Natural Chews

Natural chews are typically made from one ingredient, dried or dehydrated rather than baked into a shaped biscuit. Fish sticks, tripe sticks, beef bars and dried ears or hooves are all common examples, and what sets them apart from a standard dog treat is the short ingredients list and the longer chewing time most of them offer.

Because they are single-ingredient, natural chews also suit dogs who need to avoid specific things in a mixed-ingredient treat — a fish-based chew, for instance, is a straightforward option for a dog kept off red meat or poultry for any reason.

Size and chew strength both matter here. A chew sized for a small dog can be a choking risk for a large, determined chewer, and conversely a chew built for a big dog can be more than a small dog needs in one sitting. It is worth matching the chew to your dog's size and how hard they typically chew, rather than picking on smell or price alone.

Always supervise a dog with any long-lasting chew, especially the first few times you offer a new type, and remove what is left once it gets small enough to be swallowed whole. As with any treat, chews are an addition to a balanced diet rather than a meal replacement, so keep an eye on how often they are offered alongside regular food.

Natural chews are dried rather than preserved with the additives found in some manufactured treats, so they are best kept in a cool, dry place and used within a reasonable time of opening. A chew that smells noticeably off, or has gone soft or damp, is best thrown away rather than offered.

Because these are single-ingredient products, there is generally less to check on a label than with a mixed treat, but it is still worth reading what is there, particularly for any dog with a known food sensitivity.