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Edible dog chews are a great way to treat your dog and add a bit of enrichment to their life—not to mention buy yourself a peaceful minute. But if you’re just starting your foray into dog chews or have an especially powerful chewer on your hands, it can be hard to know what kind of chew will work best.
There’s a huge range of dog chews on the market, including bully sticks, rawhide alternatives, antlers, hooves, and yak chews. All dog chews involve some level of risk—and the harder the chew, the greater that risk is. We’ve broken down the dangers and the merits of the most popular types of chews, but ultimately we think it’s up to every pet parent to decide for themselves and their pup what’s okay.
To moderate the risks of a chew, you can:
- Make sure your pup always chews under supervision
- Keep a close eye on the chew to make sure it isn’t splintering into dangerous fragments
- Take away chews that get small enough to swallow whole or use a bully stick holder
- Read manufacturer advice to get the right size for your pup’s breed and weight
We’ve rounded up our favorite edible dog chews below, with notes on durability, size, and digestibility so you can find the chew that’s right for your pup.
- Best Bully Sticks: Best Bully Sticks 6″ Angus Bully Sticks
- Best Bone Alternative: Purina Prime Bones
- Best Rawhide Alternative: Earth Animal No Hide Dog Chew
- Best Twist Sticks: DreamBone Twist Sticks
- Best Antler Chew: Bones & Chews Elk Antler Split Dog Chew
- Best Horn Chew: QT Dog Buffalo Hornz Water Buffalo Horn
- Best Hoof Chews: Redbarn Naturals Cow Hooves
- Best Dental Chews: Greenies Bursting Blueberry Dental Dog Treats
- Best Yak Chews: Downtown Pet Supply Yak Chews
- Best Beef Tendons: Nature’s Logic Beef Tendon Dog Treats
- Best Pig Ear Chews: Jack&Pup Pig Ears
- Best Dried Fish Chews: The Honest Kitchen Ocean Chews Crispy Cod Fish Skins
- Best Teething Ring: N-Bone Puppy Teething Ring
Best Bully Sticks: Best Bully Sticks 6″ Angus Bully Sticks
Though they may not have the most pleasant smell, bully sticks are medium-durability chews that get high marks from dogs for taste and from pet parents for their dental health properties and ability to engage pups. They’re typically highly digestible and palatable for even sensitive stomachs, since they’re made of a single ingredient: beef muscle.
Best Bully Sticks have historically been popular among pet parents for their quality, though most find the “odorless” claim optimistic.
Notable Features:
- Single-ingredient product
- Free from additives, chemicals, and preservatives
- 6-inch sticks suitable for most dog breeds
Best Bone Alternative: Purina Prime Bones
Purina’s Prime Bones aren’t actually bones; they’re calcium-enhanced venison chews with no rawhide or plastic, making them a popular choice for senior dogs and pups who are better suited for a slightly softer treat. While they may not last very long among the power chewers, they’re a popular pick thanks to limited ingredients and USA-based manufacturing.
Notable Features:
- Available in various flavors: wild venison, bison, and boar
- Both medium and large sizes are available
- No corn, wheat, or soy included
Best Rawhide Alternative: Earth Animal No Hide Dog Chew
Rawhide was once the king of the chew market—but it’s fallen out of favor in recent years over concerns about both digestibility and contamination. Rawhide alternatives like Earth Animal’s No Hide chews have been widely popular in their wake. These easily digestible chews are made with seven natural ingredients: beef, brown rice flour, agar-agar, organic eggs, olive oil, banana powder, pineapple stem.
While pet parents might wish they lasted longer, they still give them high marks for pup appeal and for being gentle on sensitive stomachs. These chews come in a variety of flavors and sizes but are only suitable for dogs that weigh at least 15 pounds.
Notable Features:
- Made in the USA
- Flavors include beef, chicken, peanut butter, and pork
- Free of synthetics and preservatives
Best Twist Sticks: DreamBone Twist Sticks
These twist chews are a tasty textured treat great for small breeds and low- to mid-level chewers. They’re highly digestible, relatively soft, and contain added vitamins and minerals. Their real strength, though, is their high value to dogs—pet parents and trainers swear by these for crate training and nighttime settling. Their relative affordability and comparatively modest calories are icing on the cake.
Notable Features:
- Made with real chicken
- Rawhide-free and easy to digest
- Help to keep your pup’s teeth clean
Best Antler Chew: Bones & Chews Elk Antler Split Dog Chew
Sustainable and natural, antlers are a popular choice for super chewers. Pet parents like their lack of odor, while dogs enjoy their woody taste. And while antlers can be quite pricey, they’re known for their extreme longevity—most households find they last weeks.
This Bones & Chews antler is pre-split to reveal the marrow inside—a strong selling point for pups that keeps them coming back to investigate.
Because of their toughness, antler chews pose a high risk for splintering—pet parents will want to supervise closely and regularly check the antler for frays and their pup’s gums and teeth for scrapes.
