Buying guides
How Long Should a Dog Chew a Bone or Chew?
There is no official number of minutes, because the safe time depends on the chew, not the clock. Take any bone or chew away as soon as it is small enough to swallow whole, starts to splinter or break into chunks, or your dog is biting so hard it could crack a tooth. Many vets advise avoiding real bones altogether, because hard bones are a common cause of fractured teeth. Supervise every chewing session.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 14, 20264 min read4 sources
Why there is no set chewing time
A softer edible chew may be finished in ten minutes, while a firm rubber dog toy can be chewed safely for an hour. What matters is the condition of the chew and how your dog is chewing. The ASPCA asks for slow, deliberate chewing and says owners should not allow rapid eating of any chew, so the pace your dog chews at is the first thing to watch.
Ten to twenty minutes is a sensible session for many edible chews, with supervision, and then the chew can be put away until next time. Shorter sessions also spread the calories out and stop your dog from wearing a chew down to a dangerous stub in one go. Count edible chews as part of the day's food.
When to take a bone or chew away
Take it away when it is small enough to swallow whole. The AKC advises removing rawhide once it is small enough to swallow in one piece, bully sticks when they are chewed down to a nub, and yak cheese chews as soon as they become a hazard. The ASPCA adds that durable chews should be discarded before they become excessively worn.
Also take it away if pieces are breaking off, if it splinters, if your dog is gulping chunks, or if they are biting down so hard that they could damage a tooth. VCA advises taking a toy away if a dog chews off chunks or bites hard enough to stress the teeth. Swap it for a treat so giving it up feels like a good deal.
The problem with real bones
Many veterinarians recommend avoiding real bones. VCA lists bones among the hard, non-bending chews that commonly fracture teeth, and Tufts veterinary dentists call bones a big no-no. Cooked bones are especially risky because they splinter, and splinters can cut the mouth or lodge in the throat or gut.
Weight-bearing beef bones and other very hard bones are the ones most likely to break teeth. If your dog has been chewing a bone and now drools, drops food or chews on one side, VCA lists these as signs of a fractured tooth worth showing your vet.
Choosing a safer chew
The simplest test comes from VCA: throw away any chew or toy that does not readily bend. Tufts adds that if you cannot dent a chew with your thumbnail, it is too hard. Choose a chew sized for your dog, too big to swallow, and not so soft that it breaks into big swallowable chunks, as the AKC cautions.
Dental chews carrying the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal, firm rubber toys and frozen stuffed toys are good choices for many dogs. The ASPCA suggests larger, durable chews for aggressive chewers, who might otherwise swallow a smaller chew whole.
How to supervise chewing safely
Stay in the room, especially with any new chew. Give chews in a calm spot away from other dogs to avoid squabbles. Watch the size of the chew as it shrinks, and have a treat ready to trade. Limit how much rawhide your dog eats at once, which the ASPCA specifically advises.
Puppies, seniors and dogs with dental problems need softer dental chews and shorter sessions. If your dog guards chews or swallows them in big pieces, ask your vet or a trainer for help.
When to call your vet
Call your vet right away if your dog swallows a large piece of a chew or bone, if they choke, retch or gag, or if they vomit, stop eating, strain to poop or seem to have belly pain afterward. The ASPCA warns rapid swallowing of chews can cause obstructions that need immediate care. Book a dental check if you suspect a broken tooth.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can a dog chew a bone for too long?
Yes. Long sessions on a hard bone can crack teeth, and a bone worn down can become small enough to swallow. Supervise, limit sessions and take it away once it is small, splintering or breaking.
Should I take a bone away from my dog?
Yes, whenever it becomes small enough to swallow, starts splintering or your dog is gulping pieces. Trade it for a treat so your dog is happy to give it up, and put it away safely.
Are cooked bones safe for dogs?
No. Cooked bones splinter easily and the sharp pieces can cut the mouth or get stuck in the throat or gut. Many vets advise avoiding real bones of any kind.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
