This Ball Is The Perfect Match For Heavy Chewers

We independently pick all the products we recommend because we love them and think you will too. If you buy a product from a link on our site, we may earn a commission.

Chewing toys until they’re shreds of their former selves might be your dog’s favorite game.

It can be pretty adorable how proud he is of himself anytime he successfully destroys something, but it can be pretty frustrating for you when you have to replace his toys all the time.

That’s where the KONG Extreme Ball comes in. We decided to test it out on some of our toughest chewers to see if it’s really built to last.

The verdict? Here’s why it earned our Paw of Approval.

The KONG Extreme Ball is a dog toy that’s designed specifically to withstand heavy chewing.

While lots of toys make that claim (and not all of them hold up), the rubber material on the KONG Extreme Ball is formulated to be incredibly durable and even puncture-resistant, so it’s supposed to hold up even against bigger breeds and chewers with strong jaws and sharp teeth.

It’s available in two sizes, made for dogs up to 65 pounds.

We picked three Dodo dogs who love to chew to give the KONG Extreme Ball a thorough test.

Our dog and human judges noticed right away that the KONG Extreme Ball is sturdy enough to withstand the types of pups who destroy everything.

“The Extreme Ball is dense, and for a heavy chewer would take some effort to destroy.” — Jocelyn T.

Even our toughest chewer was no match for this toy.

“The Extreme Ball is great since Ricki can't seem to chew through it — tennis balls don't usually last very long. The Extreme Ball has proven to be puncture-resistant!” — Shuhan H.

Our judges loved chasing around the KONG Extreme Ball — and it worked perfectly for fetch.

“We use the Extreme Ball when we play catch. After an initial hesitation with the Extreme Ball, she loves fetching with it now!” — Shuhan H.

“Katie loved it right away and chased it around the house. It made her happy to play with!” — Emily F.

Our pet parents were thrilled about how well the KONG Extreme Ball held up against even the heaviest chewing and a lot of intense activity.

“It's great because it's so durable that it works well at the park with other dogs chasing and biting it.” — Emily F.

“In terms of durability, I think it's great.” — Shuhan H.

While the KONG Extreme Ball is super durable, the material does make it less bouncy than less chew-resistant options. While our judges were OK with the trade-off, they did wish there was a way to have the best of both worlds. 

“I find that it's not that bouncy. It's less bouncy than a tennis ball.” — Shuhan H.

“Lack of the bounce factor and weight (too heavy for Lenny’s size) was the issue.” — Jocelyn T.

Since we tested the smaller Extreme Ball on a variety of pups, some parents noted how important it is to get the right size for your dog. 

“The Extreme Ball could be just a bit bigger. I find myself worrying that Ricki could choke on it.” — Shuhan H.

On the other hand, Lenny, one of our smaller pups, also lost interest more quickly than he has with other toys, so our parents would love to see a wider range of sizes. 

Currently, the KONG Extreme Ball is available in two different sizes — the smaller one costs $9.99 and the larger one goes for $13.99 — so make sure you double-check the dimensions before you buy.

And while the black color makes the ball look pretty extreme, one of our pet parents also wished it came in more than one color.

“I always like bright colors for Katie’s balls so we can easily find them at the park.” — Emily F.

Despite any drawbacks, though, all three of our human testers said they’d recommend the KONG Extreme Ball to other pet parents based on its durability and the fact it can actually hold up against heavy chewers.

The KONG Extreme Ball is so durable that it definitely impressed our judges (and their parents).

It’s a little on the heavy side — which is probably why it doesn’t really bounce — but that’s because it’s made of material that’s designed first and foremost to withstand even the toughest chewers.

It also costs less than $15, so it’s definitely cheaper in the long run than replacing $3 tennis balls every two weeks.

If you’ve got a heavy chewer, give it a try!

The Dodo may receive complimentary samples to test in our Paw of Approval program, but all our opinions are 100 percent our own. We only publish endorsements of products we (and our dogs and cats) absolutely love! You can find out more about our testing process here.

If you have a product you love that you want to share with other pet parents, send a tip to dodopaw@thedodo.com.