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The Spruce Pets / Sabrina Jiang
Bully sticks are longer-lasting dog chews that reduce buildup on teeth while providing an enjoyable treat for your dog to gnaw on. The treats are generally safe to give to a dog of any size and age but moderation is always important.
"Bully sticks are high in fat, so as with any treat item, if a large amount of a rich food item is ingested, or if your dog has a very sensitive stomach, then some gastrointestinal upset can occur," said Erin Katribe, DVM, medical director of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
These dense treats, also called bully bones, are made from the penis of a bull or steer—an ingredient commonly called pizzle. In general, bully sticks are made from beef pizzle that has been cleaned, shaped, and baked at a low temperature. The beef treats are made in a variety of shapes—including springs that are coiled and braids that combine three pizzles.
If your dog exhibits any signs of discomfort, like diarrhea or vomiting, they may have overindulged. As with any edible treat, it is important to supervise your dog while they are chewing on a bully stick.
Our favorite for most dogs are Natural Farm's Odor Free Standard Bully Sticks, which are made from free-range, grass-fed cattle, come in a variety of shapes (braided, springs, rings, and more), and are packaged in recyclable bags. But there are several other bully sticks available that we also recommend.
Best Overall
Natural Farm Odor-Free Standard Bully Sticks
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Made from grass-fed, free-range cattle
No hormones, additives, or chemicals
Sustainable packaging
Some inconsistent sizing
Natural Farm bully sticks are suitable for medium chewers, making them a good pick for most dogs. They're also odor-free, so they won't offend nearby humans.
Made from grass-fed, free-range Brazilian cattle, the pizzles used in these bully sticks have no hormones, additives, or chemicals. They’re single-ingredient and cleaned with water, then slowly oven-baked to preserve the nutrients.
Natural Farm bullies come in traditional sticks, as well as springs, rings, braids, and bites. Depending on the size and chewing style of your dog, you can choose from standard, select, jumbo, pixie, and extra-thin sticks. We think the standard 6-inch bully sticks are appropriate for most dogs' chewing needs, and appreciate the flexible packaging on offer, with 12- and 16-ounce packs in addition to 15-, 20-, and 25-pizzle packages.
Natural Farm donates a portion of proceeds from every sale to organizations that help animals in need worldwide and the packaging is made with 51 percent recyclable sugar cane.
Form: Sticks, springs, braids, bites, rings | Amount: 1.2 pounds | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
Best Braided
Nature Gnaws Natural Dog Chews
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Human-grade food testing
No additives, preservatives, or artificial ingredients
Grass-fed, free-range cattle
Sizing not always consistent
Can be smelly
Nature Gnaws Natural Dog Chews are braided bully sticks made entirely from grass-fed, free-range cattle. A braided bully stick is made of three strips of pizzle that are tightly braided together and then baked to form a dog treat.
Nature Gnaws’ bullies are made without additives, preservatives, or artificial ingredients. The bullies are cleaned with water, and then baked in the oven. The company relies on human-grade food testing to make sure the chews aren’t contaminated with bacteria. In addition to braids, Nature Gnaws sells extra-thin, small, large, and spring-shaped bullies.
Form: Braided | Amount: 5 count | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
Best Odor-Free
Barkworthies Bully Sticks
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Odor-free
No artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors
Lots of shapes and sizes
Sizing a bit inconsistent
Some have odor
Barkworthies are single-ingredient chews with no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. The beef is sourced from South America. There is also a line of sticks that are baked in the U.S.
There are so many different styles for light, medium, hard, and even power chewers, ranging from standard, braided, and curly sticks to jumbo, double cut, and monster sticks. For light and medium chewers, there are also long and skinny cane sticks, which can be cut into smaller pieces.
Form: Sticks | Amount: 5 count | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
"These bully sticks keep the puppies I foster occupied. I particularly like the double cut sticks because they take a lot of work. I know the puppies won't be able to gnaw off too much, and it makes them happy as they’re teething." —Mary Jo DiLonardo, veteran foster who has cared for over 75 dogs and puppies
Best for Teeth
Jack & Pup 6-Inch Premium-Grade Bully Sticks
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From grass-fed beef
USDA certified and inspected facility
No additives or chemicals
Gamey smell when chewed
Sizing can be inconsistent
These bully bones are made from grass-fed beef that is processed in a USDA human-grade certified and inspected facility. They are boiled, roasted, smoked, and slow-dried without any additives or chemicals.
The process keeps the treats fresh longer without preservatives and helps keep them odor-free. However, once pups start chewing, these sticks develop a very gamey smell.
