You might have heard about bully sticks or seen these brown bones at the pet store. But what are they, and are bully sticks suitable for dogs? There are many reasons dogs devour bully sticks. I’ll share the pros and cons and my top picks for each category of best bully sticks for dogs.
| Overall | 12-Inch | Puppies | Braided | Odorless | Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Best Bully Sticks | Downtown Pet Supply | Nature Gnaws | Natural Farm | Jack & Pup | Pawstruck |
| View on Chewy | View on Chewy | View on Chewy | View on Amazon | View on Chewy | View on Amazon |
| Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
What Is A Bully Stick?
You may not want to know this, but bully sticks are made of dried bull penises. Another name for a bully stick is pizzle, a word derived from the Middle English word for penis. If the blood and urine have been drained from the organ before it is dried, this “odor-free” product should have a less offensive smell when your dog chews it. Also, the longer the stick is dried, the less it will stink. You may also have heard of “junior” bully sticks that are thinner and made from castrated steers.
6 Benefits Of Bully Sticks For Dogs
Dogs and pet parents love bully sticks. Here are just a few of the reasons why:
- Single-ingredient
- Provides a good source of protein
- Contains taurine (an amino acid that contributes to healthy heart muscles and eyesight)
- Are tough and effective at keeping teeth clean (by removing plaque and tartar build-up)
- Lasts longer than other products like rawhides or manufactured bones
- Offers mental stimulation and reduces anxiety
3 Bully Stick Negatives
On the flip side, bully sticks can be:
- Expensive – Because they are pricy, I recommend getting a holder to help lengthen how long they last.
- Smelly – while dogs might enjoy the smell, many people find the odor offensive. Luckily there are odorless bully sticks available.
- High in calories – Bully sticks are yummy, but they can put pounds on your hound’s tummy.
How Many Bully Sticks Can A Dog Have A Day?
I recommend that you don’t give your dog more than two to three sticks a week. If your dog is medium to large and active, it won’t hurt to give it to them daily (and you might want to adjust their caloric intake or activity accordingly to account for the extra treat). Talk to your vet first to decide what frequency is ideal for your dog.
Bully Stick Reviews (By Type)
You have several options for bully sticks. I’ve picked the best brands of bully sticks based on reviews, ingredients, value, popularity, etc. Click on the menu below to jump to a particular category, or keep scrolling to read all of our bully sticks for dogs reviews.
Size Matters
Before you buy: you should get bully sticks that are 6″ for small and medium dogs and 12″ for larger dogs. If the bully sticks are too big, your dog can’t chew them; your dog could choke if they are too small.
Best Bully Sticks For Dogs Overall: Best Bully Sticks Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy
I recommend Best Bully Sticks as the best overall pick. Best Bully Sticks sources many of its products from the U.S. Their sticks are 100% all-natural and USDA-approved. They come in multiple shapes — bully pretzels, spirals, braids, bows, etc. Best Bully Sticks offers odor-free sticks, and Chewy offers an auto-ship option that can save you 5%.
Price
- Starts at $22.99 ($45.98 / lb)
Best 12-Inch Bully Stick: Downtown Pet Supply Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy
I recommend Downtown Pet Supply as our best 12-inch bully stick. Downtown Pet Supply’s bully sticks are FDA and USDA-approved. Ingredients are sourced from free-range and grass-fed cattle, and there are no artificial flavors, chemicals, or preservatives. They come in multiple sizes and shapes — spiral, braids, rings, treat, etc.
Price
- 10-pack of 12″ sticks starts at Check Amazon for availability
Our Personal Experience
My dog, Sally, loves these bully sticks. It takes her about one hour to eat the entire thing. It’s a great distraction for her if we need something to occupy her time. I also gave the bag a smell and didn’t notice any odor to these bully sticks.
– Kimberly Alt, Treeing Walker Coonhound Parent Canine Journal Pet Insurance Expert
Best Bully Stick Subscription: Bully Bundles Review
A subscription service might be a good solution if you want bully sticks delivered to your door regularly. With Bully Bundles, you can choose 6″ or 12″ sticks and quantities anywhere from 6 to 60 sticks (30 for 12″ sticks). They send your first shipment when you order, and you’ll receive it within 2-5 business days. Bully Bundles’ sticks are low-odor, chemical-free, and 100% natural. You save 15% if you pay upfront for six months’ worth of deliveries, and you can skip or cancel anytime
Price
- 10-Pack Of 12″ Sticks starts at $55/mo (for 6 months)
Best Bully Sticks For Puppies: Nature Gnaws Small Natural Dog Chews Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy
Nature Gnaws’ extra-thin natural dog chews are the perfect size for puppies. Because they are soft, these sticks are more gentle on a puppy’s teeth. Nature Gnaws partners with farms in South America to source their beef, and they clean their chews without chemicals (only water). All bully sticks go to a certified food-safety lab, and each chew is hand-inspected to ensure high quality. Plus, they’re packaged in the U.S.
Price
- 10-Pack Of 6″ Sticks starts at: $11.99 ($1.20 / Count)
Best Braided Bully Sticks: Natural Farm Braided Bully Sticks Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy
If your dog is big or a heavy chewer, he might need something a little more sturdy, like a braided bully stick. Natural Farm’s braided bully sticks use grass-fed Brazillian beef. They slow-oven bake their sticks and use no hormones, chemicals, or additives. And their braided bully sticks are also odor-free. Nature Farm’s packaging is eco-friendly with recycled plastic, and they donate some of the proceeds to shelters and dogs in need.
