Additionally, rawhide bones generally refer to the final shape the material is molded into for marketing.  There are nearly as many different shapes of rawhide bones as there are breeds of dogs!  The bones that you give your puppy or dog ultimately will depend on your individual animal’s preference for taste, shape and “chewing satisfaction”, but there are some things to keep in mind.

Rawhide bones can be bleached, which gives some of these products a white color.  Your dog probably won’t care about the color, and while there is little research to determine if the bleaching process is actually harmful to your pet, many professionals agree that it is not a necessary process and provides no benefit to your pooch.  Additionally, your pet care professional may have recommendations for rawhide bones that don’t include harmful chemicals in them, as well.  In light of contamination of imported pet products in recent years, rawhide bones made in the USA might be a better alternative.

There are pressed rawhide bones which are molded straight into stick shapes, often sold as rawhide retriever sticks.  Some brands of bones are compressed and more densely wrapped than other brands, which generally means that your pet will chew through the bones more quickly.  The more densely wrapped bones often are knotted at both ends, which Brutus the St. Bernard can place between his front paws vertically and gnaw on the knotted end until his heart is content.

It is generally agreed that rawhide bones are a safe product, for either your puppies to senior dogs.  The concerns pet care professionals have is that while a dog’s digestive system can generally tolerate the product, you must be careful to observe that your dog doesn’t break off a small piece of his toy that is too large to swallow.  There are rare reports of dogs choking, or getting blockages from ingesting the wrong sized bites.  If the bone is too soft, take it away and let it dry out before giving it back to your dog.

You’ve looked for brands of liver treats available at the local grocery store, but found that they didn’t carry them.  You tried other flavors, and she won’t respond.   The problem is that Lady, your lovely yellow Labrador now turns her nose up at everything.  Then, your friend told you about liver treats for her dog.  She said that funny enough, her dog had done the same thing!  So, you logged online and voilà!  Right there in your browser, you found it for bowser - a search for liver treats brings up some great new options.

In fact, you found quite a few choices: Bil-Jac liver treats for dogs, made with fresh chicken liver; Freeze dried lamb liver treats 21 oz. by Petrapport; Pro-Treat freeze dried dog treats made with 100% chicken liver; AKC Liver training treats, super premium; Pet Goods Pooch Passions Beef Liver treats; Everlasting liver treats; MJ K9 Treats made with 100% all natural dehydrated liver and Etta Says! freeze dried lamb liver treats.

With so many choices, I talked to my training buddy at the dog park, and my friend with the fincky dog.  I was pleased to hear that both of them told me that whether Lady liked Petrapport lamb liver treats, Pooch Passions beef liver treats, or some other brand of liver treats for dogs, that both had training success with their pooches using liver treats!

It’s a very good thing that my friends told me about liver treats, because I soon ordered not one, not two, but three different flavors of liver treats for my lovely yellow Labrador!  Now, Lady and I are in beef, lamb, and chicken liver treats enhanced-training- session heaven!

Some brands of beef dog chews that you might find at your grocery store are: Chew-eez beef flavor chew sticks, which will help your dog maintain healthy teeth; or Ken-L Ration Canine Carry Outs in a convenient carry out bag, with calcium for strong teeth and bones, reasonably priced at under $1.50.

If you’re at your local Walmart, you might find Dingo Mini-Bone beef dog chews, mini-sized for smaller breeds in a 7 pack -  rawhide beef dog chews with a softer center; or alternately, Dingo Meat in the Middle in medium beef dog chews, for mid-size breeds like the Cocker Spaniel, Corgi, Beagle or French Bull Dog to name a few.

On-line choices abound for beef dog chews.  Many favorites such as Big Chews from Nylabone for Big Dogs,  beef dog chews, are suitable for large breeds like the St. Bernard, German Shepard and Newfoundland dogs, and can be found for about $12.95.  Or something like Paddywacks all natural beef dog chews comes in a 4 oz. package for around $4.00-$7.00, but it isn’t the giant bone type beef dog chew, so it is likely more suitable for a small to mid-sized breed.

Finally, some choices are found in your local big box stores, and are convenient to pick up there, but usually only available in large quantities.

Of course, the popularity of buying on line is the option to buy either in bulk quantities, or in smaller packaging, depending upon your distributor.  There are pros and cons of buying on line, like searching easily for the best bargains for beef dog chews and having the largest selection.  But, there’s nothing like that instant gratification and making your Border Collie happy when you buy his beef dog chews while you pick up your candy at your local grocer, or discount retailer.

Chicken is one of the best-selling flavors in the pet food market.  If your dog loves the taste of chicken, then chicken dog treats are the natural choice to enhance his regular diet.  Chicken dog treats are plentiful in the marketplace, with a wide range of  choices for Fifi to feast on.  

