Chew toy ideas?

[Renee Hacker]

Hi everyone, we're new here.  Lily is 12 weeks and has been with us about a month now.  I was wondering if you had any suggestions for chew toys/bones?  She has zero interest in any of the nylabones or similar type plastic bones (we have one shaped like a "T" too).  She also has zero interest in her Kong.  My Mom bought her a package of Purina Busy Bone Rollhides and she LOVED those, but I'm guessing they aren't the best thing in the world for her so I haven't bought any more.  I've heard negative things about regular rawhides, especially for puppies, so we haven't even gone there.  But I'm struggling to find something that will entice her.  We have a rope toy, she'll play with it for a few minutes and then gets bored.  Same with her stuffed toys. Suggestions?

[Renee Hacker]

Thanks everyone.  Picked up a small bully stick (odor free) at my local pet store.  It's been well-received to say the least.  :)  Going to have to get bigger ones for sure though...this one is half gone already after only an hour!  

[Jen and Annie]

We picked up an antler, which she seems to really like to chew on.  The thing with her is, she will chew on/play with something for like 30 seconds, and then drop it to chew on something else.  It's like she has ADD. 

She will play with her squeaky rubber ball the longest, but she tends to lose it under the couch or under the bed, and then I'm down on the ground trying to retrieve it.  But she does like chewing on the antler when she's looking to kick back and relax.  

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Bully sticks are good, rawhide I would give a wide berth to. Don't give up on the kongs, just be creative with what you fill them with. I soften some of the daily kibble mix with yoghurt and sometimes add berries and a little honey.  You can also smear peanut butter.  There are a myriad of good combinations and I freeze them.  They provide hours of good safe chewing and licking time.  Take a look at the Food Group here and look for stuffings for Kongs.  I also find the nylabones useless and all those rubber bone things...total waist of money.  The other great safe chew is Deer antler which is brilliant and lasts forever. To make them even tastier soak in home made broth (made without seasoning) and simmer them in it for about five minutes for serious happy chewing time. ( you can get them online at antlerpantry or in a good pet boutique.

[Stephanie & Duke]

If your looking for durable dog toys, I've heard great things about this westpaw brand.

http://www.westpawdesign.com/catalog/dogs/dog-toys

Dog Toys

Whether you're looking for an active dog toy for the park, durable dog toys for aggressive chewers, or soft plush dog toys for those dogs that love squeaky dog toys, West Paw Design has them all! These fabric dog toys and Zogoflex dog toys (Zogoflex feels like a rubber dog toy) are made in the USA and are sure to provide your dog hours of fun!

 

I haven't looked into them but I know some owners with aggressive chewers and they LOVE this brand. Good luck!

Oh and I bought my puppy an elk antler but I'm gonna wait until he loses his puppy teeth until I give it to him, he's not really much of a chewer anyhow. 

[sf1]

The top 4 rows are very good toys that can take loads of chewing without being destroyed.  We have a few, but Milo is not that attached to them as I would like.  We have some success with the TIzzi dog toy when we put a treat in it and wrap its legs so he has to figure out how to get it out.

[sf1]

Milo is about 6 months old now and has all his adult teeth, but has been destroying his toys lately so we've been buy and testing lots.

I went to the store the other day to look into bully sticks, but I made the mistake of asking what they were.  Once the girl told me I said I could not let my dog lick me again after he eats that.  So I picked up a deer antler and Milo loves it.   He has been chewing on it non stop.  The only issue is that when he drops it on the hardwood floors or tile, it sounds horrible.  I wish I had found out about them months ago!

When he was teething, I used to fill his kong every day and freeze it in the deep freezer - watch this video on how: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_EzclqWIRo&feature=related

He would literally chew it for an hour to two.  I filled it with a couple of high value treats (freeze dried liver) and some of his food.  I would put a very small plug of peanut butter in the end and fill it up with water from the small hole, then freeze it in the deep freezer and viola.  He still loves to get these and will take them everyday if I would give them.

Hope this helps.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

That is interesting - putting water in also. I have never done that but I am going to do it for Lily Grace's kong for tomorrow. She is a chewer, anything she can get her paws on. Her mouth is always going.

[sf1]

So, did she like it?

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Daphne doesn't know what to do with the Himalayan chew. I think, she thinks it is a really hard cookie. She carries it around the house and she "buries" it in the covers of my bed. She hides it in some of her favorite place but she doesn't actually chew on it. It's so funny to watch.

[Brenda Showfety]

I am glad to have seen this post.  Our 8 month old doodle is destroying all of her toys so fast lately that I was at a loss for what to do since she loves to play with toys.  I actually went on the bestbullystick website and ordered some bully sticks.  I am excited for them to arrive as so far our Maggie has not chewed on ANYTHING other than her toys. Thanks for the recommendations here!

[LORRIE PAULUS]

Are there specific Bully sticks for puppies?  Same for Deer Antlers.  Or are they safe for dogs of all ages?  I need to curb my 10 week old puppy's biting and nipping.... I have a puppy Kong but I am not sure what to put in it and how to freeze it, etc.