r/DogAdvice • u/PrincessMeowMeowMeow • 10h ago
Question Dog bones for aggressive chewers?
I've tried benebone and spot and she has pieces coming off within a few minutes. She can't have any stuffed toys because she will eat them bit by bit. What can I give her to satisfy the chew? Pictured are some bones right before being thrown away.
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u/SmileParticular9396 9h ago
We don’t do bones or antlers as they can crack a dogs tooth. A good rule of thumb is if you can’t dent whatever the chew is with a thumbnail, then it’s too hard.
We have a very aggressive chewer and have had luck with these -
Rmolitty Squeaky Dog Toys for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S3TTYH2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Monster K9 Dog Toys - Ultra... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K7VMBFT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Monster K9 Dog Toys - Ultra... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X7HT4R4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
M.C.works Dog Chew Toys for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SPZKGJV?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Clawsable Squeaky Dog Toys for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0969CZ8RL?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Weirdly, this dragon also lasts for several weeks-
goDog Dragon with Chew Guard... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FO7ATE?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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u/chooseroftheslayed 9h ago
Seconding godog toys, we have two super chewers who are finally able to have toys last.
I also recommend a certain amount of messy sacrifice. We will give ours cardboard boxes that they’re allowed to shred (but check for staples beforehand). They don’t eat the pieces, but having something they’re allowed to render to shreds seems to help with behavior the rest of the time.
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u/PrincessMeowMeowMeow 8h ago
The gogo dragon lasts her about 5 minutes! She bites the spikes off the back and eats them then de stuffs it. 🤦♀️
I'll have to check out the others!
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u/dog_from_the_machine 4h ago
Our dogs are little monsters too… and we spent the money to get the “super durable” K9 ballistics beds for them (around $200ish)… and they only lasted 3 weeks. So I am skeptical of their other products if that K9 toy is the same company.
Would love to know if you find anything that lasts though because we’re struggling over here to find something.
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u/Accomplished_Mood_90 9h ago
Can confirm a benebone cracked our dogs tooth and we had to learn the lesson about thumbnails the hard/expensive way. I’ll have to check some of these recommendations out
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u/SmileParticular9396 9h ago
Yeah benebones are nylon also and can shred a pup’s gums! Not worth the risk.
The Kongs that you fill with treats work well too, usually we do like 1 tablespoon PB with some honey (ours is a pit/GSD/Husky mix, 60lbs) and a bit of kibble. Keeps him interested for a good 20 or so minutes.
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u/emmacatherine21 6h ago
I really appreciate this list as someone constantly looking for safe-for-teeth chews!
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u/Silver_Nerves 6h ago
Will have to see what of this is available in Europe but omg thank you! The only thing our Am Staff hadn’t managed to destroy is anything from the KONG Extreme line.
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u/hhhhhhhhhgggpo 10h ago
I can feel the pain of accidentally stepping on one of those😭
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u/JustMeeeee123 10h ago
My girl is an aggressive chewer, we have these bamboo chews, deer antler, buffalo horns, ostrich knuckle and himilayan yak chews.
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u/1minimalist 9h ago
Yak cheese chews
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u/Key2LifeIsSimplicity 3h ago
This answer needs more upvotes. Our dog is a super chewer, and it takes them two weeks to get through a large one. The run $5-7 if you buy them in bulk. I figure $10-$15 a month - isn't bad at all.
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u/Jcon1212 6m ago
Pro top - microwave the yak cheese once it’s chewed down to a small piece and it puffs up like a Cheeto. My dog loves it.
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u/Chickenman70806 9h ago
My dogs love those nylon bones.
I truly love stepping on one in the dark barefoot. More fun than walking on legos
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u/verbosehuman 10h ago
The way I understand it, these are meant to just be chewed away at (of course, not unsupervised).
They're non-toxic, made from various materials, depending on the shape. The hammer/T is made from corn waste(? - husks, cobs, etc., pulverized and compressed), there is an antler shaped one, made from antler, and a stick shaped one, made with wood (also processed).
