🛒 Benebone · Buying Guide
Benebone Buying Guide NZ: Sizes, Shapes & Flavours Explained
The Thorncombe Team · 8 min read · Benebone · Buying Guide · Size Guide · NZ
“The right Benebone for your dog depends on three things: size, chewing style, and flavour preference. Here’s exactly how to get all three right.”
Benebone makes genuinely excellent dog chews. But with five shapes, five flavours, and three sizes available in New Zealand, it can feel a bit overwhelming when you’re standing (or scrolling) trying to decide. This guide cuts through it.
We sell more Benebones than any other single chew brand at Thorncombe — so we’ve seen what works for which dogs, and we’ve put all of that into this guide.
Step 1: Get the size right
Quick answer
Always go larger when in doubt. A Benebone that’s too small is a choking hazard; one that’s too large is just harder to engage with. For power chewers (Staffies, Bulldogs, Rottweilers), always size up regardless of weight — bite force matters more than body weight.
This is the most important decision. A Benebone that’s too small is a safety risk — a determined chewer can get their jaws around it in a way that could become a choking hazard. A Benebone that’s too large is just harder to engage with. When in doubt, always go larger.
Benebone size guide — NZ
| Size | Weight range | Best for | NZ breed examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Up to ~11kg | Light to moderate chewers | Shih Tzu, Maltese, Miniature Schnauzer, Cavalier King Charles, small Toy Poodle, Dachshund, Pomeranian |
| Medium | 11–23kg | Moderate to keen chewers | Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Border Collie, Cocker Spaniel, Whippet, Beagle, Corgi, Jack Russell, Springer Spaniel, standard Schnauzer |
| Large | 23kg+ | Moderate to power chewers | Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Boxer, Dobermann, Husky, Ridgeback, large Staffie cross, Bulldog |
Important: size is a starting point, not a rule. A 20kg Staffie who chews with the jaw pressure of a freight train should be on a Large. A 25kg Golden Retriever who gently gnaws for twenty minutes should be fine on a Medium or Large. Know your dog’s chewing style, not just their weight.
Step 2: Choose the shape
Wishbone — the one most dogs should start with
The Wishbone is Benebone’s most popular shape and for good reason. The curved ends lift off the ground so your dog can get their paws around it — which makes chewing much more comfortable and engaging. Available in Bacon and Chicken. Start here if you’re not sure.
Benebone Wishbone — at a glance
Best for: Most dogs — start here · Flavours: Bacon, Chicken · Grip: Excellent paw-grip from curved ends · Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Fishbone — for fish-lovers and a more textured chew
Multiple ridges running along the spine create extra chewing surfaces. The flat base keeps it stable on the floor without your dog needing to hold it down. Infused with real jack salmon — perfect for fish-diet dogs or simply dogs who haven’t responded to meat-based chews.
Benebone Fishbone — at a glance
Best for: Fish-loving dogs, multi-surface chewers · Flavour: Jack Salmon · Stability: High — flat base · Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Maplestick — for the stick thief
If your dog raids the garden for sticks and branches, this is the safe version. Real maple wood flavour, elongated stick shape, lightweight enough to carry around. No splinter risk. Dogs who normally ignore toys often take to the Maplestick immediately because the shape and scent are already familiar to them.
Benebone Maplestick — at a glance
Best for: Stick-obsessed dogs · Flavour: Maple Wood · Shape: Elongated stick — easy to carry · Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Tripe Bone — for picky dogs who ignore everything else
Ergonomic shape. Intensely aromatic beef tripe flavour that most dogs find impossible to ignore. This is our recommendation when someone says “my dog turns their nose up at every chew we try.” The tripe scent is powerful (you may notice it — your dog will definitely notice it), and it changes the game for scent-driven dogs.
Benebone Tripe Bone — at a glance
Best for: Picky chewers, scent-motivated dogs, raw-fed dogs · Flavour: Beef Tripe · Scent: High to the dogs not you · Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Bacon Ring — shape variety for maintained interest
Same real bacon flavour as the Wishbone, in a ring shape. Easy to pick up, carry, and chew from any angle. The best reason to add this to your rotation: dogs who’ve had the Wishbone for a while often re-engage when given the Ring, because the new shape triggers fresh interest. Great for variety-seekers.
