What is the most cost-effective way for a K9 unit or animal control agency to buy dog chews and rewards? Buy rewards by the pound and chews by the count, in the largest pack your team will use in a month or two, because the cost per pound and per chew drops as the pack gets bigger. At today's prices on ValuePetSupplies.com, beef lung cubes run from $28.00 per pound in a 2-pound bag down to $17.20 per pound in a 10-pound bulk pack, with free shipping to US48 street addresses and no account needed.
Police K9 units, sheriff's offices and animal control shelters all go through a steady supply of dog rewards and chews. Handlers need small, easy-to-carry rewards for training days. Holding kennels need something for dogs to work on while they wait for an owner or an adoption. This guide covers what to buy for each job, what it costs today, and how to plan a monthly order on a public budget.
Which rewards make sense for K9 training days?
Handlers usually want a reward that is small, dry enough to carry in a pouch, and easy to break up. Single-ingredient beef lung fits that list. Here are today's prices on ValuePetSupplies.com. All ship free to US48 street addresses.
| Reward | Pack | Price | Cost per pound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef lung cubes | 2 pounds | $55.99 | $28.00 |
| Beef lung cubes | 4 pounds | $88.99 | $22.25 |
| Beef lung cubes | 6 pounds | $117.99 | $19.67 |
| Beef lung cubes | 10 pounds | $171.99 | $17.20 |
| Beef lung sticks | 20 pounds | $341.99 | $17.10 |
Cost per pound is the pack price divided by the weight, rounded to the cent. Cubes are ready to drop in a treat pouch. Sticks are longer pieces you can snap to the size your handlers like.
How much should a K9 unit order each month?
Start with the number of dogs, how many training days you run, and how much each dog gets per session. The numbers below are example numbers to show the math for a unit with 4 dogs, 12 training days a month, and about 4 ounces of rewards per dog per training day. That comes to 192 ounces, or 12 pounds a month.
| How you buy 12 pounds | Packs | Total cost | Cost per pound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bags only | 6 × 2-pound beef lung cubes | $335.94 | $28.00 |
| Two mid-size bags | 2 × 6-pound beef lung cubes | $235.98 | $19.67 |
| One bulk pack plus a top-up | 1 × 10-pound plus 1 × 2-pound beef lung cubes | $227.98 | $19.00 |
Buying the same 12 pounds in bigger bags saves about $108 a month in this example. Keep the bulk bag sealed in a cool, dry spot at the station, and refill smaller pouches for each shift.
What chews work for big working dogs off duty?
Most K9s are large, strong dogs, so off-duty chews should be thick and long enough for their size. Your handlers decide when a chew fits the dog's routine. Here are today's prices for larger chews.
| Chew | Pack | Price | Cost per chew |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef cheek slices, thick 4-6" | 120 count | $223.99 | $1.87 |
| Thick 6" bully sticks | 100 count | $339.99 | $3.40 |
| Beef trachea, 10-12" | 80 count | $289.99 | $3.62 |
| Braided bully sticks, thick 6" | 50 count | $199.99 | $4.00 |
| Beef cheek rolls, jumbo 5-6" | 50 count | $224.99 | $4.50 |
Cost per chew is the pack price divided by the count, rounded to the cent.
How should animal control stock chews for holding kennels?
Animal control kennels see every size of dog, often for short stays. A simple mix of small, medium and large sizes covers most dogs. The numbers below are example numbers to show the math for a facility holding about 30 dogs, with each dog getting a chew twice a week. That comes to roughly 260 chews a month, so each option buys 300.
| How you buy 300 chews | Packs | Total cost | Cost per chew |
|---|---|---|---|
| All thin bully sticks | 3 × thin 6" 100 count | $449.97 | $1.50 |
| All medium bully sticks | 3 × medium 6" 100 count | $647.94 | $2.16 |
| Small, medium and large mix | 1 × thin, 1 × medium, 1 × thick 6" 100 count | $705.96 | $2.35 |
| All odor free medium bully sticks | 3 × odor free medium 6" 100 count | $806.97 | $2.69 |
If smell matters in a closed kennel building or an office next door, our odor free bully sticks are an option at a higher cost per chew. Most in-stock orders ship from our Livingston, Tennessee warehouse the same business day, with typical delivery in 2-7 business days via USPS, FedEx or UPS, so reorder when you're down to about two weeks of chews.
What chew rules work for agencies?
A written routine helps every shift, handler and kennel worker do it the same way.
- Check with your vet first. Ask your agency's vet which dogs should skip certain chews or rewards, such as dogs on special diets or with food allergies, and how rewards fit each dog's daily feeding plan.
- Handlers decide for working dogs. Give K9 chews off duty, in the dog's own crate or kennel, on the handler's schedule.
- Match the size to the dog. Use thin sticks for small dogs and thick sticks, trachea or cheek rolls for large dogs.
- One dog, one chew, one space. Don't hand out chews in shared runs or play yards.
- Supervise and pick up. Watch chew time and remove small leftover ends when it's over.
- Mark the kennel card. Write "chews OK" or "no chews" so every shift knows at a glance.
Can chews help with adoption events and community days?
Yes. Animal control adoption events, K9 demos and community open houses are easy places to set out a few bags of chews, either as a welcome gift for adopters or for sale by a supporting foundation. Pre-bagged resale packs arrive ready to set out, so nobody has to bag anything. See our bully stick resale packs, collagen chew resale packs and yak cheese resale packs. If a foundation or shelter shop resells chews in volume, approved resellers get wholesale pricing and 400-count wholesale packs, with a $500 minimum order.
Frequently asked questions
Does a police department or animal control agency need an account to order bulk chews?
No. Anyone can buy bulk packs directly on ValuePetSupplies.com with no account, and shipping is free to US48 street addresses. If your agency has purchasing paperwork questions, call our Tennessee team at 800-825-8373 or email support@valuepetsupplies.com before you order.
How fast do bulk chew orders arrive?
Most in-stock orders ship the same business day from our 64,000 sq ft warehouse in Livingston, Tennessee. Typical delivery is 2-7 business days via USPS, FedEx or UPS.
Can our K9 foundation or shelter put its name on chew bags for events?
Yes. Our private label program offers custom printed labels or bags, palletized shipments, and exclusive pricing for high-volume buyers. Tell us about your plans on our private label page and our team will follow up.
Ready to stock up?
- Buy bulk direct, no account needed. Shop beef lung cubes in a 10-pound bulk pack for training rewards or thick bully sticks in a 100 count pack for big dogs, with free shipping to US48 street addresses. Use code VPS15 for 15% off sitewide, excludes wholesale.
- Running a shelter shop or foundation table? Shop pre-bagged resale packs, or apply for a wholesale account for wholesale pricing and 400-count wholesale packs ($500 minimum order).
- Want your department or foundation name on the bag? We offer custom printed labels or bags. Tell us about your private label plans.
Our take
K9 units and animal control agencies spend public money, so every dollar on rewards and chews should go as far as it can. Track how many pounds of rewards and how many chews you use for one month. Then buy that amount in the biggest packs you can store well, and you'll pay less per pound and per chew without changing what your dogs get.
— The ValuePetSupplies family, Livingston, TN
Questions?
Call our Tennessee team at 800-825-8373 or email support@valuepetsupplies.com. We've been helping pet businesses and organizations stock natural chews since 2004.