bully sticks

[Birdie'sMom]

Ok - I've read here that raw hide is not good for our dogs. It's a shame because Birdie will chew on one of those giant compressed rawhide bones and it lasts for 2 whole weeks - the longest out of anything I've tried so far!! But, I don't want to giver her somehitng that's going to hurt her, so I went to the premium petstore around the corner. This place is great. It has everyone of the super premium brands that are mentioned on this board, so I feel like I can trust them and I'm happy to have them so close. Anyway, enough rambling!! I asked them for an alternative to rawhide that would still last awhile and they suggested bully sticks. I bought one, but before I give it to her I want to make sure that it's alright for her. Does anyone else give bully sticks to their dogs?

[mark_sherry]

If what you're referring to as a "bully stick" is the same thing that I'm thinking of, then it's great for dogs.

[kaiser's mom]

Max is 8 mos and has tried the bully sticks... he has also tried the compressed 12" bones which seem to last longer.. the bully sticks last about a week here... I am still waiting too for feedback on bully sticks... we haven't seen any problems with them... there are also patty wackers on display by the bully sticks... they are tendons... they go tooo quick..... keep us posted on any
bully stick input!

[Birdie'sMom]

Well, since I didn't get any negative feed back from anyone about the bully sticks, I gave it to her. She ate it - the whole thing - in 45 minutes. I have a champion chewer on my hands!!! I'm surprised that she's never chewed any furniture or anything! There's got to be something out there that's going to last longer than that and be safe for her. Kongs don't work unless they have something in them, and even then she loses interest pretty quick!
Well, guess I'll have to keep trying until something works!:D

[mark_sherry]

You know, I've found the tried and true works best for me. Pig thighs and beef knuckles are great chew items, last a long time, keep the dogs interested because of the marrow, have a bit of meat on them, and aren't that messy as far as I've seen. Of course, I have hardwood floors, so I don't know what they're like on carpeting. But that's about all I give my dogs to chew besides a few rope toys, a couple of kongs, and some balls. Other toys are meant just for our time, and I keep them hid until I want to play with them. That way, they don't get bored with all their stuff.

[Birdie'sMom]

Thanks for the advice, mark_sherry! I'll try the pig thighs or beef knuckles next! We shall see!:D

[mark_sherry]

I get mine at a privately owned pet food store. They come wrapped in plastic, and they cost about $4.00. I'm sure you can get the same thing for next to nothing from a butcher if you've got one nearby. The bigger the better, these bones. My dogs love to chew on them, and they dig the marrow out and lick it up. Good luck.

[Tri-Star]

I can't imagine that a bully stick is going to last a long time. A bully stick is actually a dried bull penis. So it is dried skin & muscle. I would give a chewer knuckle bones to chew.

[Carolina]

Originally posted by Tri-Star
A bully stick is actually a dried bull penis.

REALLY??!!! I didn't knew that!! mmm.. I can't imagine my girl biting anyone or anything's penis :p
I'm glad I give her marrow bones :D :D :D


Carolina :)

[mark_sherry]

I'm sooooo shy! :o That's why I didn't come right out and say it in the first place. I didn't want to be the one to bring that up! It's great for dogs in that it's good meat and a good chew. It's bad on the pocket book, though, because it doesn't last long. They aren't messy either and are usually USDA Grade A labelled. However, if what you're looking for is a long-lasting chew, I still recommend the beef knuckles and pig thigh bones with marrow!

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by Tri-Star
I can't imagine that a bully stick is going to last a long time. A bully stick is actually a dried bull penis. So it is dried skin & muscle. I would give a chewer knuckle bones to chew.

Well, NOW I know why it STINKS to high heaven while my boy is chewing on it ....EWWWWWW! Imagine that - they DO find a use for EVERY PART of the bull, don't they!! YUCK!

NO MORE bully sticks - at least in the house ...I'll go back to filling the empty bones with peanut butter/cereal mix & freezing them for 'in house' treats when he has to be left alone!

I wondered what 'part' the bully sticks came from - why do the stores charge so much for them??

[mark_sherry]

I'm sure it's a delicacy somewhere! :D Would go well with mountain oysters!

[Birdie'sMom]

Well, like it was said in another thread, dogs eat other animals poop, so I really don't think that they care if they are eating a bulls penis! But, that being said, they don't last long anyway and aren't worth what ya pay for them!! I should have brought it right back to the store and showed the lady that told me that they last long, what my dog did to it after 45 minutes - of course there was nothing left to show!!!

[chris nanney]

So, where do you find pig thigh bones or beef knuckles? I've seen pig feet and pork necks but never a thigh. Haven't seen beef knuckles either. Are you finding these at a grocery store or from a butcher? Or are these smoked bones?

[mark_sherry]

I get mine at a "country" pet supply store outside of Baltimore. It's not really in the country, but they do specialize in the more esoteric pet supplies such as pork thigh bones and beef knuckles. Since they are the major supplier of the high-end dog foods around here as well, I'd imagine that other places like that all around the country would sell something of this sort, but I don't know. The ones I get are sealed in plastic and are huge! I mean, they last for months! I would imagine that you could also get these items at a good butcher, especially one that slaughters his own meat.