6 Games for Dogs Who Love to Chew

There are certain behaviors that our dogs are basically hardwired to perform. Barking, digging, rolling in stinky stuff and yes, using those teeth of theirs to chew anything they can get their jaws on, from sticks in the yard to socks from the laundry basket. Especially if they are a dog who loves to chew!

Destructive chewing can be a nuisance, and worse, it might lead to a trip to the vet office if a pup grabs something dangerous. But chewing is an instinctual and natural part of a dog’s behavioral repertoire, so it’s important for pet parents to find a way to channel that drive into acceptable outlets. If not, your dog will happily find their own goodies to rip up!

Why Tough Play Matters for Dogs Who Love to Chew

The impulse to chew begins in puppyhood as a way to relieve pain as new teeth emerge, and continues as a way to relieve boredom and combat stress. Plus, it’s fun! Dogs seem to get great satisfaction from tearing their toys to pieces, so finding the right sorts of toys that can stand up to rough play will keep it from becoming an expensive enrichment option. 

While providing an endless array of low-cost toys might seem like a good way to keep a mega-chewer entertained, pet parents should remember to keep safety in mind. Any toy that can be easily ripped up can also become a hazard, since small pieces might be swallowed. Investing in toys that can stand up to those powerful jaws will keep your pup safe and your wallet happy.

So what’s the best way to funnel this instinctual behavior into creative and acceptable activities? Read on to learn about six games for dogs that are next-level tough and fun!

6 Games for Dogs Who Love to Chew

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Tough Tug: Long ago folks believed that playing tug could make your dog aggressive, but we now know that this exciting (and occasionally growly) game is an excellent way to vent your dog’s energy. The key to playing it with a super-chewer is using a tough toy that’s up to the challenge of teeth as well as tug tension, and something like tug rings can handle that and more.

The game is simple; offer your dog one end of the toy and grab onto the other, then hold tight and let the games begin! Tug is an intense game, so there’s no need to wrench your dogs head up and down as you play; just grab on and let your dog go. The rules are simple; you start and end the game, your dog is able to drop the toy when you ask, and your pup keeps their mouth on their end of the toy only. (Those sneaky little moves up the toy can result in accidental tooth-skin contact.)

The beauty of tug is that dogs of all ages can play, and it doesn’t require much space. And at the end of a few rounds? That chewer might need to take a break!

Hide the Toy: Usually, when we give our pups a new toy we let them carry it off to do as they please, but incorporating the hiding aspect turns solo-play into team fun. When playing Hide the Toy it’s a good idea to use a tough toy like a Bite Force Monster toy, since you and your dog have to celebrate a successful find with some tug and fetch, and you want a toy that can stand up to the challenge. This Kevlar-strengthened option is a great choice.

To play, first hide the toy in an obvious spot with your dog watching, and tell them to ‘find it.’ When they snag the toy, take a few minutes to play together, then repeat this intro step with your pup watching a bunch of times. Once your dog is starting to figure out what ‘find it’ means, move your dog to a different room, hide the toy and then bring them back in to sniff out where you’ve hidden it.

This game merges another of your dog’s instinctive abilities; using that incredible sniffer to find goodies. After a few rounds, even the busiest pups want a time-out!

Approved Destruction: There’s a batch of dog toys that not only welcome destruction, they’re constructed with the tear-up in mind! This type of game is great for those moments when you can’t be in the heart of the play with our pup but you still want your dog to get those jaws busy.

Any tear-apart dog toy looks like a normal stuffed pal, but the secret is on the inside with hidden smaller stuffies, or even tear-apart limbs!

While this game is mainly solo-play, it’s important for pet parents to remain close to make sure the toy isn’t being consumed as it’s ripped apart. The beauty of this sort of play is that it taps into your dog’s natural hunting instincts, so your furry best friend can feel like the victor at the end of a hunt.

Fetch: Ah, the quintessential dog game! It’s probably the go-to game for most pet parents, but when you’ve got a chewer you need to make sure you’ve got the right equipment for the task.

The set-up for the game is simple; find a wide open space and grab a super tough toy. Make sure your dog is focused on you, then give the toy a fling. When your dog brings it back as for a ‘drop,’ ask for a ‘sit’ to weave in some manners training, then give the ball another toss.

While the go-go-go aspect of fetch is the point of the game, make sure to give your dog the chance to enjoy their ‘prey’ once they’ve snatched it, which is where the need for a tough toy comes in! This high-speed game is yet another that taps into their natural prey sequence of catch and kill, but using a strong toy will make the second half of the equation a little less likely!

Meal Madness: Still feeding your super-chewer from a bowl? Try a creative feeder instead! A tough activity toy like a treat dispensing ball can turn meal time into play time by requiring pups to push, swat and gnaw on the cube to get it to give up the goodies.

Food-dispensing toys channel a dog’s first instinct to chew into a more active type of play, so instead of hunkering down to brute-force their way to the treats, pups have to be creative to get to the goodies.  

This option is a straightforward way of making mealtimes even more exciting by asking  your pup to be active during what’s normally a two-second grab and go. It’ll take your dog longer to finish, which aids digestion, and might take the edge of their energy levels as well!

Bottle Toys: Many dogs can’t resist the crinkle of a bottle, but the thin plastic can’t stand up to super chewers. That’s where a fun toy water bottle dog toy comes in! These rubber sleeves slip over the bottle and amp up the durability to deliver both the sound and mouth-feel that dogs love.

This is great for solo-play but can also do double duty as a fetch toy. (Who said you can only play fetch with balls?) Once again, there’s an element of hunting at work with this type of play, since the crunchy sound and sensation might mimic the final take-down of prey. It’s too easy to forget that the snuggly bestie beside you has a hunter’s heart!

How to Choose the Right Chew Toy for These Games

You’ve probably already emptied your wallet tons of times in the quest for a toy that can stand up to your super-chewer, so making the right choice matters. To find the right one for your pup consider the following:

• Durability: Check the reviews to see what other pet parents think, and study the toy itself. Are the seams reinforced and made of extra tough materials, like the Bite Force plush toys? Are there small pieces that can be pulled off and swallowed?
• Size: Bigger isn’t always better! Toys for super chewers tend to be heavier than most, so your petite pooch might not be able to handle an oversized toy. Likewise, big pups need toys for those big jaws, so avoid options that could be accidentally swallowed.
• Ease of cleaning: When it comes to plush options, look for toys that are machine washable. Rubber and plush toys should be easy to clean, preferably in your dishwasher, without too many nooks and crannies that might harbor bacteria.

Remember to inspect your dog’s toys for weak spots or damage frequently, to keep play safe for all.

Honoring your dog’s natural drives is one of best options for exercise, plus doing what they love to do as a team can help to strengthen your bond. Chewing is a great way to tap into that prey drive, and playing games together that incorporate it is even better. With the right games, you can turn your pup’s love of chewing into safe, rewarding play that strengthens your bond.

Victoria Schade has been a dog trainer for almost twenty years. Her focus is dog-friendly techniques that help pets and their people understand one another better, and making sure that training is fun for both ends of the leash. She is also the author of successful dog-centric fiction books, including “Life on the Leash,” “Who Rescued Who” and “Lost, Found, and Forever.”Photo by Tatiana Rodriguez on Unsplash