Chris R.Customer review
★★★★★
“He really likes to get into everything and destroy stuff. This is the first product that has kept him occupied for long periods of time.”
Bought: Deer Antler Chew - Extra Large
For owners of big dogs that destroy everything
5 Things Owners of Big Dogs That Destroy Every Chew Learned the Hard Way
The “heavy-chewer” toy is gone in minutes. The bully sticks are gone by lunch. The toy basket is a graveyard, and the receipts add up. Here is what other owners of big dogs found, in their own words, and which dogs should never get an antler at all.
This page is for you if:
- Your dog weighs 45 pounds or more and has adult teeth
- “Long-chew” and “heavy-chewer” toys are gone in minutes
- You have spent a small fortune on bully sticks
- You tried an antler once and it came apart fast
4.6529 reviews
- Naturally shed
- Sourced in the USA
- Veteran-owned
Your Dog Didn't Beat Every Chew. It Beat Chews Made to Be Eaten or Torn.
Bully sticks and rawhide are food, so they are made to be eaten. Rubber and fabric give under teeth. When owners describe the same graveyard you have at home, they keep naming the one thing still in the pile: an antler.
“This antler was bigger than expected, and my 18 month old, 70 lb., super chewer Staffy still hasn’t put a dent in it. He’s destroyed everything else he got for Xmas but the antler persists!”
“He normally goes through 'long-chew' and 'heavy-chewer' toys and treats, literally, in a matter of minutes.”
An antler is naturally shed and has one ingredient. A dog that gnaws it shaves it down from the surface. That is the healthy way to use one, and it is why the next four points matter.
If Your Last Antler Came Apart in Hours, It Was Probably Split
A split antler is cut in half lengthwise. Our own FAQ puts it plainly: a split elk antler “exposes the marrow channel, so dogs often engage faster and consume it sooner than a whole antler of the same size.” A whole elk antler “keeps the outer shell intact and is usually slower to engage with.”
“Sally loves the whole elk antler but I don't think I will be buying the split antlers again because she was able to get it apart in a couple of hours. I will be buying the whole antlers again though.”
“As he was working on it, sharp pieces began breaking off the thin outer edges. I had to take it away from him right away so he wouldn't swallow or choke on the shards. … I'll definitely need to stick exclusively to whole elk antlers for him”
Whole is not risk-free. Keeping the outer shell intact changes how fast a dog gets into the antler. It does not make any antler safe. Whatever the cut, take it away if it develops a sharp edge or crack.
The Pet Store Antler Was Probably Sized for a Smaller Dog
We size every antler by your dog's weight: Large for 45 to 65 pounds, Extra Large for 65 to 85 pounds, and Giant for 85 pounds and up. Weight is the starting point. Then check the mouth. Our FAQ says to “choose a piece too large to swallow,” and adds: “A larger antler does not remove tooth-fracture risk.”
“Finally a large enough Antler for my large dog! Thank you!”
“I started to become irritated spending $20+ and receiving pencil-thin antlers from our previous supplier.”
Between two sizes? Size up, not down. If your dog could take the whole piece into its mouth, it is too small. For dogs over 85 pounds, this page offers the Giant deer antler at $39.99, because the Giant whole elk is $64.99.
Which size fits your dog?
Pick by weightOwners Who Called It Spendy Counted What They Used to Spend
An Extra Large whole elk antler is $39.99. That is a lot for one chew, and owners say so. Then they compare it with the pile.
“Thought it was kind of spendy but realized it last alot longer than any other of her chews.”
“I had reservations due to the price, but after spending a small fortune on bully sticks I decided to take the chance.”
We won't promise a number of weeks. Every antler is different, and so is every dog. What we can do is bring the price down. Subscribe & save takes 20% off your first order, so the Extra Large whole elk is $31.99. Each refill after that is 10% off, or $35.99, delivered every 1, 2 or 3 months.
