9 Best Dog Bones for Large Dogs in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

If you have a dog that loves to chew, you may be considering getting them a chew bone. The trouble is that many chew bones designed for large dogs are rawhide or actual bone, both of which can cause serious damage to your dog’s digestive system. Therefore, we compiled a list of reviews to help you find the best dog bones for large dogs that are safe. These bones will satisfy your dog’s chewing urges—and keep them from chewing things that they shouldn’t!

A Glance at Our Top Picks (2024)

The 9 Best Dog Bones for Large Dogs

1. Pawstruck Bully Sticks Dog Treats — Best Overall

Bully sticks are fantastic alternatives to rawhide. They last a long time and are super tasty, so your dog stays interested. The Pawstruck Braided Bully Sticks Dog Treats are made from three bully sticks twisted together. The pattern makes them ultra-durable, so they last longer for tough chewers. These qualities make them our recommendation as the best overall dog bones for large dogs.

While all bully sticks are made from beef pizzle, these are sourced from free-range, grass-fed cattle. The biggest complaint that owners have with bully sticks is the smell, as they do give off a unique aroma. However, this particular stick brand is low odor, so it’s not quite as offensive as many others.

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2. Nylabone Edibles Natural Nubz Dog Chew — Best Value

If bully sticks are out of your budget range, Nylabone Edibles Natural Nubz Dog Chews are the best dog bones for large dogs for the money. These edible bones contain limited ingredients and are easily digested. The only downside is that they are consumed quicker than some other dog chews. While a bully stick might last your dog several days, these will probably only last an afternoon. However, they are still durable enough to keep your dog busy while you do chores or are away from home.

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3. Greenies Large Dental Dog Treats — Premium Choice

Greenies is one of the most popular brands of dog chews because its products are specifically designed to help keep dogs’ teeth clean. These Greenies Large Dental Dog Treats are chewy and easy to digest. They are also healthy, so Greenies are recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.

While a premium choice, Greenies dog bones are expensive. They are also consumed quite quickly. If your dog likes them, you may find that your “chew bone” acts more like a treat and disappears in a few minutes. Some dogs don’t even chew these bones, negating the beneficial aspect of cleaning their teeth.

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4. Benebone Maplestick Puppy Chew Toy — Best for Puppies

For your puppy that chews everything, we recommend the Benebone Maplestick Tough Puppy Chew Toy. It’s made from durable nylon and is flavored like maple to make it extra attractive to your dog. This bone will quickly become your puppy’s best friend — and yours because your pup won’t be chewing your shoes!

While there are tons of different puppy chew toys on the market, this one stands out because of its shape. It has points that are easy to grab onto at each end of the bone. Young pups will chew what they can easily get hold of so this toy is an easy target.

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5. Earth Animal No-Hide Natural Dog Chews

If your dog loves to chew on rawhide, but you’d avoid that because of the dangers, try these. Earth Animal No-Hide Wild-Caught Salmon Stix Natural Dog Chews will look, smell, and taste exactly like rawhide to your dog, but they’re 100% rawhide free, so you can feel safe about what they’re chewing.

The biggest downside to Earth Animal chews is that they have a strong smell, which won’t appeal to some owners.

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6. peaksNpaws Yak Milk X-Large Dog Chew Treats

These handmade peaksNpaws Yak Milk X-Large Dog Chew Treats are fantastic alternatives to bully sticks or rawhide bones. They are limited-ingredient chews, making them ideal for large dogs with allergies. Yak Milk Chews also have no odor, so they aren’t as smelly as bully sticks.

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7. Bones & Chews Elk Antler Dog Chew

Elk antlers are popular choices as large dog chews. They are not appropriate for small dogs because they are too hard on their teeth, but they satisfy the chewing urges of large, strong chewers and can last for months. These Bones & Chews Elk Antler Dog Chews can withstand aggressive chewing, they’re hard to break, and you won’t have to replace them that often. They’re expensive but cost effective.

