While each of our chews vary in their durability and longevity, the biggest variable is actually your dog. Each dog has their own specific chewing behaviors and tendencies that are going to impact their chew in different ways.  

Chewing time.

One of the biggest factors in determining the longevity of each chew is the amount of time the dog spends chewing. We recommend daily chew time around 20 mins to allow your dog to achieve optimal stress-relief and enjoyment. If the dog is chewing for longer periods or more frequently this will obviously break the chew down faster. 

Chewing tendencies. 

Every dog chews differently and we recognize this by offering a variety of chews to suit each type of chewer. While some dogs chew very slowly and gently, others are more aggressive and determined chewers. These varying styles will greatly affect the longevity of your chew.  

To learn more about what chew could be right for your specific dog, check out our Canophera chew-o-meter here.

While all dogs have different chewing tendencies, pet parents still want to know what to expect from each chew as their dog chews. 

               

Coffeewood and Coco Toy. 

Our Coffeewood and Coconut toys are made solely of coffeewood and coconut husk fibers. The wood is made of extremely tight wood fibers, making it a lot harder than other wood, which is why these chews are particularly resilient. When a dog chews on the wood, their saliva softens the wood fibers, making small pieces flake off. Because this wood becomes fibrous and soft when the saliva hits the wood stick, the flakes are digestible in small amounts and will not harm the dog, so that means NO splinters! If your dog bites off bigger pieces, simply discard the larger pieces. 

The coconut husk rope is made of 2-inch husk fibers that are braided together. As the dog chews, shreds, and gnaws on the rope, it will come apart. Small amounts are digestible, but always monitor your dog while chewing. Depending on the chewing tendencies of your dog, the rope could be broken down or shredded quickly. There will be some mess so keep a broom handy!  

The coconut rope that is implemented into this chew is handmade by a small, local family business in Vietnam. They worked diligently with us to develop a rope that contains more threads than normal to support dental hygiene, helping to remove plaque and tartar off your pet's teeth naturally. AND, who doesn’t love a chew that can also be used as a tug-of-war toy?! It also promotes playtime with pet parents! 

Be aware that since every dog has a different chewing behavior, the amount of time it takes to get through the coffee+coco chew is variable. Some dogs just carry the coffee+coco around, while others may ignore the coconut rope and focus on chewing the coffee wood. Some dogs may ignore the coffee wood and go straight to taking apart the coconut rope, which is normal and helps clean your dog’s teeth! Each dog is unique and enjoys the coffee+coco in different ways!  

The Coffee Wood + Coconut Rope toy came about when our team noticed that there were many shorter pieces of coffee wood that were not being used. So our creative team came up with this brand-new product to upcycle any unused material during the coffee wood stick production, as well as find a use for the plethora of coconut fibers in the region. With upcycling and sustainability at the forefront, the Coffeewood and Coco toy was born! 

Coffeewood Sticks.

As stated above, the coffeewood is a resilient wood with very tight wood fibers. The dog’s saliva breaks down these fibers, making them soft and harmless if digested in small amounts.  

 As the dog chews, they are strengthening their dental muscles and naturally cleaning their teeth During chew time, you may see flakes come off the wood and if you directly pick them up, you will find them soft like pulp. However, if the flakes remain on the floor and dry, they will become firm again. While they may look like splinters that could harm your dog, they were not in the same form while chewing. We recommend discarding any remaining pieces.  

The coffee wood is an ideal chew for a moderate to heavy chewer. A 20 minute a day chew session is the best to help them reach their most relaxed state. Make the chew session a special time each day! 

Briar Roots. 

The Briar Root chew is our most durable and nearly indestructible chew. Briar Roots are durable wood pieces from the roots of the Heather Tree grown naturally in the Mediterranean region of Europe. This wood was chosen for its strength and durability, allowing aggressive chewers to also enjoy an all-natural chew experience! These chews promote relaxation and dental health in aggressive chewers. 

The roots are harvested by a small family business by hand without any use of heavy machinery. This method of harvesting helps keep the forest intact and preserve the unique landscape for future generations. The Briar Root is also being upcycled by finding new uses for it, apart from it’s main use in tobacco pipe production. 

Briar Root is best for power chewers, as well as dogs who are overweight or who have allergies since this chew has no calories or additives.  

Pet Safety. 

Like any chew toy, always keep an eye on your pet as they chew, as each dog has a unique chewing behavior. Some things to watch for as a pet parent: 

• If your dog is a strong chewer and is biting off larger pieces instead of natural flaking occurring, you may need to choose a bigger size stick or they may need something more durable like Briar Root or Antler chews.  

• If your dog has bitten off a larger piece, simply toss it away. Keep watching them, because they may have graduated to a larger stick size. 

• Since the wood chews are made of real wood expect a little flakey mess. This is normal. Just have your vacuum or broom handy. 

• Also remember that the stick is a chew, not food. The small pieces that flake off are digestible in small amounts, but please do not let them eat every piece! 

• If you notice your dog is using their back molars pretty aggressively on the stick, they may need a larger size. This is especially true if they are getting through the stick fairly quickly or they may just need a more durable chew.