Important Note about Bones

Jones sells some of the most amazing bones for dogs that can be found. Our bones are 100% all natural, and 100% raised and produced in the USA. But I have an important note about bones, essential for you to know when treating your dogs.

Shank Bones are pretty amazing, but typically are good for small to medium sized dogs, or non-aggressive chewers. These bones are covered in meaty bits and baked to perfection. Literally. — Shank Bones are pretty amazing, but typically are good for small to medium sized dogs, or non-aggressive chewers. Jones sells a variety of shank bones. The exception is the beef shank, which is the sturdiest of ALL of their bones, great for dogs of all sizes, but PERFECT for large, aggressive chewers. These particular shank bones are covered in meaty bits and baked to perfection. Literally.

First, I need to tell you a little bit about the bones that Jones Natural Chews produces. It’s important in order to understand what comes next. First, Jones is a natural product, a real bone, usually from a cow, but occasionally from a lamb or pig. Real bones can splinter. ALL real bones have that potential, including a raw bone. This shouldn’t be a deterrent. It’s meant to say, know your dog’s chewing habits. Monitor your dog when it has a bone.

Anatolian mix with a Clean Knuckle bone from Jones — I was monitoring Delilah when she was chewing on this Knuckle. I couldn’t help it. She’s adorable.

Second, Jones chews bakes their bones in such a fashion as to produce the closest thing on the market to raw bones in terms of splintering, meaning they’re the least likely to splinter of all cooked and processed bones.

Boxer loves the Jones Top Crest — Baran the Boxer gnaws on a Top Crest bone. I love the Top Crest for sturdiness, durability. Jones marks all of their bones according to sturdiness. Bigger, hardier bones are marked Medium/Large. Smaller, softer bones are Small/Medium. This not only applies to dog size, but to chewing habits, as well as whether or not the bone will entirely fit into a dog’s mouth. For instance, the Knee Cap is one of the sturdiest bones, but some breeds could swallow it whole. Which would be bad. Aren’t you glad we label our product?

Third, the moisture content of Jones Natural Chews bones is absolutely perfect, always tested and monitored closely during baking. Perfect. And that’s essential with a baked bone. Too much moisture and you introduce or leave harmful bacteria. Too little moisture and the splintering factor rises, making the bones dangerous to your dog. Jones has been in the business of dog treats, particularly bones, for more than three decades, and they have this part dialed in.

Rat Terrier checks out the Shank Bone — Max agrees that the bones from Jones Natural Chews are perfect. He took this Beef Shank bone and disappeared. Well, he tried to, but I kept an eye on him until I knew how he handled the bone.

And that’s where the important note about bones comes into play. Here it is, followed by a story. Don’t reintroduce moisture into your Jones bones. I’ll tell you what I mean.

My boss was telling us about a person who gave their dogs bones, let them drag them all over the house and outside, then would put them in the dishwasher to clean them. People! Your clean house isn’t worth your dog’s health! Washing a bone from Jones, any bone, especially at those heat levels, will reintroduce moisture into the bone that shouldn’t be there. Things will possibly grow in that bone and harm your dog. Go get a new bone.

Meaty bits of goodness on a big ol' bone — Sugar will tell you to get a bone with meaty bits clinging to it. Your dog will really appreciate getting a new bone. Honest.

I talk to raw feeders about bones and they tell me that they throw bones away after the dogs have finished the initial chewing and moved on to something else. Raw feeders, better than most dog owners, I think, understand the danger of bacteria and germs with moisture content. The whole point of baking the bones is for safety. Feeding certain raw bones is great, but they’re not the kind of thing you leave lying around the house for days for the dogs to come back to.

OM NOM NOM — Jones bones ARE the kind of thing you can leave lying around the house for days. Chewy has been working on this L Bone for about a year. He loves his box of bones. But we don’t leave them outside in the rain. Those get thrown away.

One more thing – I tell people, sometimes, that with our stuffed or Center Bones, you can stuff them with a mix of pumpkin and plain yogurt, then freeze and treat. Technically, yes, this makes a great summer treat. But please make sure it’s the last time your dog gets this particular bone, since the moisture in the pumpkin and yogurt, coupled with the freezing, introduces moisture. Toss the bone once the mix is consumed, or within half an hour of thawing.

Determined little Dachshund — That whole thing about dogs, bones and size? This is a large bone and a small dog. Cosette can’t wrap her mouth entirely around the bone, but she sure as heck could drag it across the carpet and gnaw on it. Just know your dog.

So are Jones Natural Chews bones safe? Yes. As safe as any real bone can be for a dog, and safer than most. But like anything else in life and food, exercise caution and common sense. And for heaven’s sake, give your dog a bone! It’ll make your dog smile. Naturally.

Until I write again …

Flea

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