Pit Bull owners may be the only people who understand how cuddly the breed is, but they do have an intense need to chew. Without bones to chew on, they’re liable to go for furniture, shoes, or anything else they can get their jaws around.
Thanks to their powerful jaws, not just any bones will stand up to a Pit Bull’s chewing. Some bones are also more dangerous than others, as we’ll discuss. That’s why we’ve come up with this list of the top 6 best bones for Pit Bulls.
Pawstruck 12″ Braided Bully Sticks for Dogs
Our Top Recommendation Best Bones for Pit Bulls 2023
Suitable for all breeds and sizes, the South America-made Pawstruck Braided Bully Sticks are grain, soy, chemicals, and hormones free. Even better, it has a low odor, is made from grass-fed free-range beef, and it adheres to high-quality assurance standards. One braid consists of three sticks.
*We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We’ll discuss raw vs. cooked bones and other bone alternatives that may be safer for your Pit Bull as well as what to look for when choosing bones.
First, here’s a quick rundown of our picks for the top dog bones for Pit Bulls.
Best Bones for Pit Bulls
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Pawstruck 12″ Braided Bully Sticks for Dogs | • NO artificial ingredients, NO hormones, and NO chemicals • Made from free-range, grass-fed cattle | |
 | Benebone Maplestick Real Wood Durable Dog Stick Chew Toy | • Maple wood infused in the nylon • Unique shape is easy for dogs to hold | |
 | Native Pet Yak Chews for Dogs | • Low odor • Long-lasting | |
 | Nylabone Big Chew | • Shape is easy to hold • Texture helps clean dog’s teeth | |
 | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Bones Grain-Free Dental Chews Dog Treats | • Cleans teeth • Freshens breath | |
 | Benebone Real Bacon Durable Wishbone Dog Chew Toy for Aggressive Chewers | • Top-rated chew toys made in the USA • Flavored with 100% real bacon |
While we haven’t included any actual bones in this list, these are the best bone alternatives for Pit Bulls that are likely to last longer than other chews when preyed upon by the strong jaws of a Pit Bull. Here are the 5 best bones for Pit Bulls.
#1 – Pawstruck 12″ Braided Bully Sticks for Dogs
About: Bully sticks are one of the best long-lasting chews you can get for a dog, and these long, braided bully sticks will outlast any other kind for your Pit Bull.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- NO artificial ingredients, NO hormones, and NO chemicals
- Single ingredient – beef pizzle
- Made from free-range, grass-fed cattle
- Low odor
- South American facilities are up to FDA, USDA, and outside 3rd party USA standards
User Reviews: While there are occasional quality control problems with stinky sticks or ones that are skinnier than usual, most dogs and people love these sticks. While they still won’t last a power chewer forever, they are one of the longest-lasting chews you can get for a Pit Bull that won’t break their teeth.
Bottom Line: Don’t expect this chew to last more than a few hours, but it’s still probably the longest-lasting natural chew you’ll find that’s soft enough not to risk splintering or injuring your Pit Bull’s mouth.
#2 – Benebone Maplestick Real Wood Durable Dog Stick Chew Toy
About: For truly long-lasting bones for Pit Bulls, you need to go with something synthetic rather than edible. This chew toy is the best of both worlds, with real maple wood embedded in the nylon chew toy.
- Made in the USA
- Maple wood infused in the nylon
- Unique shape is easy for dogs to hold
- Durable
- Great flavor and shape for dogs who love to chew on sticks
User Reviews: Due to its hard plastic texture, some dogs are not interested in this bone. Most dogs, however, love it and it generally lasts a long time. Some dogs are able to break it apart easily, but for most dogs, it lasts quite a while.
Bottom Line: Between its durability and its unique wood flavor, this is one of the best bones for Pit Bulls that love to chew sticks.
#3 – Native Pet Yak Chews for Dogs
About: For a digestible long-lasting chew that isn’t meat-based, yak chews are the way to go. Basically a hardened cheese, these simple chews will keep your Pit Bull busy without wrecking their teeth.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- 3 simple ingredients: pasture-raised yak and cow’s milk, salt, and lime juice
- Low odor
- Long-lasting
- Grain-free, gluten-free, lactose-free
- Protein-rich
User Reviews: While there are occasional reports of quality control issues with bones that are moldy or splinter, most owners rave about these bones. Dogs love them, they last a long time, and they usually don’t splinter.
