The Best Bones For German Shepherds: 11 Best Safe Dog Bones

Looking for the best bones for German Shepherd? You have come to the right place. 

At a glance, the best bones for German Shepherds are as follows:

1. Raw Meaty Chicken With Bones
2. Turkey Bones
3. Beef Shanks
4. Lamb Shanks
5. Bison Bones With Marrow
6. Beef Flavoured Synthetic Bones
7. Chewing Bones By Mia's Pawsome
8. Chewable Wishbones
9. Shin Beef Bones
10. Chewable Buffalo Bones
11. Pawstruck-Filled Bones

The incredible force in a German shepherd’s canines helps it grind objects easily. Thus, dog owners are always in a dilemma about which bones to give them. Dr. Brady Barr reviews that the strength that German Shepherds use while biting is between 130 and 238 pounds. 

It is more than a pit bull. They certainly need bones that can resist the aggressive chewing force. The bones which break down into splinters inside their mouth might cause choking hazards. Therefore, the main factors to consider while shopping for bones for your German shepherd are its size, composition, and durability. 

Your dog might innocently try to follow it up, too. The owners should carefully choose a bone of a suitable size to prevent such unwanted incidents. Natural bones are undoubtedly the favorite among German shepherds. 

Natural bones of cows or other animals of the same size are the best bones for German Shepherd. However, there are synthetic options as well. While natural bones are the best treat for dogs, synthetic ones can also replicate the same texture and strength as real bones. 

And that is precisely why we are here – to check out the best safe dog bones for your German Shepherd. So, without wasting time, here we go!

But First, Can Dogs Eat Bones?

So, can dogs eat bones? Technically, yes. Bones are a great source of nutrients and minerals. 

Moreover, chewing bones easily enhances saliva enzyme production, preventing any sort of plaque buildup. By simply chewing a bone, your doggo will hardly scratch or lick their paws by simply chewing a bone. However, are there any risks? As per vets, you should think at least twice before you can give your baby a bone to chew. 

Additionally, depending on the kind of bone you are giving your dog, it is vital to remember that chewing certain bones can end up leading to really severe injuries. 

What Type Of Issues Can Dog Bones Cause?

Before listing the best bones for German Shepherds, let’s address the primary problems that your dog can face from chewing certain bones. 

Here’s a brief overview of the different problems that your dog can face from chewing bones:

• Choking hazard.
• Broken teeth.
• Tongue and mouth injuries.
• Injuries to the intestinal and stomach lining. 
• Constipation.
• Intestinal blockage.

What You Must Avoid While Giving Your Dog Bones?

So, what should you avoid while giving your dog bones? 

You must avoid all cooked bones, including any cooked chicken bones. This holds true whether you are able to cook the same on your own or purchase them from a pet store. Moreover, after the cooking process, large bones become very brittle. In turn, these bones can break or even splinter in your doggo’s mouth. 

Moreover, raw bones are relatively safe as compared to cooked bones. In fact, there are two kinds of raw bones:

• Nutritional raw bones and
• Recreational raw bones.

Recreational raw bones are typically meant for playing and are big enough for your dog to swallow accidentally. This typically includes an entire bone.

Safe raw bones usually include beef and lamb, while unsafe bones include more brittle and smaller chicken bones, rib bones, pork bones, and turkey bones. While it is difficult to shatter these bones, it is still crucial that you supervise your dog from time to time while ensuring that no parts are falling off. 

In the case of nutritional raw bones, you will be able to mix these into your doggo’s diet. Brittle and small, they typically include ground chicken and turkey bones as a sort of supplement for your dog’s meal. 

The Best Bones for German Shepherds: 11 Best Safe Dog Bones

Safe bones for dogs ought to be manufactured from organic materials that do not have harmful chemicals or unpermitted preservatives. Any of these can harm your pet’s health. Among the natural bones, cow bones are their favorite. 

However, dog owners should know that bones can be edible and recreational. Edible bones can be part of a comprehensive diet for your German shepherd. 

Recreational bones are mostly given to them for chewing pleasure, though they frequently become a component of their diet. The main features of edible bones offered to German Shepherds are hollow and lightweight bones.

The prime choices among raw bones are:

• Whole chicken bones
• Neck bones of turkeys
• Beef shanks
• Lamb shanks
• Bison bones containing marrow
• Large bones with meat layers wrapped around those

While feeding dog bones to German Shepherds, the golden rule is to keep the size of bones bigger than their head and larger in comparison to their muzzles. Such big bones are a treat for dogs. At the same time, it is impossible to gulf or swallow those bones as a whole. 

Safe bones for dogs also include frozen raw bones, which cannot be aggressively chewed. Since aggressive chewing is a natural tendency among German Shepherds, it is one of the best bones for German shepherds. 

Now, let’s explore a curated list of the best and safest bones for dogs, ensuring that all essential qualities of suitable dog bones for German shepherds are present in these! The list combines both raw and synthetic dog bones.

1. Raw Meaty Chicken With Bones:

The raw meat chicken bones, suitable for the size of the German shepherd, are one of their favorite treats. Generally, the German shepherd should eat portions like leg quarters, chicken breast with bones, chicken necks, and wings. 

The chicken bones are, however, delicate. It can easily be granted into splinters, creating choking hazards for your dog.

