Treats and chews
What size chew should I get for my dog?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A chew should be noticeably larger than the dog's mouth can fully close around, roughly the length of the dog's muzzle or longer, since a chew small enough to be swallowed in one piece defeats its purpose and becomes a choking hazard. Most packaging sizes chews by dog weight range, but checking the physical size against your own dog, not just the weight guide, is the safer approach.
Why bigger than expected is usually safer
A chew that a dog can fit entirely inside its mouth, even briefly, risks being swallowed whole if it becomes dislodged or the dog decides to gulp rather than gnaw, so erring toward a size one category larger than a weight chart suggests gives a wider safety margin, particularly for strong or fast chewers.
Matching size to jaw strength, not just body weight
Two dogs of the same 15 kg weight can have very different jaw strength and chewing style, for example a Staffordshire Bull Terrier versus a Whippet, so a size guide based purely on weight sometimes underestimates what a powerful, determined chewer actually needs to stay safe.
Reassessing size as a chew wears down
Even a correctly sized chew eventually wears small enough to become risky, so checking its size against the dog's mouth periodically during use, and discarding it once it could realistically fit whole inside the mouth, matters as much as the size chosen at purchase.
Key takeaways
- Choose a chew noticeably larger than the dog's mouth can fully close around.
- Sizing one category up from a weight chart gives a wider safety margin for strong chewers.
- Two dogs of the same weight can have very different jaw strength and chewing styles.
- Reassess and discard a chew once it wears down small enough to fit whole in the mouth.