--- title: "Dog Chews – Guide" type: page url: "https://grizy.eu/gb/content/19-dog-chews-guide" last_modified: 2026-10-21 --- # Dog Chews – Guide Guide # Dog chews — the complete guide What to chew, for whom, when and for how long? No guesswork — just a practical guide for dog owners. Contents 1. [Why natural chews?](#dlaczego) 2. [Choosing by hardness](#twardosc) 3. [Choosing by protein](#bialko) 4. [Choosing by age and size](#dla-kogo) 5. [Frequently asked questions](#faq) 6. [We'll help you choose](#pomoc) Why it's worth it ## Chews are more than just a treat The natural urge to chew is written into a dog's genes. Our pets' ancestors spent long hours chewing tough tissue — skins, bones, cartilage. They didn't do it for fun: **chewing affects the condition of a dog's teeth, gums, digestion and mental state**. If a dog isn't given the chance to chew, it will find one itself — on slippers, furniture, cables, or it simply... gets restless. Natural chews give a dog what it needs in a healthy, safe form. ### Five reasons to give them - **Clean teeth** — chewing mechanically removes plaque and reduces tartar - **Healthy gums** — the massage improves blood flow and lowers the risk of inflammation - **Better digestion** — natural fibres and tissue support intestinal movement - **Less stress** — chewing releases endorphins and calms the dog - **Keeps them busy** — a mentally tired dog is a happy dog 💡 A good chew vs a bad chew Not every "treat" for a dog is a good chew. Look for products **from a single raw material** (meat only, no additives), **free from preservatives and colourings** and **naturally dried**. GRIZY meets all of these criteria — every one of our products is 100% meat, nothing more. Step 1 — Hardness ## How long should your dog chew? That's where the choice begins. A puppy needs something different from an adult Labrador, and an older dog with sensitive teeth — different again. Easy ### Soft and quick ⏱ a few minutes For puppies, seniors, dogs with sensitive teeth or as a training reward. Easy to chew through and gentle on the teeth. **Examples from the GRIZY range:** meat strips, cubes, sticks, chicken wings, poultry necks, rabbit ears, cracklings Medium ### Versatile ⏱ 10–30 minutes For most adult dogs. They make chewing satisfying and clean the teeth, but won't take all day. **Examples from the GRIZY range:** pig and beef ears, trachea, tendon, pork skins, rumen, lamb leg, turkey wings, snouts Hard ### Hard and long-lasting ⏱ from 30 minutes to several hours For adult dogs of medium and large breeds with strong teeth. They keep a dog busy for a long time — ideal when you're leaving the house. **Examples from the GRIZY range:** beef and pork bones, beef horns, beef hooves, beef pizzles, wild boar and deer legs, pork skin rollo ⚠ Caution with hard chews Very hard bones and antlers can damage the teeth of aggressive chewers or older dogs with weakened teeth. **Watch your dog** — if you see it trying to crack the whole piece by force, take the chew away and choose something softer. Step 2 — Protein ## Chicken? Beef? Or perhaps camel? The type of meat matters — especially for dogs with food allergies. It's worth knowing when to reach for a classic and when for something unique. Classics ### Popular proteins For dogs without allergies — tasty, easily digestible, a wide choice of products in various shapes and hardnesses. [![Beef](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/wolowina.png)Beef](https://grizy.eu/gb/301-beef) [![Pork](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/wieprzowina.png)Pork](https://grizy.eu/gb/300-pork) [![Chicken](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/kurczak.png)Chicken](https://grizy.eu/gb/310-chicken) Less common ### Less popular A good choice when rotating proteins or if you suspect a mild sensitivity to chicken or beef. A dog encounters them less often day to day. [![Duck](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/kaczka.png)Duck](https://grizy.eu/gb/312-duck) [![Turkey](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/indyk.png)Turkey](https://grizy.eu/gb/311-turkey) [![Rabbit](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/krolik.png)Rabbit](https://grizy.eu/gb/303-rabbit) [![Lamb](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/baranina.png)Lamb](https://grizy.eu/gb/306-lamb) [![Goose](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/ges.png)Goose](https://grizy.eu/gb/313-goose) Exotic ### Hypoallergenic For dogs with food allergies or intolerances. A dog has usually never encountered these proteins — it hasn't had the chance to become sensitised. [![Wild boar](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/dzik.png)Game](https://grizy.eu/gb/304-game) [![Horse](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/kon.png)Horse](https://grizy.eu/gb/305-horse) [![Camel](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/wielblad.png)Camel](https://grizy.eu/gb/308-camel) [![Fish](https://grizy.eu/img/kat/ryby.png)Fish](https://grizy.eu/gb/307-fish) **How does this work in practice?