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If you’ve ever raised a true giant breed puppy, you already know…

This isn’t the same as a “large dog.”

When Peyton—our 3rd Leonberger—was a puppy, I already knew that most “puppy toys” aren’t built for dogs like this. But I went on a hunt for the best out there for her!

Some didn’t last a day.
Some were ignored completely.
And a few became part of our daily routine.

This list is built from that experience first.

Now, with our lab Belle and a German Shepherd (GSD) puppy on the way, I’m building on what actually worked—and what didn’t.

👉 I’ll keep updating this as we go.

📸 A Quick Note

That photo above is Peyton as a puppy—and she’s the reason this list exists. She broke my heart when she went over the rainbow bridge and is why we are bringing a new GSD into our family.

🎥 See These in Real Life

I’m filming real-use videos of these products as we prepare for our next puppy (and using them with Belle now).

👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/graceinspiredmoments
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@GraceInspiredLife

🐾 START HERE (What Actually Worked With a Giant Breed Puppy)

These are the safest, most reliable starting points—especially for large and giant breeds.

***If you choose to purchase through my links, it helps support my content at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you—I truly appreciate it and so do the puppies.

🦴 Heavy Chewer Toy (Where Most People Waste Money)

This is where I learned the hard way with Peyton.

A lot of “puppy toys”:

are too soft
don’t last
end up getting tossed quickly

What actually held up:

thicker rubber
simple shapes
fewer seams or weak points

With a dog like a Leonberger—or a GSD—you have to think ahead here.

Everyone knows that dogs love Bully Sticks. We have purchased the Cadet Brand for years based on numerous breeder recommendations. They are basically doggy crack. But did you know what a huge choking risk they are? That last little bit can get lodged in your dogs throat or can cause issues in their digestive tract when swallowed whole. For Peyton we decided to use a Bully Stick holder and it was a game changer. I will never give one of our dogs a bully stick without it now.

Kong is a leader here….

Kong is a leader in the best toys for giant breeds for a reason. Their stuff holds up to the test of time. I was worried some of these “puppy” toys might be too small but at 4 months they are still appropriate for her mouth size and puppy teeth and are showing very little wear and tear. I can see her using these for at least a few more weeks. I usually just put a tiny bit of all natural peanut butter in the Kong to stuff them instead of using the spray stuff they sell.

***Update: these all lasted so well that 5 years later we were able to give them to Belle to play with, and Peyton occasionally showed some interest in her old toys when she say Belle with them.

🦴 Durable Chew Toys (Start Here) On Amazon:

🐕 Slow Feeder / Enrichment Tool

Make your puppy work for it. Puppies eat a LOT and the best puppy toys for giant breeds keep your puppies mind busy and stomach from growling (or bloating). These interactive toys are perfect…Our breeder highly recommended the first one but Peyton loves them both equally. She didn’t have much interest in these until about 3 months but now they are absolutely her favorite and will work well into adulthood.

***Update: We bought these again for Belle and they are going strong for when our newest puppy arrives.

🧠 ADVANCED (Mental Stimulation & Boredom Busters)

This is the category I would prioritize even more now. We did even more puzzles with Belle than Peyton and the new pup will get started on level 1 puzzles right out of the gate.

Beginning Puppy Puzzles: https://geni.us/tCsuMh and more advanced puzzles

🛏️ Everyday Use (Not a Toy, But Worth Including)

This faux fur bed is a little big for her right now but I love that it is waterproof, washable and will be the right size for her in adulthood. This is the giant curved white style.

and this is the one that Belle loves, the Bedsure SupportMax Orthopedic Bed

❌ What Didn’t Hold Up (From Experience)

🧊 Pupsicle (Heavy-Duty Version – Not a Fit for Us)

I gave this one more than one shot. I tried the heavy-duty version multiple times—first with Peyton, and again later with Belle—and it just never became something we used. It just never held up well. I really wanted this to be a win, but for our dogs, it just wasn’t a fit. It may work better for smaller or less aggressive chewers, but for a true giant breed puppy, it didn’t meet the mark. I will say their customer service was excellent though so its definitely worth a try. I really like that you can buy the molds and make your own treats for the inside.

🦴 Nylabone (Not a Favorite in Our House)

This one surprised me. A lot of people recommend Nylabone, but with Peyton and Belle (who is much smaller) they both had them destroyed within days and they had to be thrown away.

🔄 I’ll Keep Updating This

This list started with Peyton.

Now it continues with Belle—and soon, our German Shepherd puppy.

I’ll keep updating this with:

what holds up
what doesn’t
what I actually reach for daily