Gnawer or Cruncher? An Antler Suits Only One of Them
This is the part most antler pages leave out. Antlers are very hard. Our own FAQ says: “Veterinary dental guidance warns that hard chews, including antlers, can fracture teeth.” A dog that gnaws and shaves an antler down is using it the way it is meant to be used. A dog that bites down hard to crack it is not.
Skip the antler if your dog is one of these
Heartland Antlers does not recommend antlers for:
- Puppies with developing teeth
- Senior dogs with worn teeth
- Dogs with existing dental damage or a prior tooth fracture
- Dogs that bite down forcefully with their back teeth
Ask your veterinarian if you are unsure.
Every session: supervise. Retire an antler when it becomes small enough to fit fully in your dog's mouth, develops a sharp edge or crack, becomes loose, or sheds pieces your dog is swallowing rather than shaving from the surface.
And some dogs just aren't interested. One verified buyer wrote: “My golden retriever had no use for it.”
Pick Your Dog's Size
1 · Your dog's weight
2 · How to buy
ContinueShipping is calculated at checkout. Antlers are hard chews and can fracture teeth. Skip them for the dogs listed in point 5.
Big Chewers, in Their Owners' Words
Each card shows the antler that owner bought. Check your own dog's weight and mouth fit before you pick.
Ad A.Customer review
★★★★★
“He carry’s this antler from the kitchen, to the living room, to upstairs... where ever he goes, this antler goes.”
Bought: Whole Elk Antler Chew - Extra Large
K. B.Customer review
★★★★★
“… it is probably the best thing we have gotten her to chew on and she really seems to love it!”
Bought: Whole Elk Antler Chew - Extra Large
Donna F.Customer review
★★★★★
“When we adopted our one year old cane corso (95lbs) from the shelter, she chewed on everything… She loves the antler and carries it everywhere.”
Bought: Whole Elk Antler Chew - Extra Large
My H.Customer review
★★★★★
“My family has three large breed dogs; a German Shepherd, a Great Dane, & Golden Retriever. … We love that you can select the size you want to order so that you don't have a bone too small & risk your dog being able to swallow it.”
Bought: Whole Elk Antler Chew - Extra Large
That G.Customer review
★★★★★
“… these are THICK and she loves it. One day in and she has barely made a dent with hours of chewing.”
Bought: Whole Elk Antler Chew - Extra Large
Questions Owners Ask
Can an antler crack my dog's tooth?
Yes. Veterinary dental guidance warns that hard chews, including antlers, can fracture teeth. Swallowed pieces can also cause choking or gastrointestinal obstruction. Supervision reduces some risks but does not make a hard chew risk-free. If your dog bites down forcefully with its back teeth, skip antlers at any size, and ask your veterinarian if you are unsure.
How long will it last?
It depends on the dog and the piece, and we don't promise a number. Antlers are a natural product. Owners in our reviews report anything from half a day to almost a year. Our return policy covers items returned within 30 days, unused and in their original packaging, so a chewed antler can't be returned. Questions: info@heartlandantlers.com.
Whole or split for a dog that destroys everything?
Whole. A split antler exposes the marrow channel, so dogs often get into it faster and finish it sooner than a whole antler of the same size. Owners of heavy chewers in our reviews moved from split to whole for that reason. Whole still isn't risk-free.
My dog is between two sizes. Which one?
Size up. Weight is the starting point: Large for 45 to 65 pounds, Extra Large for 65 to 85 pounds, Giant for 85 pounds and up. Then check mouth fit and choose a piece too large to swallow. A larger antler does not remove tooth-fracture risk.
Why is the Giant on this page deer, not elk?
Price. The Giant deer antler is $39.99, and the Giant whole elk is $64.99. Both are whole antlers. If you want the Giant whole elk, it is on our store.
How does Subscribe & save work?
Your first order is 20% off. Every refill after that is 10% off, delivered every 1, 2 or 3 months, whichever you pick above. For the Extra Large whole elk, that is $31.99 first, then $35.99 per refill. Questions about your subscription: info@heartlandantlers.com.
Shipping
Orders are processed within 2 to 3 business days. Shipping is calculated at checkout.