Coffee wood is the chew wood most dogs start with, and the product we get the most questions about. From when, which size, does it splinter, how long does it last. Here are the answers in one go.
What is coffee wood?
The wood of coffee shrubs. After about 20 years they no longer bear fruit and are replaced. The wood would otherwise be burned. It is densely grown, has a slightly sweet taste of its own and contains no caffeine. While chewing it frays instead of splintering. That is the whole difference to the stick from the woods, and it is decisive.
From what age can puppies have coffee wood?
From teething onwards, so from roughly the fourth month. Before that the milk teeth are too soft. During teething the gums itch, and a puppy then chews on everything it finds. A coffee wood in the smallest size redirects that. It massages the gums and helps the wobbly milk teeth out. Under supervision, like everything with a puppy, and replace it as soon as it becomes smaller than the mouth.
Which size for my dog?
The rule is simple: the wood must be longer than the mouth is wide, so the dog cannot take it crosswise and swallow it. Our coffee wood chew stick comes in four sizes.
- S: up to about 10 kilos, and for puppies.
- M: 10 to 20 kilos.
- L: 20 to 35 kilos.
- XL: from 35 kilos, and for all power chewers.
When in doubt, one size up. Too big is never a problem, too small is.
Does coffee wood splinter?
No, not in the sense of sharp splinters. While chewing, small, soft fibres come loose. The dog spits them out or digests them. You sometimes find them on the carpet, that is all. Still: once the wood has become so small that it fits completely into the mouth, replace it. And the first time, watch how your dog handles it.
How long does a coffee wood last?
That depends on the dog. A normal chewer needs two to four weeks for a wood of the right size. A power chewer takes it apart faster, then the next level is due: olive wood, then ebony, and as the hardest the chew root. Coffee wood has no expiry date and does not need to be refrigerated. If it gets dirty, rinse briefly, let it dry, done.
Is coffee wood good for the teeth?
Yes. While chewing, the wood rubs plaque off the teeth, similar to a coarse brush. It does not replace dental care for a dog that already has tartar, but it helps it not get that far in the first place. And it has no calories. For dogs that need to lose weight and still want to chew, that is the main reason to switch to wood at all.
Coffee wood as a toy
The chew stick is also available with a rope: coffee wood on a hemp rope and with a cotton rope. That is chew wood and tug toy in one, for dogs that prefer company while chewing.
All woods at a glance: chew woods and chew roots for dogs.