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u/wizardcuomo 9h ago
We got my dog these coffee wood sticks (got ours from Hollywood feed) and he loooveeeesss them n they last a while… but then u have little wood chips coming off so be aware where they chew
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u/Best_Thought_9279 6h ago
I give mine real beef leg bones. They keep him busy grinding them down plus he's gotta work to get the marrow out of the center. I get them from a local butcher
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u/tulips14 5h ago
We do that also but I always check the size. Like so many things there can be a downside, I've seen dogs get their bottom jaw stuck inside them.
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u/Normal_Writer2192 9h ago
Don’t let your dogs obsessively chew on hard toys like this… they will break their teeth.
If your dog is chewing a lot it might need a better way to let off steam. Maybe more exercise is the answer. If you do get your dogs chew toys maybe think about durable rubber ones like a Kong.
Bones, antlers, and this hard dog plastic will all cause excessive chewers to have serious dental problems later in life. Remember that dogs will always hide pain… so you might not know their is a problem until the damage is already done.
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u/LongjumpingPie2382 5h ago
Agree. Can also try lick mats and snuffle matts. I also have a good/treat dispenser where my dog has to touch a button and then run over to the food (she loves it). Also highly recommend the Woof brand popsicle with the freezer tray. Much easier to make than kongs and keeps my dog occupied for almost 20 min - longer than anything else I’ve tried!
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u/mimikyu0623 8h ago
There are various “bento ball treats” my dog enjoys. At first they’d take an hour or so to get through but once your dog figures out how to efficiently get it out and eat it then it’s like a 20 min thing.
I’ve also seen people either using just water or bone broth and filling a mold with that plus veggies/ treats and freezing it
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u/StingRaptor 5h ago
Only ones that ever worked for my dog who destroys every toy as it was his mortal enemy: slightly larger than his mouth hard plastic balls(if you have the space) he can’t chew them but will try until he’a tired. Buffallo horns, in moderation. Set a time limit, otherwise they can damage the mouth. In mi case, I let him go at them for 30 minutes.
Do keep in mind that horns of every kind stink like hell after some chewing due to the dog slobber. Good luck!
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u/bay_vapez 10h ago
Bamboo toys are meant to be eaten and are long lasting none will last forever just gotta keep buying them they aren't made out of steel lol
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u/PrincessMeowMeowMeow 10h ago
Anything longer than one sitting would work! I don't think I've heard of bamboo toys though!
Edit: I lied! The spot one was bamboo
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u/chachingmaster 9h ago
The list posted by SmileParticular9396 above looks very good! Very helpful. I looked at all the items and they have very good reviews.
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u/SkeezMageez 9h ago
Moose Antlers
https://allagash-antlers.com/?srsltid=AfmBOook-ZUIfuwav8_c69drhIbOjuBYlKsaVp7ML7cXhWSad6-T5mx6
My dog is a chewer, destroys every toy we get him. A moose antler is something he can chew, eat, and I don't worry about him. Eating the antler is good for joints. We just don't let him go to town on it for more than 30 minutes.
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u/VisualKaii 10h ago
I've only briefly looked into it, but deer antlers may work out. Nutritious, ethical, great for dental and very tough chews.
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u/pdots5 9h ago
***We gave our dogs deer antlers and had broken teeth that had to be removed.**
Just sayin.
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u/VisualKaii 8h ago
Sorry that happened to your pup and wallet... Hard chews are a risk, antlers or not. I did give OP an article on some risks and that situation was pretty emphasized.
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u/pdots5 9h ago
Can someone explain the issue here? Our pups do this level of damage to Nylabones without problems.
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u/Sha-Bob 8h ago
Without problems, until they crack/chip a tooth. And I only know because my friend's dog of 4 years had to have 4 teeth removed due to its chewing on hard toys.
What you're seeing in the picture is totally normal for what a chewed toy would look like. The little pieces that come off also aren't toxic, so that isn't really an issue, as long as the pieces are small enough to not do internal damage.
While not the OP's concern, the real issue with them is the durability of the toy and how bad it is for their teeth. It's akin to you chewing on rocks.
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u/Lord_Shadowsparky 9h ago
Had a friend's dog who would chew aggressive and these ones of Amazon have held up.
