The best indestructible dog toys in NZ — tested with heavy-chewing dogs. Find out what actually survives and where to buy across New Zealand right now.
Last updated
By Jess Aldridge 
For most heavy chewers: KONG Extreme (black) — the original and still the standard. Fill it with food to extend interest and give your dog something to work on beyond just gnawing. For even tougher chewers: Benebone Wishbone Bacon Flavour or Nylabone DuraChew Power. On a budget: Mammoth Flossy Chews Rope Bone (supervised use only).
What survives depends on your dog’s destruction style and jaw strength. Staffies and German Shepherds tend toward aggressive destruction. French Bulldogs have powerful jaws despite their size. Labradors and Golden Retrievers are typically gentler but more persistent. Border Collies often destroy toys from boredom rather than pure chewing drive — different problem, different solution.
No dog toy is literally indestructible. Dogs that can crunch through marrow bones will eventually destroy anything. “Indestructible” really means “takes a heavy chewer weeks or months to show significant wear instead of hours.”
The goal isn’t a toy that lasts forever. It’s one that lasts long enough to be worth the money and doesn’t create dangerous fragments when it does wear out.
Heavy chewers cost their owners a fortune in destroyed toys. A $30 toy that lasts three months is much cheaper than $5 toys that last three days. That maths alone makes the upgrade worth it.
Dense rubber compounds that resist tearing. KONG is the most famous but not the only option. Most can be stuffed with food for extra engagement.
Pros: Dishwasher safe, can be stuffed, relatively safe when worn Cons: Limited shapes, some dogs lose interest quickly
Hard plastic or nylon designed for powerful jaws. Often flavoured to maintain interest. Designed to wear down very slowly.
Pros: Very durable, often flavoured, relatively cheap Cons: Can be too hard (tooth damage risk), become sharp when worn, not all dogs like the texture
Antlers, bones, and other natural products. Extremely hard and entirely natural.
Pros: Natural, dogs usually love them, long-lasting Cons: Can break teeth, create sharp fragments, expensive, can smell
Even “tough” versions are usually the first to go, but some heavy-duty options exist for less aggressive chewers.
Pros: Cheap, dogs love them, good for tug games Cons: Create string fragments when destroyed, usually don’t last long
Price: $20–35 depending on size Available: Animates, Pet Direct, The Warehouse, Mighty Ape
The gold standard for a reason. The black “Extreme” version uses their hardest rubber compound and can handle most heavy chewers for months. The hollow centre means you can stuff it with food, treats, or peanut butter — which turns a chew toy into a puzzle that keeps dogs occupied much longer.
I’ve seen Māui work on a frozen, peanut butter–stuffed KONG for a solid 45 minutes. That’s a lot of quiet time from a staffy.
Size up if your dog is a particularly aggressive chewer. A 20kg Staffie might need the large because of jaw strength alone.
Best for: Most heavy chewers, food-motivated dogs, dogs that need mental stimulation
Price: $25–40 Available: Pet stores, Mighty Ape, direct order
Made from tough nylon with real bacon flavour throughout — not just surface flavouring. The wishbone shape gives dogs multiple chewing angles, which they seem to appreciate.
Takes even aggressive chewers weeks to months to show serious wear. Replace when you can see significant gouges or if pieces start flaking off.
The bacon flavouring genuinely matters. Dogs that ignore unflavoured nylon chews will work on these for hours. Māui’s not interested in plain nylon — put bacon in the equation and suddenly he’s committed.
Best for: Dogs that destroy KONG toys, Staffies, confirmed toy destroyers
Price: $15–25 Available: Animates, Pet Direct, most pet stores
Cheaper than Benebone but still tough enough for most heavy chewers. Multiple flavours available. The “Power” version is specifically for strong chewers.
Not quite as durable as Benebone but costs half as much. Good for trying out whether your dog likes nylon chews before investing in premium options.
Replace when you see sharp points or small pieces starting to chip off.
Best for: Budget-conscious owners, trying out nylon chews, medium-strength chewers
Price: $20–45 depending on size Available: Specialty pet stores, hunting supply stores, online
Natural deer antlers split in half to expose the softer marrow inside. Extremely long-lasting and most dogs love them. No artificial flavouring needed.
Important: Only buy split antlers, never whole ones. Whole antlers are too hard and can break teeth. Even split antlers should be supervised.
Size matters — too small and they become choking hazards. Should be large enough that your dog can’t swallow the whole thing.
Best for: Dogs that love natural chews, owners wanting chemical-free options
Price: $15–25 Available: Most pet stores, The Warehouse
Not truly “indestructible” but the toughest rope toy I’ve tested. Triple-twisted cotton rope in a bone shape. Good for interactive play and light chewing.
Only for supervised use. Heavy chewers will eventually create string fragments that can be dangerous if swallowed.
