The Nylabone Story: 70 Years of Chew Toys Since 1955
Nylabone introduced its first nylon bone in 1955 and has spent 70 years on one question: why do dogs chew? Here is its story, and how its chew strengths help you choose.
In short
- Nylabone introduced its first nylon dog bone in 1955 and marked its 70th birthday in 2025.
- The brand groups its chew toys by chewing style: Puppy, Flexi (moderate), Strong and Power Chew.
- Pick a Nylabone by your dog's chewing style first and their weight second, using the weight range printed on each size.
- Nylabone says everything it makes is developed and assessed in the United States, and that its own dogs try each new toy first.
- Through its Nylabone Cares program, the brand says it donates more than half a million dollars' worth of chew toys to dog shelters every year.
Some dog toys feel like they have always been there. The Nylabone is one of them. The brand introduced its first nylon bone in 1955, and seventy years later its chews sit in toy baskets, crates and car back seats all over the country. Here is the story the brand tells about itself, and what that story means when you are standing in front of a wall of bones wondering which one your dog needs.
1955: a nylon bone from people curious about chewing
Nylabone tells its own beginning simply. Long before that first nylon bone in 1955, the people behind it were dog lovers and pet parents who were fascinated by all the reasons dogs have a natural urge to chew. The bone came out of that curiosity, not the other way around.
That framing matters, because it still shapes the range today. Rather than one toy that tries to suit every mouth, the brand built its line around the idea that dogs chew differently: a teething puppy nibbles, a mellow senior gnaws gently, and some dogs settle in and work at a bone with real determination. Seventy years on, the company says it has spent all that time trying to understand why dogs chew and to answer that instinct with shapes, textures and flavors made for a purpose.
Its tagline puts it in one line: chew toys with heart and purpose, since 1955. In 2025 the brand celebrated its 70th birthday with a refreshed look and a limited-edition anniversary range.
The idea that stuck: four chewing styles
The most useful thing Nylabone gives a pet parent is not a single toy. It is a way of sorting them. The brand groups its chews into Puppy Chew, Flexi Chew (for moderate chewers), Strong Chew and Power Chew, and every size carries a weight range, from tiny sizes for dogs up to 15 lbs to big ones for dogs over 50 lbs.
| Nylabone style | Feels like | Good match for |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy Chew | Softer, flexible shapes such as rings, keys and textured bones | Young puppies exploring with their mouths |
| Flexi Chew | Bendy, bouncy material with a little give | Moderate or gentle chewers, many seniors |
| Strong Chew | Firmer than Flexi, with more resistance | Dogs between gentle and determined |
| Power Chew | Hard, durable nylon with flavor throughout | Dogs who settle in and chew hard for a long time |
If your dog is a dedicated gnawer, our guide to chew toys for strong chewers compares materials across brands, too.
Power Chew: the classic nylon bones
The Power Chew line is closest to the bone that started it all: firm nylon with flavor running all the way through rather than painted on. The shapes have grown far beyond a plain bone. There is the four-armed X-Bone with a comfort-hold shape that a dog can pin between its paws, an antler-shaped chew, a giant femur for big dogs, and playful food shapes such as a donut, a lobster and a broccoli floret, each with ridges and nubs that give a dog something to work at.
Power Chew bones for determined chewers
Hard nylon with flavor throughout, in shapes for every grip.
Easiest to hold: the Comfort Hold X-Bone
Four arms mean there is always an end sticking up, so a dog can brace it between the paws and chew at an angle instead of chasing it across the floor.
- Ridged arms and raised nubs on the crossbar
- Beef flavor through the nylon
- Sized by weight, so pick the range that fits your dog
Puppy Chew: made for the teething months
Puppies explore the world mouth first, and Nylabone treats that stage as its own chewing style. The puppy range is softer and more varied: ring bones, teething keys, textured bones, a starter kit with several shapes in one box, and a knuckle bone made to go in the freezer, which changes color as it chills. Puppies grow fast, so check the weight range again every few weeks and move up a size, or across to an adult style, when they reach it.
Puppy chews and starter kits
Softer shapes for small mouths, plus a kit to find what your puppy prefers.
For a brand new puppy: the New Puppy Starter Kit
Five chew toys and one edible chew in a single box let you learn which shapes and textures your puppy reaches for before you buy more of one kind.
