The Complete Guide to Natural Dog Chews in Canada

Šapice Pet Wellness
2026-04-01T15:59:03-04:00

Natural dog chews support dental health, mental stimulation, and joint health. This complete guide helps Canadian dog owners choose the right chew for their dog's size, age, and chewing style.
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Natural dog chews have become one of the fastest-growing categories in Canadian pet retail — and for good reason. Unlike processed rawhide or synthetic chews loaded with additives, natural chews are single-ingredient, minimally processed, and provide genuine physical and mental benefits for dogs of all sizes and ages. But with so many options available, knowing which chew is right for your dog can be overwhelming. This guide breaks it all down.

Why Natural Chews?

Chewing is a fundamental canine behaviour. Dogs chew to relieve stress, clean their teeth, exercise their jaw muscles, and simply because it feels good. Providing appropriate chew outlets reduces destructive chewing, supports dental health, and gives dogs a productive way to spend their energy — particularly important during Canada's long winters when outdoor time is limited.

Natural chews offer several advantages over synthetic alternatives:

Single ingredient — no artificial preservatives, colours, or flavours

Digestible — unlike rawhide, most natural chews break down safely in the digestive system

Nutritious — many provide protein, collagen, and minerals as they're consumed

Engaging — the varied textures and aromas of natural chews hold a dog's attention far longer than synthetic alternatives

Chew Types: A Complete Guide

Bully Sticks

One of the most popular natural chews worldwide. Made from dried beef pizzle, bully sticks are high in protein, fully digestible, and suitable for most dogs. They're a great everyday chew for moderate chewers.

6" Braided Bully Stick — ideal for medium breeds and moderate chewers

12" Braided Bully Stick — for larger breeds or dogs who need a longer-lasting challenge

Ears

Ears are a softer chew option, making them ideal for puppies, seniors, and smaller breeds. They're rich in cartilage and provide a satisfying crunch without the hardness that can risk tooth fractures.

Beef Ear — a classic, larger ear chew for medium to large dogs

Pork Ear — slightly softer than beef, great for medium breeds

Lamb Ear — a novel protein option for dogs with beef or pork sensitivities

Goat Ear — lean and flavourful, another excellent novel protein choice

Tendons and Trachea

Tendons and trachea are naturally rich in glucosamine and chondroitin — the same compounds found in joint supplements — making them a functional chew that supports joint health as your dog enjoys it.

4–7" Beef Tendon — a tough, long-lasting chew for strong chewers

8–12" Beef Tendon — for larger breeds who need a bigger challenge

8–9" Veal Trachea — softer than tendon, naturally rich in glucosamine

7"+ Lamb Trachea and 5–7" Lamb Trachea — a novel protein trachea option

Gullet Sticks

Gullet (oesophagus) chews are softer, highly digestible, and naturally rich in glucosamine. They're an excellent choice for dogs who need a gentler chew.

11"+ Lamb Gullet Stick

11"+ Braided Lamb Gullet

5–7" Braided Lamb Gullet

Lamb Gullet Pieces 70g — ideal for smaller dogs or as training rewards

Pork Skin Rolls

A highly digestible alternative to rawhide, pork skin rolls provide a satisfying chew experience without the digestive risks associated with traditional rawhide.

4–6" Pork Skin Roll

10"+ Pork Skin Roll

Coffee Wood Chews

A sustainable, long-lasting chew made from the wood of coffee plants. Coffee wood chews are ideal for power chewers who destroy softer chews quickly. They splinter into soft fibres rather than sharp shards, making them safer than traditional wood sticks.

Small Coffee Wood Chew

Medium Coffee Wood Chew

Large Coffee Wood Chew

Extra-Large Coffee Wood Chew

Lamb Pizzle

5–8" Braided Lamb Pizzle Stick — a novel protein alternative to traditional bully sticks

Choosing the Right Chew for Your Dog

Puppies and seniors: softer chews like ears, gullet sticks, or lamb trachea

Small breeds: smaller sizes of ears, gullet pieces, or short bully sticks

Medium breeds: bully sticks, pork ears, beef tendons, trachea

Large and power chewers: large beef tendons, long bully sticks, coffee wood chews

Dogs with sensitivities: novel proteins like lamb, goat, or lamb pizzle

Safety Guidelines

Always supervise your dog during chew sessions

Choose an appropriately sized chew — it should be larger than your dog's mouth

Discard chews when they become small enough to swallow whole

Introduce new chews gradually to avoid digestive upset

Provide fresh water alongside all chew sessions

Explore our full Very Few-Ingredient Chews collection and Natural Dental Chews collection for the complete range.

Shop our Natural Chews collection →