Chewing, digging, jumping
How do I choose the right size chew toy for my dog?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A toy should be large enough that it cannot fit entirely inside your dog's mouth or be swallowed whole, with a clear margin for growth if you have a puppy. Most manufacturers size toys by weight range, but checking against your specific dog's jaw width is a more reliable guide than weight alone.
Bigger than the mouth, always
The core safety rule is simple, a toy needs to be too large for your dog to close their jaw around it completely or swallow it in one piece, which matters more than matching a manufacturer's suggested weight bracket exactly.
Weight brackets are a starting point only
Weight based sizing guides work reasonably well as a first filter, but a stocky, wide jawed dog and a narrow, lean dog of the same weight can have quite different mouth sizes, so checking the actual fit matters more.
Sizing up for growing puppies
A puppy chew toy often needs replacing every few months as jaw size increases, and choosing a toy on the larger end of the recommended range for their current weight gives a bit of useful margin before the next size up.
Key takeaways
- A toy must be too large to fit fully in the mouth or be swallowed whole.
- Weight based sizing guides are a useful starting point, not a guarantee of correct fit.
- Growing puppies need toy sizes rechecked every few months as their jaw develops.