Safe Chew Treats For Dogs

Let’s just make it clear from the beginning, there are no perfectly safe chew treats for dogs. If your dog is putting something chewable in its mouth, there is a risk of choking. Just like you run the risk of choking every time you eat food, or the risk of a car accident every time you drive. But just because there is some risk, doesn’t mean that you stop eating and driving. Similarly, some amount of risk shouldn’t stop your dog from enjoying the benefits of chew treats.

It’s all about managing the risk. Not all chews are created equally, and some are safer than others. In this list, we’ll break down some common types of chew treats, their benefits, and their risk levels.

Durable Chews for Aggressive Chewers

Antlers & Bones

Durability: Super Strong

Risk Level: 6/10

Pros:

Good for power chewers
Natural

Cons:

They are so hard that there is a risk of breaking or damaging teeth
Can easily splinter, creating sharp pieces
Risk of obstruction

Antlers and bones are somewhat different, but they have enough similarities that I’m lumping them together for this analysis. It’s fairly common knowledge that you shouldn’t give your dog cooked bones, but cooked bones and antlers are fairly common treats, especially for those who are looking for a sustainably sourced, all-natural option.

These are especially tempting for power chewers because they can last so long. The problem is that the same hardness that makes them durable is also what makes them dangerous. If an aggressive chewer starts chomping hard enough on antlers or bones, eventually something has to break: either the teeth or the chew. And either option is disastrous. I don’t need to explain the problem with breaking or cracking your dog’s teeth. That’s pretty self-explanatory. But if your dog’s teeth prove victorious and break the chew, it may be even worse. Bones and antlers both splinter when broken, creating sharp shards that can pierce the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. They can also create blockages since they aren’t particularly digestible. In fact, in two separate studies from 2017 and 2019, around 80% of all foreign body obstructions were found to be bones.

When it comes to durable chews, these ones are pretty low on my list. I know a lot of people like them, but the FDA even put out an official warning to not give your dog bones. It’s one of the reasons we don’t sell them.

Himalayan/Yak Cheese Dog Chews

Durability: Super Strong

Risk Level: 3/10

Pros:

Easily Digestible
Good for power chewers
Natural
Comparatively Low Choking Risk

Cons:

They are so hard that there is a risk of breaking or damaging teeth

Yak Cheese Dog Chews, often simply referred to as Himalayan dog chews, are made from incredibly hard yak cheese. These chews have a lot of good things going for them. They’re natural, digestible, and very unlikely to cause any blockages. The major downside of these chews is the same thing that makes them great for aggressive chewers: they are crazy hard. That gives them the same flaw as antlers and bones, which is a risk of broken, cracked, or chipped teeth.

As with all dog chews, you need to know your dogs chewing style. Some dogs are going to do really well with these, and some dogs won’t. But they’re a reasonable option (and we aren’t even biased, because we don’t sell them.)

Natural Beef Hide

Durability: Super Strong

Risk Level: 3/10

Pros:

Digestible
Good for power chewers
Natural
Comparatively Low Choking Risk
Safe on teeth

Cons:

Some risk of obstruction

Of course I’m a little biased since natural beef hide is the main product we sell here at Ugly Chews, but I’ve tried to keep things pretty fair. Beef hide is different from conventional rawhide because it isn’t shaved down or processed with chemicals. Because they keep the full hide intact, they last longer and are much less likely to break into choking chunks. Most don’t, but our chews keep the hair on, which helps clean your dog’s teeth, gums, and digestive tract. Don’t worry, we roll the hair on the inside so it doesn’t get too messy.

Because the hides soften as your dog chews, they won’t damage teeth.

Moderate Chews

Rawhide

Durability: Moderate

Risk Level: 9/10

Pros:

Cheap
Lots of different varieties
Safe on teeth

Cons:

High choking hazard
Chemical exposure
Can easily create sharp pieces

The more we learn about the health impacts of “classic” rawhide, the worse it gets. When I talk about rawhide, I’m usually referring to the steretypical white twisted or bone shaped rawhides. These are a by-product of the tanning industry, so they’ve often been soaked in salt and lime (not the fruit) to keep them from rotting as they are shipped internationally. Rawhide is usually made from the leftovers after a hide is split, which leaves the dog chew hard, but thin. Combined with the chemicals, this makes for a thin, brittle chew that can easily splinter into sharp pieces or break into large chunks that present a choking hazard.

