Edited by: Mike Powell
Reviewed by: Abby TexasLast Update:
As every proud dog parent knows, pups have quirky, sweet, and just plain funny habits that keep us entertained and build loving bonds between pet and human.
We are less likely to admit to our dog’s annoying habits but they’re there too, and one of the most destructive of these is chewing … On everything.
The best dog bones for aggressive chewers will keep your pup’s jaws strong, help keep tartar off their teeth, and have a nice taste while they’re chewing, unlike the furniture.
You should look for one made from all-natural ingredients, with a high degree of safety, and that will last a while.
Table of Contents
9 Best Chews & Dog Bones For Aggressive Chewers
Himalayan Gold Yak Chews
Most Durable: Very durable and long-lasting
PROS
- Completely natural, organic recipe
- Delicious, unusual flavor
- Very durable and long-lasting
- End pieces can be microwaved to create a small puffy snack
CONS
- Slightly pricey
These chews stand out from the crowd because they’re quite different from the others. They’re limited ingredient and made in Nepal using an ancient cheese recipe. They’re gluten and lactose-free, and don’t have an odor, which is always helpful for the humans involved.
They’re perfectly safe and healthy for your pooch to chew on, and with the durability of these sticks, he’ll be chewing for a good long time.
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Quality, All-Natural Ingredients
There are only four ingredients in this monster of a chew, and those are yak’s milk, cow’s milk, salt, and lime juice. The milks are processed to remove the lactose, which makes these safe for dogs with more sensitive tummies. The process is perfectly natural, and you can read about it in more detail here. There is a tiny sprinkle of salt and a dash of lime juice – enough to add some flavor and help keep the chews naturally preserved.
Long-Lasting & No Waste
You wouldn’t think that a block of cheese would take a while for a dog to plow through, but this is a hard cheese recipe, so it will last a good long time, between chewing and licking.
Another awesome thing about this product is that there’s no waste – it’s all digestible, and the end piece that’s left after some hard chewing can be popped into the microwave to create a puffed-up bite-sized yak snack.
PROS
- Contains pieces of tendons and meat on the bone too
- Source of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids
- Slow-roasted and naturally smoked for great flavor
- Protein-rich
CONS
- Although carefully prepared, cooked bones can always pose slightly more risk than raw
- Not suitable for small breed dogs
Although the argument for natural bones is a controversial one, this list wouldn’t be complete without a real bone option. While raw bones are always option number one when it comes to dog treats, these bones have been roasted and smoked and are guaranteed to be fully digestible.
If you don’t like the idea of feeding your pup something cooked, raw bones from your own meat or the local butcher work great.
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Slow-Roasted & Smoked
These shin bones are slow-roasted, and naturally smoked, which give them a punch of flavor. They aren’t just bare bones either – you’ll find bits of meat and tendon on them too for some extra meatiness.
They’re filled with calcium-rich bone marrow and are a natural, healthy source of Omega fatty acids and various vitamins and minerals, helping not only to keep your dog’s teeth cleaner, but also their immune system bolstered.
Safe For Most Dogs, Best For Medium & Large
There is literally only one ingredient in these shin bones, so even dogs who have more sensitive stomachs should be totally fine chewing on these.
The size of them, though, may make chewing more of a chore for small breeds, so it’s suggested that these are given to medium or large breeds rather.
SmartBones Peanut Butter Chews
Best For All Sizes: Suitable for pups of any breed or size
PROS
- Suitable for pups of any breed or size
- Available in small, medium, and large
- Highly digestible alternative to rawhide
- Enriched with vitamins and minerals
CONS
- Made in Vietnam, which may be a factor for some but we consider them to be great quality and perfectly healthy
- Contain artificial colors
- High in calories (320 per chew) so be careful to make sure this fits into your dog’s diet
Coming in small, medium, and large sizes, these rawhide-alternative treats are great for dogs of all sizes, breeds, and ages. They come in a shape that is similar to most rawhide bones, but they’re safer and tastier than their rawhide counterparts. And let’s be honest – which dog can resist a chewable treat that peanut butter flavored?
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Great Rawhide Alternative
Rawhide was once a common option for dog chews, but it’s becoming less and less so as dangers are being found out. These chews are the best alternative to rawhide we can find – and they’re super safe, help dental health, and are an amazing flavor.
