brookcove
Posted : 7/16/2006 10:46:45 AM
Break or gnaw? I'd be somewhat alarmed if a dog were able to actually crack off a sizable chunk of a beef bone (or other large ungulate). Not because of the dangers of swallowing, etc, (though I'd be nervous if the dog swallowed such a piece, too!) - but because of the potential for damage to teeth.
I listen to my dogs chew their recreational bones. If I hear, scrinch scrinch, scrinch, I'm cool. If I hear "CRACK!" - the bone goes bye-bye and that dog doesn't get that kind of bone again.
I think this also modifies the behavior over time because none of my older dogs will crack a hard bone now - not even my power chewer Maggie.