Best Type Of Bones To Get

[Guest Willow]

For various reasons (too tedious to go into now) my dogs haven't had raw bones from me before. The are going to have to, as I have conceded that I'm not going to be able to keep their teeth as nice as I would like any other way.

I'm confused as to what type to ask the butcher for.

They have to be red meat bones, as I cannot do raw chicken necks/wings/frames (many reasons, none of them really worth mentioning)

I have a 10 year old 22kg Staffy with jaws of steel, and a 4 year old 6kg SWF with the jaws of a baby duckling

What's the most appropriate type of bone to ask for??? Would giveing them three to four times a week be enough to have any benefit???

[Bundyburger]

Just ask the butcher for dog bones that's all I did. Although maybe a brisket or something easier to chew for the little one..

[TYLER23]

maybe lamb flap for the little fella, and something a bit more substantial for the old boy, roo tail.

[Guest Willow]

Thanks for the suggestions

[ellz]

Most butchers do two different types of bones.

What they sell as dog bones have generally had most of the meat stripped from them and are essentiall just bone.

On the other hand, what they sell as "soup bones" generally have a lot of meat left on them and are the softer bones that aren't classed as "recreational bones" by Billinghurst.

I usually go for the soup bones.

Oh and most Coles supermarkets sell fabulous bags of lamb offcuts. I ALWAYS grab a couple of bags of these before "away" shows. They tend to have lots of meaty bones as well as some fatty offcuts and odds and sods of meat that are too small to sell for human consumption. These are well worth keeping an eye out for.

[tyra20007]

Lamb neck can be good and consumed completely so nothing left to bury

Lamb briskit of breast flaps are great and you can get the butcher to cut them into appropriate sizes.

Lamb Chine bone is great and not too fatty a it is the spine bone.

I avoid the big marrow bones because they can wear out the teeth if left with the dog for very long periods + there is something to bury.

My favourite teeth cleaning bone is a beef chuck bone as it has lots of angles and is a good challenge.. I take away whatever is left after an hour or 2 so it doesn't get buried for later LOL

The only bones I really avoid are pork bones as they seem very sharp and brittle.

3-4 times a week is better than nothing, I give my 2 dobes bones for breakfast every day and there BARF mince mix for dinner.

[Guest Willow]

wow!!! thank you ellz & tyra!!! didn't have a clue about any of that....that's a great help!!!

[Guest RosieFT]

thanks from me too. Rosie gets chicken wings/necks as a staple, and occasionally a frame. The red meat bones that are in the pet section look very fatty, is this a problem? They always sell them in huge bagfulls too! i need someone to split them with me :-)

[poodlefan]

My guys get:

Ox tail (they're eating those now)

Lamb flaps

Lamb neck

Beef bones

[trifecta]

I wouldn't feed roo tail or any weight bearing bones...... they are just too hard & can result in fractured teeth.

Flaps, necks, spine bones are all fine.

[sandgrubber]

My girls crunch roo tails like they were popcorn! I've fed loads of load bearing beef bones . . . they hand around for a long time and become 'toys' after the marrow has been cleaned out. I've never seen a tooth harmed. But the vets always comment on how clean and white my girls teeth are. Mostly we do chicken frames . . . clobbered with a meat clever for little guys or pups. I have Labbies . . .but will feed chooks, chrunched or not to many breeds. For me the biggest concern is fat content. Lamb flaps are often disgusting in this respect. It's so hard to keep some dogs lean. The last thing they need is an extra kilo of very fatty bone.

I wouldn't feed roo tail or any weight bearing bones...... they are just too hard & can result in fractured teeth.

Flaps, necks, spine bones are all fine.

Edited April 13, 2010 by sandgrubber

[sandgrubber]

something about DOL software and my browser is not working. Sorry about the duplicate post.

Edited April 13, 2010 by sandgrubber

[Kirislin]

I try to only give mine lamb bones, either necks or ribs. I dont like leg bones as they never have much meat on them. My dogs like to eat all the bone. They also get chicken, either carcasses or whole limbs. Tonight they get their usual cooked loaf with a chicken drumstick chaser.

I dont like giving them beef bones, I think they're too big for my size dogs.

[ellz]

The long, heavy bones are what Billinghurst calls "recreational bones". They don't have a huge nutritional value but are excellent for calcium and teeth cleaning and keeping the mind occupied. Any of the long bone should be sawn in half lengthwise by your butcher to make them more safe and easier to get at for the dog.

I've actually seen older people purchasing the lamb offcut bags at Coles and when listening in on a conversation I heard one say that the offcuts and chop-like bits make a really meaty stew with veges. I have a feeling, they were talking about using them for human consumption (which is sad in a way) but the bags are THAT good and have such a fabulous variety of meat, bone and fat in them.

[poodlefan]

I try to only give mine lamb bones, either necks or ribs. I dont like leg bones as they never have much meat on them. My dogs like to eat all the bone. They also get chicken, either carcasses or whole limbs. Tonight they get their usual cooked loaf with a chicken drumstick chaser.

I dont like giving them beef bones, I think they're too big for my size dogs.

Howie loves oxtail Kirislin.

The poodles handle it fine too.

Edited April 13, 2010 by poodlefan

[Tilly]

My boys get ... chicken frames, chicken necks, chicken wings, whole rabbit (minus fur and guts), whole fish (scales and gutted), brisket bones, lamb flaps, lamb shanks and turkey necks.

Their "recreational bones" are usually marrow bones and roo tails because they don't tend to eat them fully ...

Edited April 13, 2010 by Tilly

[Dobeliscious]

I am interested in learning a bit more about chicken frames and how you feed them.

I have a 6 year old dobe, would I be able to buy a whole frame and give it to her to chew on in the garden?

Can they eat the whole thing safely or would it be better to get it minced up.

She currently only has the big marrow bones once a week, I tried the smaller ones you get from the supermarket but it disapeared in minutes so she ate it rather than chewed it. So have been avoiding any small bones.

[poodlefan]

I am interested in learning a bit more about chicken frames and how you feed them.

I have a 6 year old dobe, would I be able to buy a whole frame and give it to her to chew on in the garden?

Can they eat the whole thing safely or would it be better to get it minced up.

She currently only has the big marrow bones once a week, I tried the smaller ones you get from the supermarket but it disapeared in minutes so she ate it rather than chewed it. So have been avoiding any small bones.

Yes, whole frame. I'd supervise the first few till she knows what she's doing.

Nok no need to cut it or mince it. All that chewing is good for jaws, teeth and general wellbeing. ;)

[Dobeliscious]

Thanks for your reply poodelfan, I shall add a chicken frame to my shopping list this week and shall certainly keep an eye on her with it ;)

[ellz]

You'll probably find that there are no difficulties whatsoever with a complete frame. Because they are such an irregular shape, it is difficult for a dog to just sit down and chomp through one without at least pausing a few times to consider the next mode of attack.

I find that gulpers have no problems literally inhaling chicken necks, and not much more of a problem with wings. I can slow this down marginally by freezing them and puppies get necks crushed.