Puppies and adolescent dogs have a greater need to chew than do adult dogs. They have baby teeth (or teething teeth) that are razor sharp until approximately 6 months. I believe every puppy needs a Kong and this is the only product I recommend leaving them alone with. The Kong Company sells many Kong “stuffing products.” I don’t recommend these because they can contain less desirable ingredients. Try using a quality canned food with kibble, peanut butter or plain yogurt mixed with cheerios. All these combinations can be frozen which will take your dog more time to consume. Another great trick is to wet a wash cloth and freeze it. Yes, just like we do for babies! The cold helps alleviate the discomfort of the teeth pushing through the gums.

 Once puppies have their adult teeth they can have antlers and raw meaty bones. They love to chew on deer, elk and even moose antlers. Antlers are as hard as bone and won’t splinter, but they must be fresh. The best raw meaty bones are the dense weight baring ones. They love to get the meat off of the outside and the marrow from the inside. Options are the femur bone from cows and buffalo. These can get messy so either put your dog outside or designate an area in the house that you can spread an old comforter out and let him go to town! Raw meaty bones will give your dog hours of chewing pleasure you some “doggie down time” as well! After your dog has spent hours on their bone it will be so clean you would have thought it were a store bought bleached one. This bone will still be safe to chew on for another week or two and clean enough to be carried throughout the house.

  Another great chew that is totally natural, digestible and won’t stain your carpet is the “Bullie Stick” These are literally stretched and dried bull penises cut into many various sizes for different sized dogs. They love them as well as other types of body parts such as trachea’s, pig ears, cow hooves etc. There is always rawhide as an option depending on the type of chewer you have on your hands. I recommend the Wholesome Hide Brand. Although choking or intestinal obstruction with rawhide is a potential risk, it’s quite rare, and can be avoided with a little common-sense. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as an indestructible chew or toy.

There are many products available that are marketed as edible and non-edible dental chews. Please, use extreme caution before choosing any of these. Remember that companies are very skilled at making a product appear safe and wholesome. Read every single ingredient and buy made in the good old USA only, for many apparent reasons.

 All dogs big and small have a natural instinct to chew and exercise. If we inhibit them from this it could manifest into other behavioral problems. Simply put “let your dog be a dog!”