Cartilage chews sit somewhere between a chew that is over in ten minutes and one that is genuinely hard going, which is why pig ears are often the first natural chew given to a young or older dog rather than something denser.

Paddock Farm's Pig Ears are 100% pork and read crude protein 79%, crude oils and fats 15%, crude fibre 0.2%, crude ash 2.3% and moisture 14% — the fat figure is meaningfully higher here than in a lot of single-ingredient chews, which is part of what makes the cartilage softer to work through. They are grain and gluten free, suitable for puppies from 12 weeks and for senior dogs, and as a natural product colour and size can vary.

• 100% pork, single ingredient
• Crude protein 79%, crude oils and fats 15%
• Crude fibre 0.2%, crude ash 2.3%, moisture 14%
• Grain and gluten free
• Suitable for puppies from 12 weeks and for senior dogs

On the fat figure: at 15% crude fat, this is a richer chew than many single-ingredient options, which is part of why it's easier on a puppy's or older dog's jaw — but it's also a reason to treat it as occasional rather than a daily chew for a dog watching its weight.

Who it's for: owners of a puppy from 12 weeks or a senior dog wanting a softer, cartilage-based natural chew rather than a harder one.