers-safe-dogs/
- Henriques, J. February 20, 2022. “Rawhide for Dogs: Why is it Dangerous?”. Dogs Naturally Magazine. Retrieved May 29, 2023. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/rawhide-dangerous-for-dogs/