How to Make Rawhide Dog Chews

Dogs like to chew. Chewing keeps their teeth clean, but is also pleasurable and relieves boredom. If you don't provide your dog with chew toys, chances are, they will adopt their own, and they always seem to choose your favorite pair of shoes. There are a variety of natural rawhide chew toys commercially available, but if you are interested in canine heath or are a leatherworker with cowhide remnants already lying around, creating rawhide chews takes only a few pieces of equipment, some time and patience.

Things You'll Need

  • USDA-approved (preferred) rawhide scraps
  • Knife for cutting rawhide
  • Large vat or cauldron
  • Water
  • Heat source
  • Old clean rags (optional)
  • Twine
  • Drying racks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the rawhide, if necessary, into strips approximately16 inches wide and 8 inches tall. If using irregular shaped scraps, cut the rawhide into pieces that can be rolled into a cylinder shape appropriate for your dog's size.

    • 2

      Fill the vat or cauldron with water and place over the heat source. Place the rawhide strips into the water.

    • 3

      Allow the strips to simmer on low for an hour or so, but do not boil. This simmering will clean off any residual fat, oil, dirt, grime or salt from the rawhide, as well as soften it so that you can roll the rawhide into cylindrical shapes for chewing.

    • 4

      Pull the rawhide pieces from the water carefully. They may be hot.

    • 5

      Wring out extra water from the rawhide pieces and pat dry as necessary.

    • 6

      Roll the clean, softened rawhide into cylinders and tie with twine to help them keep their shape.

    • 7

      Place the rawhide bundles on the drying racks and allow them to dry. This may take several days.