The ever-popular Golden Retriever was first bred back in 1835 for the purpose of retrieving a number of different fallen birds for hunters, which is part of how they got their name. The other part is, of course, based upon their beautiful golden coats. One ancient myth also said that Goldens came from a Russian Sheepdog in the circus that accidentally produced the first Golden.
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Official AKC Breed
By the 1920s, Golden retrievers had become an official AKC breed and they also became known as the All-American Dog. Through the years, they’ve been consistently ranked as a member of the top five most popular breeds in the US and here are a few reasons why:
~ Always reliable and trustworthy
~ Beautiful temperaments
~ Excellent search and rescue dogs
~ Gentle with kids
~ Easy to teach
~ Hard workers
~ Playful nature
~ Well-suited as assistance dogs
Destructive Chewers
And, when it comes to their toys, Goldens love carrying their toys around. Some can be destructive chewers and really hard on their chew toys, while others wouldn’t dream of hurting theirs. I have a Lab/Golden mix and she has never chewed up a single one of her toys, which ended up leading to an over-abundance of toys in her toybox. She’ll carry them around a bit but mostly just loves laying her head on them and taking a nap.
Our recommendations for the 20 Best Dog Chew Toys for Golden Retrievers in 2020:
Brand- Kong Stuffies
KONG Comfort Kiddos are perfect for both doggie cuddle time and playtime. They feature low tone squeaker for piquing your dog’s curiosity. Removing it is easy for naptime and putting it back in is just as easy when it’s time to play. They’re all adorable critters that are available in different shapes and sizes. They’re also covered by the KONG Satisfaction Guarantee. This company has been around for 40 years now and makes some of the toughest (and cutest) toys for dogs, including:
[1..] KONG – Comfort Kiddos Bear – For Large Dogs
Features:
- Removable squeaker
- Inviting cute & cuddly plush bear
- Playful squeaker for entic\ing your Golden to play
[2.] KONG Cozies Dog Squeaky Toys
These are some of the cutest squeaky toys around and available in a ton of different animal types and colors just made for your Golden to love. They range from pink elephants to blue dogs and everything in-between.
Features: .
- A minimal amount of filling for less mess
- Extra material layer for increased strength
- Not for chew sessions
- Sizes available are small, medium, and XL
[3.] KONG Cross-Knots Monkey Toy
Who wouldn’t love having an adorable blue monkey as a doggy companion? And, this one is the perfect option for Goldens who loves shaking their toys.
Features:
- Internal knotted rope is great for satisfying your dog’s natural instincts
- Durable yet nice and soft
- Minimal stuffing
- Available in two sizes (S/M and M/L)
[4.] KONG Wild Knots Bear Dog Toy
This cutie is available in several colors, from light brown to dark, as well as grey. He’s also available in four sizes. Excellent toy for the price and your tog will love cuddling with him. And, these bears are alos available in a two-pack for a great price, so your Golden can have one for now and one for later!
KONG Wild Knots Bear ( Check Price On Amazon)
Features:
- An internal skeleton made of knotted rope
- Minimal amount of stuffing
- Soft feel and durable construction
- Available in four sizes: XS, S/M, M/L & XL
[5.] KONG Wild Knots Dog Toy- Eagle
This irresistable guy is available in four colors, including pink. (my Lab’s fave color). And, this toy can stand up to most dogs a lot better than others.
Features:
- Reinforced plush body
- Internal knotted rope for satisfying your dog’s natural instincts
- Softness plus durability in one cute toy
- Minimal stuffing for less mess
- Available in S/M and M/L
- Nice and squeaky
Brand – Zippy Paws
Zippy Paws makes a fine line of dog toys for your Golden and they’re highly rated by other pet parents.
[6.] ZippyPaws – Skinny Peltz
These toys from Zippy Paws are perfect for dogs that love to chew up their toys because they’re made with no stuffing. That way, your Golden can enjoy to thrill of playing with a plush squeaky toy without ever making a mess. And, Skinny Peltz are available as a Fox, a Squirrel, and a Raccoon in a three-pack.
Features:
- Unique design for the dog who has everything
- Three lovable woodland creatures
- High-quality squeakers for more sound and doggy entertainment
- As durable as they are cute
- Perfect size at 18 inches long,
[7.] ZippyPaws – Cheeky Chumz
This super soft plush squeaky toy line offers a unique sound feature and is also available as a duck, frog, monkey, and Drake the Dragon.