You’ll find chicken dog treats available in three basic types; they are soft and moist; the dry chew, and the edible chew.  Here’s how the different types generally stack up.

The soft and moist chicken dog treats are in branded shapes, cut in strips or sold in chunks.  Generally, these products contain approximately 30% moisture and are usually sold in what is called sealed packaging;  for example, foil pouch or wrapped, or plastic containers. These treats are easy to store, and are high on Fifi’s fave-factor for taste.  To maintain the soft moist texture, these treats usually have a higher sodium and fat content (to enhance palatability), and generally contain preservatives for freshness.  For a couple of chicken dog treats try these:  Zukes Mini Naturals Dog Treats, Chicken 1 lb. packages are a consumer recommended choice;  as well as American Kennel Club Semi-Moist Chicken training treats for dogs – well rated.

The popular dry chicken dog treats that are commercially available have about 10-12% moisture, and because of this, require fewer preservatives and have a longer shelf-life.  The “old standard” dog biscuits shape remain a perennial favorite; but, cookie or wafer shapes, are top sellers.  Dry chicken dog treats tend to be low in fiber, and high in fat, sodium and protein.  Some brands come fortified with extra supplements, to enhance their nutritional value, and this type can aid in doggie dental care.  Dry treats are easier to find available in convenient quantity-sized  packaging – perfect to buy for your large breed dog.   For your medium or large breed dog, Newman’s Own Organic Dog Treats have good reviews for having human grade, organic ingredients, in a fun heart shaped chicken dog treats. Good pricing found online, and is available in some grocers and discount stores.

For the edible chew category, you’ll have bones, twists and chips.  A word of caution, especially on the imported edible chews, as some have been implicated in containing high levels of harmful preservatives, and also this type tends to be made with elevated levels of high crude protein, which may not be beneficial to your pet.  The main advantage of edible chew chicken flavor dog treats is that they provide longer lasting chewing satisfaction for puppies to mature dogs, than the other two types.  Edible chews are also recommended by animal care professionals to aid in tartar and plaque build up in teeth.  Try Smokehouse USA 100% Natural Chicken Breast strips, chicken dog treats – high in consumer satisfaction and peace of mind, as they’re made in the USA.  These are available in 4 oz., 8 oz. and 16 oz packages.

Here are a couple of tips to remember when selecting chicken dog treats: treats should never replace the regular diets of puppies or adult dogs.  Check with your veterinarian for your dog’s specific requirements, but as a rule of thumb, most professionals recommend that treats consist of no more than 10% of the daily caloric intake and diet.

Many recipes exist in the marketplace for making your own homemade dog treats.  Of course, the internet provides the most accessible homemade dog treat recipes, as well as books on the subject of homemade dog treats,  available for purchase from on-line sites like Amazon or Borders.  These days, if your pocketbook is stretched, you could even get a book or two at your local library (remember those places?) !

Ingredients for homemade dog treats can include whole wheat flour, oats, barley, sea salt, brewers yeast, chicken parts, beef organs, bacon and bacon fat, brown or white rice (even flavored rices like basmati), milk, cheese or whey powder, strained baby foods, fresh eggs, creamery butter, and such.  You’ve got the point.  Your homemade dog treats can use human food, which is perfectly fine for your puppy or older dogs, and they will be much better for it, without all the added preservatives.

First things first, choose the dog chew toy that is compatible with your dog’s age, size  and chew habits.  Anyone who has adopted  a new puppy soon realizes that their little bundle of fur has an insatiable need to gnaw.   As the milk-teeth begin to give-way to adult teeth, your puppy’s chewing needs will change, too.  Before giving your pup or dog their new treat, check to be sure there are no small or loose parts that could dislodge in your pooch’s mouth, and potentially becoming a choking hazard.  As importantly, watch to see that as Bingo is in chew-heaven, he doesn’t swallow too much of a good thing.    Just as you would supervise a child with a new toy, it’s important to keep an eye on your pet.

It seems like a no-brainer, but your dog’s size has a lot to do with the appropriate dog chew toy you choose for him.  Small dogs will get more satisfaction from chewing on toys that are scaled smaller.  In other words, don’t get the giant knot raw hide bone for your pet chihuahua, and conversely, a better choice for your labrador or german shepard, than a rubber squeak toy might be a large size, Kong rubber toy.

Dog chew toy manufacturers often produce multiple products lines.  A dog chew toy could be made from various products like rawhide, plastics, rubber, rope, nylon, and more.  There are edible and non-edible varieties on the market.  Be sure to read the label or talk to your pet supply professional for help in choosing appropriate materials.  Product websites usually list ingredient information or general materials information, with some sites offering free on-site quizzes to help you narrow down your selection.  If your breed is one that is an aggressive chewer and you’ve tried one dog chew toy after another without satisfaction, ask your vet.