Kinds of Safe Chew Toys for Dogs

Chew toys are a necessity for owning a puppy or dog. They help keep your dog occupied and away from your furniture, shoes and books. All dogs love to chew and having toys of their own will enhance the human-dog bond, ease training difficulties and alleviate boredom. Chewing also helps keep a dog's teeth and jaws healthy.

  1. Stuffable Rubber Toys

    • Used by top trainers and handlers, the stuffable rubber toy is a chew toy and training tool. This toy is made to be nearly indestructible. It has a hole in which the pet owner can stuff peanut butter, cheese or treats. Useful for power chewers, it also keeps a dog occupied and out of trouble.

    Non-Edible Bones

    • Non-edible bones give your dog an outlet for energy and his chewing needs. They are typically made of a plastic alloy and can be gnawed on for years. They are not meant to be swallowed, so any pieces need to be removed immediately. Any bone given to your dog should be much larger than can be swallowed.

    Edible Bones

    • Beef bones are popular with dogs.

      Edible bones from cattle or pork give your dog a healthy supplement to his dog food. Since these bones often taste better, your dog will be apt to spend more time chewing them than he would a rubber toy or non-edible bone. Wisconsin veterinarians Drs. Foster and Smith do note that all real bones pose some risk of splintering. Hard bones, such as those from cattle or pork shin bones, are the safest to give your dog. Your dog should never be given poultry bones, as these lightweight, hollow bones quickly splinter and can be swallowed in pieces.

    Rawhide

    • Rawhide bones can be bleaches or unbleached.

      Rawhide is a layer of cattle skin that has been specially prepared and twisted into some kind of shape, typically a stick or wrapped bone. Rawhide is flavorful and takes a long time to soften and chew. If your dog eats rawhide in chunks, he needs a bigger bone. Chunks of rawhide can cause digestive upset in most dogs.

    Ropes

    • Fiber ropes serve to clean and floss teeth. Many dogs enjoy gnawing on them and carrying them around. They're an excellent training tool.