Natural chews without artificial additives
The chews here are made from one single raw ingredient at a time: skin, muscle, cartilage or whole fish, dried and nothing else. There are no artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives, and that matters in practice, because a chew is chewed slowly and swallowed in small pieces over a long time. The fewer things it contains, the less there is for a sensitive stomach to react to.
The difference between the individual types lies first and foremost in the raw ingredient. Beef skin (BEEF DELIGHTS) and lamb skin (LAMB DELIGHTS) are tough and provide long chewing time. Fish such as cod (LARGE COD FISH DELIGHTS) and ICELAND FISH DELIGHTS are lean and well suited for dogs that cannot tolerate beef or pork. Wild boar (WILD BOAR DELIGHTS) and rabbit (RABBIT DELIGHTS) are protein sources many dogs have not encountered before, and they are therefore an obvious choice if your dog reacts to the common meat types.
Choose a chew according to your dog's size and chewing style
The size of the chew should suit the dog, not the other way around. A chew that is too small for a large, powerful chewer is the classic risk: the dog crushes it quickly and may swallow a piece that is too big to pass down. A chew that is too large and hard for a small dog, on the other hand, just lies there, because it cannot get a proper grip on it.
Consider both weight and how your dog chews. A calm dog that gnaws bit by bit can easily benefit from a smaller format, while an eager chewer that wants to crack everything needs something tough and durable. For small dogs, formats such as SMALL ROLLED DELIGHTS and SMALL COD FISH DELIGHTS are suitable, while powerful dogs get more out of LARGE ROLLED DELIGHTS or a whole beef chew item such as COW DELIGHTS. If you want to find something with especially long durability, you can see the full selection under long chewing time, and if you have a small dog, we gather the relevant items under for small dogs.
How chewing helps teeth and gums
When the dog gnaws on something tough, the surface of the chew mechanically scrapes across the teeth and helps loosen deposits before they have time to harden into tartar. At the same time, chewing increases saliva production, and saliva is the body's own aid against bacteria in the mouth. This makes a natural chew a sensible supplement to the rest of the dental care, but it does not replace tooth brushing for the dogs that need it.
The effect is greatest when the dog actually chews over time instead of swallowing quickly, and that is why the dental benefit is closely tied to choosing the right hardness and size. If you want to work more specifically on the mouth, we also have a dental series made specifically for the purpose.
Chewing against boredom and unwanted behaviour
Chewing is a natural, self-soothing behaviour for dogs. A chew provides a legitimate place to channel energy, and it is often the simplest way to prevent boredom from being taken out on the sofa, shoes or door frames. Many use it deliberately in situations where the dog needs to settle down: when guests arrive, when it is home alone for a short while, or in the evening when the day needs to wind down.
It works because the very act of gnawing lowers arousal in the dog. A chew is therefore both an activity and a tool for calm, and that makes it a natural element in a daily life with more enrichment. You will find more ideas for this in our overview of treats.
How often can the dog have a chew?
A chew is still food and contributes calories, so it must be counted in the dog's total daily ration, not given on top without thought. If you give chews daily, cut back correspondingly on the meal itself, so the dog does not slowly gain weight. For most dogs, a chew a couple of times a week is a fine level, but it depends on size, format and how quickly your dog works through it.
Always keep an eye on the dog while it chews, especially the first time it gets a new type. Take the rest away when the piece has become so small that it can be swallowed whole, and make sure the dog has access to fresh water. If you introduce a new protein, give it in small amounts first and see how the stomach reacts.
Which chews have been recalled?
Recalls of chews and dried treats happen from time to time, most often due to suspicion of salmonella or elevated levels of unwanted substances in the raw ingredient. That is why the origin and control of the raw ingredients matter when you choose a chew.
The chews you find here are made from known, traceable raw ingredients without artificial additives. If you are generally concerned about recalls, the best thing you can do yourself is to choose simple products with a transparent list of ingredients, store them dry and keep up with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, which publishes current recalls of feed and treats for pets. If you see a chew that smells wrong, has become mouldy or has changed in appearance, discard it rather than giving it to the dog.
Can puppies have chews?
Puppies have a great need to chew, especially while the milk teeth are being replaced, and a softer chew can give them a legitimate place to chew instead of furniture and hands. Choose something that suits the small jaws, and avoid the hardest, heavy-duty varieties intended for adult, large dogs. Keep an extra close eye on a puppy during chewing, as it has not yet learned to pace itself.
If you want to read more about when puppies are ready for chews, and what they can have, we have gathered it in the article when can puppies have chews and a review of the best treats for puppies.
What are chews actually made of?
Dried chews are almost always made from animal raw ingredients: skin, muscle meat, cartilage, tendons or whole fish, dried so that the water is removed and the product becomes tough and durable. Precisely because the water is gone, a chew lasts longer than a fresh piece of meat and can be stored at room temperature.
The quality depends on what the raw ingredient is and whether anything has been added. A chew that consists only of the pure raw ingredient without glue, colour or flavourings is easier to see through and typically easier on the stomach. If you want to delve into it, we go through it in the article what are chews made of and give advice on how to choose in natural chews for dogs.
