There’s really no fighting it; dogs love to chew and gnaw on things to relieve their boredom. Chewing is an instinct for them that descends from their wild ancestors, but it also helps to keep both their teeth and gums healthy. The only problem with this behavior is that, if not directed towards the right objects, they could be damaging your personal belongings.
Those who have never heard of bully sticks are in for a real treat. These chews are popular among dog owners. Bully sticks are made from a single ingredient and won’t splinter and be dangerous for digestion. They also have a surprisingly long shelf life and keep your dogs mentally stimulated. While there are plenty of products out there, we have gathered some with the top reviews and listed them out to give you a few safe choices for your pup.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Best Bully Sticks Odor-Free Dog Stick Treats
Helps clean teeth
Long shelf life
Grass-fed and free-range beef
Check Price
Best Value
Downtown Pet Supply Premium Bully Sticks
All-natural and grass-fed beef
Digestible
Helps clean teeth
Check Price
Premium Choice
Natural Farm Bully Sticks
Multiple sizes and textures
Cleans teeth
Single ingredient
Check Price
Best Bully Sticks for Puppies
Nature Gnaws Beef Jerky Chew Treats
Grass-fed, free-range beef
Softer texture
Short length
Check Price
Jack&Pup Bully Sticks
Grass-fed, free-range beef
Minimal odor
No harmful ingredients
Check Price
The 8 Best Bully Sticks for Dogs
Of all the possible choices, the Best Bully Sticks brand is by far the best overall bully sticks for dogs. They come in either 6, 12, or 8-ounce bags and are about 4 inches thick. The ridges on the shape help to clean teeth, and the 100 percent natural treats are high in protein and low in fast. They can withstand even some of the most aggressive chewers.
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Large, giant
Special Diet: Odor-free
Check Price on Chewy
These treats are free from hormones, chemicals, preservatives, and other additives while still being packed with vitamins. They will not splinter and are made with only grass-fed and free-range beef. The one downside to these treats? They are very expensive.
Helps clean teeth
Grass-fed and free-range beef
Long shelf life
Digestible
High protein and low fat
- Helps clean teeth
- Grass-fed and free-range beef
- Long shelf life
- Digestible
- High protein and low fat
Expensive
- Expensive
Finding the best bully sticks for dogs for the money is a bit of a challenge. When you have a lower budget, you often sacrifice some of the quality that comes with a higher price range. These bully sticks are an excellent budget brand with options ranging from five to 200 treats. While the meat isn’t free-range, they are made using all-natural and grass-fed beef without artificial flavors, chemicals, and preservatives. If you’re not sure about trusting them, they are made in USDA and FDA-approved facilities. They do have a little bit of an odor, but it’s nothing unbearable.
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: All breeds
Special Diet: Chicken-free
All-natural and grass-fed beef
Digestible
Helps clean teeth
No harmful ingredients
- All-natural and grass-fed beef
- Digestible
- Helps clean teeth
- No harmful ingredients
Slight odor
- Slight odor
These bully sticks may have a higher price on them, but that is because they are made from grass-fed and free-range cattle without hormones, chemicals, or additives. They have a variety of chews available for all ages and breed sizes as well. The single ingredient used to make these sticks are only cleaned with water before getting baked to preserve all the nutrients.
Lifestage: All ages
Breed Size: All breeds
Special Diet: N/A
These bully sticks come in a range of textures as well. Between rings, braids, springs, and bites, there are options for every dog and are the most effective at cleaning their teeth. However, they do come in inconsistent sizes at times.
Multiple sizes and textures
Cleans teeth
Single ingredient
Grass-fed, free-range beef
- Multiple sizes and textures
- Cleans teeth
- Single ingredient
- Grass-fed, free-range beef
Inconsistent sizing
Expensive
- Inconsistent sizing
- Expensive
The best way to get your puppy started on bully sticks is with this Nature Gnaws jerky. These treats are available in shorter lengths for puppies and have a softer texture for sensitive puppy teeth. They are high in protein and low in fat as well. We enjoy that the company is open about the five-step safety process that the treats go through before being packaged here in the United States. Unfortunately, these are only safe for puppies and will have to be used consistently if you want to keep their teeth clean.
Lifestage: Puppy
Breed Size: All breeds
Special Diet: N/A
Grass-fed, free-range beef
Softer texture
Short length
- Grass-fed, free-range beef
- Softer texture
- Short length
For small dogs and puppies only
Not as good for cleaning teeth
- For small dogs and puppies only
- Not as good for cleaning teeth
These high-protein treats are designed specifically for medium-sized breeds. While they are not safe for puppies and small dogs, they are made from clean ingredients and are high in protein. They use grass-fed and free-range beef like the others, and there is minimal odor from them. They do not last as long as some other bully sticks and won’t clean their teeth as well, either.
