Reviewed by Natural Farm Pet Team · Updated January 2026
Quick Answers for Dog Parents
- How many bully sticks can a dog have a week? A safe limit is 2 to 3 bully sticks per week. While they can have up to one per day, you must reduce their daily kibble to account for the extra protein and calories.
- How long should a dog chew on a bully stick? Limit beginner dogs to 5-10 minutes to prevent protein shock. Experienced chewers can safely gnaw for 30 to 60 minutes per session.
- When to take a bully stick away: Always take the stick away and throw it out when it reaches 2-3 inches in length to prevent a choking hazard or intestinal blockage.
Bully Sticks are a popular chewing treat for our four-legged friends because of their natural flavor profile and long-lasting ability to provide a positive outlet for chewing.
As delicious and nutritious as they are, it's important to pick the right size chew and know when to take away a bully stick.
📖 In This Article:
What Is a Bully Stick?
First, it's important to understand what a bully stick is. Unlike many other chews, they're made from a single ingredient, beef pizzle that won't splinter, making them easily digestible and generally a safer treat. And since beef is a complete source of amino acids, it supports your dog's muscles, brain, skin, and coat, making it a nutritious chew, too. Since Natural Farm's bully sticks are free of artificial chemicals, additives, and preservatives, they're perfect for dogs who have allergies or sensitivities. They even help clean your pup's teeth by scraping off plaque and scrubbing teeth clean!
Single Ingredient
100% beef pizzle — no chemicals, additives, or preservatives
Fully Digestible
Won't splinter — breaks down safely in your dog's stomach
Dental Cleaning
Scrapes plaque off teeth and scrubs them clean during chewing
Complete Amino Acids
Supports muscles, brain function, skin, and coat health
📖 Need a deeper dive? Before handing your dog a new chew, make sure you understand the differences between grass-fed and conventional sourcing. Read our Ultimate 2026 Bully Sticks Guide for a complete breakdown of nutrition, safety, and sizing.
How To Choose the Right Bully Stick
One of the most important things to remember with all chews, including bully sticks, is picking the right size bully stick for your pup. Bully sticks can range in size from 2- to 10-inch options depending on your pup's size and chewing capacity. Generally, chews like a bully stick should be larger than your dog's mouth and if there's any doubt, go with a larger size. Always remember that you know your dog best! So, make sure to take into consideration your dog's health, age, diet, and chew capacity before introducing a new treat.
Natural Farm has great bully stick options for dogs of every size. With different styles such as straight, braided, and even rings, you can find the right type for your dog's chewing capacity and size.
⚡ Golden Rule: When in doubt, size up. A bully stick should always be larger than your dog's mouth. It's always safer to go bigger than to risk a choking hazard with a stick that's too small.
When To Take a Bully Stick Away From Your Dog
For dogs that aren't accustomed to bully sticks, we recommend minimizing chewing time to five to ten minutes at first and increasing exposure gradually over around a week's time. Beef pizzle is exceptionally rich in protein, and if your dog isn't used to that, it can cause an upset stomach.
By limiting your dog's chewing time initially, it makes a bully stick a high-value treat and keeps them entertained and wanting more, instead of getting bored with too much time. Also, as a general guideline, we recommend allowing your dog to enjoy only one bully stick per day. It's important to always monitor your dog as they enjoy their treat to ensure they're chewing safely and properly.
When To Throw Away a Bully Stick
Even though bully sticks are easily digestible, one of the primary reasons it's an ideal treat for any dog, it's important to know when to throw away a bully stick. Once your dog's bully stick is small enough that it can be swallowed whole, it's time to toss it in the trash as those pieces can become a hazard. If a large chunk of the bully stick is swallowed, it can cause your dog to choke or create a gastrointestinal blockage. With any chew, supervision is key to understanding how aggressive your dog's chewing capacity is and how the treat is holding up.
⚠️ Safety Rule: Throw away any bully stick once it's been chewed down to 2-3 inches. If your dog can no longer hold it with their paws while chewing, it's too small. When in doubt, toss it out.
A good rule to follow is once your dog can no longer use their paws to hold their bully stick, they don't get it anymore. Before and after each chewing session, it's important to check the bully stick to ensure it's still an acceptable size chew for your dog to continue gnawing on. And if you have concerns about how small it's getting — that's likely a good indication of when to throw away a bully stick.
Bully Stick Holders: An Extra Layer of Safety
Furthermore, "bully stick holders" are devices that work to reduce the risk of your dog choking on the tail ends of their bully sticks, and we couldn't recommend investing in one enough! While Natural Farm does not make these, there are several on the market for you to explore, and they provide an added layer of safety for your pup as they chew.
💡 Pro Tip: Invest in a bully stick holder. It grips the end of the stick so your dog can safely chew down to the last inch without risk of swallowing the nub. Several great options are available on Amazon and at major pet retailers.
Storage & Contamination
You can rest assured that every single batch of products Natural Farm produces undergoes thorough lab testing to ensure their quality and safety prior to being released for distribution. However, dog owners should be aware that as soon as a package is opened, a product is handled, and dogs begin to chew on them, this opens them up to contamination. Keep an eye on your dog's treats, especially if they aren't chewed down quickly, to ensure they don't show signs of bacterial contamination over time.
If you're looking to figure out the best ways to store your dog's treats and chews to increase their longevity, be sure to check out our blog on the best methods for storing dog treats. And if bully sticks aren't your dog's cup of tea, view our best bully stick alternatives.
For dog parents who read labels
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many bully sticks can a dog have per week?
A safe limit is 2 to 3 bully sticks per week for most dogs. While dogs can technically have up to one per day, you need to reduce their regular kibble portions to account for the extra protein and calories. Bully sticks are calorie-dense (roughly 9-22 calories per inch), so they should be factored into your dog's total daily intake.
When should I take a bully stick away from my dog?
Take the bully stick away and throw it out once it's been chewed down to 2-3 inches in length. A simple test: if your dog can no longer hold the stick with their paws while chewing, it's too small and becomes a choking or blockage risk. For first-time chewers, also limit sessions to 5-10 minutes and increase gradually over a week.
Can bully sticks cause an upset stomach?
They can if introduced too quickly. Bully sticks are exceptionally rich in protein, and dogs that aren't used to that concentrated protein intake may experience digestive upset. Start with 5-10 minute chewing sessions and gradually increase over about a week. Once your dog's system adjusts, bully sticks are generally very easy on the stomach because they're fully digestible.
What size bully stick should I get for my dog?
The bully stick should always be larger than your dog's mouth — when in doubt, size up. For puppies, small breeds, and seniors, try Pixie or Thin Bully Sticks. For large breeds, go with Extra Thick or 12-inch Standard sticks. For aggressive chewers of any size, Braided Bully Sticks offer the longest chew time due to their woven structure.
Are bully sticks safe for puppies?
Bully sticks are recommended for dogs 6 months and older with their adult teeth. For puppies, choose softer options like Pixie Bully Sticks, which are made from the beef pizzle sheath and are gentler on developing teeth and jaws. Always supervise puppies with any chew, start with short sessions, and choose a stick that's appropriately sized for their mouth.
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About Natural Farm
Want to see what goes into making our treats? Watch how Natural Farm brings premium, all-natural dog chews from farm to your front door:
Natural Farm creates all-natural dog treats and chews that are farmed responsibly and crafted with care. The company's hormone-free, chemical-free products come from local suppliers of sustainable and ethically raised proteins and ingredients, and Natural Farm controls every step of production, including sourcing, lab testing, and packaging.
We're committed to pets, people, and the planet — giving back to communities, supporting reforestation, and packaging everything in recycled materials.
