If you have a dog or puppy at home and want to keep them happy and healthy, you have come to the right place. In this article we’ll cover the three primary benefits of dog chews and a few tips and tricks to selecting the best dog chew for your four legged friend. By the end of this article you will know why dog chews play an important role in your dog’s overall health and a few ideas on which dog chews to try.
Benefits of Dog Chews
1. Reinforce positive behavior
Dogs respond very well to positive reinforcement. Dog treats and dog chew toys help to provide a reward when your dog has behaved in a desired manner, and are particularly effective if you are engaged in any kind of dog training.
2. Promote dental health
The right dog chew can provide several dental benefits. Hard chews can help to scrape plaque and tartar from the teeth. Nearly all dog chew bones help to stimulate the gums which improves gum health and reduces the chance of gum disease. There are specialty dog chews on the market that are formulated particularly to help with dental health issues. There are even dog chews that can improve your dog’s breath.
3. Provide entertainment and enjoyment
Dogs love to chew, what dog owner hasn’t seen their dog chewing on a bone or other chew for long periods of time obviously enjoying themselves? It may not seem like it, but the act of chewing provides physical and mental stimulation for your dog. Older dogs especially benefit from dog chews – it gives them something to do and keeps them occupied when other forms of activity are uncomfortable.
How to Pick the Best Dog Chew
When it comes time to purchase dog chews, think about the chewing habits of your particular dog. Is your dog a power chewer who can chomp through anything in a blink of an eye? Or does your dog prefer to savor chews and dog treats? Nylon (Nylabones) and natural beef bones are very long lasting and can keep a power chewer busy for good long time. Rawhide bones are a good choice for slower, gentler chewers as they soften over time.
Dog chews also come in a variety of flavors – experiment with a few to see which type your dog prefers the most. And like humans, most dogs enjoy a little variety so mix it up a little.
Conclusion
Dog chews are a great thing for dogs providing dental health, entertainment and behavior benefits. With the information above you can see why having a few dog chews is an important staple in any dog owner’s home.
Note: Chews are a great way to keep your dog busy and happy, but it would be irresponsible of me to advocate giving them to your favorite pooch without mentioning that they can cause choking. I take this risk so seriously that my best boy, Sam, doesn’t even get to have chews unless I’m home to watch him.