Bottom Line: This is one of the best edible bones you can buy for your Pit Bull. They usually don’t splinter, and they typically last longer than other edible chews.
#4 – Nylabone Big Chew
About: Nylabone has been one of the biggest names in durable chew toys for many years, and the Big Chew is no exception to their standard of quality. Designed specifically for extreme chewers, the Big Chew is one of the best bones for Pit Bulls.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- Texture helps clean dog’s teeth
- Shape is easy for dogs to hold
- Durable
- Several flavors and shapes to choose from
User Reviews: Some dogs aren’t interested in these hard nylon bones, but other dogs love them, and owners report that the bones are extremely durable. If you have a power chewer, this chew toy is probably the best choice for a Pit Bull.
Bottom Line: If your dog likes hard plastic bones, this is one of the best bones for Pit Bulls on the market. It lasts a long time and generally stands up to even the most powerful chewers.
#5 – Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Bones Grain-Free Dental Chews Dog Treats
About: Sometimes you don’t want a long-lasting bone for your Pit Bull, but one specifically designed to help clean their teeth. This product fits that bill and is one of the larger dental chews you’ll find.
Notable Qualities and Features:
- Cleans teeth
- Freshens breath
- Looks like something a dog or wolf would eat in the wild
- No corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives
User Reviews: This isn’t a long-lasting bone, but dogs love it, and owners report that their dogs have whiter, healthy teeth.
Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a dental treat for your Pit Bull, this is one of the best you can get. Just don’t expect it to last forever.
#6. Benebone Real Bacon Durable Wishbone Dog Chew Toy for Aggressive Chewers
About: Benebone presents long-lasting chew toys that can last for weeks for all the super chewer pit bulls out there. Even better, Benebone’s tough and durable bacon-flavored chew toys have a unique wishbone design for a paw-friendly grip, being curved in shape.
Notable Qualities and Features:
● Unique shape for dogs without thumbs
● 100% natural bacon flavoring
● Made in the USA
● Suitable for dogs of all sizes
● Easy to grab and handle
Users Reviews:
The bones are most suitable for dogs with strong teeth and aggressive chewing habits. While tiny shards of plastic that break off due to chewing might be irritable for some dogs, most pet parents are satisfied with the product’s durability.
The added flavoring further adds to the list of reasons why your dogs will love Benebone.
Bottom Line: Benebone is the best alternative for your dog’s excessive chewing habits, owing to this product’s durability and delicious flavor. Rest assured, your doggo is going to get hooked!
Types of Bones For Your Pit Bull: Cooked, Raw, and Other
Not all dog bones were created equal. Some types of dog bones can actually be quite dangerous for dogs, especially for Pit Bulls. Let’s discuss the different types of bones and which types we chose for the best bones for a Pit Bull.
1. Cooked Bones
You may already know that you should never give your dog cooked bones from your dinner because they can splinter and hurt your Pit Bull’s mouth or cause injury or obstruction in your dog’s digestive tract. But did you know that those bones you get from the pet store can cause the same issue?
Those bones are also considered cooked. Not only can they splinter, but they can break your dog’s teeth because they don’t have enough give, and if they aren’t big enough, your Pit Bull could easily break them into chunks that are small enough to swallow but big enough to block their digestive tract, potentially leading to a costly surgery.
These reasons are why we haven’t included any traditional bones in our list of the best dog bones for Pit Bulls.
2. Raw Bones
Many vets are now recommending raw bones for dogs as a healthy alternative to traditional bones. Raw bones are softer than cooked bones and are less likely to splinter or break teeth, but they pose the same risk of blocking a dog’s digestive tract. Additionally, raw bones may contain bacteria that could sicken your dog or your family.
Only you can decide if raw bones are the right choice for your dog. Due to their potential risks, we’ve decided not to include them on our list.
3. Other Bones
Luckily, there are lots of alternatives to traditional dog bones that are much safer for Pit Bulls. Here are some of the more common types of other bones you may be thinking about giving your dog.
Rawhide:
Rawhide is not the healthy dog chew that you’ve been led to believe. It’s a byproduct of the leather industry and is made with toxic chemicals and can’t be digested by your dog. They pose a choking risk to your dog, and if they make it into your dog’s intestines, they can’t be digested and can cause blockages that may require surgery. Additionally, rawhide may be contaminated with Salmonella.
