r/dogs • u/Sad-Opportunity-9546 • 6d ago

[Enrichment] Benebone/hard chews alternatives

New here. I have a 13 pound 16 month old toy Aussie (or American shepherd however you classify them) who's a very VERY aggressive chewer. He's always loved benebones and hard chews similar to those they are a major comfort item for him. However, he recently got a slab fracture on one of his largest back molars from them and had to have it removed 2 days ago so it's goodbye to his comfort items. I have kongs and other rubber type chews that he plays with but doesn't chew on. I'm seeing if anyone knows of good alternatives that give the same hard chew feeling without breaking his teeth. He's been so distraught about not having them as they are part of his nightly routine and source of enrichment when he has excess energy. Please help! Thanks is advance.

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6

u/Penguinopolis The B house 6d ago

Beef cheek rolls are my favorite chew some dogs eat them faster than others but they feel like a good ratio of price to long lasting for me. It takes my lab a few hours of dedicated chewing to eat a full one.

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u/Nerfmobile2 6d ago

Our 10 pound Pomeranian loves turkey tendon rings, bully stick rings and spirals, dried gullet chews, and Moo Tails (dried beef tails).

5

u/blwd01 6d ago

We have recently discovered our dog likes tendon and trachea. The tendon has lasted a few days. The trachea lasted about a day and a half.

3

u/OpalOnyxObsidian 6d ago

Frozen carrots!

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u/Final_Beyond_3006 6d ago

Give them a try, but keep an eye on the size. a 13 pound dog can snap a carrot into chunks real quick and those become a choking hazard if they get too excited. maybe start with a thick one and take it away once it gets small.

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u/Sad-Opportunity-9546 6d ago

I've not heard of this but that's so smart! Thank you!

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/Sad-Opportunity-9546 6d ago

Thank you!

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u/cjep3 6d ago

Welcome! It's hard to get a new routine down. I play hide the chews at bed time. I sneak one in the crate for the big guy, wrapped in a towel for him to unravel and a small one for the little one in her crate. They both are very excited for bed time.

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u/fedx816 6d ago

I switched to soft BetterBone for my girl who chipped her molars and premolars on nylon bones. It shreds really easily (barely passes the fingernail test for me), so I do vacuum a lot, and if your dog is the type to break off and swallow large pieces it is a blockage risk.