Chewing is an essential part of our dogs’ daily routine and serves to maintain healthy and clean teeth which is why it should be encouraged. However, if you want your pooch to stay away from your shoes, furniture, and carpet, you’ll need to provide them with edible chews. The best chews will help to prevent boredom, exercise their jaws, and relieve stress; lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the 14 best dog chews for your furry friend.
The Best Dog Chews
If you’re in the market for a new chew for your dog, be sure to look for any of the following, all of which contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals as well as many other essential nutrients.
1. SmartBones SmartSticks Peanut Butter
Highlights:
- Made with real vegetables, chicken, and high-quality ingredients that dogs love
- 100% free from rawhide makes it highly digestible and healthier
- 5-inch long treats that are suitable for dogs of all sizes without being a choking hazard
- Enriched with vitamins and minerals to provide plenty of health benefits
There are a lot of health concerns associated with feeding rawhide dog chews to pets. Fortunately, this vet-recommended dog chew is made from real vegetables, chicken, and other natural ingredients that will provide your dog with great taste and chewing exercises. Unlike rawhide which may cause intestinal blockage, SmartSticks by SmartBones are 99.2% digestible, making them easier to absorb compared to other premium dog food.
2. Greenies Original Regular Natural Dental Dog Treats
Highlights:
- These dental chews are made from vitamins, minerals, and more
- Uses a texture that fights plaque and tartar, promotes fresh breath, and cleans the gumline
- Recommended dog chews that are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
- Proudly made in the United States with quality ingredients from all over the world
Using Greenies Regular Dental Dog Treats, you can support your dog’s dental health; with a delicious original flavor, these are filled with a yummy chewy texture to help remove tartar and plaque. This vet-recommended contains soluble ingredients that are safe to use for your dog’s dental hygiene routine and easy to digest. Moreover, these paw-licking treats contain a wide range of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals so you can rest easy over your companion’s overall health.
3. Natural Farm 6-inch Bully Sticks
Highlights:
- These chews will last for a long time and will improve jaw health and mental stimulation
- Made with pure water and grass-fed beef inside a human-grade food facility
- Great for crate training, stimulation, focus, and to keep your dog calm
- Strengthens your dog’s mouth and helps to prevent tartar build-up for fresh breath and clean teeth
If you’re looking for the best bully sticks, look no further than the Natural Farm 6-inch Bully Sticks which are super tasty and are suitable for dogs of a variety of sizes. Made with grass-fed, free-range beef which is free from chemicals, additives, and preservatives — a healthy treat that will show your furbaby how much you love them. Finally, 51% of its packaging is made out of sustainable sugar cane for eco-friendly packaging to support a non-profit organization.
4. Amazing Dog Treats Beef Trachea Dog Chews
Highlights:
- With chondroitin and glucosamine to support movement and healthy joints.
- Packs plenty of protein and has little fat content for strong muscles
- A single-ingredient chew made from one animal compared to processed foods
- Strengthens your dog’s teeth by eliminating tartar and plaque while your dog chews
With the Amazing Dog Treats Beef Trachea 6-inch Dog Treats, you can treat your pup to crunchy goodness that’s full of glucosamine, chondroitin, and protein to enhance movement and energy. These tasty treats come from grass-fed, free-range cattle that are sure to satisfy your dog’s natural behavior for chewing. Many dog owners love how easy it is for their pup to digest and dogs will find that it helps to clean their gums and teeth, providing them with a high-quality treat!
5. The Honest Company Beams Ocean Chews
Highlights:
- With only one main ingredient, there’s not much that can go wrong with these chews
- Made from sustainably sourced, natural fish skin from Europe
- Without any GMOs, fillers, preservatives, or byproducts
- Produced inside human food facilities and with human-grade ingredients
These natural dog chews are perfect for pet owners looking for a softer chew and a healthier alternative to rawhides. With The Honest Company Beams Ocean Chews, your canine pal is sure to be kept busy; these long-lasting dog chews are both tasty and gentle on your dog’s stomach since they’re much more digestible. Made from nothing but cod skins, these are full of healthy fatty acids and protein to encourage healthy skin and coat without any of the bad stuff.
