By Katie Harris
A very common question we are asked is "What can I give them to chew on other than rawhide, socks, wood, etc?"
There are lots of good chewing toys on the market now. We never recommend rawhide for goldens--their jaws are strong, and they rip it off in chunks that can't be digested which leads to them throwing it back up or (in rare instances) having to be surgically removed. However, there are now some great options so we don't need rawhide anymore.
Sterilized Bones-- these are heat-treated beef bones, very, very hard, that dogs typically love. You can buy these through a catalog (I'd get at least 4 big ones to have around) or at the pet store (but you'll pay a high markup). They're hollow in the middle so you can stuff them with peanut butter, Velveeta cheese, liverwurst, or any type of sausage-like treat (available at some pet stores) that is soft and squishy. Stuffing them helps encourage the dog to work on them for a very long time, and if he breaks off pieces they will be small and not sharp. If they get dirty, you can run them through the dishwasher (WITHOUT SOAP). I keep a pile in the fridge and dole them out in the morning (I have a golden that is totally orally fixated and has to have lots of chewing time daily). You can also make these bones yourself easily out of soup bones if you have a grocery store with a butcher you can work with. I make mine now for about $1.50 a bone, and they last a long time. If you'd like to know how, see below.
Booda Velvet Bones-- these are made out of cornstarch, come in different flavors and sizes, and require a good bit of work as well. Totally edible...
Potato Pop-Pups-- made out of potato and come in different sizes and flavors. They require a fair amount of work (when a dog gets older, you can microwave these to make them softer if needed).
Veggie and Fruit Bones-- made by nylabone, as are the previous two. These are not as hard--a golden can work through a large one in 15-20 minutes. But, they tend to LOVE them, so are good as gourmet treats or for rainy days...I haven't found a golden yet who doesn't like the bones made out of carrots! My dogs also like the bacon bones, and I'm going to try them on bananas since mine like true bananas occasionally.
Regular Nylabones-- these are smooth and hard, and some dogs (the young ones, in my experience) like that texture/consistency and will chew them. My dogs don't like them, and I find little pieces of nylon all over the floor to step on when they do deign to chew them, but they can be a great alternative for a busy chewer.
For all of these I recommend trying one or two flavors and then ordering in bulk from a catalog. Once you know what your dogs will like, you can save up to 70% over pet stores. If you try the basted beef sterilized bones, I'd leave them outside--they're smelly and can stain a carpet. I haven't had that problem with regular sterilized bones or the others I mentioned.
Toys you may try are a rubber Kong--it's designed in such a way that when thrown it will not bounce in a straight line, and it's also hollow (ergo, stuffable with food treats). Some dogs like working on it, and it is hard rubber, so it will last a while. Lastly, Knotted Ropes, (also act like dental floss) and Tennis Balls are also golden favorites.
