What dog chews should a daycare or boarding kennel stock? Most daycares and kennels need two kinds of chews: bulk chews to hand out during a stay, and pre-bagged chews to sell at the front desk. Buying the first in large counts lowers your cost per chew, and buying the second as resale packs means no bagging. Both can be ordered direct on ValuePetSupplies.com with no account needed.
Daycares and boarding kennels see the same owners over and over, at drop-off and pickup. That makes chews an easy fit: a paid add-on during a stay, and a small retail shelf by the checkout. This guide covers what to stock, how pack size changes your cost, how to set chew rules for a group setting, and what the retail math can look like.
How can a daycare or kennel make money with chews?
There are two simple ways, and many facilities do both.
- A chew add-on during the stay. Offer a chew as a line item on the boarding or daycare menu, the same way you might offer an extra walk or a bath. You buy chews in bulk and set your own add-on price.
- A retail shelf at the front desk. Owners are standing at your counter twice a day. A few bagged chews next to the register give them something to grab on the way out. Pre-bagged bully stick resale packs arrive ready to sell.
How much does pack size change your cost per chew?
For in-stay chews, buy the largest count you will use. Here are today's prices on ValuePetSupplies.com for our odor-free 6 inch bully sticks, with free shipping to US48 street addresses.
| Chew | Pack | Price | Cost per chew |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor-free medium 6" | 25 count | $82.99 | $3.32 |
| Odor-free medium 6" | 50 count | $148.99 | $2.98 |
| Odor-free medium 6" | 100 count | $268.99 | $2.69 |
| Odor-free medium 6" | 200 count | $374.99 | $1.87 |
| Odor-free thin 6" (small dogs) | 25 count | $49.99 | $2.00 |
| Odor-free thin 6" (small dogs) | 50 count | $89.99 | $1.80 |
| Odor-free thin 6" (small dogs) | 100 count | $168.99 | $1.69 |
| Odor-free thin 6" (small dogs) | 200 count | $299.99 | $1.50 |
Cost per chew is the pack price divided by the count, rounded to the cent. Keeping a thin size for small dogs and a medium size for everyone else covers most guests.
How many chews should a kennel order at a time?
Start with how many chews you hand out in a month. The usage below is example numbers to show the math for a facility that gives out about 150 medium chews a month. Count your own for a few weeks and plug in your number.
| How you buy 150 chews | Packs | Total cost | Cost per chew |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 count packs | 6 × 25 | $497.94 | $3.32 |
| 50 count packs | 3 × 50 | $446.97 | $2.98 |
| 100 + 50 count | 1 × 100, 1 × 50 | $417.98 | $2.79 |
| 200 count pack | 1 × 200 (50 carried into next month) | $374.99 | $1.87 |
In this example, one 200 count pack costs less than buying 150 chews in smaller packs and leaves you a head start on next month. 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 a week or two of chews.
What chew rules work in a group setting?
Chews in a group play room can cause squabbles, so most facilities keep chew time separate from play time. A few simple rules help:
- Ask first. Add a line to your intake form asking whether the owner allows chews, and note any foods the dog should not have.
- Give chews apart from the group. Hand them out in a dog's own run, crate or suite, not in shared play areas.
- Match the size to the dog. Use thin sticks for small dogs and medium or thicker sticks for larger dogs.
- Supervise and pick up. Have staff watch chew time and remove small leftover ends when it's over.
Write the rules down so every shift does it the same way.
What can a front-desk chew shelf earn?
Resale packs come pre-bagged, so you only need to price them and set them out. The shelf prices below are example numbers to show the math, not suggested retail prices.
| Resale pack | Pack price | Cost per bag | Example shelf price | Profit per bag | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thin 6" bully sticks, 80 bags of 5 | $399.99 | $5.00 | $10.99 | $5.99 | 55% |
| Medium 6" bully sticks, 80 bags of 5 | $518.98 | $6.49 | $12.99 | $6.50 | 50% |
| Medium 6" bully sticks, 40 bags of 10 | $518.98 | $12.97 | $24.99 | $12.02 | 48% |
| Thick 6" bully sticks, 80 bags of 5 | $839.99 | $10.50 | $19.99 | $9.49 | 47% |
Cost per bag is the pack price divided by the number of bags. Margin is (shelf price − cost) ÷ shelf price. You can also add collagen chew resale packs or yak cheese resale packs to give owners a second option.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a wholesale account to buy chews for my daycare or kennel?
No. Anyone can buy bulk packs and resale packs directly on ValuePetSupplies.com with no account. If you plan to resell chews in volume, approved resellers get wholesale pricing and 400-count wholesale packs, with a $500 minimum order.
What is the cheapest way for a kennel to buy bully sticks?
Buy the largest count you will use. At today's prices, our odor-free medium 6 inch bully sticks cost $3.32 each in a 25 count pack and $1.87 each in a 200 count pack, with free shipping to US48 street addresses.
Can I put my facility's name on the chews I sell?
Yes. Our private label program offers custom printed labels or bags, 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 odor-free medium bully sticks in a 200 count pack with free shipping to US48 street addresses. Use code VPS15 for 15% off sitewide, excludes wholesale.
- Selling chews at your front desk? Shop pre-bagged resale packs, or apply for a wholesale account for wholesale pricing and 400-count wholesale packs ($500 minimum order).
- Want your daycare's name on the bag? We offer custom printed labels or bags. Tell us about your private label plans.
Our take
A daycare or kennel already has the two things that make chews work: dogs in your care every day, and owners at your counter twice a day. Keep one thin and one medium chew in bulk for stays, write down simple chew rules, and put a few bagged chews by the register. Start small, track what moves, and reorder in bigger packs once you know your numbers.
— 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 stock natural chews since 2004.