Rawhide

[voidecho]

Are there any types of raw hide to avoid? Are some better than others? I feel like I read somewhere there were things to avoid.

I'd like to get our new guy something he can chew on that he can actually do some damage to.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I don't care for most commercial rawhides for two reasons, one: many of them are made in China, and two: they're often chemically treated.

THe hard part about mastiff puppies is finding puppy chews in sizes large enough for them. Apollo has always enjoyed sticks, but they may not be something ou want him chewing on in the house. From my work I can get the heavy duty cardboard tubes used to hold rolls of photopaper. They weigh almost 3lbs, and the cardboard is over an inch thick. It takes my two weeks to demolish one, but they both enjoy them. Results in bits and peices of cardboard paper everywhere, but thats what vacuums are for. I have a video somewhere of Arty working on one, I'll see if I can find it.

 

[voidecho]

There's a "high end" type dog food place just a few blocks away from me that has all kinds of chew things. I remember seeing things like beef trachea and all kinds of other things. I'm 99.9% certain anything they have there would be safe as the owner was telling me they started making their own chicken jerkey from free range Sonoma County chickens when they couldn't find anything from safe sources. They're pretty serious about doggy health there.

 

[Sadies Mom]

Plastic water bottles or Gatorade bottles are great. Just remove the cap and the ring first.

 

[ruthcatrin]

There's a "high end" type dog food place just a few blocks away from me that has all kinds of chew things. I remember seeing things like beef trachea and all kinds of other things. I'm 99.9% certain anything they have there would be safe as the owner was telling me they started making their own chicken jerkey from free range Sonoma County chickens when they couldn't find anything from safe sources. They're pretty serious about doggy health there.

Ah, that changes things, confirm the meat source, but have a blast.

 

[Jeri]

I've never been a big fan of rawhide as it isn't digestable. I give my Neo (and the little elders) deer antlers, they all love them and they last a long time.

 

[voidecho]

Do I not have to be concerned he would eat the cardboard or eat the plastic bottle pieces?

---------- Post added at 10:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 AM ----------

 

[voidecho]

I'll see what they have and talk to the owner again. Thanks everyone.

 

[Jeri]

When you see he's shredding the bottle, take it away and give him something else. The plastic pieces would not be good ingested, and the sharp pieces could cut him. The cardboard will pass through. You'll find it in his poo. I wouldn't leave him unattended with the plastic.

 

[mmyrto]

I buy smartbones for Hera, it is a rawhide alternative you can find details for it online, Hera loves themshe goes nuts when she realizes she is gonna get one. I give her once or twice a week.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Never done plastic, but my two rarely eat the cardboard, but if they do, its just paper.

 

[DDBsR4Me]

I give my boy beef tracheas from my pet food store as well as bully sticks and salmon skins (they are rolled up into a bone shape). They don't really last too long though, but my guy really isn't a big chewer.

You may want to try cow hooves, they are long lasting ....but they kind stink once they really start to gnaw on them!

 

[mmyrto]

I also give her Elk and deer antler they last a long time and she loves these too

 

[ruthcatrin]

Arty and the cardboard tube (the white layer is just an outer layer of paper):

[video=youtube;rkVrvAlnEA4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkVrvAlnEA4[/video]

 

[voidecho]

I can see that lasting Arty for quite a while.

I bought a pretty big Bully Stick and a deer antler. We'll see how he likes those. I'm sure I'll get him some beef bones at some time too.

 

[ruthcatrin]

They hold up well to Apollo too, though he tends to chew the ends instead of stripping the layers.

 

[voidecho]

You have any pictures or videos of Apollo? He looks beautiful from your avatar.

---------- Post added at 12:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 PM ----------

 

[voidecho]

Nevermind, just found your youtube page from the link above. That's one heck of a tail on Apollo.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I love his great big poofy tail lol. There are pictures of him floating around, both in the pictures topic and in the TM area.

 

[Buddha's Dad]

We bought one of these for Buddha right when we brought him home at 8 weeks. http://www.dogsupplies.com/products/Petstages-Large-8%22-Durable-Stick-Dog-Toy.html at 17weeks it's still his favorite chew toy. We got the 7" one but I probably should of just got the 8" one. It's now only about 5" and has held up extremely well. I'm about to order a new one for him. This has been a life saver when he's teething badly and starts wanting to use you as the chew toy or needs some calming down when the zoomies hit.
I've used plastic water and milk bottles, you just have to watch him. It's the noise they love. Petfood Express has a giant green squeaky snake that he just loves to death, we actually have to take it away from him at night because if not it will be squeak, squeak, squeak all night long LOL