Buying guide for best Nylabone dog toys
Nylabone dog toys are among the most popular dog toys on the market. The brand is known for its tough chew toys that help dogs safely fulfill their natural urge to chew, but the company also makes other toys that are designed for playing.
There are a few things to consider when picking out a Nylabone for your dog. You should first decide what type of toy you want: a chew toy or a play toy for fetch, tug, or other games. For your dog's safety, it's also vital that you choose the right size Nylabone according to your pet’s size and weight. Also give some consideration to chew strength. Is your dog teething or prone to chewing up your shoes? Other factors, such as the shape and flavor of the chew toy, are less important but will still impact your decision.
How to buy the best Nylabone dog toy
What are Nylabone dog toys?
Nylabone is known for its chew toys, and these are the most common types of toys that the company produces. As the name suggests, Nylabones are made of a type of nylon that's too tough for dogs to bite through but can be safely and gradually worn down through gnawing. The toys come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, so you can find one to suit almost any dog.
Nylabone also makes a range of play toys that are designed for dogs to play with rather than chew. These include balls and discs for fetching, floating toys for retrieving in water, and tug toys for you and your dog to play tug-of-war or two dogs to play together. While these are durable compared to other similar toys, they aren't tough enough for chewing.
Shapes of Nylabone dog toys
Originally, all Nylabone chew toys were in the shape of a bone, hence the "bone" in Nylabone. Today, they're still available in a range of bone shapes, but they also come in other shapes, such as circles, sticks, antlers, and S-shapes. The shape doesn't make a huge difference, but some dogs have a distinct preference for one shape over another. If you already know what shapes of chew toys your dog prefers, it will be easier to pick a Nylabone. Otherwise, you might want to try a few different shapes to find your dog's favorite.
Size
Choosing the right size Nylabone dog toy for your dog is very important, especially in the case of chew toys. If the toy is too small for your pet, it poses a potential choking hazard. A too-large toy, while not dangerous, will be difficult for your dog to carry around and chew on.
Nylabone offers a chart to which you can refer to find the correct size Nylabone based on your canine companion’s weight:
- XX-small or Tiny toys: up to 8 pounds
- X-small or Petite toys: up to 15 pounds
- Small or Regular toys: up to 25 pounds
- Medium or Wolf toys: up to 35 pounds
- Large or Giant toys: up to 50 pounds
- X-large or Souper toys: over 50 pounds
- XX-large or Monster toys: over 50 pounds, particularly extra-large breeds and heavy chewers
Match your dog’s chewing style
All Nylabone chew toys have a chewing guide on the package to help you find the appropriate option for your dog. In addition to choosing the right size, this will make sure the Nylabone you select is suitable for your canine companion.
Puppy chew toys are for teething puppies.
Flexi chew toys are for moderate chewers, which means they're suitable for gentle chewers and senior dogs that prefer toys with some give to them.
Tough chew toys are suitable for strong chewers. These can withstand some damage but won't stand up to the most aggressive chewers.
Power chew toys are at the extreme end of the chewing range. These toys are suitable for determined chewers who tear other toys to pieces.
Store your Nylabone dog toys out of reach and only give one to your pet at set times. That way, the toy will be more novel and interesting at playtime.
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What features should I look for in a Nylabone dog toy?
Flavors
All Nylabone chew toys have a flavor infused into the toy to help encourage dogs to chew the toy and not other tempting items like shoes. Dogs who love Nylabones might not need much encouragement, but if you're trying to redirect your dog to chew appropriate toys rather than shoes or furniture, the flavoring can help. Common flavors include bacon, chicken, peanut butter, and cheese.
Textures
While some Nylabones are smooth, others have a textured surface. The texture massages the gums as your dog chews, which is beneficial for dental health. Some dogs also find textured Nylabone dog toys easier to grip and prefer the tactile experience of chewing one over that of chewing a smooth Nylabone. It's worth trying both options to see which your canine companion prefers.
Puppy chew toys
Standard Nylabone dog toys are meant for adult dogs, but you can also find Nylabones suitable for puppies. These are specifically labeled as puppy chews and are softer than regular Nylabones but still tough enough to stand up to sharp little teeth. Providing your puppy with appropriate Nylabone chew toys can help ease the discomfort of teething and make your puppy less likely to chew items it shouldn't.
DID YOU KNOW?
Nylabone chew toys can occasionally develop sharp edges where they've been chewed, which can irritate your dog's gums. If this happens, simply smooth the edges with sandpaper.
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What do Nylabone dog toys cost?
Inexpensive
There isn’t a big price range when it comes to Nylabone dog toys. The most affordable options cost roughly $5 to $10. These are mostly single toys in smaller sizes.
Mid-range
These Nylabone dog toys cost $10 to $15 and include a bigger range of sizes, shapes, flavors, and textures.
Expensive
The priciest Nylabone dog toys cost $15 to $20 and include extra-large, extra-tough options, such as those in the Nylabone Big category.
Don't be alarmed if tiny shavings smaller than a grain of rice come off the toy while your dog chews. This is normal. The pieces are so small that your dog can safely ingest them.
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Tips
- Don’t leave your dog alone with access to chew toys. While Nylabone dog toys are generally safe and too tough for dogs to tear apart, no dog toy is 100% safe. Accidents can and do happen.
- Buy a variety of chew toys. Consider buying Nylabone dog toys in a range of shapes and textures and alternate them to keep your dog interested.
- Don’t let your dog chew on play toys. Most Nylabone play toys are relatively tough, but they aren't designed for chewing. Stick to playing with the play toys and get a separate Nylabone dog toy for your pet to chew on.
- Direct your dog’s chewing to Nylabones. If your dog chews something it shouldn't, like a shoe or furniture, you can use a chew toy to redirect it so it can satisfy its natural desire to chew without damaging your belongings or ingesting something unsafe.
FAQ
Q. Are Nylabones safe for strong chewers?
A. Nylabones are safe for strong chewers as long as you choose a toy of the correct size and chew strength for your dog’s size and weight. If your dog is on the cusp between two weight classes, size up to the larger toy to make sure it's big enough to withstand your pet’s powerful chewing. Watch your dog closely the first few times it plays with its new Nylabone to make sure the toy is sufficiently strong and your dog isn't able to tear it apart.
Q. Do Nylabones clean teeth?
A. To some degree, all Nylabone chew toys can help to keep your dog's teeth clean. As your dog chews, the ends of the bone become rough and textured, and chewing this textured surface can dislodge plaque from your dog's teeth before it hardens into tartar. You can also find some Nylabone dental chew toys that are specifically designed to clean dogs' teeth.
Q. When should I throw away a Nylabone dog toy?
A. If your dog has a bone-shaped Nylabone, a good sign that it's time to throw it away is when the knuckle ends are completely worn down. At this point, the bone may have worn down by an inch or two on each end. For other shapes of Nylabone, replace the toy once it’s become too small to chew safely.
