KONG vs Nylabone (2026): Rubber vs Nylon Chews for Strong Chewers

For a dog that chews hard, pick KONG's natural rubber over Nylabone's hard nylon. The black KONG Extreme is KONG's toughest rubber, and Cornell's veterinary college names Kong toys among good options; Nylabone's Power Chew line is nylon, a material Tufts and VCA's veterinary dentist co-author both put on their avoid lists. Nylabone also makes rubber toys (its Strong Chew line), but it says those are not meant for powerful chewers. This page compares the two brands' materials, size charts and supervision rules, using what each maker publishes and what veterinary schools say about hard chews.

How we chose: we did not test these toys; we compared KONG's and Nylabone's own size charts and use guidelines, and give product cards only to toys sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store on September 28, 2026.

KONG and Nylabone side by side

The Nylabone cards on this page are both rubber:

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

Rubber vs nylon: what the thumbnail test says

Veterinary dentists judge a chew by how hard it is. "Most veterinary dentists go by the 'thumbnail test' for chewing items," says Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center: "you should be able to make a dent in the item with your fingernail." The same page says fractured teeth "are commonly caused by chewing very hard objects" and names "toys from Kong and Goughnuts" as good options.

Tufts' Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine asks three questions in its pet dental myths piece: "Can you bend or flex it? Can you press your thumb nail into it and make a dent? Can you dissolve it in water?" It lists "hard Nylon bones" with bones, antlers, cow hooves and yak chews as things not to buy.

VCA's page on fractured teeth in dogs, co-written by board-certified veterinary dentist Jan Bellows, says to "eliminate any bones, antlers, cow hoofs, nylon chews, and pizzle sticks" and to "throw out chews or toys that do not readily bend."

Nylabone describes its Power Chew line as "durable nylon chew toys" for "extreme chewers," and its Amazon listings call it "our toughest material." That is the line those veterinary sources warn about. Nylabone's Strong Chew toys are different: Nylabone says many are "made of natural rubber" and "still have some flex and give."

KONG: four rubbers, one size chart

KONG makes almost all of its chew toys from natural rubber and changes the formula, not the material, for each kind of dog. Its FAQ explains the colors:

• Puppy (pink or blue): softer rubber for puppies under 9 months, made that way "to avoid puppy teeth falling out prematurely."
• Classic (red): "suggested for average chewers."
• Extreme (black): "the strongest rubber we manufacture," for power chewers.
• Senior (purple): softer again, because "as dogs get older their teeth can also be sensitive."

The KONG Classic page sizes by weight: XS up to 5 lb, Small up to 20 lb, Medium 15 to 35 lb, Large 30 to 65 lb, XL 60 to 90 lb, and XXL 85 lb and up. The KONG Extreme uses the same ranges from Small up, with no XS.

For strong chewers, KONG says to go bigger than the chart: "sizing up one or even two sizes for added durability and safety is recommended." Its reasoning: "We actually want the toy to be too big for your dog's mouth for safety," because a thicker toy is harder to get leverage on.

Key point: a KONG is also a feeder. KONG suggests stuffing it with kibble, wet food or plain yogurt and freezing it for a longer session, and says to avoid anything with xylitol. Our slow feeder bowl guide covers other ways to slow a fast eater.

Nylabone: four strengths, two materials

Nylabone's chew style guide sorts its toys by chewing style rather than by one material:

• Puppy Chew: for teething puppies. Nylabone's use guidelines say some young puppies "are powerful chewers even with their puppy teeth."
• Flexi Chew: "softer, flexible material" for "gentle chewers who prefer some flex and give," and suggested for senior dogs.
• Strong Chew: "a tougher variety of materials" for "the average chewer," many of them natural rubber.
• Power Chew: "durable nylon chew toys" for extreme chewers.

The Power Chew listings on Amazon size the classic bone by weight: Large for dogs up to 50 lb, X-Large for dogs of 50 lb and up. Nylabone's site lets you shop by size bands (up to 15, 25, 35 and 50 lb, and 50 lb plus), and it says to look for the size "on the front corner of the chew toy's package."

Nylabone's use guidelines add one detail that matters with nylon: during normal chewing, "small bristle-like projections will be raised," which Nylabone says help clean teeth. For both the Strong Chew and Flexi Chew lines, the same page says "not intended for powerful chewers. Powerful chewers may need Nylabone Power Chews."

