Whether you have a small breed, medium breed, large or giant breed of dog, one thing that remains constant is they love to chew on bones. Besides, if you’ve ever come home from work to find your favorite pair of shoes or the cushions from the couch have become your dog’s chew toy, then you already know the value of a good bone.
However, there are so many bones on the market today, it’s hard to determine which is the best one to give your canine pal. That’s where our reviews of the nine best bones for dogs can help. We’ll give you what we think are the best and then guide you through making the right choice as well.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Blue Buffalo Dental Bones All Natural Regular Dog Treats
Promotes clean teeth
Has an appealing taste and smell
Parsley helps to freshen your pet’s breath
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Best Value
Nylabone Healthy Edibles Wild Natural Dog Chew
Affordable
Flavor choices
Great for dogs up to 50 pounds
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Premium Choice
Smartbones Mini Peanut Butter Chew Bones Dog Treats
No rawhide
24 to a pack
Contains real chicken, peanut butter, and vegetables
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Best for Puppies
Nylabone Healthy Edibles Puppy Turkey & Sweet Potato Dog Bone Treats
Best for puppies
Contains 8 in a pack
Comes in different flavors
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Pet ‘N Shape USA All-Natural Chewz Beef Bones Large Dog Treats
Affordable
Low calorie
Has some meat on the bones
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The 9 Best Bones for Dogs
Sitting at number one on our list as the best overall bones for dogs is Blue Buffalo Dental Bones All Natural Regular Dog Treats. These bones are for medium-sized breeds and contain parsley, which helps to keep your dog’s breath fresh and promotes clean teeth. On occasion, every dog owner has recoiled from their pet’s breath, so Blue Buffalo has a fix. The smell and taste are appealing to dogs, making this a treat they love.
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Medium
Form: Treats
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The only drawbacks to these bones include some owners reporting the bones as being stale and the fact that they’re too hard for some dogs to chew, especially if they are senior dogs.
Pros
Promotes clean teeth
Has an appealing taste and smell
Parsley helps to freshen your pet’s breath
Cons
Some pet owners have reported the bones being stale
It may be too hard to chew for some dogs
If you’re searching for a treat that will fit your budget, then the best bones for dogs for the money, in our opinion, have to be Nylabone Healthy Edibles Wild Natural Dog Chews. For medium-sized breeds, this treat is great for dogs up to 50 pounds. It’s a bone that will fit almost any budget. If you have a picky dog, there are three flavor choices to choose from, turkey, bison, or venison flavored.
Promotes clean teeth
Has an appealing taste and smell
Parsley helps to freshen your pet’s breath
- Promotes clean teeth
- Has an appealing taste and smell
- Parsley helps to freshen your pet’s breath
Some pet owners have reported the bones being stale
It may be too hard to chew for some dogs
- Some pet owners have reported the bones being stale
- It may be too hard to chew for some dogs
Some owners reported the bones being too hard for their pets to chew and that their dogs ate them way too fast. This brand also doesn’t promote tooth health, which is important in a bone for dogs.
Pros
Affordable
Great for dogs up to 50 pounds
Flavor choices
Cons
It might be too hard for some dogs to chew
Doesn’t promote tooth health
Disappears to fast
Our premium choice goes to Smartbones Mini Peanut Butter Chew Bones Dog Treats for containing real chicken, peanut butter, and vegetables, giving your pet protein and the vitamins and minerals he needs to be healthy. In addition, these chews contain no rawhide, so everything dissolves slowly for your pet’s digestive health. Since there are 24 bones in a pack, this is an affordable choice as well.
Affordable
Great for dogs up to 50 pounds
Flavor choices
- Affordable
- Great for dogs up to 50 pounds
- Flavor choices
It might be too hard for some dogs to chew
Doesn’t promote tooth health
Disappears to fast
- It might be too hard for some dogs to chew
- Doesn’t promote tooth health
- Disappears to fast
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Extra-Small, Toy Breeds, Small Breeds
Form: Treats
Some owners reported the bones as being too hard for their dogs to chew, while others said that something in the formula had changed, and the bones weren’t the same as before. But, overall, this is a great choice for extra small to small breeds of dogs.
