Winter brings that annual problem: how to entertain your dog for hours. For me, it’s dog chews to the rescue. What I need on hand during the cold months – this year more freezing rain than snow – is plenty of desirable chews for my dog that take a long time to finish. The longer the better. 

I’ll admit that my pup doesn’t care if the weather outside is frightful – she’s willing to go out regardless. Rain, sun, sleet, nor snow can stop her. It’s me who isn’t thrilled about venturing outdoors during the first two months of the year. 

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We have some local indoor options, like two dog cafes in nearby Hamilton, Ontario. But if I want to hibernate and not leave the house, I need a steady supply of activities to entertain the dog indoors. Thanks to all the innovative pet companies I meet annually at SuperZoo, an annual tradeshow in Las Vegas, I get a firsthand introduction to new pet products.  

Even better, chewing is a natural way for dogs to calm their nerves and relax. Let’s boredom bust and decompress at the same time. 

Here’s the dogtrotting winter guide to dog chews that will keep your dog busy for hours without venturing outdoors: 

Wood Fibre BetterBone Chews 

BetterBone dog chews (affiliate link) look like many different competitors’ dog chews: a wishbone shape with two differently textured knobs of either end of the wishbone Y. However, BetterBone is not made of nylon or petroleum-based plastic. BetterBone is made of wood – specifically, PEFC wood cellulose fibre, sugarcane oil (no sugar), and real beef for the flavour. However, they don’t look like wood. 

And that’s what makes them better, according to the company. BetterBone is an all-natural product sourced from sustainably grown forests and the minimal packaging is made from recycled materials. BetterBone does flake when chewed but is non-toxic, and the textured ends are designed to promote healthy teeth. For aggressive chewers, BetterBone offers Touch Beef. But, for most dogs, the Classic Beef, which is softer than antler chews, will work.  

Manufactured in Europe, BetterBone is distributed across North America and online. Two sizes are available in both densities – small and large – and two flavours – beef and hypoallergenic. Small was a good size for my spaniel.  Note that like any chews, BetterBones should be thrown out when too small – here’s the company’s guide.

My dog’s review: My dog was instantly interested in both BetterBones as soon as I removed the packaging. But she had her choice of two: Classic Beef and Tough Beef. The Tough Beef she took from me first and chewed the ends. But the second I offered her the Classic Beef, and she had a choice, it was the Classic Beef she spent a good 10-minutes chewing. 

At first, the slightly softer version seemed to be her preference. She held the wishbone end with two paws and chomped on the textured end numb. But she soon noticed she had another option, so Tough Beef then occupied her another few minutes until she went back to the softer BetterBone. Apparently, she doesn’t play favourites.  

Nature’s Animals Bone-shaped Biscuits 

Does your dog like cookies? You’ve likely seen Nature’s Animals bone-shaped hard crunchy dog treats at the pet-store check-out counter. Nature’s Animals are made of all-natural human-grade ingredients sourced in the USA and baked in New York state. It’s like buying bakery cookies at larger retail outlets. Nature’s Animals is a true mom-and-pop operation run by a husband-and-wife team who have been baking dog cookies for 30 years.  

Nature’s Animals bone-shaped dog biscuits come in original, big bite, and jumbo sizes, (affiliate link) and four flavours: peanut butter; cheddar, chicken and lamb & rice. However, seasonally the company releases unique shapes and gift packaging options, including the limited-edition bacon-maple leaf fall crunchies. 

My dog’s review: I was surprised my dog liked Nature’s Animals cookies as much as she did. I say this because crunchy isn’t my dog’s favourite treat, and she’d been known to leave a few hard dog biscuits on the ground when she’s offered them at pet festivals. However, my dog ate the Nature’s Animals large bone-shaped peanut butter flavoured cookie with enthusiasm, leaving none for the cats to find. 

It’s a biscuit; therefore, doesn’t last as long as a chew. But it’s a hard biscuit (making it easier to ship to stores without breaking), so it did take some time for her to chomp through. Jumbo size will keep your pup busy for longer. And yes, it was important for her to eat these in the other room. 

Smoked Bully Sticks to Entertain Your Dog For Hours 

There are a lot of Bully Sticks on the market for dogs – for good reason. There are few other uses for this part of the animal, and they make great dog chews. Not too hard to hurt teeth but soft enough to keep dogs chewing for hours – or days. However, many people hate handling bully sticks for good reason: they are often greasy and smelly.  

Barkworthies has the solution: smoking. Specifically, adding a smoked scent and flavour to its line of Bully Sticks (and chicken sticks, tracheas, beef burger chews (affiliate link), and yak cheese). Barkworthies proudly and humourously launched the ‘Smoked’ line at SuperZoo 2023 with aplomb and a video – the products are smoked in a large smoker just like you’d think they’d be. Do they smell smoked? Yes. It’s a scent appealing to both pups and people. 

