Churpi chews come in sizes for the same reason dog collars do: a chihuahua and a labrador are not having the same experience. Get the size right and the chew is safer, lasts longer, and costs you less per hour of peace and quiet. Get it wrong and you've either bought a swallowing hazard or a very ambitious project.
Here's how to choose.
Why Size Matters
Two reasons. Safety first: a chew that's small relative to your dog's mouth can be swallowed in chunks, and even a fully digestible chew like churpi should be worked through slowly, not gulped. Value second: a chew matched to your dog's jaw strength lasts the way it's supposed to. A large dog will demolish a small chew quickly, so you end up paying more for less chewing time.
The chawpaw Size Chart
| size | weight | length | best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| small | 30 to 50g | 9 to 12 cm | dogs under 7kg |
| medium | 50 to 80g | 12 to 14 cm | dogs 7 to 15kg |
| large | 80 to 110g | 14 to 17 cm | dogs over 15kg |
Your dog's current weight is the only number you need. If you don't know it, the bathroom scale trick works: weigh yourself holding the dog, then without, and subtract.
Breed Examples
Small (under 7kg): chihuahuas, pomeranians, toy poodles, yorkshire terriers, maltese.
Medium (7 to 15kg): cavoodles, mini schnauzers, french bulldogs, border terriers, most spoodles. Our own head of quality control, Dorje, sits in this bracket.
Large (over 15kg): labradors, golden retrievers, staffies, german shepherds, kelpies, border collies.
Breeds are a starting point, not a rule. A hefty cavoodle and a petite one can sit either side of the 7kg line, which is why the scale beats the breed chart.
The Golden Rule: When in Doubt, Size Up
If your dog sits near the top of a weight bracket, or you know they take chewing seriously, go up a size. An oversized chew just takes longer to finish, which is exactly what you want. An undersized chew for a strong jaw gets worked down to a swallowable piece too fast.
The same logic applies to enthusiastic chewers of any size. A 6kg terrier with the jaw dedication of a dog twice its size deserves a medium.
Special Cases
Puppies: wait for adult teeth, then size by current weight. Full guidance in our puppy safety guide.
Senior dogs: churpi's layer-by-layer softening suits older jaws better than bone-hard chews like antler, but if your senior has dental issues, ask your vet first, and remember the puffed version is always the gentle option.
Multi-dog homes: one chew each, sized to each dog, and ideally in separate rooms. Chews rank high on the list of things dogs consider worth arguing about.
Quick Answers
Can my big dog have a small chew? Better not. It reaches swallowable size too quickly for a large mouth. Size up, always.
Can my small dog have a large chew? Yes. It'll just last gloriously long. The only real downside is the upfront price.
What do I do with the last piece? Take it away once it's small enough to swallow, then microwave it into a puff. Nothing wasted.
Buying regularly? Once you know your dog's size, the 3-packs cost less per chew and ship free.
The Bottom Line
Weigh your dog, read the chart, and round up if you're on the line. That's the whole science of it. Your dog handles the rest.