Hard Rubber Dog Toys: Indestructible and Not So Much

Rubber dog toys are a wonderful alternative to their plush counterparts. If you have a dog who loves his toys, but who can't resist ripping them to shreds, rubber dog toys can stop him in his tracks. Keep in mind that I am not referring to the thin, hollow rubber doggie newspaper squeaky toys. I am talking about the Goliath of rubber dog toys. I am referring to the solid rubber dog toys that seem to weigh about 5 pounds each. Toss one of these puppies to your puppy and he will be busy chewing for weeks.

Hard rubber dog toys are almost indestructible. They are very difficult for most dogs to chew through, although some large dogs seem to have little trouble. These wonder toys are also very good for a dog's teeth. Some of the toys have nodules on them that help to clean the teeth and gums. The act of chewing on these toys will strengthen a dog's teeth and jaw, too. Rubber dog toys are also effective in curbing a dog's chewing habits. I suppose this is because he is spending so much time trying to chew up the toy that he gives up chewing on your shoes.

Hard rubber dog toys can be pricey. You can find a small, hard rubber ball or bone for about $6. Larger toys, such as tires and flying rubber discs can set you back more than $20 apiece. There are more unusual toys this price range as well. I have run across rubber dog toys that look like people food, large pacifiers, and even long, human tongue shaped toys. I think these are more fun for the human owners than for the dogs, however.

While hard rubber dog toys might not be so easy for a dog to destroy, playing with them may prove to be somewhat destructible. As I said earlier, these toys seem to weigh about five pounds. They might not actually be that heavy, but they are certainly heavy enough to break a window or go through the television screen if thrown hard enough. If your dog likes to play catch, throw with caution, away from breakables. I would also warn you against throwing the hard rubber dog toys that are almost shaped like a ball. These are the round toys that look like a ball of ropes, or a ball with nodules on it. Throwing these 'balls' may seem harmless if you are careful to toss them low to the ground, right? Wrong! These balls bounce in the most awkward of directions - and always right toward that antique lamp or grandmother's head. Ouch!

If you have a new puppy who is teething, or an old dog who still likes to chew, hard rubber dog toys can be a real money saver for you. Not only will you need to buy less dog toys, but also replace fewer pairs of shoes.