Training : Puppy Manners : Chew Toy Options

Bully Stix: One of the few edible chews that will keep a Leo pup occupied for more than five minutes! These come in different lengths - I recommend getting the longest ones you can find.

Gummabones, Nylabones, and Galileo Bones: These bones last longer than any other on the market, and they're available in a large variety of sizes and shapes. They are not actually made of bone, therefore they cannot splinter, nor can your dog break off a piece that is too large to swallow and choke on it. All in all, they offer solutions for gnawers who need chewing satisfaction! If your dog looses interest it's possible the flavor has grown weak. Try soaking these bones in chicken or beef broth to make them tasty again.

Rope Toys: All my puppies have lost their puppy teeth chewing away on their rope toys. I also teach them to play "Tug of War" with rules, of course, and the rope toys are great fun for this. Once these start getting ratty around the edges, be sure to throw them away. Soaking these in water and freezing them is very helpful for puppy teething gums.

Havaball: This durable rubber hollow toy holds your dog's favorite treats that are easily released when bounced around. It's also got ridges so your dog can carry it in his/her mouth. They're fun to play fetch with and they're even dishwasher safe!

Kongs: This snowman-shaped, hollow, rubber toy is great to stuff with all sorts of yummy treats! Many dogs are highly entertained just tossing it around. These toys are fun to play fetch with, as their bounce is as unpredictable as a live animal. We recommend the black ones for Leonbergers.

Buster Cube: Filled with kibble and small crunchy treats, these fun-filled, mental stimulating toys can keep your dog occupied for a long time! The amount of treats dispersed is adjustable. Start out easy and as your dog gets more skilled, raise the difficulty level.

Large Raw Knuckle/Femur Beef Bones: You can ask your butcher to cut these into 1' lengths and give them, one at a time, to your dogs outdoors. These can get messy, so if you're going to give them indoors, I recommend having your pup be on a tarp or large rug. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don't chew off any large chunks.

Plush Squeaky Toys: These need to given under supervision, because Leos are notorious for de-squeaking these toys. They can get to the plastic squeaker inside within minutes, so keep a close eye on your pup. I leave the plush toys available to the dogs, once they've removed the squeakers.

Compressed Rawhide: It's just what it sounds like: rawhide that has been compressed, molded and shaped into fun chew toys. It is much more difficult to gnaw off a large piece of this than a regular rawhide. Supervision is suggested, particularly with aggressive chewers.