What chew toys do we use?
Last month we discussed chew toys and safety. There are some things you should never give your pup. Two examples are items small enough to swallow and any type of cooked bones. Always use common sense and it’s best to supervise your puppy while he chews on his toys.
Below we’ve listed our top 4 chew treats for our dogs. We use them all from time to time, giving our puppies and adult dogs new items to try. This keeps their teeth and gums healthy, keeps them busy and keeps them chewing things they should be!
The GOOD: Antlers are about as natural as you’ll get. It’s likely dogs have chewed on these for thousands of years. Antlers don’t stink like many other chews and they last a very long time. We’ve also had terrific success with our dogs liking them. Our dogs love both deer antlers and moose antlers.
The BAD: They’re very high in protein. While this can be good for older dogs and in small doses for pups, it can cause upset stomach. If they seem to bother your puppy’s stomach, limit their use. They’re also very hard, and for this reason usually last a very long time. However, while we’ve not experienced it, there have been reports of broken teeth. And while we’ve never experienced this either, antlers can splinter and could potentially cause internal damage or tooth/gum injury.
The GOOD: Maybe our favorite treat for our dogs to chew are raw bones. We buy large beef bones from a local butcher. They’re natural, healthy and affordable.
The BAD: Raw bones tend to be messy, so dogs need to chew them outside. Supervision is important as sometimes smaller pieces may be attached to the larger bones. You must keep them frozen before using.
The GOOD: Made with either cow milk or yak milk in the Himalayas, the product is basically a very hard cheese snack. It’s a natural product and most dogs love them. Depending on your dogs’s chewing tendencies, the treat could last a long time. They don’t stink as bad as other popular alternatives.
The BAD: The chews break down and an aggressive chewer will go through these more quickly than antlers. The treat might pose a choking hazard once it has been chewed down to a small piece. Always supervise your pet.
The GOOD: They’re virtually indestructible. Other nylon toys can be destroyed by aggressive chewers. These last a very long time. They also have many different products, for all types of dogs.
The BAD: Some dogs simply don’t like them. We’ve not had many dogs who really enjoyed the KONG products. Unless you stuff the toy with something tasty (which is a great idea), they’re just another unused toy you might step on in the night. They’re worth a try though! If your pup likes them, they’re a terrific option!
