The Best Bones For Dogs: A List Of Butcher Bones Safe For Dogs + What You Need To Know Before Giving Raw Bones To Your Dog!

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By Lynnette Walczak

This is Post #2 (Raw Bones For Dogs) in a series of articles summarizing the pros & cons of 12 Long-Lasting Dog Chews.

There’s nothing better than RAW and MEATY bones for your dog!

All dogs enjoy real bones from the butcher!

HOW LONG A RAW BONE LASTS AS A DOG CHEW: Months to years

BEST FOR: Power and medium chewers

TIP: Raw bones are not safe for puppies (under 1 year of age) — because their teeth are too fragile. Since most raw bones are harder than a dog’s teeth, they may not be the best choice for a power chewer. You’ll want to monitor an aggressive chewer closely — looking for fractured teeth or excessive wear on your dog’s teeth.

MY FAVORITE BRANDS: from Butcher shops (locally) and K9 Connoisseur (online)

Why Raw Bones For Dogs Are Great Dog Chews

Fresh, raw bones last sooooooo long!

I’ve literally had several of my dogs’ real bones last for many years. (Like… after one dog enjoyed it for a long time, then eventually passed, and another dog joined our family and started enjoying the same bone.)

I’ve definitely thrown away more “full-size” real bones than “remnants” of real bones that have been chewed down by our dogs — because they’re so difficult to chew down. (Usually, only the edges will wear down from constant chewing — which is just enough to be motivating and satisfying for your dog.)

The best part about giving your dog raw bones is… when you’re buying bones from a butcher, you can choose “whole bones” or “split bones” — as well as the length that you’d like the bones to be. Yep, they’ll cut them to your guidelines, at most butcher shops!

The price for butcher bones varies widely from place to place. I usually get mine for 50 cents a pound. I buy several pounds at a time, and I freeze them.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT COOK RAW BONES FOR DOGS! They will become dry and brittle and be more likely to splinter. And never give your dog cooked chicken bones or cooked turkey bones!

Poultry and pork bones, or cooked bones of any kind are strictly forbidden. They splinter into shards that can cause choking and serious damage to the dog’s mouth, throat, or intestines. Cooking can also remove nutrients from the bone.

~ American Kennel Club

A List Of The Best Raw Bones For Dogs

A list of which raw bones from the butcher are safest for dogs.

These are the safe dog bones for chewing that are least likely to splinter:

  • Shin bones – also called Tibia/Foreshank bones, they often have pieces of tendon and meat left on the bone
  • Knuckle bones – these are super durable, but awkward for most dogs to “grab onto” and manipulate for long periods of time
  • Marrow bones – first make sure they’re larger than your dog’s mouth, then consider stuffing them with dog-friendly human foods for an added surprise (after the marrow is gone, to encourage your dog to still chew on the bone)
  • Knee cap bones – these are good for small and medium dogs – they can get their mouth around it, yet they can’t swallow it
  • Femur bones – the rounded ends always get chewed off first, and they shouldn’t be swallowed whole — so watch for that. Also, be sure to throw away any small parts that get chewed off — femurs tend to splinter more than other bones

NOTE: You can buy these types of bones (in individual packages) online, in grocery stores, and in pet stores. However, they’re not raw and meaty unless you buy them from a butcher! Most (but not all) pre-packaged dog bones have been smoked — to make them extra tasty for dogs.

Where To Buy Raw Bones For Your Dog

My experience is that K9 Connoisseur is the best brand for store-bought safe bones for dogs. I get them on Amazon — when the butcher doesn’t have any of the ones I want available. (Or when I’m being lazy and want them to arrive on my doorstep the next day!)

I like how K9 Connoisseur’s Amazon store makes it easy for you to buy bones based on the size of your dog!

I also like that their dog bones are just one single ingredient. There are NO preservatives, additives, artificial flavors, or colors. Plus their dog bones are non-irradiated, so there’s NO “chemical changes” made to their dog bones (which is difficult to find these days).

Low-calorie, high-protein, no filler, and no grain for a healthy alternative to processed treats. Sourced from locally raised, grass-fed cattle in the USA. Naturally cleans teeth, preventing plaque and tartar, providing a safer alternative to tasteless dental chews.

~ K9 Connoisseur


Other brands are hit or miss in terms of how brittle they are — which means tiny slivers could break off, even though the majority of the bone remains tough and durable.

I sometimes buy raw bones from the grocery store (in the regular refrigerated meat section) whenever I see them there. But, my local grocery stores are usually hit or miss in terms of having SAFE bones for dogs that aren’t highly processed.

For the most part, my dogs seem to really like the K9 Connoisseur brand AND they’re affordable — so that’s what I buy the most.

Fresh bones from the butcher aren't allowed in the house until the dogs have removed all of the meaty parts.

TIP: I will occasionally buy plain shin bones with a hollowed out center (no marrow inside) because they’re great to repeatedly fill with goodies for your dog! Plus, they help a dog scrape the plaque off their teeth — especially those back teeth which are hard to reach with a toothbrush.) Stuffed or filled bones like these have the same effect — just refill them after the goodie is gone!


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A list of all the best raw bones for dogs that you can buy at a butcher shop, grocery store, or online.

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