They’re 99% digestible and contain real chicken, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, and peanut butter, making these pretty healthy chews too.
Made In Vietnam
While there are numerous warnings against buying dog products that are mass-produced in China, these treats are well-made, healthy, and recommended. They may be made in an unusual place, but they tick all the boxes of a good treat.
The only thing we can point a finger at is the fact that it contains a little ingredient called FD&C Red 40, which is a red-colored dye that is synthetically derived. Although it isn’t in high dosages, we can’t say that this chew is free from artificial colors.
Pawstruck Monster Braided Bully
Best For Large Breeds: High in protein
PROS
- 8-in-1 bully stick that is far more durable than average
- Made from all natural beef pizzle (yes… pizzle)
- Completely natural and safe to chew on
- Available in 9”, 7”, and 4”
CONS
- Slightly pricey
- If your dog is a hectic chewer, this may not last as long as you expect
If you have a large breed dog that likes to chew, you know how destructive those big teeth can be. This monster chew was designed specifically to cater for big mouths with big, itchy teeth – this is a braid containing 8 bully sticks in one, which should keep your big guy busy for hours.
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High-Protein
These giant braided bully sticks contain plenty of real beef, which makes them a protein-rich product. Of course, unless your pup is on a real mission, they likely won’t be eating the whole thing in one go.
If they’re likely to chew through it in a day, though, it’s worth remembering that this is extra calories on top of his usual kibble. It’s a good idea, therefore, to not leave too many of these around for your pup to get his teeth on any time he wants, or you’ll have an overweight pup before you know it!
All-Natural
There is only one ingredient in this jumbo chew – beef pizzle. If you aren’t sure what pizzle is Googling it may put you off, but we can assure you it’s fantastic protein for your pup and is as natural as they come.
There are no artificial ingredients, no chemical additives, and no hormones in these, so you can give it to your chewer guilt-free.
PROS
- Naturally shed, meaning no animals were harmed to make this chew
- Unprocessed, with no chemicals or artificial ingredients
- Cleans your pup’s teeth as they chew
- Incredibly durable
CONS
- If you are against dogs eating raw bones, this product may not be for you
- Not entirely edible (although packed with nutrients)
Antlers are a superb choice of natural chew. They are a type of bone, so they’re all-natural and these ones are naturally shed, meaning no animals were hurt in order for your pooch to get an antler chew bone. The dark brown colour of these indicates that they are A-grade antlers, nd haven’t dried out in the sun.
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A Different Kind Of Bone
If you aren’t sure exactly what your pup will be chewing on, there’s nothing at all to worry about. These antlers are just like bone, so they’ll give your fluff a lovely chewing session and clean their teeth while they’re at it.
They serve exactly the same purpose as a normal bone, so you don’t need to worry about this being something weird. The difference between an antler and a bone is that animals don’t need to die for an antler to become a dog chew – antlers are shed in the springtime, so this makes for a really eco-friendly product too.
Nutrients in Antlers
There’s a whole lot of nutrient-rich bone marrow inside these antlers, and they’re a natural source of calcium, phosphorous, glucosamine, and chondroitin, as well as some other vitamins and minerals.
Antlers generally come in the deer or elk variety. Deer antlers are usually a thicker layer of bone, while elk antlers have less to chew through before getting to the marrow. It doesn’t really matter which you choose, though. They both have the same chewing and teeth cleaning benefits.
NBone Puppy Teething Rings
Best For Puppies: Eases teething pain safely
PROS
- Eases teething pain safely
- All-natural and fully edible
- Added DHA, which is great to see in a puppy-specific product
- Ring shape makes it easy for paws to hold onto while chewing
CONS
- Make sure not to overdo the calcium – check this carefully in conjunction with your puppy’s kibble
These chewy and nutritious rings will not only help your pup’s teething pain, but they’ll also provide a nice little dose of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that will help your pup’s growing process.
Teething can be a stressful time, especially as puppies can’t tell us when their mouth is sore and so they simply chew on whatever is closest to relieve it. Not only can this make your puppy feel a little down, but it can also cause much unhappiness amongst humans if something important gets ripped apart by puppy teeth!
