Do you know that pig ears are actually the most popular pet treat on the market today? And what about those other tasty chew treats dogs love to gnaw on? These items provide a safe and enjoyable chewing outlet for your dog, which is important for your dog's mental and physical well being.

Benefits of Chewing
Bones
Pig Ears
Chew Hooves
How often should natural treats be given?

Benefits of Chewing
Chewing is a very natural behavior for puppies and dogs, and there are a number of benefits that chewing offers. Chewing is good for keeping tartar from building up on the teeth, (which helps prevent that dragon breath). When a dog chews on a hard object, it scrapes away the tartar that can build up and cause bad breath, staining, and periodontal disease.

To satisfy the natural desire to chew. Dogs are animals, and animals use their mouths for many things. It's natural for dogs to chew, and chewing on hard chew objects provides an appropriate outlet for your dog's desire to chew.

Chewing may provide some dogs with an enjoyable pastime, while others may chew to relieve boredom, frustration, or anxiety. If you had to choose between your new couch, your leather wallet, or a bone, which would you rather your dog have?

Puppies chew for several reasons. Puppies like to chew on something hard to relieve the discomfort in their gums as their adult teeth come in. This is called counter pressure. Chewing also helps develop strong jaws, and trains them as youngsters on the items that are acceptable to chew.

Bones
Bones are good choices for dogs to chew as long as they are not too small or too brittle. Chicken bones, for example, are small and could splinter easily, getting caught in your dog's throat or digestive system. The best bones generally come from the femur (leg bone) of a large animal, such as a cow. They are very dense so they don't splinter, yet are a manageable size for a dog to handle. They even come smoked and basted, so your dog has a variety to choose from.

Man-made bones are good choices if you want to keep your dog busy but don't want to give real animal bones. Or, for pets that prefer a softer chew, or for older pets that struggle with hard chews, try a bone that is less dense. Some man-made bones are made with digestible ingredients (such as corn) that are perfectly safe for your dog. They may come in a variety of flavors, and you can find the size that's just right for your dog's preferences.

If you offer your dog a bone, and she doesn't seem to care for it, don't give up! Some pets are finicky about their chews. Maybe she doesn't like the consistency of the bone, or perhaps it's too big or too bland. Whatever her preference, keep trying until you find the right chew item. Just remember those benefits.

Pig Ears
Pig ears . . . we've all seen them . . . we've all smelled them . . . and yes, we've actually touched them. They aren't too appetizing to us, but our dogs love them! They don't mind that they're real pig ears from real pigs. What dogs do know about pig ears, though, is that they

• are all natural pork,
• are processed with no preservatives, artificial coloring or flavoring,
• are tasty and tantalizing,
• are great for crate training or as a snack anytime,
• won't splinter or crack,
• have a high fat content, which helps promote healthy skin and shiny coat,
• are an acceptable outlet for their natural chewing needs, and
• are 100% digestible; easier to digest than rawhide.

Chew Hooves
Yes, these are really the hooves from the animal. They are 100% protein, so they are totally digestible. However, hooves have the potential to splinter, especially if your dog is an aggressive chewer, so these should only be given to your dog if you are there to supervise.

How often should natural treats be given?
Natural treats, like pig ears and natural bones, should be given to dogs the same as any other treat. They can be given occasionally but not more than once a day. The key here is that they are treats, not food. Remember that treats should make up no more than 10% of the calories your dog takes in every day.