When it comes to picking out dog toys, few can rival the classic dog chew toy. Chewy dog toys are very popular throughout the doggy community because they are able to occupy a dog’s time and energy much longer than traditional toys. The reason for this is because unlike toys that involve running or physical activity, dog chew toys can be played with anywhere at any time.

A dog loves being able to pick up their favorite chew toy to take with them to their dog bed or favorite spot. They like the size of chewy toys, which are usually much smaller than other dog toys and they like feeling like they are animals in the wild gnawing on their catch.

Here are three of the most popular kinds of dog chew toys:

Beafeaters

Beafeaters are rubber dog toys that look like meat such as steak, hot dog and pork chops. The Beafeaters rubber toys don’t necessarily have the taste or smell of meat, but they most certainly have the texture. Dogs love to dig their teeth into the thick rubber and pull it around as if they are actually eating something. This chewing experience appeals to their canine predator instincts as well as their enthusiasm to play.

Rubber bones

Rubber bone dog toys are classics and since they are shaped to be like standard dog bones they are the perfect size to fit into your pup’s mouth. The “bone” is slim enough to be comfortable in their mouth yet long enough for your pooch to feel as if he is holding onto an article with some “meat” to it.

Soft tennis balls

Dog tennis balls are probably the most popular chew toy for a dog and are a classic dog toy. Whether it is hard or soft a plain old tennis ball is loved by dogs the world over as a recreational play toy as well as a soft chewy toy they can gnaw on to their heart’s content. If you are looking for something a little softer than a tennis ball try a soft rubber ball that can be found at your local pet store.

Also, be on the lookout for chewy toys that squeak when squeezed. Squeaky dog toys are very popular because of the responsiveness of biting into a chewy toy and hearing it react, as if the chew toy is a friend or animal prey caught by the dog. Just remember that if you regularly work in the same room as your canine friend, you might want to remove the squeaker from the toy so that you can concentrate on the tasks at hand.

Dogs also tend to like plush dog toys like teddy bear dog toys. The plushness is soft and easy to hold onto which is an important consideration for puppies and older dogs. What’s more, your dog will take pleasure in being able to cradle the plush toy in his dog bed without feeling the discomfort of a hard object.

Be aware that most plush toys you buy in the toy section of a store are not necessarily dog friendly and can have small parts that can come off easily in your dog’s mouth. Also, these toys are not made to withstand the constant chewing and exposure to dog saliva and will fall apart rather quickly. It is not unusual for some dogs to totally destroy a toy like this in an hour or two. When this happens it makes sense to learn how to make your own dog toys you will be amazed at how easy it is.