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All-Natural Product
There’s some real chicken in this ring, as well as cranberries which add to flavor and color. Cinnamon and turmeric are great additions, as both have anti-inflammatory properties, and cinnamon is known to be a natural pain-reliever.
Puppy-Specific
In addition to the benefits involving teething, these chews contain some good ingredients that are quite specific to a puppy’s health. Added calcium is always great, to help bones grow strong. It’s essential to make sure that this doesn’t throw the calcium/phosphorus ratio out of whack though.
It also contains a little dash of DHA, which is an amino acid that helps a puppy’s eyes and brain develop the way they should. This is super to find in something like a chew, as it will add an extra little dose on top of what’s in your pup’s kibble.
Benebone Real Flavour Wishbone
Best Non-Edible: Deliciously flavoured using whole food sources
PROS
- Available in 5 sizes, from “Tiny” to “Giant”
- Deliciously flavoured using whole food sources
- Deliciously flavored using whole food sources
- Unique design makes it easy for your pooch to grip while chewing
CONS
- May cause allergies in dogs who are sensitive to chicken, pork, peanuts, or nylon
Although a fully edible bone or chew is the best option (just to be on the safe side), it’s not always possible to use one, especially if your dog is a powerful chewer. There are plenty of chews out there that are inedible, and are made to last, and this one from Benebone is the best non-edible option we’ve come across on the market.
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All-Natural Flavour
Although this chew is inedible, it gets a nod for making sure it’s flavoring is all-natural and as healthy as can be. Real food is what gives this chew its flavor and smell, both of which are irresistible to dogs. The chew is packed with real bacon flavoring, so you can be sure your pooch isn’t missing out on anything.
It’s made from nylon, so it should be quite soft on your dog’s mouth. You should note, though, that some dogs may have an allergy to nylon, so monitor them carefully the first time they get their jaws on this.
Unique Shape
The Y-shape that this chew comes in was specifically designed to make it easy for your pup to hold this between their paws and still get a good chew going. It’s also almost like three chews in one, as it has three heads on it that your pup can alternate chewing on.
Pawstruck Natural Cow Hooves
Best Value For Money: Very affordable
PROS
- Hollow shape is great for stuffing with other tasty treats (be careful of piling on too many calories, though!)
- Come in a “Cheese & Bacon-Filled” variety, or plain
- Nothing artificial, no hormones or chemicals
- Come in bulk packs for a very cost-effective option
CONS
- Some pups may not enjoy the shape
Cow hooves are also all-natural, and are a great way to give your fluff a long-lasting, super-chewy, stuffable thing to help keep their chewing under control. These come in bulk packs, making them super affordable.
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Healthy & Natural
There are no artificial things, chemicals, synthetic ingredients, or hormones in these products, making them perfectly healthy for your pet. They’re another awesome alternative to rawhide, and will provide a good chew for dogs of all sizes.
They’re carefully cleaned and baked to make sure they are of the best quality for your dog to chew, and they’ll definitely give your pet’s teeth a good clean as they’re chomping, in an all-natural, wholesome way.
Can Be Stuffed
One of the fantastic things about these hooves is that they’re the perfect shape to be stuffed with goodies. Peanut butter is a great choice, and your pup will be super excited to realize they’re getting a lickable and chewable treat all in one. You can get creative here and stuff them with whatever you want!
Greenies Original Natural Dental Treats
Best For Bad Breath: Accepted by the VOCH (Veterinary Oral Health Council)
PROS
- Affordable and comes in various bulk sizes
- Highly soluble ingredients for easier digestion
- Helps keep breath fresher
- Accepted by the VOCH (Veterinary Oral Health Council)
CONS
- Contains wheat products, so may not be suitable for pups with sensitivities
- Not suitable for puppies under 6 months of age, or dogs smaller than 5 pounds
It doesn’t take much for your dog’s breath to go horribly wrong. Whether their kibble contributes to this or they simply chew on things in the garden all day, this can be a problem for any dog, as well as the humans who love them.
Nobody wants a smelly lick, so these dental treats serve the dual purpose of giving your pup something to sink his teeth into and cleaning them and freshening up his breath at the same time.
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Digestible & Soluble Ingredients
These are super digestible, which is great. They’re not as durable as some others, but they’ll still satisfy the urge to chew while smelling nice at the same time. They’ll also be easy on your dog’s tummy as the ingredients they’re comprised of are healthy and natural.