Wash regularly — rope toys get disgusting quickly.
Best for: Supervised play sessions, tug-of-war games, dogs that aren’t heavy chewers
Price: $30–40 Available: Animates, Pet Direct, specialty stores
Technically a food dispensing toy rather than a chew toy, but made from KONG’s tough plastic. Fill it with kibble or treats and the dog has to knock it around to get food out.
Brilliant for smart, destructive dogs. They’re too busy figuring out how to get food rather than just chewing. Border Collies especially — give them a problem to solve and they stop eating your skirting boards.
Best for: Smart dogs that destroy things out of boredom, food-motivated dogs
Regular tennis balls are a disaster for heavy chewers. The fuzzy surface comes off in chunks that can cause blockages, and determined dogs can puncture the rubber underneath.
“Heavy duty” tennis balls are usually just regular tennis balls with better marketing. Save tennis balls for fetch with dogs that don’t destroy them.
Exception: KONG AirDog Squeakair balls use their tough rubber with a tennis ball texture. Much safer but cost more.
I work with several confirmed toy destroyers in Auckland and Wellington — dogs that regularly destroy “indestructible” toys within hours. Each toy gets tested with at least three different dogs over 2–4 weeks.
The test panel:
What I’m looking for:
Only toys that pass all criteria across multiple dogs make the list.
Small (under 15kg): Jack Russells, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, most Terriers. Small dogs risk choking more easily — always supervise.
Medium (15–25kg): Border Collies, Cocker Spaniels, French Bulldogs. Many medium breeds have disproportionate jaw strength — don’t assume medium size means medium chewing power.
Large (25–40kg): Labradors, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Staffies. Staffies often need large-size toys despite medium weight because of jaw strength.
Giant (over 40kg): Great Danes, Mastiffs, large mixed breeds.
Always size up if in doubt. A toy that’s too small becomes a choking hazard. A toy that’s too big is just a toy that’s harder to carry.
KONG toys vary wildly in price between retailers. Worth shopping around, especially for larger sizes.
Supervise new toys for the first few sessions to see how your dog attacks them. Every dog has their own destruction style.
Check regularly for sharp edges, loose pieces, or significant wear. Weekly for power chewers, monthly for gentler dogs.
Remove immediately if pieces start coming off or sharp points develop.
Size appropriately — too small is a choking hazard, especially for brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldogs with compromised airways.
Don’t trust marketing. “Indestructible” is a relative term. Even the toughest toys will eventually wear out.
Watch for obsessive chewing that might indicate boredom, anxiety, or dental problems. If your dog can’t stop chewing, talk to your vet — there might be something else going on.
KONG toys can often be recycled with hard plastics.
Natural chews can go in compost or green waste.
Rope toys usually have to go in general waste unless you can separate all the synthetic fibres.
Some vet clinics collect destroyed toys for recycling programs, but this varies by location.
Heavy chewers are an ongoing expense. A $30 toy that lasts two months is cheaper than replacing the couch cushion they went through instead. Think of tough toys as a running cost, not a one-time purchase.
Puppies often grow out of destructive chewing as they mature. Working breeds and terrier types? Less likely. Māui is six and still a confirmed toy destroyer. I’ve just accepted the budget line.
The most effective thing I’ve found is combining tough toys with enough exercise and mental stimulation. A tired dog destroys fewer things than a bored one. Puzzle feeders like the KONG Wobbler help too — mealtime becomes brain time.
KONG Extreme works for most heavy chewers. Benebone Wishbone for the real destroyers. Split antlers for dogs that prefer natural options. Start with one or two types, see what your dog actually likes, then stock up.
Having 2–3 durable toys in rotation works better than buying many cheap ones. Your dog gets variety, your wallet gets a break, and you’re not fishing string fragments out of anyone’s mouth at 10pm.
That’s the goal, really. Not a toy that lasts forever — just one that keeps your dog happy without keeping you awake at night.
No toy is completely indestructible, but the best ones use hard rubber compounds, dense nylon, or antlers that take months of heavy chewing to show wear. Look for toys specifically marketed to "extreme chewers" or "power chewers."
Generally no. Even "tough" rope toys can be shredded into string fragments that dogs might swallow. Save rope toys for supervised play or dogs that don't destroy everything.
If they demolish regular toys within hours or days, destroy tennis balls in one session, or have ever chewed through something they shouldn't (shoes, furniture), they're probably a heavy chewer.
Yes, especially if pieces are coming off or sharp edges appear. Even "indestructible" toys should be replaced once they show significant damage to prevent choking or internal injuries.
Natural antlers can be very hard and may chip or break teeth, especially for aggressive chewers. Split antlers are generally safer than whole ones, but supervise use and remove if pieces start breaking off.
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