How To Pick Natural Chews For Your Dog

Walk into almost any pet shop today and you’ll find shelves lined with natural chews. And it’s easy to understand the appeal: Many pet parents want products with simple ingredients, fewer artificial materials, and a longer lifespan. Natural chews often seem to tick all those boxes, but that doesn’t mean they’re all right for your dog. Understanding the differences between natural chews for your dog can help you make safer, more informed decisions.

This blog will cover how to pick natural dog chews, including why focusing on your dog’s chewing habits is the most important part of the equation. We’ll also talk about the different kinds of chews, their pros and cons, and when to take them away from your dog at the end of their lifespan.

Why Is Your Dog’s Chewing Behavior So Important?

When determining what natural chew is best, start by answering this question: What kind of chewer is your dog? Some dogs are content to settle down and gradually work away at a chew over several days. Others attack anything new with remarkable enthusiasm, trying to crush it, split it, or consume it as quickly as possible.

Your dog’s size matters somewhat as well (and you have to be mindful of choking hazards), but in many cases, chewing style tells you far more than breed or body weight.

Age also plays a part. Puppies are still developing their adult teeth, while older dogs may have worn teeth or existing dental issues that deserve a little more consideration.

These factors matter far more than marketing claims when choosing chews for your dog. You’ll often see descriptors like “natural,” “long-lasting,” and “tough,” but two different dogs will use the same chew in completely different ways, regardless of what the package says.

How Does Hardness Factor into Your Choice?

Very hard chews can last an impressively long time, but that durability sometimes comes at the expense of your dog’s teeth. Determined chewers can apply extraordinary force, which may increase the risk of tooth damage when chewing on particularly rigid materials. If you have an aggressive chewer, a soft chew might be a better choice.

What Are the Different Types of Chews for Your Dog?

Yak chews gradually soften as they’re worked, although they become smaller over time and eventually must be removed before they present a swallowing hazard.

Coffee wood and olive wood are both wooden chews, but they do wear differently.

Antlers are among the most durable natural chews because they’re extremely hard.

Buffalo horns can provide long-lasting enrichment, but they are very hard.

When Is a Chew at the End of Its Lifespan?

Natural chews change with use, and there will come a point when you must take one away from your dog. Generally, you should remove a chew if:

• It has become small enough to fit comfortably inside your dog’s mouth
• It’s splintering
• Larger pieces are beginning to break away
• Their gums are bleeding
• You see other signs of dental discomfort

In short, you can’t determine the best chews for your dog based on hardness, durability, or popularity. Rather, the important thing is to match the chew with your individual dog and take the chew away when it reaches the end of its lifespan.

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