Wow, now this is a huge subject. Chewing is nature's way of keeping a dog's teeth clean, so all dogs should have some non-edible chew toys, even if their preference really is the edible chew treats because they really should only be getting one a day of those. There are an unbelievable number of these chew toys on the market. It's mind boggling. I'll recommend a few, but with so many out there, there's no way I could have seen them all. So instead of trying to make tons of recommendations, I'd rather just give you an idea of what to look for in choosing a chew toy for your dog.
The most appropriate chew toy for your dog depends on how much your dog chews. For most small breeds, chewing preferences range from those dogs that don't chew much at all to moderate chewers. In larger breeds, however, power chewers are common, and the needs of moderate and power chewers are definitely not the same.
If you have a light chewer, your best bet may be stuffed animals, especially those with arm/legs or other protrusions that the dog can grab on to and chew. Just be sure that you get stuffed animals made for dogs. They are made to withstand light chewing without coming apart, at least for a while, and they don't have plastic pieces on them that dogs can chew off and on which they can choke.
For moderate chewers, look for toys which are harder than stuffed animals and the more things sticking off the toy, the better. That's what the dog grabs on to to chew, usually. You'll want things like Kongs (again...Kong has so many products) or any other hard rubber chew toys. Please don't get those flimsy latex squeaker toys thinking that they are good chew toys. A moderate chewer will chew the squeaker right out of it, and then may proceed to eat the latex. Tennis balls may also be good for moderate chewers, and they do make them in several sizes, including one that is only 1.5 inches in diameter. I know...tennis balls didn't seem like a great chew toy to me either, but some dogs really enjoy chewing on them. Kong also makes some tennis ball toys with protrusions on them that are ideal for chewing, and some of the small ones squeak when squeezed, so they are double the fun. Another great toy for moderate chewers is a ball called the Nobbly Wobbly. Nobbly Wobbly II has a bell inside them...my puppies always love these. They are woven rubber balls, some are spiky and some more rounded, but the way they are woven allows small mouths to get the perfect grip on the weave to chew. Finally, toys made of canvas stand up better to chewing that regular stuffed toys do, so they work well for moderate chewers.
For heavy chewers, stuffed toys simply won't cut it. Power chewers chew through stuffed toys in a matter of minutes. However, there is hope for these guys! Nylabone has a line of hard nylon bones that stand up well to chewing. They come in all sizes, and if you have a power chewer on your hands, getting a size larger than your dog would normally need makes an excellent chew toy for those babies with the extra strength jaws. I have found that these are too hard for light chewers, so those dogs don't like these Nylabones too much. If you have a power chewer on your hands, please select his toys carefully. Power chewers often swallow pieces of toys that they chew off, and that can cause many issues. You don't want to let these guys chew up stuffed toys or hard rubber toys and eat them. Those materials likely will not be able to pass through your dog's digestive system and could result in the need for surgery to remove blockages.
And for all chewers, rope toys are great. If your dog is an aggressive chewer, you may want a rope toy that is bigger than the size your dog really would need, and you may need to monitor your dog with the rope to ensure he is not swallowing the string. Rope toys are also great dental toys, helping to "floss" the teeth and keep them clean.
Dogs come in all sizes and all chewing strengths, and there are so many possibilities for chew toys on the market now, it can be hard to determine the best one for your dog. If you have heavy chewers, it can be a struggle to find toys that they can't destroy in a matter of minutes Thankfully, most small breed dogs are not heavy chewers, but I hope I have given owners of all types of chewers some ideas for safely helping your dog fulfill that urge to chew!
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