** If your dog has itchy skin, digestive problems or chronic ear inflammation, the cause is often an **allergy to a specific protein**. The most common culprits are chicken, beef and pork. Vets then often recommend switching to a **novel protein** — something the dog has never encountered. Hence the popularity of products such as game, horse, camel and fish. Even if your dog has no allergy, it's worth **rotating proteins** — not always giving the same one. This lowers the risk of developing an intolerance later and adds variety to the diet. 🎯 A Polish touch Our **game** comes from Polish wild boar, deer and roe deer — from natural forest management. If you're looking for premium chews with local provenance, this is the category for you. Step 3 — The dog ## Who is your dog? A puppy, a chihuahua and a Great Dane need completely different chews. Here's a simple cheat sheet. 🐶 ### Puppy Only soft and small. Sticks, rabbit ears, poultry wings. No hard bones — the teeth are still coming through. 🐕 ### Small dog Yorkies, chihuahuas, shih-tzus. Small pieces of medium hardness. Large bones would be too tough. 🦮 ### Large dog Shepherds, Labradors, mastiffs. Large bones, beef hooves, pizzles, rollo — anything long and hard. 🐾 ### Senior A dog over 8 years old. Soft chews, lean proteins. Protect the teeth — don't give anything very hard. Questions and answers ## Frequently asked questions How often should you give chews? It depends on the product's calorie content and the dog's activity. In practice: **small soft chews** (sticks, wings) can be given daily in small amounts. **Larger and fattier ones** (ears, skins) — 2–3 times a week. **Bones and very hard ones** — once a week or less, especially if the dog isn't very active. Remember that a chew is also part of the diet — with larger amounts, reduce the food portion so the dog doesn't gain weight. My dog is choking — what should I do? Choking usually means the chew is **too small** and the dog is trying to swallow it whole instead of chewing. Rule: choose chews **bigger than the dog's muzzle** — so it has to tear and chew them. Always **watch your dog** while it chews, especially with a new product. When the chew becomes a small piece — take it away and don't allow swallowing. Can puppies have chews? Yes, but **only soft ones**. Puppies have delicate teeth and suck/chew intensively during teething (3–6 months). We recommend: **rabbit ears, meat sticks, chicken wings, poultry necks**. **Don't give** puppies hard bones, hooves or antlers — they can break milk teeth or damage the permanent ones that are still forming. What about allergic dogs? What to choose? With a food allergy, the key is to **eliminate the protein the dog is allergic to**. Most often that's chicken, beef or pork. Replace them with **exotic proteins**: game, horse, camel or fish. The dog has most likely never encountered them, so the risk of an allergic reaction is minimal. Check our [Camel](https://grizy.eu/gb/308-camel), [Horse](https://grizy.eu/gb/305-horse) or [Game](https://grizy.eu/gb/304-game) category. How should chews be stored? Our chews are naturally dried, so they don't need a fridge. It's best to keep them in a **dry, airy place**, in a tightly sealed bag or container. Avoid moisture — excess water can cause mould. Shelf life is **24 months** from the production date; check the exact date on the packaging. How do natural chews differ from industrial ones? They differ in **composition**. Industrial chews often contain flours, starches, gelatine, colourings, preservatives and "meat aromas" (i.e. artificial flavour additives). Natural chews are **100% meat**, dried at low temperature — nothing more. The difference is obvious at once: a natural chew smells of meat, has an irregular shape and looks different from batch to batch. An industrial one always looks identical because it's machine-formed. **Important note:** This guide is educational. It does not replace a consultation with a veterinarian. If your dog has health problems, food allergies or you have doubts about its diet — consult a specialist. ## Not sure what to choose? Browse our range by meat category or write to us — we'll help you pick the right chews for your dog's age, size and needs. [See the full range](/gb/2-categories) [Write to us](mailto:sales@grizy.eu) --- Full page: [Dog Chews – Guide](https://grizy.eu/gb/content/19-dog-chews-guide)