07/09/2026
This is one of the questions I use to help me come up with some options when someone wants me to recommend something for their dog.
There are a few reasons I ask it.
Some dogs are chop, chop, swallow. They’ll chew something just enough to get it into a size they think they can swallow and then down it goes. With those dogs, appropriate sizing becomes really important because I don’t want to recommend something that’s going to increase the risk of them trying to swallow a large piece.
At the other end are dogs that simply don’t want to work very hard for their chew. Give them something too big or too hard and they might have a little go at it, leave it for later or take it and bury it, often in the couch or under a pillow.
This behaviour doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t like that particular treat.
For example, if a small dog is given a whole pig ear, eats part of it and regularly leaves the rest, I might suggest trying a quarter pig ear or a smaller chew next time. Then see what they do with it. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of finding the right size and hardness for that dog.
Sometimes there’s another reason a dog is eating quickly too. Some dogs seem to think they need to finish their treat before someone takes it away. That might be another dog, but it can also be a person. If another dog being around is causing them to rush, separating them while they’re having their treats can help. Either way, it’s something I want to know about when I’m deciding what size and type of chew I’m comfortable recommending.
For a dog that genuinely likes to chew and takes its time, we have a lot more options. Then we can start looking at whether you want something softer that’s going to be eaten relatively quickly or something harder that they’re going to have to work at for longer.
It’s why I don’t choose a chew based on the size of your dog alone.
The right size and hardness depend on the dog that’s actually going to be eating it — and sometimes you need to try something, watch what they do with it, and adjust from there.