Price
- 10-Pack Of 6″ Sticks starts at: $56.99 ($57.71 / lb)
Best Odorless Bully Sticks: Jack & Pup Odor-Free Bully Sticks Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy
Jack & Pup sources their bully sticks from grass-fed, free-range cattle without hormones or antibiotics. Their “odor-free” sticks are hand-inspected in USDA Human Grade Certified facilities and prepared by boiling, roasting, smoking, and drying them. The multi-step process locks in natural flavors, and the long dry time minimizes odors. Jack & Pup sticks come in various sizes and thicknesses, so they’re a yummy, non-smelly option for pups of any size or chew level.
Price
- 5-Pack Of 6″ Sticks starts at: Check Amazon for availability
Best Bully Stick Springs: Pawstruck Review
If your dog gobbles down bully sticks quickly, a spiral-shaped spring might be more of a challenge to chew. They’re slightly more expensive than other bully sticks, but the curly shape makes them last longer. These springs from Pawstruck are made with all-natural, slow-roasted beef muscle harvested from free-range and grass-fed cows, ensuring high quality. There are no artificial chemicals or preservatives, and they are odor-free. Crunchy for dental health but soft enough to absorb flavor and digest safely. Subscribe and save 5%.
Price
- 3 Springs (Regular) starts at: $20.22 ($111.94 / lb)
My Personal Experience With Pawstruck Spring Bully Sticks
Pawstruck sent me a sample of springs to try with my pup in exchange for an honest review. My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy loves them! Typically, he’ll gnaw through a bully stick or duck foot in 10-15 minutes, but these springs last for hours. The curly shape also helps him grip it better than a traditional stick. There was no odor, and it was effortless for him to soften the bone with his saliva.
Best Bully Stick Holder: Benebone Real Bacon Durable Interactive Pawplexer Dog Chew Toy Review
Bully stick holders help your pup slow down during the chewing process. With the stick in a holder, your dog will have to work harder to get it. Many holders roll or turn it into a game, making it more fun. It can also assist your pup in the chewing process by having something for him to grip.
I’ve tested several bully stick holders over the years, and my current favorite is the Benebone Pawplexer Dog Chew Toy. It’s more durable than some other rubber alternatives and gives dogs a better angle to chew their stick. The best part? The holder is flavored with real bacon to enhance the fun.
Price
- Small starts at: $11.83
My Personal Experience With The Benebone Pawplexer Dog Chew Toy
I have a Benebone Pawplexer Dog Chew Toy for my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, which he loves. The weight is a bit heavy for him, but he can still pick up the bully stick in the holder and carry it around to his favorite chewing spot. The larger size prevents the stick from falling into cracks in the sofa or allowing him to hide it. Without the holder, he’ll gobble his stick right up. But the Benebone Pawplexer lets him enjoy the stick longer. It’s easy to add and remove the stick from the center of the toy.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re new to bully sticks, here are a few questions that often arise. If I missed yours or you have experience to share, post it in the comments.
Are Bully Sticks Safe For Dogs?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer when it comes to the safety of this product. Most veterinarians and websites will tell you that bully sticks are perfectly safe and digestible. However, it’s debatable if bully sticks are ethical, and some worry that they are high in calories or contaminated with bacteria.
But, if you decide the pros outweigh the cons, you will find my bully stick recommendations include natural and high-quality ones. As long as you monitor your dog for choking, they can be a good treat when consumed in moderation. Also, make sure you get the right size sticks for your dog. Learn more about the safety of bully sticks for dogs.
Can I Leave My Dog Alone With A Bully Stick?
It’s best to supervise your pup when they have a bully stick. Bully sticks can be a choking hazard if your pup gets down to the tail end, which can splinter and break off. The safest way to prevent this is to monitor your dog and ensure they don’t choke on the end or on a sharp part that splinters.
Why Do Bully Sticks Smell?
As you can imagine, since they are made of pizzles, they might contain urine or bacteria and, thus, still have that odor. Private parts smell bad. That’s the simple answer.
What Size Bully Stick Is Best For My Dog?
If you’re wondering “what size bully stick for my dog,” the larger the dog, the larger the stick. Large dogs should have thicker, longer bully sticks since they have bigger mouths. They also last longer as bigger dogs tend to chew through them faster. Small dogs need smaller-sized sticks to chew (but not too small; they might choke).
How Long Do Bully Sticks Last?
That depends on how aggressive a chewer your dog is and how interested they are in it. Typically, a good-quality bully stick will last at least a few hours of constant chewing, if not longer. Sometimes dogs will get bored and not want to finish a bully stick. But if you give them a new bone or toy and then put the half-chewed bully stick back in rotation, they might think it’s “new” again.
Dog Eating A Bully Stick (Video)
Want to see what a dog chewing a bully stick looks like? Watch this Husky chew and lick his bully stick — it’s almost therapeutic to observe.
Best Alternatives To Bully Sticks
Are you looking for a more traditional savory snack for your pup? You might try one of these bully stick alternatives or check out our best dog treats article. If your dog loves to chew, consider one of these indestructible dog toys or a subscription box for heavy chewers.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Sadie Cornelius has more than two decades of dog care and ownership experience, specializing in the care and companionship of her beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Over the years, she’s spent hours of extensive training, collaborating with multiple certified trainers across various settings, from in-home sessions to virtual private lessons to training academies and online courses. She uses positive reinforcement training to build a strong bond with her dogs, emphasizing encouragement and rewards for good behavior.