Pros
No rawhide
24 to a pack
Contains real chicken, peanut butter, and vegetables
Cons
Too hard for some dogs to chew
Some owners reported the formula has changed
At number four on the list is Nylabone Healthy Edibles Puppy Turkey & Sweet Potato Dog Bone Treats. This treat is specially designed for puppies, extra-small, and toy breeds. The treats come in different flavors, such as turkey and sweet potato, to whet even the finickiest appetite. Since they come in packs of eight, you shouldn’t run out quickly, and they are affordable to boot.
No rawhide
24 to a pack
Contains real chicken, peanut butter, and vegetables
- No rawhide
- 24 to a pack
- Contains real chicken, peanut butter, and vegetables
Too hard for some dogs to chew
Some owners reported the formula has changed
- Too hard for some dogs to chew
- Some owners reported the formula has changed
Lifestage: Puppy
Breed Size: Extra-Small, Toy Breeds
Form: Treats
Some users reported they disappeared too quickly and weren’t worth the money. However, if you have a puppy that’s chewing on these treats, they should last you longer than they would a full-grown dog and are worth giving a try, in our opinion.
Pros
Best for puppies
Comes in different flavors
Contains 8 in a pack
Cons
Doesn’t last long
Landing at number five on the list is Pet ‘N Shape USA All-Natural Chewz Beef Bones for Large Dog Treats. This bone is designed for large and giant breeds. It’s an inexpensive treat, but it doesn’t contain marrow. Your dog will love that it has some meat on the bones for him to gnaw on, and it’s a low-calorie product, so you don’t have to worry about your pet’s weight.
Best for puppies
Comes in different flavors
Contains 8 in a pack
- Best for puppies
- Comes in different flavors
- Contains 8 in a pack
Doesn’t last long
- Doesn’t last long
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Large or Giant Breeds
Form: Treats
However, these bones can be quite messy because of the meat on the bones and the greasiness. Make sure your pet keeps it off the carpet. Some owners reported the bones arriving and being brittle, which means they could splinter easily and hurt your dog.
Pros
Has some meat on the bones
Affordable
Low calorie
Cons
Can be messy
Some bones arrived brittle and splintered easily
At number six is a brand that everyone is familiar with. Rachael Ray Nutish Soup Bones Beef & Barley Flavor Dog treats work for all breeds and are affordable as well. You have three flavor choices, including beef and barley. These bones are sourced and roasted in the United States and made from farm-raised chicken and beef, meaning your dog gets the protein he needs to be happy and healthy.
Has some meat on the bones
Affordable
Low calorie
- Has some meat on the bones
- Affordable
- Low calorie
Can be messy
Some bones arrived brittle and splintered easily
- Can be messy
- Some bones arrived brittle and splintered easily
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: All breeds
Form: Treats
Some of the bones proved to be too large for some dogs to chew, and these don’t offer any type of dental protection for your canine pal, so make sure to brush his teeth regularly.
Pros
Affordable
3 flavor choices
US beef and chicken that has been farm-raised
Cons
It might be too large for some pets
Provides no dental protection
- USA Bones & Chews Roasted Marrow Bone Dog Treat
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Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Medium, large, and giant breeds
Form: Treat
Sometimes a regular old bone just doesn’t work for your dog. However, if you have an aggressive chewer that is a medium, large, or giant breed of dog, then the USA Bones & Chews Roasted Marrow Bone Dog Treat might be the right choice for you. Made of natural bone, this one is full of marrow that your dog will love and slow-roasted to perfection. The slow roast is to ensure the bone holds its meaty beef flavor, something your dog will enjoy for a while.
Affordable
3 flavor choices
US beef and chicken that has been farm-raised
- Affordable
- 3 flavor choices
- US beef and chicken that has been farm-raised
It might be too large for some pets
Provides no dental protection
- It might be too large for some pets
- Provides no dental protection
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Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Medium, large, and giant breeds
Form: Treat
Users have reported that some bones are of a higher quality than others with this brand.