Contains Wheat
The only problem with these fresh chews is that they contain wheat products, which means that dogs who are allergic to wheat or gluten will struggle with these. Of course, even if your pup is sensitive, the fact that they won’t be chewing on these very regularly may help, so they could still have one here and there.
Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
Criteria 1 – Safety
Obviously, no pet parent wants to inadvertently feed your pooch something that is dangerous, so safety comes first when deciding on an appropriate dog chew or bone for your fluff.
The things that fall under this criteria include whether or not the bone is actually edible (many aren’t), the materials it’s made of, and whether or not there have been any recalls or reports of issues.
We’ve avoided any dog bones or chews that are made from rawhide. Although there are mixed reviews on rawhide products, we’ve chosen to avoid them as the negatives have the potential to outweigh the positives, and there are plenty of other options that have none of the potential negatives that rawhide does.
Criteria 2 – Durability
A chew that lasts a while is going to be preferable to one that is gone in a flash. If your pup is a serious chewer, you don’t want them to be going through a chew a day, or you’ll be breaking the bank just to prevent your pet chewing on the furniture or on visitors.
This depends quite a bit on your pup’s chewing style, but also largely on the materials the chew is made of. Of course, as we see in the criteria above, safety comes first here, but durability is a close second (of course, the chew needs to have the best of both worlds).
We’ve indicated which chews on this list would be best for big, powerful jaws, and which would be suitable for the little guys. The level of durability depends quite a bit on this, because you can feed the same chew to a large and a small breed, and the big guy would kill it in a couple of hours while the little one would gnaw on it for weeks.
Criteria 3 – Taste
A chew is for … Well, chewing. Although some of them are edible, the main purpose of these things is not for eating. That doesn’t mean it should be bland and boring, though.
If your pooch doesn’t like the taste of what they’re chewing on, they’re going to stop putting it in their mouth. This kind of defeats the point, so we’ve made sure that the bones and chews on this list have a decent taste (sorry, we haven’t tested them ourselves but we have it on good authority!).
The second part of this criteria is that the taste comes from a healthy source – nothing chemical or artificial. There’s no use sacrificing the healthiness of a bone or chew for the taste, so we’ve made sure the ones we’ve reviewed are not only tasty, but healthy too.
Criteria 4 – All-Natural Ingredients
All of these criteria link up in one way – they ensure that these things your dog will be chewing on are as healthy for them as possible, in all ways.
The previous three criteria are essential, but the bone or chew needs to satisfy all of those while being made from healthy, all-natural ingredients. It’s no use giving your dog a chew that is easy on the jaws, lasts for ages, tastes great,and is affordable, but is made of synthetic stuff and laden with chemicals.
Whatever products you buy for your pup, they should be promoting the good health and wellness of your pet. All-natural ingredients are a must for this, so we’ve made sure these products contain as few artificial ingredients as possible – if possible, none at all.
Criteria 5 – Affordability
Our mission is to help you help your pet by choosing the highest quality, healthiest products for them. Our secondary mission, though, is to make sure we offer something for everyone, and affordability is something that we can’t ignore.
There are plenty of amazing, high-quality products out there that will benefit your pup immensely. The prices, though, may not be suitable for everyone, and we don’t want you skipping meals so your dog can have a decent quality chew.
There are perfectly affordable products that are on-par with the top-of-the-price-range things when it comes to quality, but are far more affordable to the average person who needs to fit their pup’s daily needs into a budget.
We’ve made sure to include a variety of options here, so you don’t need to worry about this factor – no matter how much you can afford, there’ll be something healthy and beneficial for your pooch on this list.
Questions & Answers
What should I consider when choosing a bone for my dog?
You may think that dogs can chew on anything (chairs, plants, shoes, cables, and so on), so why should it matter what a bone consists of?
While it’s true that pups do tend to chomp on stuff regardless of their nutritional value, healthiness, or potential for harm, you should put some thought into the kind of bone or chew you get for your pooch.
Most of us wouldn’t let our pup gnaw on a metal bar, or a piece of glass, because we know it’s not safe and can cause them harm. Why do we neglect to make sure that things we buy for them are just as safe? While most products are not going to contain glass or things like that, the fact is, some products are simply not safe.
