The Best Dog Bones
There aren't many treats dogs love more than a good bone to chew. Not only do dogs love eating these chewy, meaty snacks, but the high nutritional content can also provide great benefits to your dog's teeth, coat, disposition, and overall health. It can also provide much-needed entertainment to alleviate boredom and keep your dog's mind occupied. Here are our favorite delicious picks that both you and your dog are sure to love.
What to Look For
In our search for the best dog bones, we used three main questions to guide us: Is it safe and healthy for dogs to gnaw on? What kind of nutrition does it provide? Is the price fair for the quantity? Several evidently delicious options made the cut. For starters, Milk-Bone’s Original dog treats proved the cream of the crop, thanks to its long list of healthy ingredients and irresistible scent and flavor. But for those that require something smaller, Rachael Ray’s Nutrish Soup Bone Chews and SmartBones’ mini chicken chews are both excellent options that are manageable for smaller dogs. For more of our expert reviews, read on.
Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats
Beloved across the world
Your dog will undoubtedly go nuts when you reach for the bright red box containing these timeless classic bone-shaped biscuit treats. Milk-Bone has had over 100 years in business to perfect a recipe for a taste dogs love while making sure its wholesome ingredients include vitamins and minerals to keep your best friend happy and healthy. With 20+ varieties of shapes, sizes, and flavors to choose from, your dog will never get tired of the same snack. As a bonus, their crunchy texture promotes better breath by helping to remove tartar and plaque buildup from your dog’s teeth.
Pros:
- We appreciate the variety of sizes and flavors — even our pickiest pooches can find one they love.
- These bone treats are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, packing an extra punch of nutrition and making them an even better value for the price.
Cons:
- Dogs can consume these very quickly and tend to beg for more.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Soup Bone Chews
Small treats for small jaws
Ideal for smaller dogs, these mini soup bone chews pack a big punch. Whether you’re rewarding your furry pal for a job well done or giving them a treat “just because,” your dog will love the meaty center inside these savory chews. Free of any meat byproducts and artificial flavorings, these bone chews are also a smart, nutritious choice to keep in your treat cabinet. Their smaller size also makes it easier to give in to those sweet begging eyes a little more often than usual since you can rest easy that you’re not giving your dog too much of a good thing.
Pros:
- If your dogs are like ours, the enticing meaty center of these soup bone chews will prove nearly irresistible.
- With hearty flavors ranging from chicken and veggies to beef and barley, you’re sure to find one that hits the spot for your best buddy.
Cons:
- Medium to larger sized dogs will devour these in seconds.
SmartBones SmartSticks with Real Chicken
Irresistible flavor
Most dogs aren’t very picky eaters, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a canine that doesn’t go crazy over these chicken-flavored treats from SmartBones. The SmartSticks are considered “smart” because they entice dogs with their real chicken flavor while simultaneously delivering important vitamins and minerals into their diet. The real chicken is aromatic and fresh-smelling, while the firm texture gives your dog something to gnaw on.
Pros:
- SmartSticks are available in flavors that run the gamut from chicken to peanut butter. But the best part is that what you see is what you get — real chicken and real peanut butter. In a world full of fillers, they’re a breath of fresh air.
- They give your dog a “project” to gnaw on that’s still easy to digest and made without rawhide.
Cons:
- Bigger dogs can devour these in just minutes.
SmartBones Mini Chews With Real Chicken
Bone-shaped bites
These mini treats aren’t real bones, but they are made with real chicken. Another fantastic pick from Smartbones, these bone-shaped treats are a popular alternative for those looking to move away from rawhide. These highly digestible chews are packed with vitamins and minerals. They’re smaller than most options, hence the “mini” in the name, so they’re the ideal option for smaller canines that like to gnaw.
Pros:
- These delicious and nutrient-packed bone treats tend to last longer than most others.
- The resealable bag keeps the treats fresh and may help seal the delectable scent away from snooping noses.
Cons:
- These may pose a choking hazard for bigger dogs and fast eaters, so always monitor your dog’s consumption of hard treats.
Nylabone Healthy Edibles Wild Bison Chew Treats
A boost for health and mood
These tasty treats from Nylabone are shaped like real bones and contain real bison meat. The ideal answer to the call of the wild, Nylabone Healthy Edibles can take quite a while to gnaw through, yet they never pose the risk of bone splinters. Plus, they’re free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, so you can rest assured that you’re giving your pup a healthy treat.
Pros:
- We appreciate that these treats are made in the USA and use real meats like turkey, venison, and bison for an authentic flavor that dogs can’t get enough of.
- They’re substantial enough to occupy a small- or medium-sized dog for a while, which is more than we can say for most commercially available bone treats.
Cons:
- Dogs over 50 pounds will quickly demolish these.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t I just give my dog the bone leftovers from my own meal?
Practice caution when giving your dog bones from leftovers. You’ll need to keep a very close eye on your furry friend while they enjoy their treat. Human mouths and teeth are smaller than dogs’. Their physiology, combined with their characteristic enthusiasm for food can be a recipe for choking, especially on bones from smaller animals like chicken or fish. It’s highly recommended that any bone you feed your dog be manufactured or packaged specifically for dogs.
Are real animal bones more beneficial for my dog’s health than manufactured treats?
Real animal bones will always contain the most natural nutrients your dog can get. That said, manufactured treats can contain ingredients that are also healthy. It is up to you to weigh the pros and cons and ultimately choose the bone that is best for your dog.
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