Chewing & Toys

Best chew toys for Staffies (and other strong-jawed terriers)

Tough, fillable picks for affectionate, strong-jawed Staffies, sized by weight, and how to make them last.

By 6 min read
Freezbox filled with kibble and broth on a kitchen table

Staffies love people, love life and love chewing, usually all at the same time. Hand a Staffordshire Bull Terrier a toy that was not made for those jaws and you will be picking bits of it out of the carpet before the kettle has boiled. The best chew toys for Staffies are tough enough to take the pressure and interesting enough to hold the attention of a bright, bouncy dog who would honestly rather be on your lap.

This guide is for anyone sharing a home with a Staffie, a Staffie cross or another strong-jawed terrier: what to look for, our picks by job, how to choose a size, and the habits that make any toy last longer.

A Staffie needs thick natural rubber, a toy too big to fit whole in their mouth, and a frozen filling that gives them a reason to lick rather than demolish. Our top pick is the Freezbox, our most rugged toy; the Freezstick and FreezStar make good second toys. Weigh your dog, check each toy's kg range, size up if in doubt and always supervise.

Why do Staffies chew so hard?

Partly it is the build. A broad head, a strong jaw and a great deal of enthusiasm come packed into one compact, muscly dog. Partly it is personality. Staffies are affectionate and energetic, they want to be involved in everything, and a bored Staffie will always find a project. Often that project is the skirting board.

Chewing itself is normal and healthy. The aim is not to stop it but to point it at the right thing, at the right moment, for long enough that your dog actually settles.

A Staffie does not so much chew a toy as test it to destruction, with a waggy tail throughout.

What are the best chew toys for a Staffie?

We have picked by job rather than by ranking, because most Staffie owners end up with two or three toys on rotation anyway. For the bigger question of whether any toy can survive a determined chewer, read our honest guide to indestructible dog toys and what power chewers really need.

The jobOur pickWhy it suits a Staffie
Settling after a walkFreezboxOur most rugged toy, in ultra-durable natural rubber made for relentless chewers; holds up to 350 ml
A second toy in the freezerFreezstickMade for tough chewers, in two sizes: small for dogs up to 27 kg, large for dogs up to 64 kg
Something to work at for longerFreezStarDesigned for power chewers and suitable for dogs up to 64 kg
Turning dinner into a jobFreezJumboOur largest design, with extra-thick walls and a cavity big enough to replace the food bowl
Smaller terriers and crossesFreez DoughnutBuilt for power chewers; the small suits dogs of 5 to 10 kg, the large 10 to 20 kg

What size chew toy does a Staffie need?

Staffies vary more than you might expect, and plenty of the dogs reading this over their owner's shoulder are crosses. So choose by your dog's weight, not the breed name. The bathroom scales trick works: weigh yourself holding your dog, then on your own, and subtract.

  • Up to 10 kg (smaller terriers and crosses): Freez Doughnut small, for dogs of 5 to 10 kg.
  • 10 to 20 kg: Freez Doughnut large, for 10 to 20 kg, or the small Freezstick, for dogs up to 27 kg.
  • Over 20 kg: the large Freezstick or the FreezStar, both for dogs up to 64 kg, or the Freezbox, made for medium to large dogs up to 65 kg.

If your dog sits near the top of a range, or chews like they have a grudge, take the next size up. A toy that disappears into a Staffie's mouth gets chewed rather than licked. Our Freezbone size guide covers every toy by weight and chewing style.

How do I keep a Staffie busy with a chew toy?

The toy is only half of it. How you fill it and when you hand it over matter just as much.