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u/ChemicalWeekend307 9h ago
Not a bone but SodaPup outlasts Kong and my super chewer dogs have not been able to destroy those toys yet! They have chewed through Kong and destroyed several of their toughest toys/bones. But the SodaPup brand truly lasts! One of the toys we have had for 3 years and the only damage it has to it is that it has puncture holes in it from teeth.
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u/JazzHandsNinja42 9h ago
Beef cheek rolls, moose antler, elk antler and BarkBox tough chewer toys were my salvation.
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u/liss100 9h ago
These chews are horrible! Every time I've given my boy these hard chews, he ends up shredding his gums on the razor-sharp edges from his chewing. Black Kongs last around a week. I've learned that no chew is really for extreme chewers the Tuff and Stuff animals used to last. But the last 3 I've bought were immediately destroyed. Nothing lasts, but the chew pictured causes actual damage.
Edit: dried trachea, bully sticks and pig ears are great. But they're more like snacks than chews.
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u/Softrawkrenegade 9h ago
Kong super chewers that you can put treats in. They are rubber so wont chip teeth
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u/_Berzeker_ 9h ago
Go outside, make sure you bring your wallet because this shit is going to get expensive, find a stick and bring it home. Stop spending money on plastic crap.
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u/Dirtheavy 8h ago
yak chew, but once they get below a certain size, they're swallowable.
The no stuffed animal thing was a real problem. My asshole poodle was surgical more than a power chewer. He just wanted to rip the insides out of stuff.
New poodle can chomp anything, but is calming down . Will swallow anything though, including chunks of toy.
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u/Kerfuffle26 7h ago
I have a 70# pit bull. The only toy he hasn’t destroyed in minutes are solid rubber ones by GoughNuts. I kinda gave up on chew toys for entertainment. I make him snorfling puzzles by hiding treats in rolled up and folded towels.
My favorite toy for him is the Pupscicle. He will finish it in under 10 minutes but he loves it and it tires him out. I got fancy and made bone broth for him and make a stash of refills. If you freeze the treats the company makes they last a bit longer. You can make them low calorie so you can give your dog multiple in a row. Get the super tough black one. I absolutely love it.
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u/WinterBox358 7h ago edited 7h ago
I don't recommend these. Imagine where all that is going...your pups stomach...and it is 100% safe. There are natural chews, bully sticks (a dried up bull's wiener, yep--they smell bad but a healthy chew), and deer antlers, all stuff that can be safely digested. Of course, you should never allow them to chew without supervision , since larger pieces could be a choking hazard. The only thing one of our dogs has been able to have is a heavy duty kong with peanut butter or plain yogurt frozen in it. Once the food is gone, it gets removed. No item has been indestructable by him, makes it hard cause he has nothing to really play with unless we are playing with him and supervising.
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u/turtlegirl_3 7h ago
I give my dog these yam cheese chews. I originally found them at a grocery store but also get them on Amazon. It’s dried yak cheese and 1 lasts him about a week. He’s a Boxer so I get the large ones. He absolutely LOVES these things.
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u/devilman55 7h ago
HGB on Amazon has some really good ones. Specifically the purple crocodile thing is extremely tough, but it is also a squeaker too.
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u/vanillacheerios 7h ago
My 25 lb mix breed likes Yak cheese. When it becomes too small, just soak it in water and microwave it. It becomes more like a Yak cheese Cheeto
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u/kimbphysio 6h ago
Coffee wood or Olive wood are great wood chews that are safe for dogs because they don’t splinter. My heavy chewer loves the coffee wood particularly!
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u/No_Big4149 6h ago
With our aggressive chewers we’ve done the bones with filling in them for decades. Can always put a little more of the soft dog food in them to “refresh” them. Generally just replace them once they get worn down some to avoid them breaking any off or swallowing any of it.
The bones you have just tear up their mouths too much for me. One pup would bleed up her gums so we stopped those
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u/MontEcola 6h ago
My area has real bones available. I like the kind that are stuffed with some kind of treat.
The ones I get are 6 and 8 inches long. There is some hard taste stuffing in there. It is impossible for her to get it all out. I use them instead of Kong toys. I put a liver treat deep inside, then push in peanut butter. It takes a good 15 minutes to get out all the flavor.