Rawhides are one of the worst choices for chew treat when it comes to safety, sustainability, and overall health.

Bully Sticks

Durability: Moderate

Risk Level: 4/10

Pros:

Low Risk
High Protein
Cheap And Accessible

Cons:

Smelly
High Protein

That’s right, high protein is both a pro and a con. The pro is that protein is generally good for you! The con is that too much protein rich food can give your dog diarrhea or other digestional distress. You just need to use caution and moderation.

Obviously, some bully sticks smell more than others. If you are looking for odor free bully sticks I would recommend checking to make sure that they aren’t descented using any harsh chemicals or processes. Aside from the protein issue, the only risks of bully sticks are the same risks that most natural chews have. You need to make sure your dog doesn’t break off a chokable chunk or try to swallow too much at once. But those apply to pretty much every reasonably durable chew.

We’re hoping to carry bully sticks in the future, but we want to make sure we’ve refined the process of making them odor-free while still maintaining our zero-waste, sustainable model. Check back for updates!

Trachea

Durability: Moderate/Light

Risk Level: 1/10

Pros:

Low Risk

Cons:

Not as durable

Beef trachea is an incredibly safe chew. Again, there is always some risk of trying to swallow too big of a chunk, but trachea is almost as safe as they come. Unfortunately, compared to other items on this list, beef trachea doesn’t have near the durability. They are a great option for moderate chewers, and will still last a power-chewer some amount of time, but they just don’t have the staying power. That can make it kind of discouraging if you have to keep buying more and more to keep your dog entertained.

Still, beef trachea is a great option. That’s why we sell it here at Ugly Chews (or at least we will soon, depending on when you read this.)

More To Come!

There are a lot of chew treat types out there. We’ll keep updating this list over time, adding more and more treats, their pros, and cons. In the meantime, check out our natural, zero-waste chew treats to see if they’re a fit for your canine companion!

Very disappointed

I was so excited to get these chews and when they showed up yesterday I immediately gave my dogs each one, but unfortunately they didn’t last as long as I thought they would, I was hoping for a couple days to a week but my one dog finished the entire large chew in about 3 hours and my other dog only finished about a third of his, which I will have to toss the rest of due to that fact that today they are both having diarrhea ,so unfortunately these are gonna have to be a no for me , as well id say if you have a dog with a sensation stomach I’m not sure I’d recommend getting them these

First time BUT not the last time!

My 3 Aussies absolutely LOVED these ugly chews!!! These are their new favorites!
Mark - Massachusetts

Ancestors approved!!

My pack loves these hair on hide rolls. Just like their ancestors chewing on skin and hair! These have been there after dinner before bed treats.

1st time buyer

I can not express how happy , Iam with the chews. I ordered 1 large. 1 small. Echo and max have been very happy. Chewing and rolling on them. Iv recived 3 days ago, and there is more than half left on both. They dont even act like this with bully sticks or raw bone with marrow. Ill will be buying again.

Amazing chews

My 65 yo crazy young yellow lab loves these chews! It's the first time I found something that really keeps her engaged for more than 20 minutes at a time! We will definitely be returning customers.

Chews Review

Dog chews them. Dog has not filed any complaints up to this point in time and has returned for more.

Great chews!

Love these chews for our 6 month old german shepherd mix. Clean, digests well, lasts a long time, pup loves them too!

Our Luther loves his Ugly Chew

Our almost 6 month old poodle Luther absolutely loves his ugly chew. We will definitely order more. He has been working on his ugly chew for a little over a week, and it has lots of life left. Thank you to the Ugly Chew family for creating such a great product with our beloved canine companions in mind.

Pup favorite!

Our dogs are loving their chews! They are young and need the textures. The hair on has been a favorite so far! We are excited to see how long they last and how many fights they get in to :)

Contents

I think there should be more product for the price. But my bulldog loves these best

Great chew

I was a little skeptical at first with the hair.. but my Belgian Malinois Sköll loved it! I let him chew in increments so that he’d get multiple sessions out of one! Great calming chew especially for my aggressive chewer! Thanks for making a sustainable chew for my pup! I’ll definitely be purchasing more in the future!

Best Birthday Gift!

I bought a 4-pack of large Ifly Chews for my dog’s birthday this year. He LOVES them. I do set a a timer since he is a big chewer and I don’t want him downing the whole thing in one sitting. Definitely will re-order!