Fill it so it lasts

  • Pack the filling in firmly, right to the edges
  • Mix something smooth with something chunky, such as plain yoghurt with soaked kibble
  • Freeze overnight, not for an hour
  • Seal the top with a thin layer of xylitol-free peanut butter

Pick your moment

  • Straight after a walk, when they are tired but still buzzing
  • When visitors arrive and the bouncing starts
  • As you leave the house, so the door closing means something good
  • On a mat or in their bed, so it becomes their calm spot
“Axle loves his Freezebone! Keeps him entertained for a good while and so far has been the only product of this sort that he hasn't even dented, and let me tell you, he destroys everything”
Andrea C., verified buyer

For fills, plain cooked chicken, mashed sweet potato, soaked kibble and plain natural yoghurt are all easy wins. The Freezbone recipe videos have plenty more, and our ideas for using a Freezbone in training help turn a frozen toy into a reward for calm behaviour.

Can I play tug with my Staffie?

Yes, and many Staffies adore it. Tug is a brilliant outlet for a strong, playful terrier, as long as there are a few house rules.

  • Use a proper tug toy, never a frozen chew toy or anything you would mind losing.
  • You start the game and you finish it.
  • Teach "drop" by swapping the toy for a treat, then give the game back as a reward.
  • If teeth touch skin, the game pauses. Every time.
  • Put the tug toy away afterwards, so it stays special.

Think of it as two different jobs: tug for playing together, a frozen chew for lying down and switching off.

Which toys are best avoided for strong-jawed terriers?

Not for a Staffie

  • Soft plush toys left down unsupervised; stuffing goes in faster than you would think
  • Rope toys left alone, as chewed threads can be swallowed
  • Small balls a strong jaw can squash or swallow
  • Very hard nylon bones and antlers, which can crack teeth
  • Cooked bones, which splinter
  • Take a toy away if pieces start coming off, or if it can fit completely inside your dog's mouth
  • Call your vet if you think your dog has swallowed part of a toy, especially if they are being sick, off their food or seem uncomfortable
“My 6 month old bully loves it. It's so well made, he plays with it after he eats up the yummy treat in it. Normally he destroys most of his things, this I can tell will last.”
Yasmin M., verified buyer

Do Staffie puppies and older Staffies need different toys?

Puppies chew everything, Staffie puppies more enthusiastically than most. Choose a size for their current weight, keep sessions short and supervised, and use soft, simple fills. Expect to size up as they grow.

Older Staffies often still love a chew but appreciate softer fills and a gentler pace. If you notice changes in their teeth, gums or appetite, ask your vet.

The Staffie owner's summary

Give your Staffie plenty of exercise, plenty of company and a tough, properly sized toy with something frozen inside, and most of that chewing energy goes exactly where you want it. On grim evenings when the walk is shorter than planned, our indoor enrichment ideas for dark evenings will help fill the gap.

Frequently asked questions

  • A thick natural rubber toy that is too big to fit whole in their mouth, filled and frozen so they lick rather than demolish it. Our top pick is the Freezbox, our most rugged toy; the Freezstick and FreezStar are good second toys for the rotation.

  • Many are. Staffies have strong jaws and lots of energy, so soft or thin toys rarely last long. Choose toys made for tough chewers, size up if in doubt, and always supervise.

  • Go by weight rather than breed. Weigh your dog and check each toy's range: the small Freezstick suits dogs up to 27 kg, the large Freezstick and FreezStar suit dogs up to 64 kg, and the Freez Doughnut comes in 5 to 10 kg and 10 to 20 kg sizes.

  • Strong jaws, lots of energy and not enough to do is the usual mix. Pair a tough toy with a frozen filling, hand it over after exercise, and make sure your Staffie gets daily walks, play and training.

  • They are fine for supervised fetch, but not as a chew. A strong jaw can squash or split a ball, and pieces can be swallowed. Put balls away when the game ends.

  • Yes, with supervision. Choose a size for their current weight, use soft, simple fills, keep sessions short and take the toy away once it is empty. Ask your vet if you are unsure what suits your puppy.

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Written by Freezbone Team

We design freezable, refillable chew toys and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it. Freezbone LTD ships across the UK.

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