Best Dog Bones for Puppies: These Get 5 Wagging Tails

For the past several weeks, I've been on a mission. My kids are in college now. And it's about time I cleared out some of their old things. I want to reclaim this bedroom with its sunlit window overlooking my soon-to-be winter garden of bok choy and kale. This would make the perfect painting studio—that is after I tear out this old carpet.

On this quest, I've dug some of the strangest things out of my kids' closets. A baby blanket and a teething ring I would never buy today (because of microplastics). It reminds me of how much little ones rely on us to make health and safety decisions for them. Puppies are no different. They have extra delicate jaws and teeth, so choosing best bones for puppies and adult dogs is important.

With health and safety in mind, I've rounded up a list of my favorite beef marrow bones for puppies. 

Can You Give Dog Bones to Puppies?

Absolutely! Bones are great for puppies because they help beat boredom, entertain, and help with dental health. If those bones are all-natural, beef marrow bones, they also have a lot of added nutrition puppies need to grow healthy and strong:

• Protein
• Healthy fats
• Vitamins and minerals

That said, make sure you wait until your puppy has most of their adult teeth before offering bones. They start coming in around 8-12 weeks old (2-3 months). But they don't have all of their adult teeth until 5-6 months. So, somewhere in the middle, there is a good time to start. But you should talk to your family vet to ensure their teeth have come in first if you're not sure.

Even for an older pup, supervision is essential. I don't know how they do it, but puppies will find a way to swallow a dog bone whole if it's not big enough.

If you want to treat a younger puppy, then give their dog mama a dog bone instead. You know she deserves it after delivering 2-12 cute puppies with no epidural!

What Are the Best Dog Bones for Puppies?

Now that we've established that dog bones are for older pups, not newborns, what are the best dog bones for puppies?

As an experienced dog parent, I had several boxes I wanted the best bones to check in order to consider them safe and healthy. So, here's my thought process:

• All-natural, so no artificial fillers, added sugar, or synthetic anything
• No rawhide because that stuff is full of preservatives and not very nutritious for growing little ones
• Preferably real beef bones because cow bones are more durable but not too hard for adult puppy teeth...when prepared correctly
• Pasture-raised, grass-fed beef because it has more healthy omega fats and less saturated fat and also I appreciate that cows should not be confined to warehouses. While I do eat meat, I personally don't want to support factory farming that disregards animal welfare.
• USA sourced from American cattle ranchers, just because I like to support local US economies
• Properly cooked, not raw. Beef bones should undergo a careful, slow and low heat cooking process to kill pathogens that could harm furry babies.
• Delicious. Dogs love their beef flavor! Now, I haven't tasted any of these myself, so I let my 3 dogs do the taste testing. My terrier Pixie lights up when she hears me getting her all-beef marrow bone out of the cabinet. My lab mix, Bruno, is a little more reserved. But once he gets ahold of that dog bone, he's not going to let it go easily.

Note: Some dog bones labeled all-natural may still have genetically modified ingredients and synthetic ingredients. The term "all-natural" is unregulated. I saw "natural" on a jar of peanut butter that was chock full of sugar and palm oil the other day. Peanut butter is just peanuts and a little salt. As a health-conscious person yourself, are you with me?

I'm the same way about dog bones. So, I checked, and the ones I share below really are what I expect all-natural to mean.

Not only are these made with only natural ingredients, but they're also low in calories and fat and high in protein. And they're packed with nutrients like B12, other B vitamins, iron, collagen, plus glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints and organ linings.

These dog bones for puppies are also durable enough not to break off but not so hard that they'll damage teeth. Because they're durable, they're long-lasting, even for aggressive chewers. They're also individually wrapped and have a shelf-life of up to 2 years.

Best Dog Bones for Puppies

Don't have puppies in my house—at the moment—we've tried all of these. Here's my winning lineup

1. Best All-Around Dog Bone for Puppies

The Marrow-Filled Doggie Delight Slice Chew Treat is the perfect little bone for puppies up to 15 pounds. It's filled with tasty beef marrow that dogs love! When the marrow's gone, you can replace it with another delicious treat.

