My puppy is going to be 12 weeks this Friday when can I start giving him raw hide bones, and other bones like that

I personally don't like raw hide bones. They get to "mushy" and can easily be swallowed in my opinion. I always keep chewing bones around like ham bones, "treat" bones that you can buy at your local pet store, etc.

Rawhides are okay for a young one, but once they are old enough to pull off chunks they are too old for rawhide. Rawhides pose a very real choking threat. Make sure you buy a BIG one, not the little 4" things. Get one at last 8" with a knot the size of your fist.

Beware of pet store bones, they are often "sterilized" which makes them very hard and brittle. Also dangerous.

Soft raw bones from the butcher (again, large) are safest (not "soup bones").

I'm not a fan of rawhide either, I have researched them online after seeing that many here don't give them and decided it's not worth it. I saw a ham bone that was vaccum packed (some dried meat still on it) at the store the other day though and was wondering about it. Is this too brittle and therefore dangerous for my pup? Can you just go to the meat counter at the supermarket and ask for the raw bones? We don't have a "butcher shop" anywhere nearby that I know of.

Yeah, those dried boned can be brittle.

Some grocers will have them, but not often. If you have one with a proper meat counter you can ask. A good bone is a 4" or longer femur, completely raw. Some people like the knuckle on, some don't.

If you want recreational bones it's hard to beat a slab of ribs.

Beef bones they probably won't eat, and I take them away from Zoe once she flosses them clean.

Pork rib bones they might very well consume.

Yeah, those dried boned can be brittle.

Some grocers will have them, but not often. If you have one with a proper meat counter you can ask. A good bone is a 4" or longer femur, completely raw. Some people like the knuckle on, some don't.

Are we talking marrow bones? I have the butcher cut the really long ones in half and then freeze them. Then I stick em in the dishwasher and you can use em like kongs---freezing whatever in em and giving em to them. I hope that is ok.

Deb

My puppy is going to be 12 weeks this Friday when can I start giving him raw hide bones, and other bones like that

I am not a fan of rawhide bones. These can cause an obstruction is large pieces are swallowed. I never use them.

If you want recreational bones it's hard to beat a slab of ribs.



we like raw beef ribs over here, too.

rawhides can be dangerous, make sure to supervise your pup carefully. i agree that they are not safe at all for a big dog or an active chewer. they are certainly not safe for my big, active chewer! the last time i gave my dogs a rawhide was the time i had to pull five inches of wet, soggy half chewed rawhide out of my choking dog's throat!

Our 3 dogs do fine on raw hides and have since they were puppies. I pick the kind they can't hunk of large pieces of like those thick retriever rolls. I don't like the "real" bones they sell at the petstores, they just scare me. Raw bones, marrow, ribs, whatever, are fine, though my one girl won't chew them. But she loves those hard nylabones....

Are we talking marrow bones? I have the butcher cut the really long ones in half and then freeze them. Then I stick em in the dishwasher and you can use em like kongs---freezing whatever in em and giving em to them. I hope that is ok.

Deb
As long as the dogs aren't breaking off pieces. But I personally wouldn't dishwasher them in case the heat "cooks" them. How long do you keep one?

As long as the dogs aren't breaking off pieces. But I personally wouldn't dishwasher them in case the heat "cooks" them. How long do you keep one?


Putting them in the dishwasher is not a good idea. The heat and hot water will steam them and make them brittle. There's no need to sterlize the bones.

I'd have to agree that raw marrow bones are the way to go. I had a hard time finding them anywhere near me at first, but finally got out the good ol' yellow pages and called some butchers. I usually will call ahead and have them cut them for me. I have to take a little drive to get them, so I will usually buy quite a few at a time and freeze them.

I wouldn't let your pup have too much of the marrow the first few times or you may find that it gives him diarrhea. What I did with my puppies is I gave the bones to the older dogs first and let them clean them most of the way out. Then the pups got what was left, which wasn't too much on their little systems, but a huge treat for them nonetheless.

I just noticed all the cute smilies on this board. Love 'em!:crutch:

Putting them in the dishwasher is not a good idea. The heat and hot water will steam them and make them brittle. There's no need to sterlize the bones.Right :tup2: To reuse them, it's fine to put them back in the freezer. (not too appetizing looking perhaps, with a little dog hair and dirt attached, but dogs are made of tougher stuff than we.)

As long as the dogs aren't breaking off pieces. But I personally wouldn't dishwasher them in case the heat "cooks" them. How long do you keep one?

Not long---maybe wash them twice. I also generally only re-use the ones where the sides are pretty thick and smooth. Plus, I think they love the marrow the best. I never give them any type of bone be it marrow or rawhide without me being there with them. It is usually the "mommy wants to peacefully watch tv" treat. LOL!

Deb

I forgot to mention. You can re-stuff them too before freezing them. A little peanut butter always goes over well here.