PawBench Gear of the Year 2025: The Best Dog Products We Tested All Year
Every year, we test hundreds of products. Most are fine. A handful are genuinely great. These are the ones that stood out.
Our Gear of the Year awards recognize products that earned their rank through real-world testing — not PR samples, not paid placements. We look for durability, honest value, and whether they actually make life better for dogs and their owners.
🏆 Dog Food of the Year: Purina Pro Plan Adult Savor Shredded Blend
Why it won: Backed by over 500 Purina scientists and 400+ published studies, Pro Plan consistently outperforms foods costing twice as much. The shredded blend texture improves palatability for picky eaters, and the protein-first formula supports lean muscle mass without the premium price tag of fresh food services.
Best for: Adult dogs who need a reliable, vet-recommended daily diet.
🏆 Dog Bed of the Year: Casper Dog Bed
Why it won: The Casper translates everything that made their human mattresses famous into a dog bed — pressure-relieving foam layers, a durable Crypton fabric cover that's genuinely machine-washable, and a design that doesn't look like an eyesore in your living room.
Best for: Dogs over 40 lbs, especially breeds prone to joint issues.
🏆 Dog Toy of the Year: Kong Classic
Why it won: Nothing has dethroned the Kong Classic. After decades on the market, it remains the gold standard for mental stimulation and anxious chewers. Stuff it with frozen peanut butter and it'll occupy even the most persistent destroyer for 30+ minutes.
Best for: Every dog, every life stage. Truly universal.
🏆 Pet Tech of the Year: Furbo 360° Dog Camera
Why it won: The Furbo earned this by actually delivering on its promises. The 360° rotating camera eliminates blind spots, the AI-powered bark alerts are genuinely accurate (not just noise-triggered), and the two-way audio + treat toss combination is the closest thing to being home when you're not.
Best for: Owners who travel or work long hours. Separation anxiety sufferers.
🏆 Harness of the Year: Ruffwear Front Range Harness
Why it won: Two leash attachment points (front D-ring for no-pull, back for casual walks), padded chest and belly panels, and reflective trim for low-light visibility. The Front Range is the rare piece of gear that works equally well for urban apartment dogs and trail-running breeds.
Best for: Active dogs, pullers, and anyone who walks before sunrise.
🏆 Grooming Tool of the Year: Furminator deShedding Tool
Why it won: The Furminator reduces shedding by up to 90% on double-coated breeds. That's not marketing copy — it's what we observed after 8 weeks of weekly use on a Golden Retriever and a Husky. Nothing else comes close for heavy shedders.
Best for: Double-coated breeds (Husky, Golden, German Shepherd, Corgi, etc.)
🏆 Budget Pick of the Year: Milk-Bone Original Dog Biscuits
Why it won: Sometimes the classic is the classic for a reason. Milk-Bone biscuits are dentally beneficial, universally loved by dogs, and cost almost nothing per treat. In a year of inflation, this earned its spot.
Best for: Everyday training rewards and dental maintenance.
What Didn't Make the Cut
This year, we tested and rejected several products that received significant hype:
- Several GPS collars failed to deliver reliable real-time tracking in suburban environments
- Multiple "grain-free" kibbles had ingredient profiles that didn't justify the premium price
- Rope toys from discount retailers frayed dangerously fast — a genuine ingestion risk
We'll publish detailed reviews of these in early 2026.
How We Choose Gear of the Year
Every product on this list was purchased at retail price (no comps), tested for a minimum of 30 days with at least two different dogs of different sizes and breeds, and evaluated on: durability, value relative to alternatives, real-world usability, and safety.
If a product can't hold up to honest testing, it doesn't earn an award from us.
See our full product database at pawbench.com/category/dog-food or explore picks for your specific breed at pawbench.com/breed.