Special Safety Note: Size matters. So if you have one of those Great Dane-size puppies like my friend Lisa, then these marrow bones may be too small for them and become a choking hazard. Don't worry, I'll share some bones for big puppies too!

You can find Marrow-Filled Doggie Delight Slice Chew on Amazon here.

2. Longest Lasting Beef Bone for Pups

These beef kneecaps are perfectly shaped to hold up to a puppy's sharp teeth. Plus, they make it easier for puppies to access the nutritious, meaty bits. Change up the typical dog bones for puppies with this flavorful knee cap chew that's perfect for any small or medium dog. Just about any puppy wags its tail for this flavorful chew toy. Best of all, it's healthy too!

So, where can you get it? See them here.

3. Best Puppy-Focused Bones

I think they had puppies in mind when they created these. The beef ribs are cut to perfectly sized. Puppies can get their paws around them and chew away. Adorable!

It makes me wish I had a puppy right now. But I've already got 3 dogs who I adopted from the animal shelter where I volunteer a few times a year. And they're a handful. I'm glad I've found dog bones that keep them entertained and healthy as well.

The Natural Meaty Beef Chew Bone is another nutritious treat that tastes great! It's ideal for any puppy under 15 pounds. See the Amazon reviews. Pet Moms and Dog Dads love that these keep puppies busy for a long time. They're also durable and long-lasting, like the other K9 Connoisseur dog bones in my list.

4. Best Dog Bones for Larger Puppies

The Natural Marrow-Filled Dynamo Bones are one of the most popular K9 Connoisseur chew bones. They're filled with delicious beef marrow that keeps your puppy entertained. And when the filling is all gone, you can stuff it with another tasty treat like peanut butter (no palm oil, if you can find it). You can find more marrow bone refill recipes here.

Now, I like these because they are a little bigger, so larger puppies and medium-sized adult dogs can join in on the fun.

You can check out my Amazon link here.

Dog Bones for Puppies FAQ

Have a few questions about puppy dog bones? Here's what I've learned.

What should I look for in dog bones?

When looking at dog bones, it's essential to consider their size, ingredients, and durability.

The bone needs to be large enough not to fit entirely into your dog's mouth (usually the size of your pup's head or larger). You also want to opt for natural ingredients (the fewer, the better). Durability is important too because you want to make sure it's solid enough not to break from not too hard that it can damage your dog's teeth.

Of course, flavor matters too. You want to make sure your dog enjoys their bone. Almost any dog drools over beef bones!

What bones are safe for puppies?

K9 Connoisseur dog bones are very safe for puppies because they're the appropriate size, durable but not too hard, and contain only natural ingredients.

Because these are durable, they don't break off into small pieces that can be a choking hazard. They're also packed with nutrients that promote good health, which is always a bonus for any dog bone!

Here's what a small dog parent has to say about her pup's favorite K9 Connoisseur dog bone:

How often can my puppy have bones?

Most pet parents offer bones to their puppies every few days or less. Since K9 Connoisseur dog bones are healthy, offering them a few times a week is okay. In fact, gnawing on a bone is a great way to relieve boredom and fight off plaque and tartar buildup on teeth.

Note: Remember to follow the 90/10 rule with dog bones. This means that dog bones and any other treat should only make up about 10% of your dog's daily caloric intake. The rest should come from their regular dog food. This is the American Kennel Club's recommendation, and they know dog health.

When can puppies start having bones?

Puppies can start having bones when they have a full set of adult teeth. Adult teeth start coming in at 8-12 weeks old. And by 16-20 weeks (4-6 months) and sometimes longer they should have a full set.

It's important to wait until your puppy has adult teeth before offering bones to avoid damaging baby teeth when the pup is trying to learn to eat kibble. Puppy teeth are also very sharp and could break the bone, causing a choking hazard.

If you're unsure if your puppy is ready for dog bones, you can always consult your vet.

What is the best bone to give a puppy?

All-natural bones that don't contain any unnecessary or unhealthy ingredients are best. The fewer ingredients, the better. In fact, we recommend single-ingredient dog bones for puppies.

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