My husband and I had been considering getting a new dog for about 2 years before we finally decided to get Phoebe, a now 6.5 month old Golden Retriever. We got her at 3.5 months of age from a highly recommended breeder. She’s been much more work than we anticipated and she often tests our patience. But she’s a wonderful dog, and we are in love with her!
Like most large breed dogs, Phoebe loves to chew…A LOT! She will chew on ANYTHING!
I’m definitely not a dog expert, but I’ve had to learn pretty quickly how to deal with a dog that loves to chew. Here are some chew toys we’ve found to be very helpful and have provided hours of chewing pleasure:
1. The KONG
The Kong is one of the very best chew toys out there. You can find Kongs at most pet stores, and they come in a variety of sizes depending on your dog’s size. They are extremely durable and virtually indestructible. You can fill the center with the Kong brand treats made specially for the Kong. A cheaper and equally effective option is to fill the Kong with dog biscuits, peanut butter or cheese. It will keep your pup occupied and happy for a long time. You can gradually increase the size of the treats you use to keep the Kong a challenging game for your dog.
2. STERILIZED BONES
These are strong, hollow bones. They’re inexpensive and last forever (well, for Phoebe’s lifetime so far anyway!). Like the Kong, you can fill these bones with treats, peanut butter or cheese. Phoebe also enjoys it on its own with no added flavor. Make sure you get a bone large and strong enough so that your dog won’t break it into pieces or swallow it.
3. NYLABONES
These bones were recommended by our breeder. They come in a variety of flavors and sizes depending on the size and chew strength of your dog. Along with the Kong, these were Phoebe’s favorite chew toys for the first 4-5 months of age. She now spends most of her chew time with her Kong and sterilized bones, but she’ll still go to her crate to get her Nylabones from time to time.
Chew Toys that May or May Not be Good Options:
1. Stuffed Toys:
Stuffed toys may not be a good choice for strong chewers. Up until Phoebe was about 4 months, we bought stuffed toys for her from a local pet store. They used to last her for a week or two, but now seemingly tough stuffed toys are no match for Phoebe’s strong jaw and teeth, and are destroyed within a few minutes. Of course, if you can afford it and you’d like to give your dog a treat once in a while, a stuffed toy will offer loads of fun for a few minutes. Just be sure you take the toy from your dog before he/she starts eating the stuffing!
Stuffed toys can be a good choice for dogs who aren’t strong chewers, and for new puppies (they seem to get a sense of security from their stuffed toys). Make sure you choose toys that don’t have small parts that can be easily chewed off and swallowed.
2. Raw Hide:
Phoebe loves rawhide! However, she likes to chew the rawhide into pieces and then tries to eat it. I’ve read that if your dog likes to do this, then it is best to avoid rawhide. If your dog is the type of dog that just likes to suck or gnaw on the rawhide without destroying it, then it can be a very good choice.
A piece of advice from a new dog owner: Buy quality chew toys for your dog, even if it means buying the more expensive toys. It will keep your dog happy and will save your couch!
Recommended reading: Good Owners, Great Dogs. By Brian Kilcommons.
Your puppy looks familiar. I think I know her. Does she like to eat grass?
Yes, I think we’re talking about the same puppers. Grass is her favorite treat. I lied about the chew toys.