Best chew toy for Norwegian Elkhound

Wooden chews splintering and catching the gums is a real problem — and honestly a good reason to switch. The right chew toy for a serious chewer needs to be durable enough to last but not so hard it risks cracking teeth, and the right choice depends a lot on your dog's chewing style and jaw strength. Norwegian Elkhounds are sturdy, tenacious dogs — what size is yours, would you say they're a moderate or aggressive chewer, and was the wooden chew something they were left with unsupervised, or did this happen during a normal chewing session?

That's a really useful picture. So you've got an aggressive chewer who's ramping up because of a change in routine — that's classic boredom and mild separation anxiety combining. Before I point you to the right product, one quick question: has she shown any signs of gum soreness since the splinter incident — pawing at her mouth, reluctance to eat, that kind of thing? And are her gums healed up now as far as you can tell?

Good — if she's eating normally and not showing any oral discomfort, she's almost certainly fine. For a 23kg aggressive chewer who needs something to work through boredom and anxiety, the Kong Extreme in Large is the right move. It's made from Kong's black ultra-durable rubber — specifically designed for power chewers, noticeably tougher than the standard red Kong. Crucially, it's not so hard that it risks tooth fractures the way nylon bones or antlers can, and there are no splinters or fragments. You stuff it with something like peanut butter or kibble, freeze it, and it keeps a determined chewer busy for a meaningful stretch — which is exactly what she needs while you're at work. It's also dishwasher safe, so easy to keep clean. For your Elkhound at that weight, the Large size is the right fit.

It's not strictly necessary but it makes a significant difference for an aggressive chewer. Frozen filling extends the time it takes to extract — what might be a 10-minute job at room temperature becomes 30-45 minutes frozen. For a dog who's chewing out of boredom while you're out, that extra duration is genuinely useful. I'd recommend keeping two on rotation in the freezer so there's always one ready. A basic mix of peanut butter and her regular kibble works well — just make sure the peanut butter doesn't contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.

That's the right call. One last thing — given she's been chewing more heavily since you returned to work, it's worth building up alone time gradually if you can, and making the Kong a consistent part of her departure routine so it becomes a positive association rather than just a distraction. If the chewing is escalating or she's showing other signs of distress when you leave, it might be worth a chat with your vet about whether there's an anxiety component that needs more support. But for most dogs in this situation, the Kong Extreme plus a frozen stuffing routine makes a real difference.