Benebone Bacon Ring — at a glance
Best for: Variety rotation, dogs who like to carry their toys · Flavour: Bacon · Engagement: High — multiple chew positions · Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Step 3: Pick the flavour
Benebone uses real food-grade ingredients infused throughout the nylon — not surface coatings. Here’s how to match flavour to your dog:
| Flavour | Shape | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Real Bacon | Wishbone + Bacon Ring | Most dogs — universally appealing starting point |
| Real Chicken | Wishbone | Chicken-motivated dogs, raw chicken diet dogs |
| Jack Salmon | Fishbone | Fish-based diet dogs, novel protein dogs, dogs who’ve tried everything else |
| Beef Tripe | Tripe Bone | Picky chewers, raw-fed dogs, highly scent-motivated dogs |
| Maple Wood | Maplestick | Stick-obsessed dogs, dogs who ignore all meat-based chews |
What about puppies?
Quick answer
Don’t put a puppy on an adult Benebone — the nylon is too hard for developing teeth. Benebone makes a dedicated puppy range in softer nylon, suitable for pups and small dogs under 14kg. Use the puppy range until around 6 months and a full set of adult teeth.
We carry two puppy-specific options:
- Puppy Bacon Chews — softer nylon wishbone chews with real bacon, designed for teething pups from around 3–4 months
- Puppy Maple & Bacon Pack — two mini chews (maplestick + wishbone) in one pack, two flavour experiences, ideal for discovering your pup’s preference
The rotation strategy
Here’s something worth knowing: dogs can become habituated to the same chew shape and lose interest over time. The most effective approach is rotation — keeping two or three different Benebone shapes and alternating them every few days. The new shape triggers fresh interest, and you get much better chew engagement long-term.
Our most popular starting combination for NZ dog owners: Wishbone Bacon + Fishbone Jack Salmon. Different shapes, different flavours, both available in all three sizes.
✅ Our verdict
Start with the Wishbone in bacon or chicken, sized for your dog’s weight (and go up if they’re a keen chewer). Add the Maplestick if they love garden sticks, the Tripe Bone if they’re picky, or the Fishbone for something different. Build a rotation of 2–3 chews and you’ll have a much more engaged, entertained dog.
Shop the full Benebone range NZ
All sizes, all shapes, all flavours — stocked at Thorncombe.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What size Benebone should I get for my dog?
Match Small (up to 11kg), Medium (11–23kg), or Large (23kg+) to your dog’s weight as a starting point. Always size up if your dog is a power chewer — Staffies, Bulldogs, and Rottweilers should be on Large even at lower weights.
Which Benebone flavour is best?
Bacon is the universal starting point — most dogs love it. Try chicken if your dog is chicken-motivated, jack salmon for fish-fed dogs, beef tripe for picky chewers, and maple for stick-obsessed dogs.
Can puppies use Benebones?
Not adult Benebones — the nylon is too hard for developing teeth. Use the dedicated Benebone puppy range (softer nylon, real bacon flavour) until around 6 months and a full set of adult teeth.
How long does a Benebone last?
Anywhere from weeks to several months depending on your dog’s chewing intensity. Power chewers work through them faster — rotation between 2–3 chews extends total life.
Should I have more than one Benebone?
Yes — rotation is the secret to long-term engagement. Two or three different shapes alternated every few days keeps interest fresh and prevents habituation. Wishbone Bacon + Fishbone Jack Salmon is the most popular combination.
When should I throw away a Benebone?
Replace any Benebone with deep gouges that expose the interior, cracking, pieces breaking off, or once it’s small enough to fit entirely inside your dog’s mouth. Supervise heavy chewers and inspect chews regularly.
📖 Also in this series
More Benebone NZ guides
→ Benebone vs Nylabone — Which is Right for Your Dog?→ Benebone vs Antlers — Which Chew is Safer?→ Best Benebone Chews for Staffies→ Best Chews for Aggressive Chewers NZ→ Best Chew Toys by Breed & Size — Benebone NZ GuideThe Thorncombe Team
Backed by dog people · Staffies, AmStaffs and Frenchies · Te Awamutu, Waikato