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Officially at Wits End, Need Powerful Chew

Siloh

Well-Known Member
Okay, so I don't like rawhide and Hamlet can demolish any rawhide too quickly for it to matter anyway.

I love Nylabones, but Hamlet can chew the standard ones to bits.

Kongs are great, but they don't capture his focus unless there's a treat hidden somewhere, and that doesn't really encourage chewing, which is what I'm trying to satisfy, because Hamlet is the chewiest dog ever.

SO questions

Anyone tried the Nylabone Big Bone Durachews? Any luck with crazy destructive chewers?

Cooked bone is bad, right? There are lots of super hard real beef bones, but they're slow-roasted? And then I can't give him raw ones unless he's being raw fed, right?

Any other suggestions?

Also, Ham still has like 2 or 3 teeth that haven't fully come in yet? He'll be 11 month by the end of this week or so.

Thanks in advance for your mastiff wisdom!
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
Nylabones don't work in my household either. My 3 just tear chunks right off of them.

Angus looooves those hollowed out bones that are stuffed with some kind of meaty stuff. I think they are from Rollover, but it takes Angus quite some time to get all of the meaty centre out which is fantastic!
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
What about....antler chews...the really thick kinds.


One XXL Ultra Jumbo Elk Antler Dog Chews Treats Huge Elk Antler Big Dogs 85lb | eBay

and what about a starmark pickle

Amazon.com : Starmark Treat Dispensing Pickle Pocket for Dogs : Pet Toys : Pet Supplies

have you considered buffalo chews? because these are seriously the hardest chews ever that I've come across that's edible (have purchased 12" ones in the past)

Amazon.com : Canine Caviar 6-Inch Buffalo Paddywack Pet Food, 50 Count : Pet Rawhide Treat Sticks : Pet Supplies
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
I give raw rib bones and feed kibble. I just make sure they're separate times. They don't last long however. The best I've found are the unsplit elk antlers. One thing I have noticed is the color and shape of the antler affects how much they like it.
 

jpw0025

Well-Known Member
The Nylabone BigBone Durachews have been successful in my house. They last much longer and seem more "sturdy", but for some reason if a regular sized Nylabone is around, they want that one first...? Antlers would be my next choice, but I've never bought one before and I can never find one that looks big enough to mine :\
 

skibulls

Well-Known Member
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I don't recall the name of them. But they are sold at Target for like 12$. It's a fake wood branch 12" with wood sent. About as hard as a antler which would be my number 2 pick.

I have found both last roughly a month.(and that's with lots and lots a chewing, because he LOVES to chew).

He also prefers the sticks to the antlers but does like both.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Have you tried the Nylabone Goliath chew? Its HARD and HEAVY (and hurts like HELL when they drop it on your foot).

real bones: don't do cooked. Raw....just had a huge multipage arguement about feeding raw (well really raw or cooked) bones to a not yet full grown pup, which he isn't at 11months. ON the other hand he's on crate rest right, which means that keeping him quiet is a requirement? Your call then, but be aware that if he's eating any large portion of it he's potentially adding quite a bit of calcium to his diet. Whether he'd tolerate it or not while on kibble only trial and error will tell. Some tolerate it fine, some don't handle any sort of mixture at all....Also be aware that the harder the bone the more likely that a dog who's a heavy chomper will damage his teeth on them.
 

Penelope's Mom

Well-Known Member
Antlers. Definitely. Just don't let him throw it in the air and watch as it lands on your face. That hurts. A lot.
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
I don't know about in the US, but the antlers are quite expensive here (along with everything else in Canada). So, if you have any hunter friends who'd be willing to donate antlers to you, then that would be an awesome option as well.
 

Siloh

Well-Known Member
I just... I love you guys. :)

Sounds like I should order some antlers. Also love the fake wood! Hamlet LOVES wood... but he also loves to eat it, which is not good.

I'll definitely check out the goliath bone from Nylabone. I love their products, but between Hamlet and the beagle they just aren't safe for my dogs to chew (Annie is a chewing beast as well, but she doesn't have a need to chew like Ham).

Sounds like bones are off the table. I know it's a myth that raw feeding makes dogs aggressive, but I have had two dogs who have never resource-guarded suddenly become extremely aggressive when given real bones, so I'm just going to stay away and not risk it in the future, either.

You guys are the best! I swear this forum collectively knows everything.

Sidenote: so antlers do not dangerously splinter?
 

Siloh

Well-Known Member
I just answered my own question (I researched this months ago and saw a lot of articles saying they will splinter), but now I wonder how to get fresh ones? I'm sure between all of my redneck friends I could find someone who hunts deer. Maybe they'll let me buy them fresh? Is there somewhere that reliably sells fresh ones?

Edit: anyone buy from here?
Buy Elk Antler Dog Chews
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
Go on FB and join some local hunting groups and ask if anyone would be willing to give you the antlers from the deer they hunt?
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Raw is really high value to some dogs, not an unusual reaction. It usually fades once the dogs get used to it, but....

I've never had an antler splinter personally, though neither of mine LOVED them either.
 

Siloh

Well-Known Member
Sorry for all of the reposting, guys. I'm researching as I'm questioning.

I just want to say for archival purposes to future readers that although these antlers seem a bit pricey, buying rawhides, pig skin twists, and nylabones every week or two is more expensive if these will actually last, and I am definitely looking for longevity.

So, experienced people: do I want split or whole? Or a variety? How safe are they? Like, can I leave a whole big one in a crate with an unsupervised dog, or are these supervision-only chews? What do you do? I never leave Ham in his crate with a bone that might chunk or splinter. Well, that nylabone I gave him did chunk, but I was not expecting that, and that was a big mistake I will never repeat. He's fine, but it was really worrisome when I walked in after 30 minutes and he was pulling chunks off of it.

And yes, I'm looking for something to keep him busy, but not just for his bed rest. He is actually on puppy parole right now--moderate exercise only, which is noooot going so well. It's pretty much impossible with all his energy built up to stop all the bouncing around and lunging. He is so frustrated. I've been letting him play in a smaller yard off-leash where he can canter but not sprint in addition to leashed walks. It seems like the only way to have some balance between psychotic dog on a leash who is totally ignoring me and dog in a crate. :( I'm happy to pay shipping fees to anyone who wants to take on the Hamlet moderate exercise challenge! :p
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
My two prefered split antlers, but be aware that the marrow MAY cause diarrhea in large quantities. Whole wll last longer. I,d supervise the first time, just to be safe, but in general antlers are pretty good.
 

Siloh

Well-Known Member
Ooooh, Oooooh! Pick me! Pick me! *waves arm wildly in the air* :p :p

Oh, so now you want TWO giant puppies who are supposed to be resting in the same house? Hah! I'm frankly a bit scared to see what Hamlet and Angus would get into put together... :D

I'm also terrified I WILL make it to BC one day and MY dog is going to be the devilissh trouble-maker. Angus seems so chilled out compared to Hamlet's psycho need to work and play!
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
I heard split antlers are more enticing, but last way shorter. Have you tried frozen towels maybe soaked in some kind of broth? A frozen block of cooked meat with veggies?

When antlers get down to a certain size, I always toss them or give them away to smaller dogs (2-3 inches).

Whole antlers never splintered for me. The paddywacks do, but my dogs never had a problem. The bullhorns break into dangerously sharp glass like pieces so I really do not recommend them, but some ppl like it for their dogs.