Features:
- Several fun characters for happy playtime
- Super soft yet durable with an extra layer of fabric that withstands heavy playtimes without hurt your Golden’s teeth
- Perfect size for snuggling
- Unique squeaker for delivering a unique ‘oink’ sound (Pig only)
- Beautiful design
[8.] ZippyPaws – Grunterz Plush Dog Toy
This aquatic themed plush squeaky toy actually grunts for hours of doggy entertainment. Available as Oscar the Octopus (blue), Finn the Fish (blue & yellow), and Alvin the Alligator (green).
Brand- Blueberry Pet
These are great toys for both puppies and grown dogs alike. They’re a bit smaller at six inches long but many Goldens like a smaller toy once in a while, especailly if they’re older.
[9.] Blueberry Pet Gift Toys in Four Patterns
The only problem with these adorable and durable toys is trying to choose between the adorable characters, so I bought all four.
Features:
- Six inches tall
- Available as a pink pig, brown dog, grey bunny rabbit, and brown bear
- Made of only premium plush material, combining softness with durability
- Has two squeakers for promoting interactive fun
- Machine-washable on gentle in cold water
[10.]Blueberry Pet Bon Voyage Toys
These creative aquatic-themed toys are available in a pack of two, including a manta ray and jellyfish, sea star and crab, seahorse and turtle, sea star and whale. They also sell some adorable personalized collarsm too.
Fishy Features:
- Example- The jellyfish is 12.6″ tall and the manta ray is 13.4″ tall
- Soft microfiber and cotton used for extra durability
- Excellent for interactive toss & fetch games
- Machine-washable (gentle) and tumble dry.
Brand- Outward Hound
When it comes to plush interactive puzzle pet toys, nobody makes them like Outward Hound. They’re so cute and so clever!
[11.] Outward Hound- Hide & Seek Activity Toy
The Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Plush Puzzle Dog Toy is probably the best known of this line. However, this intriguing toy is also available with birds, a rainbow, Doug the Pug Pizza, hedgehog, bees, gingerbread house, and aqueaky eggs.
Features:
- Available in small, medium, large, and extra large
- Stimulating mental play
- Eliminates boredom
- Keeps your dog busy
Brand- Hartz
As one of the top names in the pet world, Hartz also produces seom durable toys for your Golden. Fuzzy squeaky toys are so cute but sometimes your Golden just wants to have a ball!
[12.] Hartz Dura Play Ball (Large)
This large toy for dogs is available in assorted colors and singularly or in a four-pack.
Features:
– Bacon Scented
– Made for dogs weighing 50 lbs or more
– Long lasting fun
– Unique foam technology for enhanced durability
– Unmatched chewing experience
– Soft and flexible
– Perfect for Goldens of all ages, including teething puppies and seniors
[13.] Hartz
As one of the top names in the pet world, Hartz also produces some durable toys for your Golden. Fuzzy squeaky toys are so cute but sometimes your Golden just wants to have a ball!
Hartz Dura Play Ball (Large)
This large toy for dogs is available in assorted colors and singularly or in a four-pack.
Features:
– Bacon Scented
– Made for dogs 50 lbs or more
– Long lasting fun
– Unique foam technology for enhanced durability
– Unmatched chewing experience
– Soft and flexible
– Perfect for Goldens of all ages, including teething puppies and seniors
Brand-Huggle Hounds for Aggressive Chewers
This line of durable plush corduroy knottie squeaky dog toys is available in more characters than you can even count.
[14.] HuggleHounds With Tuffut Technology
From an anteater to a pink bunny, black & white cow, multi-colored ducky, pink flamingo, green frog, a grey monkey with red hearts or pink monkey with a heart (to help your Golden celebrate Valentine’s Day), blue llama, Lulu the Mutt, rainbow elephant, red moose, and so many more varieties, including raccoons, cats, and even a unicorn, a sloth, plus an adorable monkey in a nautical shirt, they’re all ready for you to take them home! Available in small and large sizes.