My Dog's Prized Possession!

My pup has loved the hair-on hide rolls and the scrap chips since she was a true puppy. She loves them so much that when she gets a new one she immediately hides it! She knows her hide rolls are special and worth savoring. Often, we'll see her walk by us back and forth from room to room for days at a time, changing safe spots, even after enjoying a few chews. Thanks, y'all!

My dog loves them

I love these so much. Yes they are ugly but so much better for my dog.

My dog is OBSESSED!

The review title says it all! ❤️

Holy Cow

Twirl received her very first Ugly Chew & immediately become obsessed. Like "Holy Cow" these things are her new absolute favorite. I have to admit that it truly is a little weird watching her chew & lick the fur but completely understand that it's natural for her to be enjoying it. I will be ordering more & even have the urge to purchase some for others to see if their dogs like them just as much.

Scraps are snacks, but the rolls last!

Tried the sample pack but they go too quickly! My 90-lb boy scarfs them down. So it's the 12-inch rolls for us! I have to limit him to a 10-minute chew session to get it to last. He even turned up his nose at some elk antlers I bought elsewhere, so I'm back to the ugly chews!

Great product

This is the longest lasting chew my hard core chewing greyhound has ever gotten. It took him an entire week to eat one large size. I would have given this a 5 star review aside from a couple small little factors (it wouldn’t let me choose a half star so my final review is actually a 4.5). The couple small factors are the smell after long chewing. Now that I know I’ll put it away before that scent hits. The only other smaller thing is my dogs gut had a hard time with the fur a couple mornings and threw up hair balls. Which I guess is fitting considering greyhounds are like giant cats.

Over all I’ll definitely be ordering again!!

Loved them!

I bought two of these for my brother's lab for her birthday and she absolutely loved them! So much so she wouldn't share. Lol we'll definitely be ordering more. I also appreciated the handwritten note of thanks from the company.

A happy find for my pups!

I was motivated to try (1) to support a small business and (2) experiment w/an all-natural treat. My 8yo Rhodesian Ridgeback is a fierce chewer; he devoured a large 12-inch roll in an hour. But for the second one I bought him, I'm following the advice in a FB thread to give him 5-minute intervals of chewing--which will release enough endorphins to make him happy and spread out his enjoyment over several chewing sessions. I also bought the scraps package and my senior Corgi/cattle dog mix enjoyed it for a while but gave up tired. I didn't retrieve the remains soon enough before Ridgeback gobbled it up. And I love the "intestinal sweeping" that the cowhide hair provides. Consider me a repeat customer already!

Ugly Chews for the win!

6 dogs 2 1/2 lbs (with no teeth she gums it)-105lb absolutely no tummy issues from this product. So happy I have found an all natural chew that is made in America and healthy for my pack !! This company is awesome 😁 I will definitely be ordering from Ugly Chews from now on !

Both of my dogs love them!

Both of my medium sized dogs have had several turns with a single chip/chunk/scrap and it’s still going strong. Super long lasting and much less disgusting than I thought it would be 😆

My Dogs are obsessed!

We’ve been purchasing ugly chews for quite some time now and our 4 dogs love them! I will always say this…Made in America is where it’s at! I love that this company doesn’t waste any of their product and it all gets used. I love that they are natural, no additives to make our dogs sick and they last for a really long time. With two big bullies….they tear through any treat in record time……but not these…..these last for a while and keep them busy. Love ugly chews!!! I recommend them to everyone with dogs!

5 Paws

My dog told me to give this a 5 Paws rating. My dog loves to chew and this Hair-on Hide Rolls gives her lots of time to chew. She has been chewing for 30 minutes and she’s one half through. Great product to keep my girl busy.

My Dog’s New Obsession

These UglyChews are amazing- all 3 of my dogs love these chews! I really appreciate that these aren’t quick treats, that they keep my dogs engaged and occupied for a bit. We are already gearing up for our second order!

Very disappointed

I was so excited to get these chews and when they showed up yesterday I immediately gave my dogs each one, but unfortunately they didn’t last as long as I thought they would, I was hoping for a couple days to a week but my one dog finished the entire large chew in about 3 hours and my other dog only finished about a third of his, which I will have to toss the rest of due to that fact that today they are both having diarrhea ,so unfortunately these are gonna have to be a no for me , as well id say if you have a dog with a sensation stomach I’m not sure I’d recommend getting them these

First time BUT not the last time!