For those concerned about antler sourcing, you can rest easy knowing that these dog chews are sustainably sourced. Elk drop their antlers every fall and regrow them in the spring. This is a natural process, and elk antler dog chews are made by collecting the dropped antlers. They are sterilized, cleaned, and polished, and no elk is harmed.

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8. Redbarn Large Peanut Butter Filled Bones

Dogs love bones, but bones filled with peanut butter will be loved even more! Redbarn Large Peanut Butter Filled Bones Dog Treats are beef femur bones filled with peanut butter. These bones are also available with cheese, bacon, or beef filling. They encourage your dog to chew through to the filling, much like a KONG toy does, except the outside is edible.

These bones are all natural, with no artificial flavoring. They last a long time and stand up to aggressive chewing. The only downside is that they are high in calories, so you’ll want to adjust your dog’s food intake accordingly.

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9. SmartBones Large Peanut Butter Chew Bones

If you’re concerned about the risks associated with dogs chewing rawhide bones, these SmartBones Large Peanut Butter Chew Bones Dog Treats are 100% rawhide free. They taste like peanut butter, so dogs love them. They also don’t hold any risk of splintering or choking, like many other bones.

If you have a small dog that just needs something to keep them busy, SmartBones may do the trick. For tough chewers, however, they don’t stand up. Despite the company’s claims that a large SmartBone will satisfy tough chewers, it can be completely consumed in just a few seconds. This is less than ideal if you want to satisfy your dog’s chewing urges and an expensive way to feed your dog treats.

Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Dog Bones for Large Dogs

What to Look for in Large Dog Bones

Whether you are searching for an edible bone or just need something for your dog to chew on, there are a few things to look for when you’re shopping for dog bones:

Why Do Dogs Like to Chew?

Chewing is a natural instinct for dogs. Whether it comes from their wild ancestors that chewed meat off the bones of their prey or it’s just a way to relieve stress and boredom, we’re not sure. What is known is that if you don’t adequately satisfy large dogs’ chewing instincts, they can quickly turn destructive. They will find something to chew on, and it will usually be something that you don’t like.

Making sure your dog has toys to chew on when they are unsupervised and bones and treats when you are around will prevent them from finding substitute chews, like your couch, shoes, or laundry.

What’s Wrong With Rawhide?

Dogs love to chew on rawhide, but it’s just not safe for them to do so. Rawhide can’t be digested, so it moves through your dog’s system as one large chunk. That chunk absorbs moisture and gets bigger as it travels through the digestive system and causes a risk of intestinal blockage. A ton of chemical processing also goes into making rawhide a “bone.” Given these risks, there are better things for your dog to chew on.

How Often Can You Give Your Dog Bones?

You can give your dog bones to chew on every day if you wish. The only thing to remember is that they do contain calories, so make sure to account for this when feeding your dog.

How We Selected These Dog Bones for Large Dogs

This buyer’s guide was carefully crafted by our writers and editors in collaboration with our team of in-house veterinarians. The dog bones reviewed here are rated on a combination of factors: brand reputation, customer reviews across multiple retail outlets, personal experience, and in some cases, feedback from our own dogs! Together, we choose and review only the best dog bones available, to help you make the most informed decisions that foster the well-being of your furry friends.

Why Trust Dogster?

Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online since 2004, which means we have a lot of experience with dog bones. We are a team of passionate dog owners who care about our pups as much as you do yours. We want the best for every canine on the planet. Dogster’s writers, editors, and veterinarians are deeply invested in the well-being of our pets, and we believe that all pet owners share this dedication to providing only the highest quality products and services for our dogs.

Summary

We recommend Pawstruck Braided Bully Sticks Dog Treats as the best overall dog bones for large dogs. Bully sticks are long-lasting, satisfying alternatives to rawhide bones that are sure to keep your dog busy for hours. The best value for the money is Nylabone Edibles Natural Nubz Dog Chews. These are inexpensive options for satisfying your dog’s natural chewing instincts.

See also:

• 10 Best Dog Treats for Large Dogs – Reviews & Top Picks
• 5 Benefits Dogs Get from Chewing Bones or Chews