Longest-lasting dog chews compared in 2026
The comparison shows which chews for dogs will last the longest in 2026 and for which type of dog bull, horse tendons, scalp & Co. are really suitable.
- Ox pizzle 20cm is the most durable chew in the comparison - ideal for power chewers and large dogs.
- Horse tendons 20cm score with maximum hardness, but are unsuitable for puppies.
- Pig ears and rabbit ears with fur are short chews for beginners and sensitive stomachs.
- Size determines the chewing time more than the material: 10 cm for small dogs, 20 cm for large dogs.
- Masterfeed has eight natural chew types with up to 90% meat content in its range.
Why this matters
Not every chew provides the same length of employment – and this has direct consequences for dental care and employment. A dog that devours a chew in a few minutes does not get the mechanical teeth cleaning or the distraction that a tough natural chew offers. If you are looking for a lot of chewing time, you will find chews for large dogs further information on the right size in the guide. The following comparison ranks eight natural chews from Masterfeed according to hardness, chewing time category and suitability for different types of dogs.
The ranking at a glance
Best chew overall: Ox pizz 20cm – the hardest natural product in comparison, made for power chewers. Best choice for large dogs with high chewing needs: Horse tendons 20cm – maximum toughness for strong jaws. Best option for puppies and chewing beginners: Pig ears – soft, short chewing time, easy to digest.
What makes the best chew
- Hardness and density of the natural product – determines how long a dog stays busy
- Meat content and nutritional value – Masterfeed uses up to 90% meat content in premium varieties
- Suitable size the dog breed – 10 cm for small dogs, 20 cm for medium to large dogs
- Tolerance for stomach, teeth and dentition condition
- Origin and processing – gently dried, without additives
- Suitability according to chewing experience – puppy, beginner or experienced power chewer
Dog chews compared: At a glance
| Chews | best for | specificity | restriction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ochsenziemer 20cm | Power chewer, high chewing requirement | Tough and dense, lasts for several chewing sessions | Intense smell |
| Horse tendons 20cm | Big dogs, a lot of chewing needs | Very hard consistency, natural dental care | Too hard for puppies |
| Bovine Scalp Bars 20cm | Jaw training, medium to large dogs | Compact rod, challenges the jaw for a long time | Too big for very small dogs |
| Pig ears | Puppies, chewing beginners | Soft, easy to digest | Short period of employment |
| Rabbit ears with fur | Sensitive stomach | Fur acts like natural fiber | Shorter chewing time than hard items |
| Beef Maw Jerky Plates 20cm | Seniors, less chewing power | Jerky instead of hard consistency | Shorter than hard chews |
| Horse scalp 20cm | Beef intolerance | Alternative protein source to beef | Less common than beef products |
| Deer ears | Allergy sufferers, new source of protein | Rarely used game meat | Smaller size, shorter chewing time |
1. Bull pizzle 20cm: best chew for power chewers
Ox Pizzle 20cm consists of dried beef muscle and is one of the hardest natural chews in the Masterfeed range. The 20 cm long version is designed for large dogs with a strong jaw and remains dimensionally stable even after the first bite. Unlike soft ears or jerky, it provides activity over several chewing sessions.
Ochsenziemer 20cm pros:
- Significantly longer chewing time than soft chews
- High meat content, grain-free
- Natural product without additives
- Mechanical tooth cleaning by abrasion
Ochsenziemer 20cm cons:
- Intense odor when chewing
- Too hard for puppies with milk teeth
- Unsuitable for very weak teeth
Best for: power chewers and large dogs with daily chewing needs. Conclusion: Buy.
2. Horse tendons 20cm: best chew for large dogs with high chewing needs
Horse tendons 20cm are pure tendons without meat content and therefore particularly hard and dense. They are suitable for large dogs that need a chew that does not dissolve after ten minutes. The 20 cm length makes it a perennial favourite for breeds with strong jaws.
Horse tendons 20cm pros:
- Very high hardness, long chewing time
- Low in fat compared to other chews
- Natural dental care through friction
Horse tendons 20cm cons:
- Too hard for puppies and young dogs
- Not suitable for dogs with tooth damage
Best for: Large dogs with a high chewing requirement and healthy teeth. Conclusion: Buy.
3. Bovine Scalp Bars 20cm: best chew for jaw training
Beef scalp sticks 20cm are made of dried scalp from beef and are more compact in shape than goats or tendons. The pole shape challenges the jaw for a longer period of time without being as extremely hard as horse tendons. They are suitable as an intermediate stage for dogs that are introduced to harder chews.
Bovine Scalp Bars 20cm pros:
- Good balance between hardness and chewiness
- Promotes active jaw training
- Grain-free natural chews
Bovine Scalp Bars 20cm cons:
- Too big for very small dogs
- Used up faster than tendons in strong crouches
Best for: Medium to large dogs in jaw training. Conclusion: Buy.
4. Pig ears: best chew for puppies and chewing beginners
Pig ears are much softer than prickles or tendons and are easy to nibble on. This makes them the perfect introduction for puppies and dogs who are getting a natural chew for the first time. The chewing time is shorter, but the risk of tooth damage is lower.
Pig ears pros:
- Soft consistency, easy to digest
- Good entry-level chew for puppies
- Natural product without additives
Pig ears cons:
- Short period of employment
- No substitute for hard chews in adult power chewers
Best for: puppies and dogs who are given chews for the first time. Conclusion: Buy.
