TL;DR: Some dogs settle by chewing, and some settle with a little help unwinding — and both kinds of outlet are having a moment. A plant-based, splinter-resistant chew gives heavy chewers something safe to gnaw, while a daily calming soft chew supports dogs that struggle with stress, especially as routines shift into winter. They do different jobs, suit different dogs, and neither replaces walks, training, or a vet visit for a genuinely anxious dog.
Chewing is one of the most natural calm-down behaviours a dog has — puppies soothe sore gums with it, adults release tension — and a dog left with nothing to chew will find something anyway: your shoes, the furniture, the skirting board.
Two chew products are showing up in current gift guides and trend reports. They are very different — one a chew toy, the other an edible supplement-style chew — so it is worth being clear about what each one is before you buy either.
1. BetterBone Plant-Based Chew — the Eco Chew for Heavy Chewers
A hypoallergenic, splinter-resistant chew made from plant-based materials. Featured in Modern Dog Magazine's November 2, 2026 holiday gift guide as the eco chew pick.
Why it stands out: two words — hypoallergenic and splinter-resistant. Many traditional chews are animal-derived (unsuited to dogs with protein sensitivities) or hard enough to splinter, the main safety worry with chews. A plant-based, splinter-resistant chew wears down gradually rather than breaking into sharp pieces.
Who it suits:
- Dogs with food sensitivities or allergies that rule out many animal-based chews.
- Heavy chewers that destroy soft toys in minutes but need something to gnaw.
- Owners looking for a plant-based or eco option among chew products.
How to introduce it:
- Offer it supervised for the first few sessions, and watch how your dog chews — steady gnawers need less watching than dogs that try to bite chunks off.
- Give it when your dog is already a little settled, not at peak excitement. A chew works best as a wind-down: after a walk, in the evening, or when your dog usually gets restless.
- Replace it once it wears down to a size your dog could swallow, or if it cracks or breaks — that rule applies to every chew.
2. PetLabCo NeuraBlend Calming Chews — the Daily Unwind Chew
A daily pork-flavoured soft chew with chamomile, ashwagandha, valerian root, and L-theanine, aimed at stress support. It launched in October 2026, as interest in calming products is clearly rising — November 2026 trend data reported searches for "calming chews" up 39% year over year, timed to the routine-disrupted winter months.
Why it stands out: it is a daily, food-based routine rather than a one-off fix. A soft chew eaten every day is easy to keep up, and the pork flavour means most dogs take it as a treat.
Who it suits:
- Dogs that get mildly stressed by routine changes: visitors, travel, fireworks, shorter winter days, or a busier household.
- Owners who want a simple daily habit rather than a situational product used only on stressful days.
An important framing note: this is a general product description, not veterinary advice. Calming chews are a wellness product, not a treatment for anxiety disorders. If your dog has serious anxiety — panic, destructive behaviour when left alone, self-harm, or a big behaviour change — talk to your vet or a qualified behaviourist first. If your dog is on medication, check with your vet before adding a calming chew, since herbal ingredients can interact with some medicines.
How to use it sensibly:
- Follow the product's feeding guidance for your dog's size, and count the chew toward daily calories.
- Give it consistently rather than expecting a single chew to transform a stressful day.
- Watch for stomach upset when starting any new edible product, and check with your vet if anything seems off.
Chew or Calm — or Both?
The two products solve different problems, and many dogs could reasonably use both at different times of day:
- A dog that is bored and restless usually needs the physical outlet first: a chew to gnaw, a walk, a game.
- A dog that is mildly stressed by change — visitors, fireworks, a disrupted winter routine — is the candidate for a calming chew in their daily routine.
- A dog that is both can have the calming chew in the morning and the physical chew as the evening wind-down. They are not competing products.
Neither product replaces the basics. An under-exercised, under-stimulated, or genuinely anxious dog will not be fixed by a chew of any kind. Chews are one tool in a bigger kit — walks, training, sniffing games, puzzle feeders, rest — and work best alongside them, not instead of them.
A Simple Chew Routine
- Morning: the daily calming chew with breakfast, if you use one — same time every day, so it becomes habit.
- After the main walk: a physical chew session of 15–30 minutes while your dog winds down — the best slot, since your dog is already a little tired.
- Evening: a second short chew session when your dog usually gets restless — the pre-dinner pacing hour, or the post-dinner zoomies window.
Keep chew sessions supervised at first and always for a new chew, and keep total chew time reasonable — hours of chewing can mean a sore jaw or an upset stomach, especially with edible chews.
Safety Notes
- Supervise new chews. Watch the first few sessions, and remove any chew that starts breaking off or your dog tries to swallow in chunks.
- Replace worn chews. A chew that has worn down small enough to swallow, or that has cracked or splintered, goes in the bin. No chew lasts forever.
- Match the chew to the chewer. A powerful chewer needs a tougher chew than a gentle gnawer; a small dog needs a smaller chew. If you are between sizes, size up — but still supervise.
- Check ingredients on anything edible. For calming chews, read the full ingredient list, check with your vet if your dog is on medication, and watch for stomach upset when starting.
- Count edible chews as food. Soft chews contain calories, and a daily chew adds up over a week. Subtract it from treats elsewhere in the day.
- Chewing is not a substitute for veterinary care. If your dog's restlessness, anxiety, or chewing behaviour changes suddenly, or if chewing seems compulsive, that is a vet conversation, not a shopping decision.
FAQ
Are plant-based chews safe for dogs with allergies? A hypoallergenic, plant-based chew avoids the animal proteins that trigger many food sensitivities. But "hypoallergenic" does not mean allergy-proof for every dog — check the full ingredient list against your dog's known sensitivities, and watch for any reaction at first.
Do calming chews actually work? It depends on the dog and the problem. For mild, situational stress — visitors, fireworks, routine changes — many owners report a daily calming chew takes the edge off. For serious anxiety, they are not a treatment on their own; a vet or behaviourist should be involved.
Can my dog have a calming chew every day? NeuraBlend is designed as a daily chew, and daily use is the intended pattern for products in this category. Follow the product's own guidance for your dog's size, count it toward daily calories, and check with your vet if your dog is on medication or has a health condition.
My dog destroys chews in minutes. Is a plant-based chew going to last? Splinter-resistant does not mean indestructible, and no chew survives every dog. If your dog is a power chewer, supervise closely and choose a chew rated for strong chewers — the safety question (does it break into sharp pieces?) matters more than how long it lasts.
Can puppies have these chews? For physical chews, use a size and hardness appropriate for a puppy's jaw, supervise closely, and let frozen or hard chews thaw slightly first. For calming chews, check the product's age guidance and talk to your vet first.
