Owning a large dog presents a few unique challenges. One must have enough space for the dog to roam, enough money to keep up with their often enormous appetite, and enough energy to keep up with an animal that tends to play a bit rough. A side effect of this rough play is often a great deal of wear and tear on dog toys. While it is always possible to replace such inexpensive items, many dog owners would rather invest in a few toys that will stand the test of time. To do so, it is wise to purchase a few tough dog toys. Figuring out which toys are tough, though, may be a bit of a process in and of itself.
The most common tough dog toys are made of a rather thick rubber, which is easy on the animal's teeth while remaining quite resilient. These products are most commonly sold under the "Kong" brand name, though there are a number of similar products on the market. The products are wonderful for larger animals, as they are difficult for even the most aggressive dog to destroy. Be wary of similar products that are made of a thinner material; rubber is relatively easy for a large animal to destroy, and thin rubber can easily splinter.
Along with heavy rubber toys, it may be wise to purchase toys that are "stuffing free". While it is still possible for a large dog to destroy the toy, most of the impetus is lost as soon as the dog learns that the toy has nothing inside. There are a number of manufacturers that have begun to sell stuffing or fluff-free toys, and the items are often easily identifiable as flattened stuffed animals. These items make wonderful additions to a dog's toy chest, as they reduce mess while allowing your dog to play with a softer toy.
Tough toys may be heavily constructed or merely mess free, but every well constructed item can help to reduce the amount of mess created by a large dog. As a rule, it is generally wise to test out the toys while in a pet goods shop; if it seems like the toy can be easily destroyed, the toy is likely of a low quality. While these items may cost a bit more than the cheap, easily destroyed toys that most pet owners purchase, the long term savings simply cannot be overstated.