5. Rabbit ears with fur: best chew for sensitive stomachs
Rabbit ears with fur combine meat and fur in one chew. The coat acts like a natural fiber and aids digestion, while the ear itself provides a shorter but intense chewing time. For dogs with sensitive gastrointestinal tracts, this is often more tolerable than chews that are difficult to digest.
Rabbit ears with fur pros:
- Fur supports digestion
- Easily digestible meat
- Grain-free and without additives
Rabbit ears with fur cons:
- Shorter chewing time than hard chews
- Not suitable for households where cats have access
Best for: dogs with sensitive stomachs. Conclusion: Buy.
6. Beef throat jerky plates 20cm: best chew for seniors
Beef throat jerky plates 20cm are thinner and easier to chew than prickles or tendons because they are made of jerky instead of hard muscle or tendon mass. For older dogs or animals with less chewing power, this is one way to still get a meat-based chew. The duration of employment is less than that of hard natural chews.
Beef Maw Jerky Plates 20cm pros:
- Easy to chew for seniors and young dogs
- High meat content despite soft structure
- Grain-free
Beef Maw Jerky Plates 20cm cons:
- Shorter chewing time than hard chews
- More of a snack than a permanent occupation
Best for: seniors and dogs with reduced chewing power. Conclusion: Buy.
7. Horse scalp 20cm: best chew for beef intolerance
Horse Scalp 20cm offers an alternative to the many beef-based chews in the range. For dogs that react to beef, it provides a consistency comparable to another protein source. The chewing properties are similar to those of the beef scalp sticks.
Horse Scalp 20cm pros:
- Alternative protein source to beef
- Chewing time comparable to bovine scalp
- Grain-free
Horse Scalp 20cm cons:
- Less common than beef products
- Not every dog accepts the taste equally well
Best for: dogs with beef intolerance. Conclusion: Buy.
8. Deer ears: best chew for allergy sufferers
Deer ears use a less frequently used source of protein and are therefore suitable for dogs that have already reacted to several other types of meat. The size is smaller than that of cattle or pig ears, and the chewing time is correspondingly shorter. As an exclusion diet component or variety in the chew article rotation plan, this is nevertheless a useful addition.
Deer ears pros:
- New source of protein for exclusion diets
- Natural product without additives
- Good complement to rotation
Deer ears cons:
- Smaller size, shorter chewing time
- No substitute for hard permanent chews
Best for: allergy sufferers and dogs with multiple food intolerances. Conclusion: Buy.
How we rated
The ranking is based on the hardness, consistency and size of the natural chews in relation to each other – not on a single laboratory test. Hard, dense chews such as bull pizzle or horse tendons generally last longer than soft ears or jerky because they are mechanically more difficult to break down. Each classification also takes into account for which type of dog – puppy, beginner, power chewer, senior – the respective chew makes the most sense.
Discover chews in the Masterfeed Shop
Natural chews in 10 cm and 20 cm for every dog size.
Which chew should you choose?
For power chewers and large dogs, Ox Pizzle 20cm remains the longest-lasting choice in the entire comparison. For dogs with a very high chewing requirement and healthy teeth, horse tendon 20cm is the harder alternative. Anyone who has a puppy or chewing beginner reaches for pig ears - short, soft, low-risk. In the case of sensitive stomachs or food intolerances, rabbit ears with fur, horse scalp 20cm or deer ears lead to the right result depending on the situation. If you are unsure about 2026, start with a medium-hard chew such as beef scalp sticks 20cm and then adjust up or down.
FAQ
Which dog chew lasts the longest?
Bull pizzles 20cm and horse tendons 20cm last the longest in comparison because their dense, tough structure is mechanically more difficult to break down than ears or jerky. Both are particularly suitable for adult dogs with healthy teeth.
Are bull pizzles suitable for puppies?
Bull pizzle 20cm is too hard for puppies with milk teeth. For puppies, softer chews such as pig ears are much more suitable.
How do horse tendons differ from bovine scalp as chews?
Horse tendons 20cm are made of pure tendon and are harder, while bovine scalp bars 20cm offer medium hardness between tendons and soft ears. Bovine scalp is suitable as an intermediate stage when introducing harder chews.
Are pig ears safe for dogs?
Pig ears are a soft, easily digestible natural chew and are safe for most dogs as long as they fit the size and chewing behavior of the dog. They are particularly suitable for puppies and chewing beginners.
Which chews are suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs?
Rabbit ears with fur are often better tolerated by sensitive stomachs because the fur acts like a natural fiber. Beef throat jerky plates 20cm are also easier to digest than hard chews.
How do I recognize high-quality natural chews for dogs?
High-quality natural chews have a high meat content, are grain-free and processed without additives. Masterfeed uses up to 90% meat content in premium varieties.
What size chews fit my dog?
10 cm is suitable for small dogs, 20 cm for medium to large dogs. The size often determines the actual chewing time more than the material itself.
Are rabbit ears better with fur than without fur?
Rabbit ears with fur provide additional fiber for digestion, while the variant without fur focuses more purely on meat. Which variant suits better depends on the digestion of the individual dog.
One more note at the end
The size often determines the chewing time more than the material itself: a 20 cm bull pizzle is gone in a few sessions with a Rottweiler, while it offers a Jack Russell something to do for days. Therefore, choose 2026 first by dog size and only then by degree of hardness - otherwise even the toughest chew will be used up quickly.