6. Redbarn Barky Bark Dog Treats
Highlights:
- This treat is low in fat and high in protein, making it a great option for health-conscious pet parents
- These natural chews only contain one ingredient which is beef
- An excellent choice for people who want to avoid giving rawhide to their dogs
- Contains no gluten, grains, corn, soy, or wheat
Redbarn’s Barky Bark Dog Treats are a nutrient-rich alternative to rawhide that’s super scrumptious and mouth-watering. Using simple ingredients, these are a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are great for dogs of all ages and are especially great for senior dogs in need of joint support. Because they’re slow-roasted, these have a nice texture just like beef jerky, along with a flavor that all dogs will love.
7. Earth Animal No-Hide Stix and Small Dog Treats
Highlights:
- Made in the US with highly digestible ingredients, so they’re safe for sensitive stomachs
- Perfect for small dogs or cats that weigh up to 10 pounds
- A great alternative to bully sticks but has a soft texture
- With a limited number of ingredients, it has no synthetic additives, chemicals, or bleaches
The Earth Animal No-Hide Stix and Small Dog Treat will keep your dog in blissful delight as it chews all day long. Perfect for smaller dogs, this natural product has been made with wholesome ingredients that are free from rawhides and packed with nutrition. These long-lasting chews are also tasty and easy to digest while being proudly made in the US using humanely raised chicken without any bleach, rawhide, synthetics, or artificial colors and flavors.
8. Nature Gnaws Natural Beef Tendon
Highlights:
- These are 100% premium beef chews that can help support ligaments and joints
- A single-ingredient treat that’s low in fats and high in proteins making them a healthy alternative to plastic bones that may have sharp edges
- Without any added chemicals or hormones which is perfect for dogs that love the smell of natural beef
- These types of chews are a good option for anxious dogs and can keep them distracted for a long time
These beef tendon chews by Nature Gnaws come in large pieces that are perfect for strong chewers that come in different sizes. Made from 100% real beef, these tasty treats are made without any artificial colors or artificial flavorings making them a better choice compared to hide chews. Each beef tendon can be a great addition to maintain your dog’s health, help with mental stimulation, or be used as a reward during training.
9. Yeti Naturals Himalayan Yak Cheese Dog Treats
Highlights:
- These yummy and cheesy treats come in small pieces to aid in better digestion
- They are safe dog chews that won’t splinter inside your dog’s body, unlike marrow bones
- Because it’s odorless, you won’t have to worry about your nose while your pup munches away
- Made from cow and yak milk which won’t stain so it’s safe to use around furniture
These yak chews by Yeti Naturals are a wonderful snack to give to large dogs; this all-natural and long-lasting treat is made using cow and yak milk for an irresistible cheesy taste. This hard cheese has been created through an age-old recipe from the Himalayan people, making these a unique snack for dogs that love adventure. Because they don’t splinter, they can be a good alternative to raw bones — they also have minimal smell and are non-staining.
10. Bundle x Joy Superfood Jerky Bars
Highlights:
- Comes in large chunks that can be broken down into smaller pieces for training
- Uses real salmon caught in the wild as its first ingredient
- Made without any soy, wheat, corn, or artificial colors and ingredients
- Proudly made in the USA
These Superfood Jerky Bars by Bundle x Joy can provide a great way to train your dogs, no matter what their size, since these can be served as is or crushed to make smaller pieces. Made using plant-based foods, your dog will love the inclusion of chia seeds, sweet potato, cranberries, and blueberries in every stage of life. These healthy dog chews are the perfect treat after eating their dog food, and you will appreciate the fact that these come without any corn, soy, wheat, or artificial additives.
