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Recently, a friend asked me what long-lasting chews I’d recommend. I laughed, then sighed because I completely get it. We live with four dogs, and I’ve become an expert at chews. I have a wide range of chews, from ones that my dogs can devour in under a minute to chews that will last for 20 minutes. If you stumbled upon this blog post looking for an option for your dogs, then keep reading.
My Dogs
Before I tell you the chews I recommend, I should tell you about my dogs.
We have four dogs that weigh between 60 pounds and 70 pounds. Our smallest dog, Rodrigo (a border collie mix), is our strongest chewer and destroyer of toys. The rest of our dogs are what I would call normal/average chewers, they take their time with their chew treats.
I share this because what works for my dogs may or may not work for your dogs. If you have a dog that can destroy an extra-tough Kong in a few seconds, then all the treats I recommend here may be short snacks for your pup. On the other hand, if you have a gentle chewer, my “short snacks” may turn into a 20-minute chewing session for your dog. Only you can determine what will or will not work.
One more thing. I’m very particular about the treats I will give my dogs. If a treat or chew isn’t listed here, then it’s because I won’t give it to my dogs.
Natural Chews that Last Under 5 Minutes
These chews are great additions to the pantry if you want to give your dogs a quick, healthy treat.
- Duck Feet (30 seconds)
- Beef Esophagus Springs
- Beams Fish Skin Chews
- Beef Trachea
Natural Chews that Last Between 5 to 10 Minutes
Need to occupy your dog's time for a little longer? Add the following to your shopping list:
Natural Chews that Last for more than 10 Minutes
The following chews are great when I'm working or on days when the dogs need a big distraction (like the Fourth of July):
- Monster Himalayan Yak Dog Chew
- Monster Braided Bully Stick
- Large Beef Collagen Braids
- Large Beef Collagen Sticks
Natural Chews for Dogs with No Teeth
I don’t have experience feeding a dog with no teeth; however, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that bully sticks or chew that requires tearing and ripping may not be ideal. So, I researched and found that the following soft chews are best for dogs with no teeth.
- Ageless Paws – Salmon
- Ageless Paws – Bison Liver
- Ageless Paws – Turkey Heart Slices
- Himalayan Yak Chew Puff Dog Treats
- Dr. Harvey's Le Dogue Bites – Beef
- Dr. Harvey's Le Dogue Bites – Chicken
Raw Paws Pet Food offers several dog treat options for dogs with no teeth, including green tripe treats.
Natural Chews for Dogs with Allergies
If you have a dog with protein sensitivities, sometimes having a chew treat every now and then won’t be a problem. And for other dogs, avoiding the protein at all costs may become important. Rodrigo has several protein sensitivities, and I’ve found that buying from trusted sources is best for him. Although he has trouble with chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef, he doesn’t have issues with treats made from these proteins. The following are chews made from alternative proteins that may work for your dog.
- Himalayan Yak Chews
- Beams Fish Skin Chews
- Polkadog Bakery Cod Skins & Haddock Skins Dog & Cat Treats
Natural Chews for Dogs with Pancreatitis
The pancreas is an organ near the stomach that helps digest food, absorb nutrients, and control blood sugar. Despite what we’ve heard about fat leading to pancreatitis, it’s not clear what causes pancreatitis. The pancreas can become inflamed due to medication, unhealthy cooked fats like bacon grease or turkey skin, or excess weight/obesity.
That being said, I haven’t had experience with pancreatitis in my dogs, but from what I understand, cooked fat or fatty treats may lead to a flare-up in the dog. I have heard from other pet parents that pork ears are a no-go for dogs with pancreatitis.
Instead, I’d lean towards chews derived from lean meat:
If my dog suffered from pancreatitis, I'd double-check with my vet before feeding green tripe treats due to the higher fat content. These may be perfectly safe, but better safe than sorry.
Natural Chews for Dogs with Kidney Disease
Often, we’ll read that dogs with kidney disease cannot handle protein treats, but this isn’t the case. It’s important to feed QUALITY proteins, which means shopping with trustworthy sources. Also, fattier meats reduce phosphorus levels.
Of course, I'm not a veterinarian, so if you are raising a dog with kidney disease, please speak with your veterinarian about which of the above chews would be a good fit for your dog.
Natural Chews I WILL NOT Give to My Dogs
Deer Antlers – naturally shed deer antlers seemed like the answer for my tough chewing dog, but Rodrigo chewed through an antler in minutes, leaving sharp pieces everywhere, and it freaked me out. I’ve tried whole and split, and neither is a good fit for my dog.
Cow Hooves – these smell awful, and I don’t like that they break up into sharp pieces. I like stuffing these with green tripe or another yummy filling, but I'd rather stuff a Kong.
I think both of these chews, the naturally shed deer antlers plus the cow hooves, would be great for my other dogs, but because of Rodrigo’s experiences, I avoid them because it’s easier to choose treats and chews that are a good fit for all of my dogs.
Don't Feel Like Shopping for Chews?
If you are busy or you're not sure what your dog would like, I have two options for you.
Real Dog Box Subscription Service – Real Dog Box is a company that provides high-quality chews and treats on a subscription basis. I've been a customer for a few years, and I love our monthly box. We get enough chews to satisfy four big dogs, and each box contains light chews, medium chews, and chews that are perfect for Rodrigo.
Real Dog Box is available in the US and will start arriving at doorsteps in Canada in May 2021.
Pawstruck Ultimate Bully Stick Variety Pack – years ago, I received the variety pack as an introduction to Pawstruck and I've been a fan ever since. This is a fantastic opportunity to see which chews work best for your dogs. It comes with 17 pieces, including bully sticks of various sizes and shapes, great for multi-dog homes.
Pawstruck Pack Subscription Box – Pawstruck.com has joined the subscription services by offering a monthly box for your chews.
Hi Kat…
Most of these won’t be in the big chain pet stores. I worry about the sourcing. If you go to a local pet store, you can ask them for recommendations because many independent pet stores do a lot of homework before brining a product into their store. Everything I get for my dogs, I get online now, but I understand the need to see it in person to make sure it’s a good fit.
This was a great post! I have been looking around for bully stick sources online, and haven’t found one with consistent reviews regarding quality. I plan to go to a store so I can see the chews in person. Any recommendations as to what to look for?
Keep up the excellent content!
Thanks for sharing. I’ll avoid those too. Rodrigo is the same, also a Border Collie mix.
I tried an Ostrich bone once for my 50 lb border collie boxer mix and the thing left really sharp shards all over the place. She didn’t get to destroy it as it was solid, but I had to take it away due to all the splintering.