Doggy Toy Review #2. Types of chew toys...

Fidget loves to chew...and chew and chew and chew. These are great toys because they keep your puppy or dog out of trouble!
Here are the chew toys we have tried.

With ALL chew toys, (except pizzle sticks which are edible) if they get small enough for your dog to swallow, throw them out.


1. Rawhide
Fidget loves her rawhide. She can 'disassemble' a rawhide bone in a day. My husband and I find pieces of them lying all over the house...usually in the middle of the night when we step on them in the middle of the night!! (OWCH)

The Good: Most dogs love rawhide. It will keep them busy for hours! The pieces come in many shapes and sizes, and are available in most stores.

The Bad: Make sure you don't buy the bleached rawhide, they use chemicals to bleach them, which can be harmful to your dog. Rawhide chews should never be left with a dog while they are alone. They need supervision when using these toys. Rawhide is easily chewed down into small, swallow-sized pieces. These pieces are pretty-much indigestible and can cause stomach upset or even worse health issues. Throw away any pieces that get small enough for your dog to swallow. The don't last very long either if your dog is a heavy chewer. They get really gooey and can leave stains and wet spots on your floor.

2. Cow Hooves

We got Fidget a cow hoof recently. They may be slightly more expensive than rawhide chews but these are great toys that take a long time for your dog to chew.

The Good: Last longer than rawhide, dogs like the taste better. Will keep a dog busy for hours. Some say you can leave cow hooves alone with your dog, however...

The Bad: Cow hooves have the possibility to splinter, which could potentially be harmful to your dog. They stink, and I mean STINK. When Fidget gets that thing out it smells like she is chewing on a piece of roadkill. They also get very slimy and leave that stinky goo wherever your dog decides to chew it.

3. Pizzle Sticks

Pizzle Sticks are, umm, a pig's "Part" if you know what I mean...Kind of gross when you think of it, but dogs go absolutely bananas over these 'things'.

The Good: Safe to be left alone with your dog. Dogs LOVE them. They smell a bit like jerky which isn't an unpleasant smell like the cow hoof.

The Bad: Cost more than rawhide, don't last long at all, dogs chew these up faster than rawhide.

4. Deer Antler

Fidget's newest chew toy is a piece of deer antler. She loves it, but gets frustrated because she can't get pieces off it. She spends time chewing it and whining at it while she chews.

The Good: Safe to be left alone with your dog. These last longer than any dog chew toy I know of. No gooey residue, no disgusting smell. These are some of the best chews you can get, and will last a long time, even with heavy chewers!

The Bad: They don't have much flavor, so some dogs may not be interested in them. They cost quite a bit, but are probably cheaper in the long run considering how long they last.

Hope this review is helpful and informative!