Pros
Made of natural bone
Full of marrow
Slow roasted
Cons
Some bones are of better quality than others
- Redbarn Large Cheese n’ Bacon Filled Bones Dog Treats
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Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Large or giant breeds
Form: Treat
At number eight on the list is Redbarn Large Cheese n’ Bacon Filled Bones Dog Treats, another bone for aggressive chewers who are large or giant breeds. Perfect to help with your dog’s dental hygiene, this bone appeals to dog’s taste buds because of the cheesy filling, not to mention the bacon flavor. It’s also made of natural bone.
Made of natural bone
Full of marrow
Slow roasted
- Made of natural bone
- Full of marrow
- Slow roasted
Some bones are of better quality than others
- Some bones are of better quality than others
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Large or giant breeds
Form: Treat
However, you get what you pay for, and this bone is quite expensive because you only get one. All-in-all, we think it’s a good deal because it does last longer than many other bones on our list, and it is for aggressive chewers.
Pros
Great for dental hygiene
Tasty because of the cheese filling
Natural bone
Cons
Quite Expensive
Last on the list is Busy Bone with Meat Mini Rawhide-Free Dog Treats. This treat is for dogs from five to 55 pounds and is quite affordable as well. There are no added colors or rawhide to mess with your dog’s digestion, and they also love the taste.
Great for dental hygiene
Tasty because of the cheese filling
Natural bone
- Great for dental hygiene
- Tasty because of the cheese filling
- Natural bone
Quite Expensive
- Quite Expensive
Lifestage: Adult
Breed Size: Extra-Small, toy, small breeds
Form: Treats
This product does contain sugar, which isn’t good for many dogs and can upset sensitive stomachs. Some pet owners also reported that it doesn’t last long, meaning their pets gobble it up super quickly. However, since it is an affordable option, we feel it deserves a place on our list of the best bones for dogs.
Pros
For dogs from 5 to 55 pounds
No added colors or rawhide
Affordable
Cons
Has sugar in it
Can upset sensitive stomachs
Doesn’t last long
For dogs from 5 to 55 pounds
No added colors or rawhide
Affordable
- For dogs from 5 to 55 pounds
- No added colors or rawhide
- Affordable
Has sugar in it
Can upset sensitive stomachs
Doesn’t last long
- Has sugar in it
- Can upset sensitive stomachs
- Doesn’t last long
Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best Dog Bones
Every dog owner knows that a dog loves a good bone. So now that we’ve given you our top nine choices for what we think are the best, we’ll tell you what to look for in a good dog bone below.
Ingredients
When choosing a dog bone for your furry friend, the first thing you should look at is the ingredients list. First, of course, you want ingredients that are all-natural with no dyes or artificial flavors added. This is especially important if your dog has a sensitive stomach or allergies.
Flavor
Of course, the flavor of the bone isn’t something you can judge, but you can be sure your pup will be the judge for you. For the most part, even on bones that are synthetic, you get some beef or chicken flavor. If you know your pet loves those flavors, then you’ve won half the battle; if not, then you’re going to have to keep trying until you find a flavor that your finicky pal will like and eat.
Size
It’s extremely important that you don’t get a bone that’s too big for your dog. That’s why we made sure to specify breed size in our reviews. A small dog can crack their teeth on a bone that’s too big for them. Likewise, a bone that’s too small can easily cause them to choke, so be sure to watch for breed size when making your choice.
These are just a few of the things you should look for when choosing the best bone for your dog. Remember, don’t give large bones to small breed dogs and vice versa. It’s also extremely important to give only bones approved for puppies to your puppy as well.
Next on your reading list: Redbarn Dog Food Review: Recalls, Pros, Cons, & Verdict
Final Thoughts
This concludes our top nine reviews of the best bones for dogs. At number one is the Blue Buffalo Dental Bones All Natural Regular Dog Treats for its ability to freshen your dog’s breath. Number two goes to Nylabone Healthy Edibles Wild Natural Dog Chews for its affordability. Finally, at number three is Smartbones Mini Peanut Butter Chew Bones Dog Treats because it contains natural ingredients and peanut butter.
We hope our reviews and guide will help you make the right choice when choosing the best dog bones for your pet today.
See also:
- 8 Best Dog Foods at PetSmart – Reviews & Top Picks
- 10 Best Toys for French Bulldogs – Reviews & Top Picks
- 8 Best Dog Playpens – Reviews & Top Picks