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Small Dogs

Practical, honest guides on natural chews — sizing, safety, and what actually keeps dogs busy.

A miniature schnauzer puppy sitting on a wooden bench beside a window while a person's hand rests gently on its shoulder

Retained Puppy Teeth in Small Breeds: What to Check at Six Months

A baby tooth still sitting beside its adult replacement at six months needs a vet, not another chew. Roughly one extra-small dog in seven has one.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read
A red dachshund sitting on wooden porch steps looking up at a person's hand offering a small biscuit, with a short chew stub on the step beside it

The Stub Rule: Exactly When to Take a Bully Stick Away

Take the bully stick away once the piece could fit entirely inside your dog's mouth — near three inches for most dogs, and sooner for a big one.

Aug 27, 2026 6 min read
A Yorkshire terrier standing on a folded white towel on a kitchen counter while a person's hands gently lift its lip to show its small front teeth

Small Dogs Get Dental Disease First: What That Means for Chew Choice

Extra-small breeds are diagnosed with periodontal disease up to five times more often than giant breeds. What that changes about chew choice, and what it doesn't.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read
A stocky pug walking across a mown back-yard lawn toward the camera in bright morning sunlight

Are Bully Sticks Fattening? Running the Numbers on One Chew a Day

A 6-inch stick a day is about 9% of a 50-pound dog's daily calories and 30% of a 10-pound dog's. The arithmetic by weight, and what to give instead.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read
A resealable one pound Foodiepaws bag of bite-size bully stick pieces with a short dried chew piece standing alongside it

Short Chew Pieces: What They Are For and Who Should Skip Them

Bully stick bites are short pieces of the same dried beef as a full stick, cut for a reward, not a session. Who they suit and who should skip them.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read
A resealable Foodiepaws bag of 5-6 inch thin bully sticks with a single slim dried beef stick standing alongside it

When a Chew Should Finish Quickly: Sizing for a Light Chewer

A thin bully stick is the same beef pizzle cut narrow, so a light chewer finishes a session instead of leaving half a stick behind. Who it suits.

Aug 27, 2026 6 min read
4-Inch Bully Sticks in a resealable 1 lb Foodiepaws bag with short natural beef bully sticks in front

Bully Sticks for Small Dogs: Safe Sizing Under 25 Pounds

Under 25 pounds, start with a 4-inch bully stick and retire it at about three inches. A small dog's throat, not a tape measure, is what sets the limit.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read
A Bernese Mountain Dog lying by a fireplace, working on a long 12-inch bully stick

Bully Stick Size Guide: Right Length for Every Dog

4-inch bites to 12-inch jumbos — match bully stick length and thickness to your dog's weight and chew style with our simple size chart.

Jul 9, 2026 5 min read
A small French Bulldog on a green dog bed chewing a short bully stick, supervised by its owner nearby

Are Bully Sticks Safe for Puppies? A Practical Guide

Yes — with the right size and supervision. When puppies can start bully sticks, how long they should chew, and which stick to pick first.

Jul 9, 2026 5 min read