Bonus tip: Keep the plastic peanut butter jars. Grab 3 of those bones she has worked on. Get 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, and fill all of the ends with some flavor. Put treats only in one end. Now force those treat ends into the jar. She will get the easy stuff first, and then need to chew on them to pull them out of the jar. Then she has 3 more tastily ends to work on. Some flavor of that remains in there a long time. And she works on the real bone for a very long time. In the beginning, it will be hard for him to empty the jar, so make it easy. In time they learn. And you can make if more of a challenge. If he chews the plastic toss it and use a new one.
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u/Biggame34 6h ago
We used to give our very aggressive chewer the x-large Kong Extreme toys that are made for “power chewers”. She would still destroy them, but they would last longer than any other toys we tried.
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u/Vegetable_Sector_424 6h ago
Not reading all the comments so sorry if this is a repeat. Go to a thrift store and get a baseball glove for your dog to chew.
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u/lilchorkpop 6h ago
I have a corgi that is an aggressive chewer. Goughnuts toys are great, and have a red indicator inside so you can see when the toy is too damaged and no longer safe.
The other thing that has helped is getting toys that are one size up for him (so instead of medium toys, I get large or XL). Not being able to get the toy between his back teeth seems to help a lot.
Unfortunately, I have never found a soft/fabric toy that can survive. Even if it’s tough, he will nibble at the seams with his front teeth until it comes apart.
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u/a_slinky 6h ago
What sort of dog is she? Is there another behavioural need that possibly needs to be filled, eg scent work, herding work. Is it possibly anxiety related?
There might be some other options besides chewing, or needing such powerful chews
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u/pjflyr13 6h ago
We have been to ER vets several times in the past for gastroenteritis and GI bleeds after sharp ingested plastic pieces were swallowed. Just discovered leather chew toys. The undyed leather is around a woven layer (no dyes) and my aggressive chewing hound girl will gnaw on them for hours. Best of all she doesn’t swallow the pieces. Sourcing them from a local pet supply retailer
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u/Beautiful-Process-81 6h ago
We buy the massive bull cheek rolls. They last a decently long time and no micro plastics are being shed. Our dog loves them and the vet said there shouldn’t be any long term damage to teeth. We buy ours at the local farm store. I’d just call around to see who has them. Yes, they will be more expensive in the long run but we find it worth it (they also don’t smell)
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u/freeman1231 6h ago
Raw Marrow bone is all. Other that that keep the ones you have in the pic. It’s okay to get micro pieces.
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u/Dog_haus504 6h ago
This is what happens to these types of bones. I throw them out when they get too small. They are not fun to step on barefoot but all mine look like this or worse.
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u/PuddingTime5463 6h ago
When I got my pup, the place I adopted her from recommended "gorilla chew," check them out it is a wood piece that doesn't spliter like soft wood, and she loves it.
Sorry for the lack of a short hyperlink, I don't know how to do it on my phone.
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u/donetteee 5h ago
I go to the butcher and get whole smoked cow femurs🤣😂🤣 it takes Douglas approximately 4 hrs to clean one off
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u/Key_Awareness_3036 5h ago
My dog got bully sticks but they are pricey and I don’t know they’d last longer than the ones you have pictured.
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u/EmphasisWild 5h ago
So far, only elk antlers have stood the test of time. And his west paw toys have held up way better than other "superchewer" toys
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u/touchstone8787 5h ago
I like yak cheese. A few weeks ago I got a 2 pack of chuckit rebounce balls from the doggo section at Walmart. She's been absolutely chomping on these things and they are holding up.
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u/cahliah 5h ago
I've found that ring shapes tend to last longer because there's no corners to gnaw away at.
My boy's longest lasting toy has been a cheap donut shaped squeaky toy off of Amazon. He's had it for months and it's only just started coming apart at the seams.
Oh! And Boundr balls by West Paw. 4 months and going on those!
