Last updated: July 2, 2026 · 7-minute read
What Are the Best Dog Treats for Big Dogs? The Short Answer
The best treats for big dogs are single-ingredient, fully digestible natural chews that are physically sized for a large jaw — long, thick chews a 70-pound dog can't swallow in two bites. Skip anything with rawhide, fillers, or a mile-long ingredient panel: no rawhide means no indigestible chunks sitting in the gut. Look for 100% real meat chews that are ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms, and match the chew's toughness to your dog's chewing style.
Key takeaways
- Size matters most. A treat a big dog can gulp whole is both unsatisfying and a choking risk — go long and thick (10–12 inches for most large breeds).
- Single-ingredient beats fortified. One ingredient — beef — means you know exactly what your dog is eating. No fillers, chemicals, or mystery meat.
- Digestibility is non-negotiable. Fully digestible chews like bully sticks and beef cheek rolls break down completely, unlike rawhide.
- Match toughness to the chewer. Power chewers need dense chews (monster bully sticks, cheek rolls); moderate chewers do well with trachea tubes and tendons.
- Treats should stay under ~10% of daily calories, even for a 100-pound dog.
Why Do Big Dogs Need Different Treats Than Small Dogs?
Two reasons: jaw strength and swallow risk. A Labrador or German Shepherd generates far more bite force than a terrier, so a chew that lasts a small dog an hour can disappear in ninety seconds. Worse, treats sized for average dogs can be swallowed nearly whole by a large breed, which is where choking and blockage risk comes from. Big dogs also have a stronger hard-wired urge to chew — a long-lasting chew isn't a luxury for them, it's how they self-settle, burn mental energy, and keep teeth clean. The right treat for a big dog is one that takes real work: long, dense, and 100% real meat all the way through.
What Should You Look for in a Large-Breed Treat?
Read the ingredient panel first. If it lists more than a handful of ingredients — or anything you can't picture — put it back. The gold standard is a single-ingredient chew: beef, and nothing else. Then check three things. Digestibility: the chew should break down completely in the stomach, which rules out rawhide entirely. Sourcing: chews ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms avoid the chemical processing common in imported bargain chews. And format: for a big dog you want length and density, not a handful of small biscuits. High-protein, air-dried meat chews also do double duty as dental care — the abrasive chewing action scrapes plaque as they work.
Which Natural Chews Hold Up to Big Dogs?
Here's how the most popular single-ingredient chews compare for large breeds:
| Chew | Best for | Toughness | Typical chew time (large dog) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Inch Monster Bully Sticks | Power chewers, 50 lb+ dogs | Very high | 45–90+ minutes |
| Beef Cheek Rolls | Rawhide-style chewers (fully digestible alternative) | High | 30–60 minutes |
| Beef Trachea Tubes | Joint support (natural glucosamine & chondroitin) | Moderate | 15–30 minutes |
| Beef tendons | Moderate chewers, dental scraping | Moderate | 10–20 minutes |
| Cow ears | Lighter chew sessions, seniors | Low–moderate | 10–15 minutes |
A note on joint health: many large breeds are prone to hip and joint issues, and beef trachea is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin — the same compounds in joint supplements, delivered as a chew instead of a pill. You can browse the full range in our natural dog treats and chews collection.
How Many Treats Should a Big Dog Get Per Day?
The working rule is the 10% rule: treats and chews should contribute no more than about 10% of your dog's daily calories, with the rest coming from complete meals. For a 70–90 pound dog eating roughly 1,400–1,800 calories a day, that's about 140–180 calories of treats — roughly one large bully stick or cheek roll session, or a day's worth of training treats. Long-lasting chews don't need to be daily: 3–4 sessions a week keeps teeth clean and the chew drive satisfied. Always supervise chew sessions and take away the last small nub once it's small enough to swallow.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What size treat should I give a large dog?
Pick chews your dog cannot fit entirely in their mouth. For most dogs over 50 pounds that means 10–12 inch chews — a 12-inch monster bully stick or a full beef cheek roll. Small biscuits are fine for training rewards, but chew sessions call for length and density.
Are bully sticks good for big dogs?
Yes — they're one of the best options. Bully sticks are single-ingredient (100% beef), fully digestible, and high in protein. For large breeds, choose thicker, longer sticks like 12-inch monster bully sticks so the chew lasts and can't be gulped.
How many treats can a big dog have per day?
Keep treats under about 10% of daily calories. For a 70–90 pound dog that's roughly 140–180 treat calories per day. Long-lasting chews are best offered 3–4 times a week rather than daily.
What chews last longest for power chewers?
Dense, thick chews: monster bully sticks and beef cheek rolls are the longest-lasting fully digestible options. Avoid cooked bones and super-hard synthetic chews, which can crack teeth.
Should big dogs avoid rawhide?
Yes. Rawhide is not fully digestible — swallowed chunks can cause choking or intestinal blockage, and big dogs tear off large pieces. Beef cheek rolls give the same rolled-hide chewing experience but break down completely in the stomach.
Do large breeds need joint-support treats?
Many large breeds benefit from extra glucosamine and chondroitin, which occur naturally in beef trachea. Trachea tubes are a single-ingredient way to add joint support — but talk to your vet before treating a diagnosed joint condition.
Are natural chews safe for a big dog's teeth?
Air-dried meat chews like bully sticks and tendons are firm enough to scrape plaque but have enough give to be safe for teeth. The chews to avoid are those harder than the tooth itself — antlers, cooked bones, and some nylon chews.
Preston Smith is the co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. He started BSC because he couldn't find single-ingredient, fully digestible chews he trusted to give his own dogs — no rawhide, no chemicals, no mystery ingredients. He writes about dog nutrition, safe chews, and the practical side of feeding dogs well. Read more about Preston →
This post was last updated at July 17, 2026 14:07