My 3 Aussies absolutely LOVED these ugly chews!!! These are their new favorites!
Mark - Massachusetts

Ancestors approved!!

My pack loves these hair on hide rolls. Just like their ancestors chewing on skin and hair! These have been there after dinner before bed treats.

1st time buyer

I can not express how happy , Iam with the chews. I ordered 1 large. 1 small. Echo and max have been very happy. Chewing and rolling on them. Iv recived 3 days ago, and there is more than half left on both. They dont even act like this with bully sticks or raw bone with marrow. Ill will be buying again.

Chews Review

Dog chews them. Dog has not filed any complaints up to this point in time and has returned for more.

Let customers speak for us

from 1432 reviews

Bowie Approves

Bowie gets a 6 inch Bully stick every night before she rests her beautiful Brown eyes. If you buy these then you know. Those get darn right crazy expensive. When I seen another Doberman proudly chewing one of these Ugly Chews and read the reviews I knew we needed these. The owner of Ugly Chews was so nice and helpful she even said she was going to hand pick the biggest one for my baby girl. I was so blown away from the service and the product. That stick lasted a very long time You do need to watch and monitor your dog ,when it starts getting too soft that means it’s time to put away and save for later. My Bowie is a gulper and I know if it’s swallowable she’s probably getting it down. That can also be the tricky part “taking it away.” I almost forgot to mention there is absolutely No stinky odor like the traditional Bully Sticks. 😃So if you have a dog that is like mine you have found your dogs nest favorite chewy stick.

T.H.

01/06/2024

Ugly Chews

Fantastic ! For the chewers in your life !

My dogs are both super chewers they can finish any chew in a matter of minutes. We just placed our first order of ugly chews and let me say that I was very impressed. Their chew lasted longer than the average plus the fact that they have no chemicals and are natural is always a plus. Can’t wait to order again.

C.M.

01/05/2024

Ugly Chews

Single Ingredient and up for the challenge!

Owning 2 Great Danes and finding a chew to help keep them occupied as well as clean their teeth without breaking the bank is TOUGH but you know what else is tough? UGLY CHEWS! The danes absolutely love these chews and I love knowing they do not have any harsh chemicals or additives!

Taylor Brower

01/05/2024

Ugly Chews

Crow Love UGLY CHEWS

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ugly Chews has been a game-changer for my 8-month-old Doberman puppy, Crow! These cowhide chews are a lifesaver, keeping him happily occupied for hours. The longevity of these chews is impressive, providing extended joy for my energetic pup. What sets Ugly Chews apart is its lack of any unpleasant odor, ensuring a pleasant chewing experience for both Crow and me. I can confidently say that Crow loves Ugly Chews, and I'm grateful for a product that stands up to the enthusiasm of a spirited Doberman. Highly recommended!

Krizzia Garcia

12/21/2023

Hair-On Hide Rolls

Received our first order just the other day, and all 5 of my dogs love them (even the picky ones)! We have a very large puppy who is definitely a power chewer, and this has been great for him! He has been carrying it around almost everywhere he goes for the last 2 days. I will definitely be a repeat customer.

K.L.M.

12/18/2023

Ugly Chews

FINALLY! A CHEW THAT LASTS!

We have tried countless chews marketed towards "Aggressive chewers" . Our Hugo can chew through all of them within minutes! I don't even want to think about how much money we spent trying to figure this out! An ad came across my Facebook feed for Ugly chews. I went to the website and immediately loved what I was seeing. Small business. Women owned. No waste. NO NASTY CHEMICALS!... it was checking off all the boxes! I went to the reviews and read that several people with SUPER CHEWERS were so happy that they found something that lasted! I placed an order for 2 large rolls on that Friday night (late) and by Monday afternoon they were at our door! Hugo immediately loved it! He spent 45 minutes chewing on it and barely made a dent! When we took it away, he was happy, relaxed and pleased with his newest chew! We are now subscribers and feel great about it! Hugo gets a chew that he loves, and my husband and I don't have to worry about him getting an upset stomach or chewing through it in minutes! win/win!

Jocelyn Swanson

12/15/2023

Hair-On Hide Rolls

Only the best

I don't know what we did to deserve dogs that are picky eaters but they literally won't eat anything other than meat off the floor in our kitchen in addition to their normal food. Anyway, I mention that because they are picky with their treats as well. As soon as I gave them their first ugly chew they couldn't wait to lie down with it and get to work. Our dogs absolutely LOVE the ugly chews. Highly recommend for all the high maintenance dogs out there like ours.