- Tuffut Technology lining provides extra durability
- Special knotted limbs are great for both large dogs and puppies
- Each toy offers multiple squeakers for keeping your Golden entertained for hours
- Plush, durable, and tough
[15.] HuggleMutts Durable Knottie Dog Toys
This toy from HuggleHound is available in two sizes. Bruiser is the large version and Tiny is the small version. One of the nice touches include some great embroidery, like for the eyes instead of eyes that your Golden could chew off and swallow. And, they’re also hand-stitched with a heart that signifies that it’s a genuine HuggleHound product.
Features:
- Extra durable Tuffut Technology
- Knotted limbs
- Great for large and small dogs with two sizes available
- Multiple squeakers
- Plush, durable, and tough
Brand- Hollypet
[16.] Hollypet Squeaky Plush Chew Toy for Dogs
There aren’t a lot of armadillo dog toys around and this ten inch one will make you and your Golden smile.
Features:
- Colorful, durable, and long-lasting
- Squeaky and plush-filled, using durable premium material
- Keeps your pup busy, while also reducing anxiety
- Ideal for enjoying indoors or out
[17.] Hollypet Squeaky Crocodile Pet Plush Dog Chew Toy
This plush dog chew toy is not just squeaky but cute to boot!
Features:
- Size is 12 inches
- Colorful, durable, and lasting
- Unique squeaker/sounder
- Suitable for most dogs, regardless of size or breed.
Brand- ZippyPaws
You and your Golden are sure to love the amazing attention to details in this brand.
[18.] ZippyPaws – Interactive Plush Dog Toy – Unicorns in Rainbow
This squeaky hide & seek toy is called a Zippy Burrow because the unicorns burrow into the rainbow.
Features:
- Hours of fun come with the three cute unicorns and their rainbow home
- Each little unicorn has a high-quality squeaker
- Challenges your Golden with getting the unicorns out of the rainbow,
- Perfect size
- Beautifully-designed
[19.] ZippyPaws Interactive Plush Dog Toy
This ZippyPaws line of toys is called Food Buddies Burrow and they’re fun squeaky toys for dogs who like to play Hide and Seek. They’re available in your choice of yummy foods, including blueberry pancakes, popcorn, bucket of chicken, coffee and donutz, milk and cookies, and strawberry waffles.
Features:
- Hours of fun
- Each one has a high-quality squeaker
- Challenges your Golden because it’s a pet puzzle
- Perfect size
- Beautifully-designed and so-o-o-o cute!
Benefits of Chewing for Doggy Mouth Health
The act of chewing helps keep your Golden’s teeth and gums healthy. It helps even more by smoothing his or her teeth and scraping away the tartar. In addition, it helps promote antibacterial saliva for cleansing your pup’s mouth, and you might even start noticing improvements in dog breath.
How Chew Toys Help Avoid Boredom and Destructive Chewing
According to the ASPCA, doggy chew toys can combat boredom while also relieving frustration and mild anxiety. You want to make it easy for your Golden to succeed at not chewing on things that he or she shouldn’t. Providing plenty of toys can be an invaluable tool in your arsenal, leading to success.
Dog Toy Safety
According to the Humane Society, dog toy safety involves making sure that you’re buying toys that are the appropriate size for your pup. If they’re too small, they could be easily swallowed or even lodged in his or her throat. It would be best if you always supervised your dog when playing with squeaky toys. Why? Well, because he or she might feel that it’s necessary to go on a search and destroy mission with the target being the squeaker inside the toy. This could lead to ingesting it if your best friend is left unwatched.
Choosing Durable Toys and Cost
Let’s face it, cheaply made and price toys don’t cut it with Goldens. They need well-made toys, which may mean spending a little bit more but it’s well worth the extra cost. Despite the consistent media comments regarding how much we’re pampering our pets, the fact is that toys aren’t just a luxury. Experts are always saying that our pets really need them. So, spend a little more and get a better toy to keep your Golden happy and healthy.
Toys to Avoid
Some of the familiar hazards that can result from a poor choice of dog toys are stomach obstructions and choking. So, some types of toys should be avoided, especially if your Golden likes to chew them up. Stuffed Toys can result in tearing them apart and then choking on the stuffing or the squeaker when it falls out. Soft plastic, latex, and vinyl toys are often imported so be sure to avoid cheap imports as they can be tainted with anything from toxic metals like cadmium, chromium, and lead to phthalates and BPA, which are hormone disruptors.