What are the best big, tough toys for my German Shepherd dog?

Some dogs are chewers. It is good that he does not chew inappropriately. As long as he chews just toys, you'll likely need to keep replacing them. You can try rotating toys so that Berlin does not have an opportunity to totally destroy them. As soon as you see some wear, take it away and replace it. Use caution when giving bones as they could fracture a tooth or teeth.

Thank you for your questions about Luke. I agree and would advise against stuffed toys as he will confuse them. Do keep the kids toys put away as he may think they are his anyway!!! Offer him a variety of toys. Nylabone makes a variety of chew toys for dogs. My only warning though is that the hard toys can break dog’s teeth if they are aggressive chewers. Some toys can break apart and you must always be vigilant to remove and replace these toys to prevent him from swallowing pieces as that could lead to intestinal obstruction. Experiment to find his favorite type of toys. Dogs like bully sticks but too much can make some of them sick to their stomachs. Same with something like a greenie. Always monitor him when he is chewing something because dogs can choke on these. I like to stuff a Kong with kibble, seal the opening with peanut butter (xylitol free) and then put it in the freezer for a few hours. I hope this answers your question and please feel free to post any additional questions.

You are correct that antlers and nylon bones will break teeth, but they can also cause obstructions and/or perforations in the GI tract. I recommend a Kong toy. Those are very tough chew toys that are hard to dogs to destroy. You can also fill them with treats. I'd recommend, as an occasional treat, filling it with peanut butter and freezing it overnight in the freezer. That will keep her occupied for a while.

Kong toys with frozen peanut butter or other frozen treats can provide hours of entertainment without the added risk of breaking teeth on hard bones. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Have a few toys at home but only give 1-2 at a time. Change it out every day for a different set to prevent boredom. You can try kongs or the type of toys that are puzzles and release food every time they figure it out. Instead of bones, invest into water buffalo horns or elk antlers, they are much more durable

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You are likely describing teething which is basically a normal type of behavior when puppies are growing up and it is secondary to mouth discomfort as teeth are growing. I recommend that you get Pechi teething type toys which you can get at your local pet store or online. Anytime that she tries to nibble at you, you say no and give her the toy. This is likely going to resolve the issue but it does take time as this is a normal part of their growth. Good luck and have a good night!

Chewing on toys is a great activity for dogs to help them burn off energy, keep them occupied, and help keep them from chewing on other things in the house that are inappropriate for them to chew on. Dogs have individual preferences for the types of toys they chew on, so it may take a bit of experimenting to find out what Abby likes. Rope toys, soft toys and rubber chew toys are all good options. There are even puzzle toys where you can hide food and that will keep your pup busy trying to get the food out. Avoid any toys that are too hard- you should be able to easily dent the surface with a fingernail, as anything harder than that could lead to fracturing of the teeth. Avoid offering bones, antler, and similar objects for this reason. Always supervise play, and if you notice your dog trying to eat any pieces of the toys, take them away, as the pieces could cause a blockage of the intestines that could lead to the need for surgery to remove it.