Picking the right size

This is the single most common question we get, and getting it right matters more than which cut you choose. A chew that is too big gets ignored. A chew that is too small is a choking hazard. Here is how we size them.

Why we price by weight

Just like finger prints, no two antler are the same. Length, diameter and shape all vary from one antler to the next, so grading them by length alone would be meaningless.

Instead we grade and price every antler by weight. When you buy a Medium split, you are buying an antler between 5.0 and 6.9 ounces — every time, regardless of what shape it happens to be.

Our size grades

Burr runs heavier at every grade, because it is the densest part of the antler. A Small burr is 8.0 to 9.9 ounces.

The rule of thumb

Your dog should be able to hold the chew comfortably between their paws and get their mouth around it — without it disappearing into their mouth.

If it vanishes when they pick it up, it is too small. If they cannot get purchase on it at all, it is too big.

When to size up

Go one size larger than the chart suggests if your dog is a genuinely aggressive chewer, if they have destroyed chews you expected to last, or if you would rather err on the side of caution. A slightly oversized antler is safe. An undersized one is not.

When in doubt, go bigger

We say this often enough that it is worth putting in writing. Giving a large dog a teacup antler is a choking hazard. There is no equivalent risk in the other direction — a large antler is simply a longer project.

Puppies and seniors

For puppies still getting their adult teeth, and for senior dogs who have lost a few, hard antler may not be the right starting point at all. Look at yak cheese, cow ears, gullet strips or the Chewy Bull instead — all softer, all still natural, all in our Gentle Chews collection.

Always supervise

Whatever size you land on, watch your dog with any new chew until you know how they handle it. Take the antler away once it wears down small enough to swallow whole.

Still unsure? Call Emily on (219) 384-1033 or email [email protected] and tell her your dog's breed and weight. She will tell you exactly what to order.