2. Turkey bones:

One of the major favorites among German Shepherds is large Turkey neck bones. The strong acid in their stomach helps them to break down the bones into basic components and kill harmful bacteria. 

Experts say that Turkey bones should be properly cleaned before they become treats for dogs. These are large bones that cannot be easily broken down into splinters. Hence, the health risk to dogs is much lower.

3. Beef Shanks:

German shepherds can be fed with beef shanks only when they are lightweight. Beef shanks are treats for dogs, but they can injure them if the bone is harder than the dog’s teeth.

4. Lamb shanks:

Lamb shanks are the same as beef shanks. However, most lamb shanks are hollow and can be easily enjoyed by a German shepherd. It is one of the safe bones for dogs.

5. Bison Bones With Marrow:

Bison bones, in which marrow are comparatively tenders than other bison bones. Cooked bones can be easily granulated. Hence, dog owners should avoid giving cooked bison bones to German Shepherds.

6. Beef Flavoured Synthetic Bones:

Such synthetic bones have a strong, meaty flavor that lasts long. Any synthetic bone is safe for dogs, as there are fewer chances of dogs choking on it. However, synthetic bones below food grade can contain harmful preservatives.

7. Chewing Bones By Mia’s Pawsome:

It is one of the best buys on Amazon. This bone is not only hollow and durable but also helps in keeping teeth clean. Mia’s has been rated as the provider of the cleanest natural bones. However, many reviews report that mighty German Shepherds might crush and try to gulp it down.

8. Chewable Wishbones:

A highly chewable product is the wishbone. It is basically a toy bone that can satisfy the chewing fury of any German shepherd. Among the most common dog bones, wishbones are the most flavourful. 

As it is highly chewable, it lasts longer. Most dogs, including German shepherds, get gnawing whenever they get a chew bone.

9. Shin Beef Bones:

Among the most flavourful and tasty treats for dogs, shin bones are of the highest order. These are synthetic bones that contain natural ingredients with a delicious coating of cow liver. The coating increases the chew time and keeps your German Shepherd engaged for a long.

10. Chewable Buffalo Bones:

The preserved buffalo bones are one of the favorite packaged dog bones. The “grain-free” formula of this product makes it one of the safe bones for dogs. It is particularly safe for German Shepherds, which have aggressive chewing habits.

11. Pawstruck-Filled Bones:

These bones are fed to German Shepherds sparingly. However, eager chewers can have these as the internal fillings of these bones are easily dissolved inside the mouth.

How To Safely Give A Bone To Your Dog?

Now that you have seen the best bones for German Shepherds let’s check out a few safety tips that you need to follow when giving your dog a bone to chew. 

1. Supervise your dog while they are chewing a bone. So, only leave your dog on its own to chew a bone under supervision. Otherwise, they might end up chewing the bone too aggressively or too much of it, which can lead to a serious injury. Moreover, you can keep your dog entertained with a delicious toy or bone beside you while you sit and work. 
2. Avoid giving any bone marrow to dogs who have Pancreatitis. 
3. Don’t give your dog any bone that can be bitten into halves and swallowed as large chunks. Moreover, swallowing instead of chewing bones can get risky. 
4. Dispose of the bones after three to four days to avoid any kind of bacteria buildup. 
5. Give big bones to bigger breeds. As a rule of thumb, it is always best to give your dog bones that are longer than its muzzle. 

Safe Chewing Alternatives:

Yes, while the best bones for German Shepherds can keep your dog entertained, it is always more practical to be aware of alternatives to real bones. 

1. Better Bone Tough:

Pet owners who worry a lot about real bones or bully sticks causing choking hazards or splintering can opt for the Better Bone chew toy as an alternative to real bones. 

The best part? These bones are not just durable but also free from microplastics and allergens. As a result, you can entertain your dog and keep them busy for hours. Moreover, it is entirely sustainable. As a result, this toy is great for the planet as well. 

2. Antlers:

Although there are multiple dogs who are happy with chewing antlers without any problem, just like real bones, there could be potential health issues associated with chewing antlers, particularly if those antlers splinter or shatter. 

For this very reason, you shouldn’t let your dog chew on antlers without supervision. However, by choosing the appropriate texture and size of your dog’s antlers as well as diligently tracking their activities, you can actually ensure that your dog is chewing antlers safely.

In our experience, mid-antler sections have worked the best in terms of splitting prevention. So, it is best to avoid the tips whenever possible. 

3. Carrots:

Are raw or cooked carrots actually very effective as a natural chewing toy for dogs? The crunchiness of carrots satisfies your dog’s primal desire to chew and, at the same time, also promotes healthy teeth by battling plaque buildup. 

Having said that, you have to be moderate, just like other treats. After all, you do not want your doggo to eat too many carrots instead of eating their daily food. 

And That’s A Wrap!

While turkey, bison, and cow bones are the favorite raw dog bones of German shepherds, recreational bones like meaty and knuckle bones can also be given to them. Considering the variety of artificial bones available in the market with distinct nutritive qualities, it is difficult to identify the best bones for German shepherds. 

However, companies that sell preservative-free and precisely cut natural bones can be trusted easily. It depends on the knowledge and understanding of the dog owner. Common regulations like avoiding them from chewing soft bones that cannot withstand vigorous chewing should, however, be kept in mind.

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