David Pratt

12/11/2023

Hair-On Hide Rolls

I will forever buy these for all of my pups! 💚

I first bought some ugly chews back in February because my dogs are super chewers and chew through any/everything. I couldn’t find anything that would last them more than a day. Now, I don’t know how I went so long without getting the pups some ugly chews! They absolutely love them!! I recently got a puppy and it is PERFECT for teething! He just started biting everything and the ugly chew keeps him not only occupied but I know that he’s not eating anything he’s not supposed to. I also think it’s so cool that we can see how the chews are being made!!

N.J.

11/23/2023

Ugly Chews

The BEST chew treats I have found!

We have been purchasing Ugly Chews for most of a year now and are extremely happy with them! We are a multi-dog household and have power chewers here. We have tried most other bones/chews and find them smelly, too expensive or just damaging to teeth. Ugly Chews don’t stink and last significantly longer than anything else we have tried. We are on a monthly subscription, and I love them so much that many of our puppy buyers and friends buy them now too. We love Ugly Chews!

Kimberly Barry

11/23/2023

Ugly Chews

Keeping It Ugly

I raise and train German Shepherds, who LOVE LOVE LOVE to CHEW! After my very first Ugly Chew order months ago, I knew right away that something which is such a hit with ALL of my dogs needed to always be available in their treat drawer (actually an entire dresser - each drawer contains a different type of chew 🤭). I signed up for the monthly subscription, and have received my orders without delay or fail! Happy dogs, happy life! Thanks for such fantastic chews! We'll continue 'keeping it ugly' around here 😉

Tiffany Denne Clark

10/02/2023

Monthly Chews

Our dogs’ favorite

Both of our dogs, a red heeler and a beagle, love these chews and do not want to give them up after their 20-30 min chew time. Our docile, loving beagle even snarled and tried to snap at me the first time I took it away from her! 😳 The red heeler is an aggressive chewer & these last 4-6 days with 20-30 minutes chew time. Great find that we ran across at Lewis & Bark Outpost in Red Lodge, MT and now we get these monthly!

Laura Francesconi

09/09/2023

Monthly Chews

My black lab loves them my GSD did not(she is picky and a pain but i love her)

My black lab loves them my GSD did not. I like them because they are not stinky at all. I do like the website mentioned and put a timer on and they ( well the lab only) can chew it for 30 min and that's it, i put them in the freezer after that. so they lasted a few sessions. Pricey, yes, not any worst than bully sticks or many others, doesn't last forever and that's fine I didn't expect them too. Wanted to mention it because peoples expectation's and/or how many times I've been told some product was just so amazing and it just wasn't. This is decent, I will buy them again because i like their style, i like no chemicals, i like they didn't stink, i like that my dog didn't get diarrhea. Do you have to be responsible and watch them with it, yes, do you have to use a timer so you don't forget to take it away, YES. and am okay with that. But you do you.

chantal montgomery

06/19/2023

Hair-On Hide Rolls

Picky dog

I wasn't sure how well my dog would like Ugly Chews since he is such a picky eater. He doesn't really like dog treats, etc, but I gave the Hair-On Hide Rolls a try. First thing he did when I offered the roll was to go bury it; but the very next day he had dug it up and was happily chewing away! He was really enjoying it!

Margaret Davidson

05/04/2023

Hair-On Hide Rolls

Amazing!

I have 5 dogs, so I bought a huge batch of rolls and scraps… but they last so long! I feed my dogs as close to all natural as I can. So when I found rawhide that was natural and didn’t contain harmful chemicals I was hooked. My dogs love them, I’ve even gifted some of the scraps to my neighbors new rescue and she loves them just as much.

Caiti Falguera

04/21/2023

Chips, Chunks, & Scraps

Oh my god are they ugly

They are soooo ugly LOL. My dog loves it though. They do last a lot longer than other chews. For reference, my dog eats a 12 inch bully stick in less than 10 minutes. Hes gotten two 30+ min chew sessions with this Ugly Chew, and he's only halfway through it (we got the large). I can't tell if he's actually eating any fur or just pulling it off, but either way, its great enrichment. 10/10 recommend!! Will definitely be buying more in the future!

Brooke Todd

04/11/2023

Hair-On Hide Rolls