Durable toy recommendations?

Thank you @Rits for the beef cheek recommendation!!!! I have bought those at dog shows, as recently as the Nationals, and they were not the same. I ordered what you suggested, and they are GREAT! I keep one in Falcon's crate in the car - we go somewhere every day...and he has not even got through a whole one yet! And it's been 2 days! He is not in there long, but can rip through a bully stick in 20 minutes.
I am thrilled with these!!!!
Awesome review! I got some for the dogs xmas and received the package but haven't even opened the box yet. Yes, the dogs sniffed hard on the shipping box when I brought it in, but they are both so good to leave things alone until we say it's theirs... it's sitting on a chair in the kitchen and every now and then they will run their nose over it, but then keep walking. :thumbsup: It might have to get opened early, we'll see.
 
I sadly agree on the toys... unless yours doesn't chew them up, no toy is worth leaving out. I used to leave toys out and gradually limited them to only rubber toys, to now only benebones. I've dealt with 2 FBs in two different dogs in just a year and one of them they weren't one of the lucky ones that made it.

I did get mine some beef cheek rolls for the first time and those have lasted longer than bully sticks for my crew! At least an hour or two. They were $10 each but I got a 4 pack for $35. 10-12 Inch Beef Cheek Roll | Bully Bunches

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Oh wow these look really cool! I wonder if Pepper could handle them? 🤔🙄
 
Wondering if anyone could recommend a toy they have that has had a fair or better lifespan in their household? They don’t seem to care for the tough rubber ones (Kong, etc.), not much more interest in the synthetic/polymer bones. They do enjoy antlers, but I’ve heard this material is too hard & can damage or excessively wear the teeth if given too often (?) What they like the best appears to be soft / textile toys (cotton rope, suede/felt, stuffed toys w/ squeakers, etc.), but these survive a few days tops before I’m vacuuming up the soggy fluff & fiber remnants of another ex-favorite toy. Maybe their joy is derived chiefly from the act of destruction & a durable toy is inherently not what they will prefer. Maybe I just have to get over stepping on slimy, poky, gnawed Benebones in the dark at 4am. Maybe you guys can help me out. Please. They’re so gross.
I can only use benebones for my Doberman. It’s such a bummer as I’d like to give her a stuffed toy, but like you said - destroyed. It’s just not worth the risk so I stick to benebones or this ball she loves and for some reason can’t/ won’t chew it up. Like others said keep toys cleaned up and monitor use. I’ve tried a million toys and I’ve given up and spend all my money on benebones haha.

Big ropes are also a favorite, but those are only used with a human and then put away, because she will eat the rope.

Although, we did have good luck with the furry cow ears from Farm Hounds, I would check them out for sure! They carry a lot of locally sourced items at a reasonable price.

Link to the ball she loves and has not even attempted to destroy it.

 
Oh wow these look really cool! I wonder if Pepper could handle them? 🤔🙄
photos and my review just posted - Those Bully Bunches Beef Rolls!

It says the only ingredient is beef. No rawhide, no fillers, no preservatives etc. It took Asha about 30 minutes to eat down less than one of those tennis-ball size sections, and then I put it away. It came off in small pieces so no big gulps. Not sure how it will go when we get down to the end, but will let you know. So if Pepper is OK with beef, it *might* be ok for her!
 
Big ropes are also a favorite, but those are only used with a human and then put away, because she will eat the rope.
I went to our fleet store and bought untreated rope by the foot for less than $1/foot. I just cut it a little longer than I wanted it, then tied knots in both ends. It's the same type of rope that horses lead ropes are made of.
 
I went along to daughter's horse riding lessons the other day. Saw a Jolly Ball – the soft kind. I repeated to daughter that I'd like to get one of the hard Jolly Balls for Zephyr. Daughter repeated that they are unsafe for dogs' teeth. What is the truth on this?
 
I went along to daughter's horse riding lessons the other day. Saw a Jolly Ball – the soft kind. I repeated to daughter that I'd like to get one of the hard Jolly Balls for Zephyr. Daughter repeated that they are unsafe for dogs' teeth. What is the truth on this?
I imagine anything with enough abuse isn't good for dog's teeth but I'd think a jolly ball is better than a tennis ball's felt.
 
Thank you @Rits for the beef cheek recommendation!!!! I have bought those at dog shows, as recently as the Nationals, and they were not the same. I ordered what you suggested, and they are GREAT! I keep one in Falcon's crate in the car - we go somewhere every day...and he has not even got through a whole one yet! And it's been 2 days! He is not in there long, but can rip through a bully stick in 20 minutes.
I am thrilled with these!!!!
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These looks amazing!
I went along to daughter's horse riding lessons the other day. Saw a Jolly Ball – the soft kind. I repeated to daughter that I'd like to get one of the hard Jolly Balls for Zephyr. Daughter repeated that they are unsafe for dogs' teeth. What is the truth on this?
We have the jolly ball soccer ball, it’s great. Also, have the jolly ball with a handle and it’s used for outside, but she bit it open and cracked it. So I can see what your daughters are saying.
 
