These are a Few of our Favorite Things: Nylabones

Chewing is a natural instinct for dogs. It is something they do as puppies when they are first exploring and learning about the world around them, teething and then throughout adolescence and adulthood as well. Not only is chewing an appropriate way to release energy, it’s healthy for a dog’s teeth and gums. Of course we don’t want them chewing on our furniture, shoes, or fingers, so it is our job as pet parents to provide items they are permitted to chew on.

I was very lucky that neither of my boys chewed on too many things they weren’t supposed to. We had a few injuries and a casualty here and there with objects that were not even supposed to go in their mouths, but for the most part they’ve stuck with their own teethers and toys. When Ares was a puppy I bought all different kinds of things for him to chew on. I tried all the different brands and styles and shapes, but it was really when Chaos came along that chew toys became a big deal.

 

Chaos is labeled as a powerful chewer. There is this crazy rumor out there that a Pit Bull’s jaw can lock when they bite down. This isn’t true but they do have a strong bite force. Basically for us this just meant that toys Ares had for the 4 months prior to Chaos’s arrival were destroyed in minutes. And those minutes became seconds as he got bigger and stronger.

If you have a dog you probably are well aware that quality chew toys do not come cheap. Teethers that had gotten Ares through his teething stage were snapped in half after spending a few moments in Chaos’s mouth. It can get really expensive to replace teethers and toys all the time so I started looking for only ones specifically made for strong chewers. That’s how we ended up with Nylabones.

Nylabone is actually a company that encompasses several brands and sells all kinds of toys and teethers for every type of dog. The products take into account age, size and chewing level. They come in all different shapes, sizes and colors and some are even flavored or completely edible. Most of their bones have nubs on them which helps soothe teething gums or acts as a plaque and tartar removing tool from the dog’s teeth. Dogs can easily get gum disease if their mouths are not well taken care of so it’s actually important for them to use these teethers to scrape their teeth daily.

We have had several different Nylabone styles in our place over the past 2 years. One of Ares’s very first teethers was a tiny red Nylabone. It was quickly destroyed when Chaos was teething but we would have had to get rid of it anyway because it would eventually have been too small and a choking hazard as the boys grew. I want to be clear that just because Nylabone labels their products as made for powerful chewers, doesn’t mean they are indestructible. We have had several that Chaos has managed to snap in 2 quite easily, but they are above and beyond stronger than the other brands we have tried.

Both boys do spend some time chewing throughout the day, but since they are out of the puppy stage where chewing is more prevalent, the toys last a lot longer. We currently have several different chews in different shapes and colors. They are clearly meant for a larger sized dog but Ares can still chew them so we always go bigger rather than smaller. We did buy Ares a Stegasaurus shaped white Nylabone maybe a month or so ago but it was pretty small and just couldn’t hold up as long since Ares shared with his larger jawed brother.

At any point you can probably find one of these bones laying on the living room floor. Sometimes the boys may take them into their crates but usually they like to chew on one of their dog beds. Chewing is great because it keeps them occupied and their mouths healthy, but it can get a little loud if you are trying to watch TV and it really hurts if you step on one of those suckers with bare feet or just socks on. You would think I’d learn to watch out for them when I’m turning off all the lights at night but they still get me from time to time. And if you know me you know I’m less than graceful so sometimes I not only step on them, but also might trip over them and fall, or at least look really ridiculous trying not to fall.

I wouldn’t endorse a product I am not fully behind or that our dogs don’t personally use. I recommend Nylabones to all my friends and anyone I know getting a new puppy or adding a dog to their family. My boys love their Nylabones, even though sometimes they love them a little too hard. But it’s okay because these are toys I am okay with replacing as they have proven to be high quality.