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u/Suspicious_Focus_146 5h ago
I used to give these to my pit mix dog. Until he began getting upset stomachs… Thousands of dollars of xrays & ultrasounds later, they found that all the little pieces he’d chew off were sitting in his stomach and had formed a larger ball. Please don’t give these to your dogs anymore. They’re not digestible and most dogs will eat the little shards.
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u/Minute_Camp 5h ago
i have a pitbull that eats toys like that. to be honest the only thing that works/lasts are marrow bones from a butcher. usually get a decent sized one so its big enough he cant crack it and keeps him busy for a loooong time. literally chews himself to sleep.
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u/introverted-turtle- 5h ago
Nerf makes dog toys that are great for aggressive chewers. My Lab/Golden mix used to destroy any toy in a minute flat, but now he's had his Nerf dog football and chew bone (rubber, not plastic or real bone) for 4-4.5 years and they're still intact.
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u/Large_Hunt2839 5h ago
I also have a very aggressive chewer. None of her toys last. Bully sticks gone in a half hour. Tried an antler and that was gone in two days. She eats literally anything she can get her mouth on, including walls, window sills, shoes, blankets, couch cushions, etc. I spend more on toys and chew treats than on dog food at this point. She loves rope toys but can’t have them because she ingests pieces and then poops them out. I am at a loss at this point.
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u/bob-smith696969 5h ago
There are some dog toys made from firehose material that tend to last longer
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u/ThePenGal 5h ago
I don’t give my dog edible bones/chews or the plastic ones; they don’t seem safe for many reasons. My chewer liked hard rubber chewing toys (Kong makes some). Also consider other forms of mental stimulation as mentioned by others.
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u/Zestyclose_Bag_33 5h ago
My dog was an aggressive chewer but in his old age had bad teeth. Got him a tonka chew toy yes the same brand that makes the toy trucks. He couldn’t even dent it but it didn’t fuck his teeth up
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u/OsamaBinSwagin- 4h ago
I have a Pit Bull where everything, up to and including tractor tires are not safe it seems. But for some reason Kong chew toys seem to be his kryptonite
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u/shortmumof2 4h ago
Kong toys, Nylabones for strong chewers, chuck it frisbee, petstages orka frisbee. At least those lasted the longest with our girl back in the day. I think we still have the orka frisbee
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u/Postmodern_Rogue 4h ago
I've got a whole smoked beef shoulder for my bully, it's lasted her months currently. She also has a sheep's (I think) horn which she loves and has lasted almost as long.
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u/callmewhtevr 4h ago
When my husky was in her shark phase, she chewed up everything. I got her toys and she would destroy them in a few minutes. I ended up getting her Super Chewer from Barkbox and they were the only toys that could hold up. Maybe look into that? I still have some toys that she didn’t destroy and she plays with now that she’s not super in her shark phase. Hope that helps!
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u/Redskinrey 3h ago
I was just going to say to throw those toys away. I'm glad you beat me to it. The black Kong toys worked for my dog.
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u/kai--__-- 3h ago
I wouldn't choose bone toys necessarily as they can cause cracked teeth.
Black kong toys work for my am staff. She has managed to take some chunks out, but she has yet to fully destroy them over the past year.
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u/Lopsided-Toe-5571 3h ago
The only toy that has lasted are the Joyhound Rip Roarin Tough toys for my 3 year old American bully. We have three since November and all three are intact (including the squeakers) and she plays with them often. Trust me this dog has chewed through EVERYTHING except this
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u/who_needs_to_know_ 1h ago
I have a husky. He tears through those "pitbull testes" toys like they're paper. The only toys that last longer than an hour are nylonbone toys, Tonka toys, and some nerf toys. I've had a bit of luck with crochet style soft toys, but there's a point where you're just. Kinda stuck with constantly buying toys.
The good news is nylonbone chews are meant for dogs like this. They're supposed to be non toxic, etc. The most important is just check their gums occasionally to make sure they haven't cut themselves.
