There are thousands of dog treats and chews on the shelves today, some good and some bad. We've run a family pet store in Bemidji since 1992, and these are the questions we hear at the counter every week. Here's what we look for in a safe chew, the mistakes to avoid, how beef shank, knuckle and Dino bones compare, and the chews our customers keep coming back for.
The quick answer
- Skip bones from the dinner table. Cooking at home makes bone brittle, so it can crack and splinter. Choose bones made for dogs.
- Read the ingredients. Choose chews without artificial preservatives, colors or flavors, and without added salt and sugar.
- Size up, never down. A bone should be larger than your dog's lower jaw. Take it away once it gets small.
- Beef bones by size: beef shank bones are great for large dogs. Beef knuckle and Beef Dino Bones are great for medium and large dogs.
- Our customer favorites: Chasing Our Tails Bull Horns (in store), North Winds Premium Peak Chaser Chews and North Winds Premium Timberborn Coffee Wood Chews.
What makes a bad dog chew?
Before we get to the good stuff, here are the three things we steer customers away from.
1. Splintering risk
Cooking weakens the structure of a bone, making it more brittle and more likely to crack. That's why bones from the dinner table aren't a good choice.
The easiest way to avoid this is to buy bones made for dogs from a source you trust, rather than the cheapest bones you can find.
2. Chemicals and additives
Keep an eye out for artificial preservatives, artificial colors and artificial flavors. Your dog doesn't need any of them. You also want to avoid chews with a lot of added salt and sugar.
Here's how we think about it: a dog in the wild wouldn't find sugar or preservatives, so we keep them out of our own dogs' treats too.
Look for chews with a short, simple ingredient list instead. Antlers, bull horns and our own Peak Chaser Chews are long-lasting options our customers rely on.
3. The wrong size
This is a big one, and it's one of the most common mistakes we see. We don't see many Chihuahua owners buying a Beef Dino Bone, but we do see owners of bigger breeds picking up chews that are too small.
Choose the right size for your dog. The last thing you want is for them to get a little too excited and choke. Even an experienced chewer can choke when company shows up and they gulp. It only takes a second.
This mistake is easy to make when you shop online, because some websites don't make it clear how big a chew is. We list sizes on our chews online, and we're always happy to help. Ask us on our YouTube channel or Facebook page, or stop by the store if you're not sure what's right for your dog.
Beef bones for dogs: shank, knuckle and Dino bones
Here are three beef bones we carry. All three are North Winds Premium beef bones, sourced in the USA and oven baked. Each one is meant as a treat or reward. All bones may splinter, so supervise your dog while they chew.
Beef shank bones
A Beef Shank Bone is a beef front or back leg bone, great for large dogs. Weight-bearing bones like leg bones are thicker than bones such as ribs, and heavy chewers may prefer shin bones.
Beef knuckle bones
A Beef Knuckle Bone is beef femur and saddle knuckle. Knuckles have soft cartilage that can be completely consumed. They're great for medium and large dogs.
Beef Dino Bones
The Beef Dino Bone is a beef bone made for medium and large dogs. It's one we point owners of bigger breeds to, not Chihuahua owners.
Buying for more than one dog, or want to stock up? Shank, knuckle and Dino bones also come by the case.
Our customer favorite bones and chews
Now that you know what to avoid, here are the chews our customers keep coming back for.
1. Chasing Our Tails Bull Horns (in store)
These have been a hit with our local customers. They're a tough chew at a fair price. In our experience, they're softer than an antler but tougher than a pig ear.
When a customer comes in with a persistent chewer or a larger breed at home, this is one of the first chews we reach for. It's hard to go wrong with anything from Chasing Our Tails. They've been a store favorite for years.
Bull horns are available at our Bemidji store.
2. North Winds Premium Peak Chaser Chews
Peak Chaser Chews are a customer favorite online and in the store. They're made with four simple ingredients (yak and cow milk, lime juice and a pinch of Himalayan salt), with no rawhide, chemicals or fillers, and they're a dense, long-lasting chew.
Not all yak cheese chews are made the same, and we've worked hard on ours. It's a big reason our customers keep coming back, and many of them buy Peak Chasers by the case.
3. North Winds Premium Timberborn Coffee Wood Chews
Timberborn Coffee Wood Chews are made from the branches of coffee trees. They have no caffeine, no calories and nothing artificial.
The wood is dense with tight fibers that resist splintering and soften slightly as your dog chews.
Timberborn comes in six sizes, from XS to XXL, so you can match the chew to your dog. They're a little different from a bone or an antler, but they've earned a spot as one of our favorites.
Frequently asked questions
Are cooked bones safe for dogs?
We don't recommend bones from the dinner table. Cooking at home makes bone brittle, so it can crack and splinter. Choose bones made for dogs from a source you trust. Our North Winds Premium bones are oven baked with careful moisture control, but all bones may splinter, so supervise your dog while they chew.
Are beef shank bones good for dogs?
They can be a good choice for large dogs, given as a treat or reward. A Beef Shank Bone is a beef front or back leg bone. Pick one larger than your dog's lower jaw, supervise while they chew, and take it away once it's worn down small. All bones may splinter.
What's the difference between shank, knuckle and Dino bones?
A shank bone is a beef front or back leg bone, great for large dogs. A knuckle bone is beef femur and saddle knuckle, with soft cartilage, great for medium and large dogs. The Dino Bone is a beef bone, also great for medium and large dogs.
How do I choose the right size bone for my dog?
A bone should be larger than your dog's lower jaw. When in doubt, go one size up. Take it away once it's worn down smaller than their lower jaw.
What's the longest-lasting natural chew?
In our experience, antlers are among the hardest natural chews, bull horns are a step softer, and yak cheese chews like Peak Chaser are dense and long-lasting. The right pick depends on how hard your dog chews.
Are coffee wood chews safe for dogs?
Timberborn Coffee Wood Chews contain no caffeine, calories or artificial ingredients. The dense wood resists splintering and softens slightly as your dog chews. As with any chew, supervise your dog and choose the right size.
Should I watch my dog while they chew?
Yes. Supervise every chew, especially when your dog is excited or there's company over, and replace it once it gets small.
Our pets are part of our family, and we want to make the best choices for their health and happiness. Browse all our chews and treats, or visit us in Bemidji and we'll help you find the right one.