What a natural chew actually is
A natural chew is made from a single raw material: dried meat, hide, tendons, fish or skin, without artificial colourings and flavourings, binders or preservatives. The difference between a natural chew and an industrial chew stick is that you can see and understand what your dog is chewing on. If the package says 'beef hide', the contents are beef hide, not a pressed mass of powder with added colouring.
This matters for a dog with a sensitive stomach or allergies, where fewer ingredients make it easier to figure out what it tolerates. The chews in this collection are single-protein, meaning one meat per product, whether it is BEEF DELIGHTS of beef, PORK DELIGHTS of pork or RABBIT DELIGHTS of rabbit. That makes them ideal to use if you want to keep an eye on how your dog reacts to a particular protein source.
Choose size and hardness based on the dog's weight and chewing strength
The most important choice is whether the chew suits your dog's jaw and chewing habits. A chew should be big enough that the dog cannot swallow it whole, but not so hard that it risks damaging the teeth. A small dog and a powerful chewer with large jaws have very different needs.
For small dogs and careful chewers, the smaller formats are suitable, for example SMALL ROLLED DELIGHTS or SMALL COD FISH DELIGHTS, which are easier to handle for a smaller jaw. For larger dogs and eager chewers, the sturdier variants such as LARGE ROLLED DELIGHTS and COW DELIGHTS last longer. If you have a small breed, you can also see the entire selection for small dogs, and if you have a large breed, you will find more at for large dogs. A good rule of thumb: If your dog can crack the chew in a few minutes, it is too small or too soft to provide a real chewing need and satisfy the instinct.
Skin, tendons, meat or fish
Natural chews fall into a few main types, and they behave differently in the mouth. Skin and hide, as in SKIN DELIGHTS and SMALL LAMB SKIN DELIGHTS, is tough and gives long chewing time, because the dog has to work its way through it layer by layer. That is the type that typically keeps a restless dog occupied the longest.
Meat and muscle, such as LAMB DELIGHTS and WILD BOAR DELIGHTS, is more tender and eaten faster, but is in turn ideal for dogs that are not hard chewers, or for older dogs with worn teeth. Fish is the third group: ICELAND FISH DELIGHTS, LARGE COD FISH DELIGHTS and NORTH SEA CHEWY FISH DELIGHTS add natural omega-3 fatty acids and are usually low in fat, which makes them a good choice if your dog needs to keep its weight down. If you want to know more about omega-3 for dogs, we have gathered it in the article about what is omega 3.
How chewing cares for the teeth
One of the real benefits of chews is the mechanical effect on the teeth. When the dog chews, the tough surface scrapes across the tooth surfaces and helps loosen plaque before it has a chance to harden into tartar. The effect is best on the rearmost molars, where the dog chews the most, and it does not replace tooth brushing, but can be a supplement between brushings. If you want to combine, you will find more targeted products in the dental series and in TEETH DELIGHTS.
The chewing work itself also activates the chewing muscles and massages the gums. For a dog that otherwise gets soft food, a tough chew is one of the few occasions where the jaw and teeth really get to work. If you want to brush the teeth in addition, you can read how in how to brush a dog's teeth.
Chewing provides calm and mental stimulation
Chewing is not only a matter of teeth. It is one of the most calming activities a dog can do. The repetitive movement helps the dog settle down, and that is the reason why many use a chew when the dog has to learn to be alone, or when there is unrest in the house, for example during fireworks or visits.
This is especially true for dogs that are bored or have surplus energy. A chew that takes time to get through channels the chewing need into something allowed instead of furniture and shoes. If you want to build more occupation into everyday life, you can find ideas in 5 brilliant enrichment ideas and in the article about an everyday stroke of genius about licking mats.
Safety during chewing
Natural chews are safe to give, but there are a couple of things you should keep an eye on. Always give a chew while you are nearby, at least the first few times with a new type, so you see how your dog handles it. When the chew is chewed down to a small piece that can be swallowed whole, you should take it away from the dog so it does not get stuck in the throat.
Have clean water next to it, as dried chew makes the dog thirsty, and pay attention to digestion the first few times with a new protein source. If you introduce a new meat, do it gradually, especially if your dog has a delicate stomach. A dog with a known sensitive stomach may benefit from starting with the low-fat fish variants. You can read more about delicate stomachs in delicate or sensitive stomach.
Chews for puppies
Puppies have a great need to chew, especially when the milk teeth fall out and the permanent teeth break through, typically between four and seven months of age. A chew can soothe the itchy gums and give the puppy something allowed to bite into while it changes teeth. Choose a softer and smaller format that suits a small, immature jaw, rather than the hardest adult variants.
If you have a puppy, you will find food and accessories gathered under puppy & junior and specific chews under puppy treats. If you want to know when the puppy is ready for chews, then read when may puppies have chews and more about the teething in when do dogs change teeth.