So Nylabone's own advice for a strong chewer points to nylon. That is where the two brands part ways.

Supervision and replacement: where both makers agree

On safety rules, the two brands say much the same thing.

• Supervise. KONG: "We recommend supervising your pet whenever they are playing with any non-edible toy or object." Nylabone: "Always supervise the use of all chews & toys."
• Size for the biggest dog. Nylabone says non-edible chews "should be large enough to encourage chewing from the side rather than top and bottom," and in a multi-dog home to choose chews "appropriate for the largest, strongest chewer." KONG says a ball-style toy's circumference should be larger than the dog's jaws.
• Replace when worn. KONG says to "remove and discard" a toy with "cracks, chunks missing, or the toy becoming significantly worn down," and offers a damaged-product claim within 60 days. Nylabone says to "check frequently & replace if damaged, ends are worn down or if it becomes too small to chew safely."
• Swallowed a piece? Both send you to the vet. Nylabone: "If you think your dog swallowed a large piece, take the product away and contact your veterinarian." KONG says the same for any fragment.

Neither brand claims its toys are indestructible. KONG's FAQ puts it plainly: "no dog toy is completely indestructible given that dogs' teeth and jaws are designed for destruction."

If your dog has a chipped or broken tooth, or has swallowed part of any chew, call your vet. This page is general information, not veterinary advice (more on that).

Which to buy

• Power chewer: a KONG Extreme, one or two sizes above the chart. If you cannot find a KONG from a seller you trust, our safe chew toys for aggressive chewers guide lists natural rubber toys from Goughnuts and Monster K9, sold by their own stores.
• Average chewer who likes a stuffed toy: a KONG Classic, or the Nylabone Strong Chew Stuffable Cone, which is sold by Amazon.com.
• Small or medium dog that chews steadily: the Nylabone Strong Chew Braided Ring, for dogs up to 35 lb.
• Puppy or senior: KONG Puppy or Senior rubber, or a Nylabone Puppy or Flexi chew. For a puppy's first weeks, see our new puppy checklist; for older dogs, our senior dog essentials.
• Skip for strong chewers: Nylabone Power Chew and other hard nylon bones, per Tufts and VCA.

Chewing on a toy is not the same as dental care. For what actually has evidence behind it (brushing and products on the Veterinary Oral Health Council's list), see our guide to dog and cat dental care.

Seller and recall check

On September 28, 2026, every KONG Classic and KONG Extreme listing we found on Amazon was sold by a third-party seller (Pattern Products, Ohmi Investments, TL Enterprise and others), not by Amazon.com or a KONG store, so KONG has no product card here. Buy KONG from the maker or a retailer you trust. Nylabone Power Chew bones were sold by Amazon.com; we left them without cards because of the veterinary guidance on nylon above.

We found no FDA or CPSC recall of KONG or Nylabone chew toys on our pet recall list as of September 28, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is KONG or Nylabone better for aggressive chewers?

KONG's black Extreme rubber, going by the veterinary sources: Cornell names Kong toys among good options. Nylabone's own guidance sends powerful chewers to its nylon Power Chew line, and Tufts and VCA list hard nylon chews as ones to avoid.

Are Nylabones safe for dogs?

Tufts and VCA's veterinary dentist co-author say to avoid hard nylon chews, which puts Nylabone's Power Chew line on the avoid list; its Strong Chew and Flexi Chew lines use softer rubber and flexible materials, per Nylabone. Press your thumbnail into any chew to check, and follow Nylabone's rules to supervise and replace worn chews.

What size KONG should I get?

Use KONG's weight chart, then size up for a strong chewer. The Classic runs from XS (up to 5 lb) to XXL (85 lb and up), and KONG recommends going up one or even two sizes for heavy chewers.

How long does a KONG or Nylabone last?

Until it cracks, loses chunks or wears thin. KONG says to discard a toy that is significantly worn down, and Nylabone says to replace a chew when it is damaged, its ends are worn, or it becomes too small to chew safely.

Can puppies use KONG or Nylabone toys?

Yes, in the puppy versions. KONG's Puppy rubber is its softest, for puppies under 9 months; Nylabone makes Puppy Chew toys and says some puppies are strong enough chewers to need a Puppy Power Chew once adult teeth appear.

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PetProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We did not test these toys; sizes and guidance are the makers' own, from their sites and listings. This page is general information and not veterinary advice.