My dog’s review: Barkworthies generously gave my pup an assorted pack of all the Smoked options, and she loved them all. Even Bully Sticks. Yes, they were much less sticky to have in the house. But she also chewed it all afternoon (allowing me to do some writing), rather than carry it around and hoard it like she does other chews. 

Yak Cheese Chews to Keep Your Dog Busy

Speaking of yak cheese – and we were previously briefly – this is one of my favourite dog treats for two reasons: they last a long long time and don’t make a mess. I was first introduced to Yak Cheese as a chew for dogs at SuperZoo years ago and thought that was a unique company really onto something. Months later I discovered many pet product companies carried Yak Cheese chew sticks, but the story is still interesting.  

Yak Cheese is incredibly hard but high in protein and fats. For decades, it’s been the staple food source of sherpas who guide crazy climbers up and down the mountains of the Hymalanians (including Mount Everest). A compact food that slowly dissolves in your mouth over time, it’s also a candy-like treat in Nepal. However, recently supplies of Yak Cheese made from Yak milk have been diverted from the people as consumers to pets.  

Durkha is one of the original companies (affiliate link) developing yak cheese into dog products like the standard four-sided stick shape, sourcing the yak milk from farmers in Nepal where Durkha’s owner is originally from. The product has a lot of potential for dogs, especially those that travel, because it does last long, makes little mess, and provides dogs with a quality source of nutrition.  

Note that when the yak cheese stick becomes too short and can become a choking hazard, it’s time to take it from the dog … but don’t throw it out. Toss it in the microwave for a few seconds until it pops, then you’ve got a round crunchy dog treat your pup will likely eat in one sitting. Mine did. 

My dog’s review: Yak Cheese Chews last a long time. My dog carried these around with her and guarded them from the cats, so it’s almost a problem how long they last. But they’re not messy. Good thing too, because my dog left it for a while then came back to it. This is one chew that lasted weeks.  

Coffee Wood Dog Chew with Coconut Fibres 

Java wood – or wood from spent coffee trees – caught my interest a few years ago. Apparently, it makes good dog chews, and coffee wood an environmentally friendly way to use a resource that is otherwise being burnt to the ground. That’s right, after coffee plants are finished producing coffee, plantations usually burn them. Now they are being harvested and turned into dog chews.  

The wood is extremely gnarly, so precision cuts are not possible. No problem, dog chews don’t have to be uniform shapes. Canophera was the first company I met producing java wood chews. German-based, they’re now distributing across Europe and North America … and adding some updates to the product. 

The update? A rope. Drill a hole through the java wood chew and add knotted coconut fibres (affiliate link). A simple idea but this was a game changer for my dog. Also, the fibres have added teeth cleaning benefits, so this product is doing double duty. 

Note coffee wood lasts a long time and should be purchased based on your dog’s size. Toss the product when it becomes too small. There’s a guide on the Canophera’s website here. 

My dog’s review: Definitely, the rope on this wooden coffee chew added an element of interest for her. While she chewed the original Canophera java wood natural dog chew (see review here), she was most excited about the Coffee+Coco Chews with an added rope because now it became a toy to shake around, and a chew to settle down and sink her teeth into.  And yes, this is a good way to entertain your dog for hours.

Honeycomb-shaped Chews 

Yummy Combs from Pet’s Best Life is an innovative product thanks to design. As the name promises, it is shaped like a bee’s honeycomb and that’s significant. Yes, this is a one-per-day chew designed to give your dog something to do (the theme of this article). More importantly, though, Yummy Comb is designed to help clean your dog’s teeth. (We explain more about the product development in an upcoming article on dogtrotting.net).  

Clinical research was the genesis for the honeycomb design that helps remove the buildup of hardened tartar on dogs’ teeth that can cause periodontal disease and even potential organ failure in the long term. 

So, Yummy Comb dog chews aren’t only to keep your pup entertained, but healthier too. According to Pet’s Best Life, the product contains 46 ingredients to support a balanced diet and the protein source contains less starch than other treats.  

Note that size matters – the product comes in a variety of sizes and that’s important because you want to purchase a size that is larger than your dog’s windpipe to avoid choking and gain maximum chewing time. The shape of the product must scrap the teeth.  

My dog’s review: I’m not sure why, but I was surprised my dog loved these instantly – they have a unique scent, so that attracted her instantly. She eagerly accepted these chews like treats. But like treats, she consumed them a little faster than I’d like. For reference, my dog is 16 kg (35 pounds), and the company recommended the medium size for her. Again, selecting the correct size is important to reduce choking.  

Carrots. Just Carrots. 

Finally, don’t overthink it. This one I discovered when my Spaniel-cross was still a puppy, teething, and chewing everything in sight (including the brand spanking new baseboards along the stairs). Carrots. Thick woody carrots sold in bags at the grocery store. 

Raw carrots are just soft enough to cause no damage to young teeth or gums, but crunchy enough to be her chew of choice … once in a while. Plus, they are healthy, low-calorie, and cheap.  

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria. Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!

Got a go-to chew? Let us know in the comments …