Best type of chews for chihuahuas

What are the best types of chews for chihuahuas? Chewing is a natural behaviour for dogs—it helps them feel calm and optimistic. Long-lasting chews are particularly good as they allow dogs to settle in for a proper gnaw.

I’m often asked about the “best” chews. It’s tricky because what works depends on your dog’s chewing style, the size of their bite, and how they behave with chews. Still, there are some general guidelines and things to avoid.

Long-Term Chews vs. Treats

Long-term chews aren’t meant to be gobbled up in one go. If it’s something your dog eats straight away, it’s a treat, not a chew, and should count towards their daily food allowance. Examples include rabbit ears or chicken necks.

Treats like these are fine now and then—mine get a bit of chicken neck as a midday snack—but they’re gone in seconds and don’t give the benefits of a proper chew. What we need are long-term chews for chihuahuas.

Chews to Avoid

Cheap Rawhide: I steer clear of rawhide. It’s tough to digest and can build up in the gut, causing blockages. The cheaper stuff often contains unpleasant chemicals. If you must use rawhide, check the ingredients carefully.
Flavoured Plastic Bones: These so-called “indestructible” nylon chews are anything but. Dogs will end up biting off bits of plastic, which isn’t ideal.
Supermarket Treats: Often expensive, calorie-dense, and not designed for long chewing.
Rice Bones: Those compact rice treats shaped like bones aren’t great. Rice isn’t the best food for dogs, they can break teeth, and eating too many might lead to constipation.

Match the chew to the chewer

Some dogs chew calmly and settle in nicely. Others get overexcited and aim to tear off chunks. Minnie falls into the latter group, so I don’t give her raw bones or frozen chicken wings—she’s too likely to gulp them down in big pieces.

Raw bones can be excellent for teeth and nutrition, but it’s crucial to ensure your dog chews them properly. Large chunks of bone can cause digestive issues.

I used to give my dogs bovine hooves until Macy broke three teeth on one. For the right dog, they can work well, but they stink and can stain fabric.

Multi-dog households

In a multi-dog home, high-value chews can spark arguments. If you think there might be trouble, it’s a good idea to separate your dogs before handing them out. For example, I’ve got a mix of chewing styles at home: Minnie and Macy are over excited chompers, Arlo tends to guard his chews, Mika isn’t interested at all, and Prince chews calmly.

If your dog is likely to guard their chew, it’s worth downgrading to something less “precious.”

Resource guarding

Don’t go head-to-head with a dog over a chew to “prove who’s boss.” That kind of outdated advice can lead to bites and damage your relationship with your dog. If your dog guards a chew, call them away with something more enticing, like a treat or a game. You can also scatter food in the garden to distract them, then quietly remove the chew.

Resource guarding should be addressed, as it often escalates. You can find more tips about dealing with it here.

Natural chews for chihuahuas

There’s a huge variety of natural chews for chihuahuas, and your chihuahua will likely enjoy options like pigs’ ears, ostrich spaghetti, pizzle, and tripe sticks. Trachea can be good, too, but they’re fiddly to cut—I use gardening secateurs.

Antlers are another option. Some dogs do well with them, but others end up with broken teeth. If you try antlers, choose ones sliced open so your dog can get to the middle; otherwise, they may lose interest.

Things to Keep in Mind

Fat Content: Too much fat in one sitting can upset a dog’s stomach. If you give raw bones, it’s best to scoop out the marrow as it’s very rich.
Safety First: Always monitor your dog with a chew, especially if it’s new to them.

Hopefully, this gives you a starting point for finding the right chew for your dog. As always, it’s about knowing your dog’s habits and adjusting as needed.