More durable dog toys tend to be made from rope or hard rubber instead of softer vinyl and plush toys. Brands such as KONG and Nylabone are synonymous with these types of toys.

Interactive toys are a good choice for dogs because they offer many benefits, including mental and physical stimulation. Designed to engage your dog's senses and challenge their problem-solving abilities, interactive toys can help dogs relieve boredom and anxiety by providing fun, challenging entertainment.

Our top picks for the best dog toys for aggressive chewers

• Best overall: Goughnuts .75 Black Ring Pro 50 - See at Goughnuts.
• Best plush: GoDog Furballz Plush Squeaker Ball - See at Chewy.
• Best stuffed: Kong Cozie Marvin the Moose - See at Chewy.
• Best squeaky ball: Chuckit!
• Best fetch ball: Kong Extreme Ball - See at Chewy.

"Power chewers" and pup parents alike will love this easy DIY dog toy. Simply cut up strips of denim from an old jacket or pair of jeans, then tie them into knots, adding more strips and more knots as you go. For bonus points, cut tassels in the strips so your pup has plenty to nose around.

Choose pet toys made from natural materials: Natural rubber and BPA-free food grade silicone are all good options, as are some eco-friendly cotton ropes. Hemp and jute are also great materials. For cats, there are various wool toy options (of course, they need to be supervised too).

The benefits of dog toys

• Exercise - dogs need to get enough exercise to keep them physically and mentally well.
• Intellectual stimulation - all dogs need mental stimulation as well as physical exercise, and without it, they can become destructive and disobedient.

toy dog, Any of several breeds of dogs that were bred to be small, portable, good-natured companions. Toy dogs were traditionally pampered and treasured by aristocracy around the world, and several breeds are ancient.

There are several types of chew toys made from materials including rawhide, wood, paper, and mineral. Chew toys are commonly associated with dogs, but have been found to be effective with birds, rodents, and rabbits.

Here are some options and the pros and cons of them all.

• Bully Sticks. Considered probably the most safe of the edible chews, yet we do know of one dog who died due to an intestinal blockage from a bully stick.
• Antlers.
• Hooves.
• Rawhides.
• Baked or Cooked Bones.
• Stuffed Chews: Kongs.
• Benebones vs.
• Raw Bones:

You don't always have to spend on toys to keep your dog happy. Consider the following creative homemade alternatives…

• Sock n' Ball. You'll need… 1 sock & 1 tennis ball.
• Snack Sock. You'll need…
• Ball on a Rope.
• Kitchen-Towel Rope.
• The Empty Cereal Box.
• Filled Tennis Ball.
• Big Knotted Ball.
• 'Empty' Milk Container.

Materials You Can Use For Dog Toys

• Old socks.
• Old t-shirts.
• Kitchen towels.
• Rope.
• Water or plastic soda bottles.
• Old fleece shirts or blankets.
• Sleeves from an old sweater or sweatshirt.
• Cardboard boxes.

Interactive toys provide benefits other than keeping your pet entertained. They can help with separation anxiety, slow down fast eating, keep pets moving, and curb destructive behavior. Some use food as an incentive and some don't. Interactive toys are good for pets of all ages.