- Several shapes and textures together
- Bacon and chicken flavors
- A tidy way to stock a first toy basket
Flexi and Strong Chew: the in-between
Not every dog needs hard nylon. The Flexi Chew line uses a bendy, bouncy material the brand calls its Gumabone texture, and it is the softer, gentler option for moderate chewers. One of our favorites is the Chill and Chew bone: it has pockets you can fill with soft food and freeze, which turns a quick chew into a longer, quieter project on a lazy afternoon.
Strong Chew sits between Flexi and Power. The Gourmet Style shapes, such as a wishbone and a classic bone, are firmer than Flexi but not as hard as the Power line, a good next step for a dog who has outgrown the bendy toys.
Flexi and Strong Chew picks
More give for moderate chewers, and a firmer step up.
Fillable chews pair well with the ideas in how to keep a dog busy while at work.
Beyond the bone: play toys and edible chews
Over the years the range spread past chew toys. The Power Play line has fetch toys like a soccer ball with grip-friendly panels and a squeaker, and there are tug and spin toys for puppies. On the edible side, Nubz and Healthy Edibles chews come in flavors and sizes by weight, and Pop-in treats are made to slot into the brand's treat toys. Choose edible chews by your dog's size and read the label for feeding guidance; ask your vet if your dog has a special diet.
Play toys and edible chews
Fetch, tug and tasty refills from the same family.
You can see every Nylabone we carry in our dog chew toys, or browse all of our brands.
How Nylabone says it makes and tests its toys
The brand describes a few habits that run through its work. Its team collaborates with veterinarians, trainers and pet parents when designing products. Before a new chew reaches everyone else, it says its own dogs try it first. And it says everything it makes is carefully developed and assessed in the United States.
It also writes about the planet. Nylabone is an Advocate member of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, has switched its facilities to LED lighting with motion sensors and energy-efficient machinery, and is moving its packaging to PET, a recyclable plastic.
Nylabone Cares: chew toys for shelter dogs
The part of the story we like most is about dogs who are still waiting for a home. Nylabone points out that destructive chewing is a leading reason dogs are given up to shelters, so through its Nylabone Cares program it donates more than half a million dollars' worth of durable chew toys to shelters every year. It also supports dogs in training for service work, including guide dog programs, and partners with humane societies, SPCAs and rescues.
Using any chew safely
- Match the chewing style and the weight range on the package, and size up if in doubt.
- Stay close the first few times your dog meets a new chew.
- Check chews often and replace one that is worn down, cracked or small enough to swallow.
- Hard chews are for chewing, not for throwing games.
- Any question about your dog's teeth, gums or diet belongs with your vet.
Questions people ask
When was Nylabone founded?
Nylabone introduced its first nylon dog bone in 1955. The brand celebrated its 70th birthday in 2025 with a refreshed look and a limited-edition range.
Who is the parent company of Nylabone?
Nylabone is part of Central Garden & Pet Company, alongside sister pet brands such as Four Paws and Cadet. The brand still presents itself as a team of dog lovers focused on why dogs chew.
What is a Nylabone made of?
The classic Power Chew bones are made of durable nylon with flavor throughout. Flexi Chew toys use a softer, bendy material, and the puppy range uses gentler, flexible materials. Edible chews such as Nubz are a separate line meant to be eaten.
Which Nylabone is right for my dog?
Start with how your dog chews: Puppy Chew for young puppies, Flexi for moderate chewers, Strong for the in-between and Power Chew for dogs who gnaw hard. Then pick the size whose weight range includes your dog, and go up a size if they are between two.
Are Nylabones safe for dogs?
Use any chew with supervision, in the right size and chewing style, and replace it when it wears down or gets small enough to swallow. If you have questions about your dog's teeth or health, ask your vet.
About the numbers
- Nylabone, Our Story: first nylon bone introduced in 1955; founders described as dog lovers fascinated by why dogs chew
- Nylabone, Why Nylabone: 70 years; Puppy, Flexi, Strong and Power Chew styles; collaboration with veterinarians, trainers and pet parents; developed and assessed in the United States; more than half a million dollars' worth of chew toys donated to shelters each year
- Nylabone, Sustainability: Pet Sustainability Coalition Advocate member; LED lighting and efficient machinery; packaging moving to recyclable PET
- Nylabone, Nylabone Cares: donations to shelters, service dog programs, humane societies, SPCAs and rescues
- Central Garden & Pet, Nylabone 70th birthday announcement: 70th birthday in 2025 with a refreshed look and limited-edition range
