Earth Rated vs KONG: Which Durable Rubber Dog Toy Wins?

When you search online for the best rubber toys for dogs, there is one name that always seems to rule the category of durable dog chews - the classic KONG.

There are different reasons why you might want to purchase an indestructible dog chew toy. Maybe it’s the puppy teething stage, where even the most angelic puppies show off their devilishly sharp baby teeth.

Or maybe you’re just a responsible dog parent, who’s looking the best thing to provide mental enrichment for their dog.

The truth is that chewing is a completely natural, vital instinct for a dog’s mental enrichment. And getting a good quality and durable dog chew can definitely be a game changer.💙

But let’s see if Earth Rated newer rubber dog chews can beat the good old KONG…

Earth Rated dog chews

There is a big chance that you may already have used Earth Rated products before…but have never heard that they also make dedicated line of natural rubber dog toys. We also belonged into that category. Previously we’ve also used their poop bags, but in addition to these, they also have dog shampoos, grooming wipes etc.

So when we discovered their cool looking rubber dog chew toys, we ordered 2 different ones immediately and let our dog Thena try them out.

KONG vs Earth Rated

Just to give you a better understanding, let’s have a quick look at how these two brands compare in categories that matter both to dog owners and dogs: material, design variety, safety, durability.

Let’s start with the material, durability & safety. Since both brands use BPA-free, non-toxic natural rubber, let’s see what are the things that make them different:

• The Earth Rated uses PEFC certified responsibly sourced natural rubber. And if you want to know if you can actually tell the difference, then yes, you can.

  Right out of the box you’ll feel that the rubber actually feels a lot more soft, “gummy” and pliable than the KONG toy. And because of that it can be more satisfying for a dog or a teething puppy.

  Earth Rated toys are durable, but since they are softer and more pliable, they are not indestructible. So when you have a crazy chewer at home… just keep in mind that it might not last too long.

• The classic KONG is also made of rubber, which is incredibly dense and it’s also heavy vulcanized. And if “heavy vulcanized” sounds scary, then don’t worry too much. It’s actually just a curing process that makes the rubber harder, heavier and less stretchy.

That’s why the KONG dog chews are known to be so durable with crazy teething puppies and also with the heaviest chewers.

However one kind of a “secret weapon” that makes Earth Rated chew kind of a must-have is the bully stick safety holder hack.

So because of the geometric and snug design, you can push a bully stick right into the center. And this will stop your dog from swallowing the quite dangerous end piece, making the Earth Rated toy one of the best safe dog chews.

Variety of designs.

• Earth Rated has taken kind of modern approach with their dog chew designs. They look minimalistic and even the shapes are rather… contemporary. BUT they don’t really have much variety of designs. They have a couple different ones and that’s it.

  A cool thing is that they have especially made some of their chews and fetch toys bright yellow. Which…if you’ve seen our video about dog vision on YouTube, you know is a colour that dogs see very well.

• KONG however seems to be the king when it comes to shapes and sizes, because they have it all. KONG offers of course the classic “snowman” shape in different sizes, donut shapes, bone and stick shapes etc.

Freezable and dishwashable

• Both Earth Rated and KONG dog chews are great as interactive dog toys, because they are fillable and freezable.

• So if you’re looking for easy dog enrichment ideas, just stuff these with pâté, cream cheese, peanut butter or even just plain Greek yogurt.

• For teething puppies the cold (and yummy filling) helps cool their inflamed gums, dog with anxiety can get that anxious energy out through the mouth. It can also be a cooling snack on warm summer days etc.

  As you can see, there are different reasons why filling and freezing a dog chew is great.

  And the easy part is that you can just throw them in the dishwasher after your dog has finished chewing it. What else could you want from a dog chew? 🤩

Is the Earth Rated Toy Worth It? (Our 8-Year Verdict)

We’ve used the classic KONG dog chews and also their other toys ever since we got our dog Thena, which is about 8 years! 😲 Now if a rubber toy surviving 8 years of play doesn’t prove its value as a durable dog chew, nothing will.

Of course throughout almost a decade of dog parenting, we’ve tested all kinds of different dog chews. But when it comes to the natural rubber ones on the market, we definitely love (read: our dog loves) the newly discovered Earth Rated ones.

In addition to their bright yellow color and chic ergonomic design choices we think Earth Rated offers great mental enrichment for dogs. We definitely recommend trying it out.

So if your puppy is quite a chewer, but also gets frustrated when toys roll away, Earth Rated should definitely be part of your dog chew setup. However, if your dog is a destructive chewing machine, then you probably might want to stick to the super durable KONG Extreme.

Pocket Puppy School Pro Tip - get a variety of dog chews. The best approach preventing boredom, anxiousness etc is dog toy rotation. Get a KONG and use it as a frozen crate meal while you need to go get the groceries, then something from Earth Rated for chew-playtime and maybe a third option from another brand and KEEP THEM IN ROTATION. That will most definitely keep your dog engaged.

If you want to know more about our favourite dog chews, then keep an eye on our YouTube channel, where we’ll share our TOP 5 favourite dog chews.

Haven’t heard of Pocket Puppy School before?

Pocket Puppy School is more than just a free dog training app – it’s our way of helping every dog and human enjoy life together without stress. 🐶💙

Alongside the app, we share tips, stories, and fun moments on YouTube and Instagram – feel free to join us there too!

And if you ever visit our little shop, you’ll see that it is not your average merch. If you upload a picture of your dog or a special memory of both of you together, we’ll turn it into a custom design that will beat any regular product. Every design is drawn by us, every leash is made by hand, which makes products unique and carries a bit of the love we put into Pocket Puppy School.

By shopping with us, you’re not just getting something cute and personal – you’re also helping us keep the app free for everyone and keep doing what we do here. 🥹🐾