I have received loads of pamphlets and handouts as a new puppy owner and was surprised at one I got from petplan.  there is a page of do's and don'ts in the booklet and the first don't is don't give a puppy hard bones or chews as it will damage their jaws.

Is this true?  What do raw feeders give pups?  surely they can't just survive on chicken wings and meat as pups?  If this is true, when is it acceptable to provide recreational bones to a pup?

It is amazing how much you forget when you are between puppies and how much of adult dog behaviour you take for granted.  I have way to much time on my hands at the moment, another week of puppy leave - yeeha!

My pupster is now 12 weeks old and has had bones to chew on for the last 3 weeks.Initially she found one of my adult Woos bones hidden behind the sofa which was as large as she was,and dragged it out into her crate and started to nibble it.Since then she has had a variety of bones from large beef bones to meaty pork ribs and has thoughly enjoyed them.She doesn't spend loads of time on chewing her bones maybe short sessions of 10 - 15 mins then she is off doing something else.I would not let her chew her bones for long periods of time.All my Woos have had bones with no problems.Just don't let them chew for very long periods of time.

thanks, that is really helpful.  Pups have such short attention spans anyway I couldn't imagine one sitting for hours like my adult does gnawing away at it.

I give mine raw marrow bones asap. Its funny to watch them, the bones are as big as them :)
liz