The premium sticks are especially good for dogs to gnaw on to keep their teeth and gums healthy. The company makes bullies in standard, thick, and jumbo sizes, and they are available in six-inch or 12-inch lengths.
Jack & Pup also has bites, braids, and curls. Bites should only be given to the tiniest of dogs because their small size could be choking hazards for larger pets.
Form: Sticks | Amount: 1.17 pounds | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
Best for Small Dogs
Best Bully Sticks 2-4 Inch All-Natural Junior Bully Sticks for Dogs
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From free-range grass-fed beef
Made in the United States
Ideal for teething puppies
Good for all life stages
Inconsistent sizing and thickness
Smaller dogs, with smaller mouths and teeth to match, will enjoy chewing on Best Bully Sticks, which range in length from 2 to 4 inches. Within a pack, the thickness will vary amongst each treat, but all sticks are made in the United States from free-range, grass-fed beef.
Best Bully Sticks are suitable for dogs of any age, including teething puppies. They are moderately dense and should keep your dog occupied for an extended time.
Form: Sticks | Amount: 8 ounces | Breed Size: Small
Best in Bulk
Sancho & Lola's Bully Sticks
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No growth hormones, toxic chemicals, or antibiotics
Made from beef farmed in the United States
Help remove buildup on teeth
Some have stronger odor than others
Sizes may vary in bag
If you have several dogs or just feed your pup a lot of treats, it can be convenient and save you money to buy in bulk. Sancho & Lola offers that option for all its many forms of bully sticks. They’re all made without growth hormones, toxic chemicals, or antibiotics.
The charcuterie-style sticks are made from beef farmed in the United States, and other bully products from the brand are from free-range, grass-fed cattle farmed in North and South America. All of Sancho & Lola's products are processed, inspected, and packed in facilities in Texas and Nebraska.
You can choose from traditional, thick, or crunchy in several different lengths. You can also opt for a range of smells from no odor to moderate odor. However, the moderate-odor treats are actually really stinky, which your dog will love more than you will. A portion of all proceeds goes to dog rescues.
Form: Sticks | Amount: 24-30 count | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
Best Dairy-Based Alternative
Himalayan Pet Supply The Original Dog Chew
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Can last a long time
No smell
Nothing is wasted
Pieces can break off easily if dropped
Aggressive chewers might chip teeth
These hard treats are made from 100 percent yak and cow’s milk with a little salt and lime juice for added taste. The chews have no gluten, grain, soy, lactose, or corn. There are no artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, or additives. Dogs just chew and scrape until they can get little pieces off.
When the stick gets too small, you can soak it in water, microwave it, let it cool, and feed it to your pup as a special cheese puff treat. That way, nothing is wasted.
The treats come from the Himalayas, where they support a network of more than 10,000 farmers who handcraft them. They are certified Fair Trade by the World Fair Trade Organization. For every pound of cheese chewed, the company donates a book to a library in Nepal.
Form: Sticks | Amount: 1 count | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
Best Variety Pack
Redbarn All Natural 5-8 Inch Bully Sticks for Small & Large Dogs
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No preservatives or additives
For all life stages
Available in different lengths and widths
Number of sticks per pack varies
Each Bully Stick Party Pack from Redbarn offers an assortment of sticks made from 100 percent beef pizzle with no artificial preservatives or additives. The sticks are suitable as a treat for dogs of all life stages, from puppy to senior, and giving your dog a bully stick from the party pack will likely help to reduce buildup along their gum line.
The variety packs come in two sizes: a 12-ounce package with bully sticks ranging from 4 to 5 inches in length and an 8-ounce package with bully sticks measuring 5 to 8 inches long. Since these packs are sold by weight, the number of sticks in each bag often varies. The thickness of the sticks can also vary, with some pizzles being thinner than others.
Form: Sticks | Amount: 8 ounces, 12 ounces | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
Best Subscription
Woof Free Range Bully Sticks
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Sustainably sourced
Free-range, grass-fed beef
Long-lasting chew
Direct-to-consumer pricing
Odor still quite noticeable
If your pup is bullish on bully sticks, Woof offers an economical way to keep you well-stocked on your pet's favorite chews. With a direct-to-consumer model, the company provides high-quality bully sticks made from free-range and sustainably sourced grass-fed beef that are about 25-perent less expensive than other brands. You save even more with an auto-ship subscription.
Woof bully sticks come in 6-inch and 12-inch lengths and are available in packs of 5, 10, or 25. While we like that the sticks provide a long-lasting chew, we're not fans of the smell—which is still detectable despite the company's claim that the product is "low odor." Nevertheless, if your dog loves the taste then they're definitely worth the savings.