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Medium
Special Diet: High-protein
Grass-fed, free-range beef
Minimal odor
No harmful ingredients
- Grass-fed, free-range beef
- Minimal odor
- No harmful ingredients
Not safe for puppies or small dogs
Expensive
Not long-lasting
- Not safe for puppies or small dogs
- Expensive
- Not long-lasting
6. Cadet Gourmet Bull Sticks
Check Latest Price
Lifestage: All ages
Breed Size: All breeds
Special Diet: N/A
This grain and gluten-free treat is better for small and medium dogs, even though they advertise for all dog sizes. Unfortunately, they just don’t stand up to some of the bigger teeth in large dog breeds. However, they are still a fantastic snack from good beef. They are far smellier than other options and do have a higher potential to splinter compared to some other brands.
Grass-fed, free-range beef
High protein
- Grass-fed, free-range beef
- High protein
Not ideal for larger dogs
Smelly
More likely to splinter
- Not ideal for larger dogs
- Smelly
- More likely to splinter
These bully sticks are low in both fat and calories, so you won’t have to worry about giving your dog one too many treats. The natural formula is clean and perfectly safe for all dog breeds. The worst part about these bully sticks is that they are very smelly. They also have a shorter shelf life and tend to dissolve faster than other sticks. They aren’t the best for cleaning your dog’s gums, but they can work if you use them consistently.
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: All breeds
Special Diet: High-protein
Affordable
Low in fat and calories
- Affordable
- Low in fat and calories
Strong odor
Short shelf life
Not long-lasting
Not great at cleaning gums
- Strong odor
- Short shelf life
- Not long-lasting
- Not great at cleaning gums
The last bully sticks to make our list are these odor-free sticks by Barkworthies. These sticks are relatively odor-free and made from grass-fed and free-range beef. There are also many different packs so you can buy the amount that fits your needs. The reason this brand is at the bottom of the list is because they have been known to splinter. They are also higher in fat and are very hard for some dogs to chew.
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: All breeds
Special Diet: N/A
Cheap
Clean ingredients
- Cheap
- Clean ingredients
Splinter
Low protein
High fast
Don’t last long
Hard to chew
- Splinter
- Low protein
- High fast
- Don’t last long
- Hard to chew
Buyer’s Guide – Purchasing the Best Bully Stick for Your Dog
When it comes to buying dog treats, there are a lot of unanswered questions out there. There are so many reports of some treats making dogs extremely ill and giving them seizures. When you purchase bully sticks, there are a few ways to guarantee you are only buying high-quality and safe products.
The Benefits of Bully Sticks
Digestion
Bully sticks are made from beef muscle, and they are much easier for your dog to digest than other treats because of the clean, simple ingredient list. You don’t need to worry about allergies from grain or gluten. They also won’t splinter like rawhide does, which could pierce your pup’s digestive tract as it works its way through the body.
Chewers
Dogs are going to chew no matter what. Bully sticks are a great way to redirect their chewing to something that won’t damage the items in your house. The sticks sometimes come with different chew levels, from light chewers to heavy ones. There are also various shapes and sizes for you to try out and see which one your dog prefers.
Nutrition
What we love most about the nutrition of bully sticks is that they are typically all-natural treats with lots of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Steer clear of any bully sticks that have added hormones, chemicals, or other additives.
Tooth Health
Dogs get tartar build-up just like humans too. Instead of having to brush their teeth a few times a month, some people find that giving their dogs bully sticks is a simple way to keep their dog’s oral health up to par. We don’t recommend completely replacing brushing their teeth for them, but it is a simple way to cut down on maintenance.
What to Look for When Shopping
Odor
There are a lot of dog treats out there with strong odors, and it isn’t uncommon for bully sticks to be awfully stinky. All bully sticks are going to have some sort of smell. The longer the meat gets dried, the less likely it is to stink because of the lack of moisture. Even though many claim they are odorless, that could be a sign that they were washed with a chemical. Instead, try to avoid any chemicals and bear the smell if you must.
Type of Beef
Grass-fed and free-range beef bully sticks should be the only ones you’re even considering. Making these types of conscientious choices means that the meat was raised and treated properly. The term “grass-fed” also indicates that the beef is more likely to be human-grade and safer for your pet.
FDA and USDA Approval
The FDA does regulate dog food and treats to ensure that they are safe for consumption. However, that doesn’t always mean they are approving safe foods for our pets. When it comes down to it, the ingredients list and assurance that they have not been treated with chemicals, hormones, or preservatives is most important.
Conclusion
While there are thousands of reviews for you to look through, we have taken some of the top choices across the internet and shown you which bully sticks are safest for your dogs today. The Best Bully Sticks brand comes out as the clear winner in our eyes. Still, Downtown Pet Supply creates some excellent value options. For those who can afford to pay more, the Natural Farm bully sticks are a premium choice. With all this information, we hope that you find the perfect bully sticks for your dog to chew on throughout the year.
Featured Image Credit: Iryna Imago, Shutterstock