Notable Features:
- 100% natural, single-ingredient chew
- Best for adult dogs
- Not treated with chemicals, bleach, dyes, or formaldehyde
- Contain natural minerals that support bone and muscle health
Best Horn Chew: QT Dog Buffalo Hornz Water Buffalo Horn
Another long-lasting natural chew, water buffalo horns are a more affordable choice than antlers. Pet parents like that they’re high in protein and low in fat, making them a good option for dogs who are watching their weight. They’re also often high in calcium, contributing to healthy bones and muscles.
As with all hard chews, you’ll want to avoid giving horns to dogs with poor dental health and make sure to toss them immediately if they start to splinter.
Notable Features:
- High in protein and fat
- Grain-free treat
- Natural source of minerals without added preservatives
- Best suited for adult dogs
Best Hoof Chews: Redbarn Naturals Cow Hooves
Cow hooves are an all-natural, single-ingredient dog chew popular among super chewers and the antler and horn crowd. Pet parents give the size and the price of these cow hooves from Redbarn high marks but recommend a cautious approach, especially for newcomers. Cow hooves in particular tend to splinter with determined gnawing, and small pieces can be sharp.
While their durability is impressive, some pet parents find their odor a little overpowering.
Notable Features:
- Made in the USA
- Contains no additives or preservatives
- High in protein
Best Dental Chews: Greenies Bursting Blueberry Dental Dog Treats
A trusted name in the dog dental treat realm, Greenies offer chews in various shapes, sizes, and flavors—with this particular chew packing a fun blueberry addition.
Although they’re not long-lasting as many rawhide alternatives, dental chews offer a tasty reward that can be ideal for puppies, senior dogs, and pups new to the world of dog chews. Plus, they’ll help keep your pup’s breath fresh and teeth clean. We like to give them as rewards after a dreaded toothbrushing session.
Notable Features:
- Accepted by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council)
- Easy to digest
- Contains vitamins and minerals
Best Yak Chews: Downtown Pet Supply Yak Chews
We think yak chews are fascinating. These cheesy sticks are somewhere between antlers and tendons in terms of durability, and for many pups they’re a relatively long-lasting chew. Free of dyes and odor, they don’t stain carpets or couches or stink up your house.
Typically made with three ingredients—yak milk, lime, and salt—they’re also more digestible than other chews. However, not all are entirely dairy/lactose-free. These yak chews by Downtown Pet Supply, for example, also use cow’s milk. We’ve tried them ourselves and been impressed.
For pups who need a gentler chewing experience, most yak chews can be microwaved or soaked overnight to soften.
Notable Features:
- Rawhide-free and chicken-free
- Contain calcium, zinc, vitamins A, D, and E, and Omega 3
- Easily digestible
Best Beef Tendons: Nature’s Logic Beef Tendon Dog Treats
Beef tendons are usually slightly smaller than bully sticks and not quite as long-lasting. But they can offer a tasty alternative to training treats and enrichment games like scent work. Since they’re on the pricier side, buying in bulk will give you more bang for your buck.
Pet parents who have pups with food sensitivities will appreciate that these beef tendons from Nature’s Logic are single-ingredient chews, which reduces the chances of an upset stomach. Nature’s Logic sources their tendons from all-natural Midwest beef and cattle-graded USDA Prime.
Notable Features:
- Single-ingredient treat
- Long-lasting
- Family-owned business
Best Pig Ear Chews: Jack&Pup Pig Ears
Pig ears are made of cartilage, which tends to be a good option for medium chewers who don’t need the same challenge or hardness of stronger bones like hooves and antlers. They’re also easier to digest and packed with essential vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium, copper, and Vitamin B12.
They do, however, pack a caloric punch, and they can be too rich and high in fat for especially sensitive stomachs.
Notable Features:
- Single-ingredient and 100% digestible chew
- Processed in a USDA human-grade certified and inspected facility
- Suitable for all breed sizes
Best Dried Fish Chews: The Honest Kitchen Ocean Chews Crispy Cod Fish Skins
For dogs who like fish, these dried chews are made from 100% ocean cod. They’re loaded with omega threes, which help support your pup’s brain, eyes, skin, and coat. Reviewers like that they’re a single-source rawhide alternative, but not all are fans of the fish smell. And while they last longer than a dental chew, they’ll most likely be gone in one sitting.
Notable Features:
- Highly digestible
- High-protein treat
- Marketed as being safe for all life stages
Best Teething Ring: N-Bone Puppy Teething Ring
When puppies are teething, they have a seemingly insatiable need to chew. These puppy teething rings are wildly popular for slowing a young dog down and providing the gum sensation they crave. They also include calcium and DHA to help keep a little one growing strong.
Notable Features:
- Suitable for puppies 12 weeks and older, weighing over 5 pounds
- Free of wheat, corn, and soy
- Available in additional flavors: chicken, peanut butter, pumpkin, salmon, and blueberry, & BBQ
How We Chose Our Dog Chews
The dog chews featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts, including Rover’s Dog People Panel. We prioritized chews that were highly digestible and long-lasting. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
Further Reading
- Our All-Time Favorite Chew Toys To Keep Our Dogs Busy
- The 19 Best Puzzle Toys That Actually Help Bored Dogs
- I’m a Professional Dog Trainer and These Are My 8 Favorite Healthy Training Treats