Woof also offers a unique holder for a bully stick called the BullySafe, designed to hold the bully stick in place to extend the duration of play and reduce the risk of choking. This extra tool can be added to your order and it's easy to use—simply unscrew, insert bully, tighten, and let your dog enjoy.
Form: Sticks | Amount: 5, 10, or 25 count | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
Best Fish-Based Alternative
The Honest Kitchen Beams Ocean Chews
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Packed with omega-3 fatty acids
100% wild-caught sustainably sourced wolffish
High-protein
Easily digestible
Strong fish odor
Not an extended chew and gets rubbery
These treats are made from 100% wolffish skins from wild-caught and sustainably sourced fish. The easily digestible treats are high in protein, making for a healthy and nutritious alternative to rawhide. Because fish skin is naturally packed with omega-3 fatty acids, these treats also help to promote healthy skin and coat.
That said, they do have a strong fishy smell, which may not appeal to all dogs. Also, they don't provide as long a chew as rawhide and the skin can get quite rubbery, which can pose a choking hazard.
The treats are available in two varieties—wolffish and cod—and come in 3.5-ounce and 5.5-ounce bags.
Form: Dehydrated treats | Amount: 3.5 ounces, 5.5 ounces | Breed Size: Small
Final Verdict
Our top choice is Natural Farm's No Odor Standard Bully Sticks, which are made from grass-fed, free-range cattle with no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. The company also has sustainable packaging and donates proceeds to help animals in need with every purchase. Another great choice is Nature Gnaws. The all-natural braided bullies are especially challenging for power chewers.
What Are Bully Sticks?
Bully sticks are dense beef chews for dogs which are made from the penis of a bull or steer—an ingredient often labeled as "pizzle" on packaging. The treats come in a variety of lengths and widths along with varying degrees of firmness.
What to Look for in Bully Sticks
Size
Choose the bully stick based on the size of your dog. If it’s too small, it could be a choking hazard, said veterinarian Erin Katribe. Stay away from bully bites if you have a large dog, for example.
If your dog is small, and the bully stick is too large, they might not be able to chew it and may get frustrated. If your dog is an aggressive chewer, opt for a thicker bully stick like a braided option. Most companies have recommendations on their websites regarding their specific products.
Odor
You and your dog might disagree on this one. Bully sticks can smell really, really bad (or really enticing, if you're a dog). If you don’t want your house smelling like a musty, meaty animal, you might want to opt for an odor-free pizzle. These are usually cooked longer to get rid of some of the smell and moisture.
But just a heads up: When your dog starts chewing any bully stick, that saliva will make even the odor-free sticks start to smell a little.
Sourcing
Most companies will list where the animals came from. We like the idea that they come from free-range, grass-fed cattle. Some people prefer animals raised in the United States or Canada, but others point out that cows in Brazil, for example, are nearly always free-range and fed on grass—check the fine print for sourcing information.
Shape
Bully sticks are made in a variety of shapes. To achieve some of these shapes, pizzles are often cut and/or combined prior to being baked. For example, braided bully sticks combine three pizzles to make the treat more dense and textured.
This also makes braided bully sticks more amendable for tough chewing dogs. Shapes include sticks, braids, springs, rings, and bites.
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Are bully sticks safe for puppies?
Bully sticks are generally safe for puppies, said Katribe, though you should take the same precautions that you take with adult dogs. “Puppies are often prone to more sensitive stomachs than adults, and so this is something to watch out for,” she says. “Puppies may need their access restricted to a shorter time so that they ingest less at one sitting."
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When should I take a bully stick away from my dog?
Keep an eye on how much of the stick your dog is eating. “When the bully stick is approaching a size that’s small enough to ingest whole, it’s time to take it away to reduce the chance of it becoming lodged in the throat,” Katribe said. She suggests that you may also want to take the bully stick after a certain amount of time per day, simply to limit the amount ingested at once.
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How often can I give my dog a bully stick?
As mentioned, all treats should be given in moderation. Per Katribe, treats should make up less than 10 percent of your dog’s caloric intake. You can do the math and figure this out, based on the size of your dog and the bully stick.
“For a more general rule of thumb, a maximum of two to three times per week should be reasonable for most dogs,” she says. “If your dog is a particularly fast chewer, it may make sense to limit their time with the bully stick so that they last longer (and so the dog doesn’t ingest a large amount at once).”
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
This article was researched and written by Mary Jo DiLonardo, who has covered animals and pets for several decades. DiLonardo has fostered more than 75 dog and puppies, and is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products, foods, and treats for them.
We consulted with veterinarian Erin Katribe, medical director of Best Friends Animal Society, before researching bully sticks. All of the chews we recommended are 100 percent beef with no additives or chemicals, and they offer clear information about sourcing.
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