Author: Paul McGreevy, Professor, School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

In the wild, dogs spend a lot of their time chewing on bones, carcasses, sticks and kernels. For example, Australian dingoes can feed for up to 108 minutes in a single session. But most domestic dogs chew far less than their free-roaming counterparts. This is largely because of the introduction of easy-to-eat, processed pet foods such as kibble, which now comprises the majority of domestic dogs’ diet. This is a problem because although chewing carries some risks, overall it has significant benefits for dogs. As our new review, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, demonstrates, it enriches the physical, psychological…