🐾 Breed Guide · Benebone Size Guide

Best Chew Toys by Breed & Size: The Benebone NZ Guide

The Thorncombe Team · 9 min read · Breed Guide · Size Guide · Benebone · NZ Dogs

“Every dog chews differently. A Whippet chews like a Whippet. A Rottweiler chews like a Rottweiler. Here’s the guide that bridges breed, size, and chewing style.”

Benebone comes in three sizes in New Zealand — Small, Medium, and Large — and choosing correctly matters for safety and satisfaction. Too small is a hazard. Too large, and some dogs struggle to engage properly. But weight alone doesn’t tell the full story: a 20kg Staffie and a 20kg Whippet have completely different bite mechanics and chewing intensity.

This guide gives you both: the size framework, and specific recommendations for some of New Zealand’s most popular breeds.

The Benebone size guide — NZ

Important sizing note: Benebone recommends sizing up if your dog is a particularly strong or keen chewer, regardless of weight. A 20kg Staffie or Bulldog should be on Large. A 25kg gentle Labrador might be fine on Medium or Large. When in doubt — and especially for Staffies, Bulldogs, and any power-chewer breed — go Large.

By breed — specific recommendations

🐶 Labrador Retriever — Large

Labs are enthusiastic, mouthy dogs who chew for fun rather than necessity. They’re usually medium-intensity chewers — not power chewers, but consistent ones who’ll work a chew for a long time. The Wishbone Bacon is the classic Lab starter. Labs are food-motivated almost universally, so any bacon or chicken flavoured Benebone will hold attention well.

🐾 Staffordshire Bull Terrier — Large

Staffies are the power chewer’s power chewer. Short, wide jaws, high bite force, and an absolute compulsion to chew that never really goes away. Always Large for an adult Staffie, regardless of their weight. Start with the Wishbone Bacon and add the Tripe Bone when you want maximum engagement.

🐕 Border Collie — Medium

Border Collies chew for mental stimulation more than instinct — they need something to do with that brain. The Maplestick is a surprisingly good fit because Collies are often stick-obsessed (they love to carry things). The Fishbone’s multiple ridges also keep a Collie engaged longer than simpler shapes. Medium for most Borders.

🐕🦺 German Shepherd — Large

GSDs are moderate-to-heavy chewers who chew with purpose — often as a form of anxiety management or outlet for working drive. The Tripe Bone resonates strongly with Shepherds who are scent-driven (which is most of them). The Wishbone Bacon is the reliable all-rounder. Always Large for an adult GSD.

🦴 Bulldog / French Bulldog — Medium or Large

Brachycephalic breeds have a very different bite geometry — the underbite means they chew more to the side than straight on. The Wishbone works well because they can approach it from multiple angles. Don’t underestimate a Frenchie’s jaw strength — many Frenchie owners are surprised. Medium for Frenchies, Large for English Bulldogs.

🐩 Golden Retriever — Large

Golden Retrievers are often gentler chewers than their size suggests — they’re “soft-mouthed” dogs by breeding. But they still love to chew, and the Wishbone Chicken is a natural fit given that many Goldens are strongly chicken-motivated. Large for an adult Golden, and the Maplestick is often a hit because Goldens love to carry things.

🐕 Beagle — Medium

Beagles are scent-hounds and absolutely food and scent-motivated. The Tripe Bone is an excellent choice for Beagles specifically — the beef tripe scent appeals deeply to nose-driven dogs. The Wishbone Bacon is the reliable fallback. Medium for most Beagles. Beagles often lose interest in chews when the surface scent fades — Benebone’s internal flavour is a genuine advantage.

🐕 Rottweiler — Large

Rottweilers have serious jaw strength and often chew with heavy sustained pressure. Large is essential. The Tripe Bone and Wishbone Bacon are both excellent. Monitor chew wear carefully — a Rottweiler can work through a Benebone faster than lighter breeds, and knowing when to replace is important.

🐾 Whippet / Greyhound — Medium

Sighthounds are not naturally heavy chewers, but they do benefit from having something to chew — it helps manage the anxiety that many greyhounds and Whippets carry. The Maplestick is ideal because it’s lightweight, easy to carry around, and the softer engagement suits their chewing style. Medium for most Whippets, could be Small for very dainty ones.

🐶 Small breed dogs (Maltese, Shih Tzu, Cavalier, etc.) — Small

Small breeds often go neglected in the chew toy category because most brands focus on medium-to-large dogs. The Small Benebone range is genuinely well-designed for little dogs — it’s not just a scaled-down version. The Wishbone Bacon Small and the Puppy Bacon Chews (for small adults who are gentle chewers) are both good fits. If your small dog is a surprisingly keen chewer, size up to Medium.

Quick reference — breed to size & pick