I'd like to get one of the hard Jolly Balls for Zephyr. Daughter repeated that they are unsafe for dogs' teeth. What is the truth on this?
Not sure if "truth" - more like each situation, but here's my one observation. I have discovered that some dogs have genetically "softer" teeth that wear down abnormally fast with constant chewing/biting toys. Who even thought? That said, Reckless had a jolly ball a puppy and played with it constantly. I mean incessantly, but it was too wild of play to allow indoors so it was an outdoor only toy. Her canines had worn the point off before she was 18 months old. So here are several points: J blamed the jolly ball, which is just rubbery material, very slightly textured. I don't think it was the ball itself, but rather some other factors all coming together - outside where she played was dirt, often muddy from melting snow or summer rains. No lush grass anywhere. So the ball collected dirt/mud/fine sand which stuck to the ball, but dogs don't care about that. But that fine grit would change the surface of what she was mashing her teeth into, right? Also, Dutchies are basically brindle Mals, so obsessed with biting and mouthing, especially as puppies. R would open her jaws as wide as possible, grip what she could and to hold the ball still while she crushed it, she'd push it hard into the ground, re-grip, over and over. Never would carry by the handle. I have seen many photos of Mals and Dutch Shepherds with worn canines and not sure if they are a breed with genetically softer teeth or if they are just so bitey/ball crazy they over-load what the teeth are designed for, which by nature should just be scraping meat off of bones or one hard bite to kill a rabbit. Tennis balls are notorious for wearing teeth with their wirery-woolly surface, so that makes sense. I still am not convinced that a jolly ball surface could do the same damage, especially in a grass/lawn with a dog that chases it and picks it up by the handle and doesn't obsess over "killing it" repeatedly.

All that said, if you got one for Zephyr, and he only carried it by the handle, I doubt it will wear his teeth down. If he grinds it into the dirt, bites repeatedly on the round surface to crush the air out, I'd probably have second thoughts. Is he ball crazy? Obsessed with carrying toys? I wouldn't think his breed makeup would have that trait, but I know so little about guardian breeds. Also, he's not a young puppy and his play might be quieter now.

Also, after the jolly ball was discarded, Reckless's teeth continued to wear down. She playsfetch daily for about 5 - 10 minutes, with no time alone with any balls or anything to chew on, we use those spikey rubber balls so the canines would not be gripping a hard solid surface. Asha doesn't have sharp points anymore, but R's are extremely worn down now at age 10.

There's my Ted Talk. :rofl:
 
Not sure if "truth" - more like each situation, but here's my one observation. I have discovered that some dogs have genetically "softer" teeth that wear down abnormally fast with constant chewing/biting toys. Who even thought? That said, Reckless had a jolly ball a puppy and played with it constantly. I mean incessantly, but it was too wild of play to allow indoors so it was an outdoor only toy. Her canines had worn the point off before she was 18 months old. So here are several points: J blamed the jolly ball, which is just rubbery material, very slightly textured. I don't think it was the ball itself, but rather some other factors all coming together - outside where she played was dirt, often muddy from melting snow or summer rains. No lush grass anywhere. So the ball collected dirt/mud/fine sand which stuck to the ball, but dogs don't care about that. But that fine grit would change the surface of what she was mashing her teeth into, right? Also, Dutchies are basically brindle Mals, so obsessed with biting and mouthing, especially as puppies. R would open her jaws as wide as possible, grip what she could and to hold the ball still while she crushed it, she'd push it hard into the ground, re-grip, over and over. Never would carry by the handle. I have seen many photos of Mals and Dutch Shepherds with worn canines and not sure if they are a breed with genetically softer teeth or if they are just so bitey/ball crazy they over-load what the teeth are designed for, which by nature should just be scraping meat off of bones or one hard bite to kill a rabbit. Tennis balls are notorious for wearing teeth with their wirery-woolly surface, so that makes sense. I still am not convinced that a jolly ball surface could do the same damage, especially in a grass/lawn with a dog that chases it and picks it up by the handle and doesn't obsess over "killing it" repeatedly.

All that said, if you got one for Zephyr, and he only carried it by the handle, I doubt it will wear his teeth down. If he grinds it into the dirt, bites repeatedly on the round surface to crush the air out, I'd probably have second thoughts. Is he ball crazy? Obsessed with carrying toys? I wouldn't think his breed makeup would have that trait, but I know so little about guardian breeds. Also, he's not a young puppy and his play might be quieter now.

Also, after the jolly ball was discarded, Reckless's teeth continued to wear down. She playsfetch daily for about 5 - 10 minutes, with no time alone with any balls or anything to chew on, we use those spikey rubber balls so the canines would not be gripping a hard solid surface. Asha doesn't have sharp points anymore, but R's are extremely worn down now at age 10.