11. PetHonesty Hemp Calming Fresh Sticks
Highlights:
- Good for a dog trainer to have since they help lower anxiety in pups
- Decreases hyperactivity and excessive barking
- Uses natural ingredients such as chamomile, hemp, and melatonin
- These dental treats come with a texture that helps to fight off tartar and plaque
Whenever your pup gets nervous during a visit to the vet, a thunderstorm, or while traveling, be sure to give them these PetHonesty Hemp Calming Fresh Sticks. Formulated using natural ingredients such as chamomile and hemp, they encourage pups of all sizes to keep calm. As such, they can help reduce excess energy and barking, while their unique shape can brush off tartar and plaque.
12. OraVet Hygiene Dental Chews
Highlights:
- Once-a-day chews that can help lower plaque and tartar buildup
- Formulated with human-grade ingredients such as delmopinol
- Helps prevent bacteria from attaching to teeth, which leads to bad breath
- Easily digestible and comes in a flavor that dogs will love
With these OraVet Hygiene Dental Chews, you can provide your small dog with a healthy oral routine by scrubbing away tartar and plaque. Made with delmopinol, these chews create a barrier between their teeth and bacteria to protect your pup from bad breath and any kind of build-up. Thanks to this human-grade ingredient, your dog will be able to enjoy pearly whites and fresh breath in no time!
13. Busy Bone Long-Lasting Dog Treats
Highlights:
- Using a delicious peanut butter flavor, your dog will instantly love it
- Comes with dual textures that provide a hard shell and a gooey center
- Made without any rawhide, artificial ingredients, colors, or flavors
- Long-lasting and can help to keep your pooch occupied
With the Purina Busy Bone Peanut Butter Dog Treats, you can give happy treat times to your dog; each snack comes with two great textures that your dog will wag its tail for. The hard outer shell helps to bring an extra crunch, while the soft middle allows it to savor the delicious peanut butter flavor. As your dog chews away, it will clean its teeth too; you’re sure to notice that your snuggle times are made fresher for longer!
14. Rachael Ray Nutrish Soup Dog Chews
Highlights:
- Made with real chicken and vegetables without any soy, corn, or additives
- These long-lasting chews are tasty and packed with nutrients
- Contains no animal byproducts or artificial ingredients
- Safely cooked inside human food facilities using the best ingredients
With the Rachael Ray Nutrish Soup Dog Chews, your canine companion will surely be wagging its tail with joy thanks to its rich natural chicken and vegetable flavor. These paw-licking treats are safely cooked and made with real chicken, which means there are no byproducts, artificial flavors, soy, or corn added. Your pet deserves the best, so be sure to reward it with these chews that taste like authentic soup bone in every bite!
How to Find the Best Dog Chew
Once you’re ready to look for the best dog chews in the market, there are a few considerations that you will need to think about.
Type of Dog Chew
Dog chews will come in a wide variety, which includes the following.
- Supplemental Chews: These are often used in dogs with a need for a specific vitamin, nutrient, or medication.
- Soft Chews: A soft chew will often be small enough to use as a reward.
- Long-Lasting Chews: Used to provide stress relief in the same way as plush toys
- Dental Chews: Can help prevent buildup and support oral health
- Calming Chews: Delivers calming ingredients that help with sleep and anxiety
Ingredients Used
Be sure to pay extra attention to the kind of ingredients used along with their quality; make sure that you recognize them and that these are foods your dog will want to eat such as meat and veggies. Choose organic options whenever you can and look for chews that carry a seal from third parties with high standards. Some of the most common ingredients you’ll find include trachea, tendon, gelatine, and wheat flour.
Vitamins and Minerals
When looking for the best dog chews, choose an option that provides plenty of vitamins and minerals to help support your dog’s health. However, you should also avoid ingredients such as antlers, rawhide, and bones which can become a choking hazard. No matter how they’re cooked, bones should always be avoided because they can splinter, causing digestive problems or even puncture internal organs.
Conclusion
There is a wide range of dog chews readily available in the market, but not all will be safe or helpful for your dogs, so make sure that you look into the right ones for your pet and its needs. Some chews will be able to clean their teeth, while some will surely be an experience for the senses, but no matter which you choose, be sure that it will be beneficial to your canine companion.