You should make sure the bone you choose for your pet is all-natural, contains no artificial stuff or chemicals, and is physically safe for him or her to get their mouth around. Take a look at the ingredient list and make sure nothing untoward finds its way in there.
Make sure the one you select is also durable and isn’t going to be chewed to pieces in a day or two. It should be nicely flavoured with natural flavourings, so your pup will enjoy chewing on it.
What are the benefits of bones or chews?
A good quality bone can make the difference between having intact or chewed on furniture, a dog with bad breath or good breath, and visitors who still enjoy visiting.
There are few dogs who don’t enjoy a good chewing session, so the first benefit is that your pup will most likely be super happy to have something to chomp on. The smell of the bone will most likely keep them going back to it instead of switching to the table leg after a bit, and it should be especially helpful if your pooch is a “boredom chewer”, as they’ll have a go-to chew-thing to keep them busy.
Chews generally help clean your pup’s teeth as well, so you can look forward to less smelly licks and love, as well as fewer dental problems to be dealt with (for your pup … we can’t speak for you, unless you’re chewing them too).
Can I make my own chews or bones at home for my dog?
You may not be able to make something similar to the products we’ve reviewed, but a little creativity can go a long way when it comes to fixing chewing with homemade stuff.
Things like carrots, raw bones, and jerky-like meat treats are all great to keep chewers busy. You can find recipes online for natural, healthy chews that will be good for your pup, although they may not last as long as the ones we’ve reviewed here.
Are there specific bones for specific breeds?
In terms of ingredients, there are no specifications for different breeds. The biggest thing you would need to consider is the size of the bone – you wouldn’t give a tiny pup an enormous bone because he wouldn’t be able to wrap his mouth around it. In the same vein, you wouldn’t give your large pooch a tiny chew, because it would gone in two chomps and defeat the point.
The material it is made of could also factor in here. Harder materials may be better for bigger teeth, and softer ones for the little teeth. It all depends on your pup, and you’ll know best when it comes to them
Are there any kinds of bones I should avoid feeding my dog?
Many chews on the market are non-edible and are made from ingredients and materials that can be dangerous to your pup. It’s advisable not to go with something that can’t be digested by your pup, because if he or she ends up swallowing a piece of it, you could be in for some hospital time.
Raw bones are controversial, as there have been reports of damage to teeth, tongue, and the digestive tract. Of course, this is a natural product that a canine would eat in the wild, and the same kinds of injuries could just as easily be caused by Fido chewing on a tree branch or a table, so we see no problem with raw bones.
You should, however, never give your pup a cooked bone to chew on. They tend to splinter far more easily than raw bones, and also don’t give your pup’s jaws nearly as much chewing satisfaction.
All in all, we recommend raw bones or an all-natural, high-quality, edible chew or bone.
What can cause excessive chewing?
Dogs have a natural instinct to chew on stuff that comes from way back. Their wolfy ancestors would eat only what they could find in the wild, and they also didn’t necessarily know when their next meal would arrive, so they would eat every single bit they could of the meal they’d killed.
That included the marrow inside the bones, which is super healthy and nutrient-dense. To get to the marrow, though, they’d have to chew through the hard stuff. This instinct hasn’t gone away as dogs have become domesticated, even if they don’t need those extra nutrients.
Apart from the natural desire to chew on things, there are some circumstances that can cause the chewing to get out of control and become excessive. Anxiety is a big one, as the repetitive gnawing motion will bring some comfort to your pet when he or she is feeling stressed. Separation anxiety is a common type of stress. Others include stress-reaction to thunder, other noise, other animals, or a change of environment.
Boredom is another common reason for out-of-hand chewing. If your pup is left alone for long periods of time and has nothing to stimulate his mind, he may resort to chewing on things simply to pass the time. A simple solution is to leave him enough toys and chews to keep him busy, and make sure he gets enough exercise too.
Puppies naturally chew more than adults as they are learning and teething. If you have done some analysis and none of the common reasons seem to be the cause of your dog’s chewing, there may be something medical going on. Chewing could be providing relief from dental pain, or it could be a sign of a compulsive neurological disorder. If you can’t find a likely explanation for it, it’s worth a visit to the vet for a checkup.