There's my Ted Talk. :rofl:
Thanks! I have never known what a Ted Talk is, so thank you!

You know, my good friend's GSD years ago developed worn down canine teeth. You also hear of police dogs (of course GSDs and Mals) that have to have metal caps put on their teeth.

Now, are we talking about the hard Jolly Ball here, or the soft one? Am I remembering correctly that they make a softer one and a harder one?

Zephyr is ball crazy, but maybe not ball obsessed. He nearly cannot resist the urge to chase or run after a thrown or kicked ball and grab it. Then, of course, he staunchly refuses to bring it to me but that's another topic.

He does love to chew balls and sticks. Ever since meeting a female Doberman years ago that lost an upper canine tooth due to chewing wood and having a splinter lodged up there I started to forbid my Dobes from chewing wood; but Zeph's drive to chew wood is just so strong that I bailed on that effort early on because I felt it would just make our relationship so full of negative interactions that it'd not be worth it.

So, I don't know if Z would mash the ball into the ground to try to "kill" it. I don't think so. He just likes to chew and tear pieces off balls. Incidentally, he pops tennis balls pretty much immediately and then will ingest pieces of it before you know it; so the only time he gets ahold of one is when he finds one at the park (which is bad enough just in terms of other dogs' dental germs).
 
Ravenbird is quite correct about the dental attrition potential of polymer alone vs. after integrating mineral particulates into the toy’s surface. Any plastic/rubber toy alone is not hard enough to wear enamel, but if the surface is invested with mineral(s) harder than the hydroxyapatite crystal matrix of mammalian enamel, it will. The most common dental handpiece burs are metal shanks coated in little bits of industrial diamond in varying coarseness, steel carbide, & polymers w/ much finer abrasive minerals for polishing. Enamel is a 5 on the Mohs scale, so only things of equal or greater hardness can cut/grind tooth.

I don’t work on dogs (though that is funny to hear that some K9s have crowns), but can say that while dog enamel is alike in composition, it is thinner than in human teeth. If they wear through this, the dentin layer beneath is relatively soft & will wear quite quickly. People who have noted attrition/erosion of their own teeth will know this firsthand.

Mammals with longer lifespans & those which predominantly grind fibrous foodstuffs tend to have thicker enamel, some have other atoms inserted into the crystal matrix (those reddish indestructible beaver teeth are from literal iron, e.g.), gnawing species have no roots but rather a gradual lifelong eruption, etc. Given the strength of canine jaws vs. their teeth, fracture & dental attrition seem like significant concerns.

Depending upon the occlusion of the dog, enamel is of course hard enough to wear against itself. Dobermans seem to have a tightly interlocking anterior dentition, so toys that they can bite through & contact the opposing teeth (textile layers) seem risky. Certainly anything that can get sand/grit/soil worked into the surface will be very abrasive to the enamel & should be avoided. If anything,
I would expect a harder/denser polymer to be less destructive than one which is more porous/softer, as it would be less likely to accumulate surface mineral inclusions or permit teeth to pass through & contact one another.

(TMI for sure, but hopefully relevant to someone.)
 
I read all the reviews and it seemed like a great toy. Well, it arrived and Pepper is deathly afraid of it 😂 the noises have thrown her off her rocker.
It is really durable and seems like a fun toy though!
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And that's why it's the most durable toy! This one should last forever!:rofl:
Exactly! We tried again this am and nope she’s not having it haha oh my Pepper 🤦‍♀️

I even had it in my lap and she kept peeking around the corner of the wall, then would scurry by me and behind me 😂 avoiding the darn ball
 
Exactly! We tried again this am and nope she’s not having it haha oh my Pepper 🤦‍♀️

I even had it in my lap and she kept peeking around the corner of the wall, then would scurry by me and behind me 😂 avoiding the darn ball
🤣 I need to check that out. Where did you get it?
 
20250531_074610.webp I've had this Jolly ball since Buddy was here. Later, I had it out one time and noticed that Kali was just sitting there chewing on the handle. I'm like, oh gosh, no no no, you cannot be ingesting all that plastic. So I put it away and forgot all about it. One day I took it out for Annie and she loves it! I haven't noticed her chewing on it. Rather she picks it up by the handle and swings it around! I don't even know how she does that! It's kind of heavy. And of course she has to come over by us and bang us in the legs and tease us to grab it and throw it. We keep it out on the back deck as an outside toy. Whenever we're sitting out there that's the first thing she grabs. Sometimes she grabs her mouth around the ball part! I think sometimes they just like that gnawing action. And sometimes she does the funniest thing. She bumps it with her nose. I've seen her do that with smaller balls too. I love it, it's so funny!
 
I went to refund it and Amazon said keep it and still did refund me the money.

That's cool! I've seen that happen before. My friend even had a dress that she wanted to return and they said keep it and they refunded her. I've always found Amazon to be very good in that respect.
 

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