What do you all use for a Rec bone (for bigger dogs, approx 80 pounds?) and Where do you find them? I have access to chicken backs and necks along with turkey but I am not sure where to find a large rec bone, or what to even ask for. ( I am a vegetarian, maybe that is the problem LOL)
Thanks in advance =D

My dog's favorite (he's about 95 pounds) is beef-rib bones, and we also use pieces of beef-leg bone.

He goes through the ribs on the faster side, so I watch him with them and take them away when they get small enough to choke on.

With the leg bones I remove most of the marrow because the fat makes him vomit, but I think most if not many dogs can handle it okay.

He got a ginormous piece of antler for Christmas that he LOVES, and it seems to be lasting a good long time.

Vader isn't quite that big (yet) but we use Merrick's huge meaty bone. You can find it online. It's the only bone we've found that lasts for days and doesn't splinter off into dangerous pieces. They are a little pricey at around 7.00 but he loves them and it keeps him busy.

Great! Thank you! I will def look into the Merrick. I wish we could get Antler around here. Can you get large beef ribs at a grocery store?

ETA: WOW how did I not know about the bully sticks and that website before? I will be making a big order asap! Thanks again!!

I noticed that the Merrick Sarge Meaty Bone on one the websites is a "smoked" one. Is that ok for older dogs; the smoked part I mean.

I wouldn't do a smoked bone - IMO it's still considered cooked and the molecular structure of the bone has changed.

Insert horror story here: Friends of mine breed working shepherds. When their female was pregnant with her first litter (and theirs) they gave her a smoked meaty bone. The dog broke off chuncks of the bone and ate it, but could not digest it. So then they had a very pregnant female (2 weeks before due date) and she had an intestinal blockage. They had to put her on a liquid diet (chicken broth and supplements) for 5 days to try and flush the blockage out. In the end it worked, but that was a hard lesson (and could have been worse).

So after that story, you can ask for knuckle bones, beef ribs, leg bones at the grocery store/butcher OR if you have any hunter friends I ask them to save me the leg bones and then each dog will get half a moose leg to knaw at....this usually lasts about 4-6 hours, its quite amazing to watch actually!

That's why I asked. I see the smoked bones all the time but I wasn't sure if they would be considered "cooked". Ok then, smoked bones are out and fresh bones *only* are in.

Beef rib bones are a hit with my dogs. I do get them at the grocery store. I cut them into individual pieces (one rib, plus meat). Then I freeze them. I hand them out frozen. I do supervise when they have them.

Thanks Melissa and Niomi! What about the bully sticks? Are those ok?

I go to the local Albertson's and smile, bat my eyes and remember the names of the butchers there. They get a few cow femurs a week to slice up for people to buy for soup bones. Since I ask regularly (and it took a few weeks for it to work) they always order an extra one for me now. I specifically ask for a "whole cow femur."

I give the femur whole as is or ask them to cut in half for me (or do it at home, but it takes a while) and give half at a time and keep the other half in the freezer. They get chewed on for a few hours, then put in the freezer for the next day. They last for about a week, then I toss them. They ONLY get fed in the crate or backyard 'cause they are messy!!!

Rib bones can work, but mine can splinter them fairly easily so I limit them and watch carefully...

Where are you located in Cali? I ask 'cause I have an antler if you are anywhere nearby (I regularly go from Paso to Ventura along the coast). If not, I have found them online, like e-bay, for fairly cheap as well as dog stores that sell them for a little more specifically for dogs...

ETA: Bullysticks are great for puppies or dogs that are not too serious about chewing, but a chewer will go through them pretty quickly. Mine love them, but I don't buy them because $20 worth of chewies are gone in less than 10 minutes...