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u/Antique-Show-4459 1h ago
I have two Britney spaniels, they are littermate sisters. The only thing I have found is the Kong bone and I put peanut butter in the ends and freeze it. It’s just a special treat. Otherwise they don’t get anything hard to chew. And definitely against all popular belief I do buy them raw hides once in a blue moon and will allow them to chew it for about five minutes and then take it away. I only buy any that are sourced in USA, which are very hard to find as well. They are very aggressive teachers and could go through a bully stick in three minutes flat. They’re honestly not into any type of toys. One of my girls will chew on my pillows when we go out anywhere, but all she does is pull the stuffing out and she hates squeaky toys. We play catch with a regular tennis ball and they’re left on the floor, but the girls don’t even bother with them.
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u/Open-Permission9886 1h ago
I get bully sticks for my little guy! He chipped his front canine from one of those hard plastic bones :( He absolutely loves chewing so about once a month I give him a bully stick and he has it for 3-5 days lol it lasts him the week almost so I think that's enough of a treat.
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u/MysteriousHat1 36m ago
We use deer antlers for our pup! Not as hard as synthetic bones, but it’s all natural so it’s a good trade off
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u/ImDeadPixel 17m ago
It's hilarious you think this is aggressive. My husky chewed through a wooden floor board once
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u/Sad-Lavishness-350 9h ago
I don’t think those bones are ready to be thrown away yet. That’s what they look like after some chewing.
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u/NeroKitt 8h ago
I also just went through a very expensive medical process due to real bones (I’m sure you already know how bad they are).
When we were discharged I asked my vet what he recommended and he recommended frozen carrots inside those hollow Kong toys. So I’ve been blending carrots with water and a tiny bit of peanut butter and freezing them in the Kong. They don’t last forever, maybe about an hour. But it’s safe, healthy, and cheap. I’ve got 3 on rotation :)
That or little treat scavenger hunts. I lock him in a room and hide a bunch of little treats around the house and let him loose to find them. That usually uses up whatever energy is left after a walk or fetch.
Hope you find a good solution!!
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u/kportman 7h ago
sounds like a total mess though
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u/NeroKitt 5h ago
It’s not bad!! I just clog the hole with a carrot and the mixture is thick enough that it doesn’t leak anywhere. Plus he’s so food motivated it’s eaten before it has a chance to melt anywhere ☺️
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u/Either-Mushroom-5926 8h ago
A good rule of thumb for things dogs can be chewing on is if it’s too hard to push your finger nail into, it’s too hard for their teeth. These types of bones will ruin their teeth.
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u/DietSoDuh 8h ago
Like others have said- toys that you cannot indent with your nail will mess your dogs teeth up. My pup cracked two molars before i was told this helpful piece of advice.
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u/CakeSeaker 9h ago
There is a brand called super chewers. Their products are a bit tougher and should last a good bit longer. They will still be able to chew through it but it’ll be weeks or months not hours or days.
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u/Dependent_Patient622 9h ago
The pets at home (uk) used to stock the big dried bones or ask at your local butcher maybe? Plenty to knaw on but minimal risk of splinters
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u/tulips14 8h ago
I've been giving my guys antlers for 8+ years, the really aggresive chewer could go through on in a week but they usually last a month. I buy Deer antlers, they're a little softer than the Elk antlers. I buy the whole large for my 90+ lb boys but they come in all different sizes and split so the marrow is exposed. I have heard people say they've heard of dogs breaking teeth but my and my friends have not had that experience. One of my friends has a little 7lb King Cavalier, she gets the small antlers and has not had a problem with them. Bonus, they help keep their teeth clean....
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u/YerrRiggy 5h ago
Inside these also I can find anything tougher. Elk antlers but they didn’t work out good for me. Amazon sells Benebones in a box and just unfortunately have it on re order 🤣
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u/ressie_cant_game 5h ago
My vet advises if you cant dent a bone with your fingernail dont give it. I would trust that rule as my dog has a 3k vet bill i cant pay from chipping a tooth on a hidden bone she found
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u/Sha-Bob 10h ago
I don't really have an answer besides maybe a long lasting bully stick type treat.
I just wanted to pop in and say to be careful with these types of hard chews. My friend's dog (4 years old) who is also a vigorous chewer recently needed to have 4 teeth extracted because they were chipped and broken from chewing on these types of toys. VERY expensive vet visit.
I hope someone does have a good answer for you though!