It’s so dangerous that both the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States list rawhide as one of the most dangerous products for pets. Luckily, there are plenty of chews and bone alternatives to rawhide that is much safer for your Pit Bull.
Bully Sticks:
A great alternative to rawhide, bully sticks are made from dehydrated beef pizzle, which is meat rather than processed hide. Since they’re made from meat rather than leather, they’re more likely to be digested if your dog swallows a piece. Since the sticks are narrow, they’re also less likely to caused intestinal blockages.
The only downside to bully sticks is that they tend not to be a long-lasting chew for intense chewers like Pit Bulls. Luckily, braided bully sticks are 3 sticks wrapped around each other for a longer-lasting chew than a traditional bully stick.
Chew Toys:
Generally, the safest type of bone for dogs, chew toys can be long-lasting with less chance of splintering or breaking off in large chunks than other types of dog bones. Some dogs don’t like them due to their plastic texture, but many Pit Bulls and other dog breeds will happily spend hours chewing on their favorite chew toy. We’ve picked a couple of the most-durable chew toys that are Pit Bull approved.
Yak Chews:
Yak chews are essentially hardened cheese made from yak milk. They have enough give not to cause much risk of breaking a dog’s teeth, but they last longer than just about any other type of edible bone for dogs.
The best part about yak chews is that the last little bit can be microwaved and turned into a cheese puff that’s safer for your dog than the last bit of any other chew – no more wasting the last bits of a chew to keep your dog safe.
Dental Chews:
For dogs with strong jaws like Pit Bulls, dental chews are more of a quick treat rather than a long-lasting chew, but their texture is specifically designed to help clean your dog’s teeth, and they often have ingredients that help freshen your Pit Bull’s teeth. If your Pit Bull won’t let you brush their teeth, it’s a good idea to give them dental chews on a regular basis to help clean their teeth.
How to Choose the Best Pit Bull Dog Bone
While we’ve given you some good types of dog bones to choose from and a few specific examples, there are some things you should look for if you choose to find a dog bone for your Pit Bull on your own. Here are some things you should look out for:
- Not too hard – dog bones without a little give to them are more likely to break your Pit Bull’s teeth.
- Healthy ingredients – you’d be surprised what ingredients or chemicals could be lurking in that bone or chew.
- Made in the USA – or other places with high safety standards. Avoid products from China, in particular.
- Dental benefits – while all chewing should help maintain healthy teeth and gums, some bones are specifically designed with dental benefits in mind.
- Larger than your dog’s head – when it comes to Pit Bulls, the bigger the better. Make sure any bones, chews, or toys that aren’t meant to be eaten are taken away before the pieces become small enough to swallow.
Why Your Pitbull Needs to Chew
Wild dog species like wolves have to work hard to get food, so they eat as much of their prey as possible. That often means gnawing on leg bones once the rest of the meat is gone to get the last little bit of nutrition from the outside of the bone. Once they crack the leg bone open, there’s healthy marrow inside that provides crucial minerals.
While today’s domesticated dogs get all their nutrition from their food (which they don’t need to catch and kill first), they still have that instinctual need to chew. Without bones or bone alternatives to chew on, Pitbulls, like other dogs, will chew on whatever they can, from table legs to your favorite pair of shoes.
Since you can’t train out a dog’s natural instincts to chew, you need to provide safe items for your Pit Bull to chew on.
How Often Should I Give my Pit Bull a Bone?
Depending on the type of bone or chew, you’ll want to give them to your dog anywhere from once a week to once a day. Chew toys are safe to leave out all the time, while bully sticks tend not to last more than a few hours, and dental bones may have a lot of calories. Use your judgment about how frequently to give your dog a bone.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas about the best bones for Pit Bulls that will keep your dog safe and happy. Choosing the best bone for your dog may be trickier than you expected, but we’ve tried to give you all the tools you need to find the best ways to keep your Pit Bull’s jaws happy – and your furniture and other valuables safe from their need to chew!
[wpdatatable id=71]Resources:
Hi, I’m Walter,
I live in Oklahoma City, USA, and have extensive dog caring and grooming expertise. In addition, I provide dog training tips and tricks through my blogs in Canine Weekly. I have a Dog Behavior and Training diploma and have previously worked as a Dog Trainer at ROC Animal Training and Behavior and Tip Top K9 of OKC Dog Training.
Apart from writing on Canine Weekly, I share my views on Twitter and Linkedin.