Chewing on chew bones can benefit your dog’s dental health. Chewing on dog chew bones or hard toys helps scrape away plaque, which can cause bad breath and a number of potentially serious dental problems. The action of the bone against the teeth scrapes away plaque and controls tartar buildup – helping prevent periodontal disease and yellowing of teeth. Hard bones like pressed rawhide help scrape off plaque, keeping exposed surfaces smooth and harder for plaque to adhere to the enamel.

They Relieve Boredom

Not unlike humans, dogs get bored. A chew bone will entertain your dog for hours and keep his mind stimulated, which is good for dogs of all ages, especially older dogs that are not as active. Just remember, your house gets pretty dull when you are not there all day.

They Satisfy the Urge to Chew

Dogs, and especially puppies, have an innate urge to chew. Chew bones are a much better alternative to satisfying your dog’s urge to chew than the leg of your elegant dining room table or your new pair of hiking boots.

For teething puppies, chewing on a chew bone or chew toy helps stimulate the growth of adult teeth. Like human infants, the pressure on a dog’s teeth and gums from chewing on something hard help relieve discomfort from the new teeth pushing through the gums.

Choosing the Right Bone for Your Dog

Choose a bone that matches your dog’s chewing habits, including how fast he can chew up a bone. Consider size, shape, hardness, and flavor.

Some pets are very particular about the size of the chew bone you give them. Too big and they will not touch it, even though they will chew for hours on a smaller bone. Generally speaking, smaller dogs prefer smaller bones, but the reverse is not always true. Many bigger dogs ignore big bones, leading pet parents to believe, incorrectly, that bones do not interest them. Some dogs will not touch a rawhide bone that they find too big. The same rawhide in a smaller size is chewed immediately.

In addition to size, the consistency of the bone you give your dog is another factor to consider. Aggressive chewers can chew down a good size bone in a surprisingly short time. For these dogs, try giving pressed rawhide which is compressed, harder, and will last longer. Synthetic bones are also excellent choices for a long-lasting chew.

If your dog chews for short periods of time with a soft bite, a smaller rawhide bone that is easy to soften will be more enjoyable. For these dogs, also try rawhide chips, sticks, or twists. These options satisfy the urge to chew, provide just as much entertainment, and taste just as good as any chew bone. Finally, the flavor is very important to some dogs. Certain dogs like peanut butter-flavored bones while others like hickory-smoked. Again, try various types to see which flavor your dog enjoys. Remember, almost all dogs like to chew. Oftentimes, the trick is finding the right size, consistency, and flavor your pet craves. Try to find a few types your dog enjoys. When he loses interest in the one he is working on, switch to the other. This will keep your dog chewing, which is great for helping remove plaque and relieving boredom.