A pizzle is the dried penis muscle of a male animal, sold as a single-ingredient dog chew. Bully sticks are bull pizzles, lamb pizzles come from sheep, and pork pizzles come from pigs. They chew differently and suit different dogs, so it pays to know which one you are buying or stocking.
"Pizzle" is an old English word for an animal's penis, most often a bull's. In the pet aisle it means one thing: a long, protein-rich chew made from that one muscle, cleaned and slowly dried until it is hard enough to keep a dog busy. No fillers, no glue, nothing added. That simple ingredient list is why pizzles sit next to rawhide alternatives on so many store shelves.
The three pizzles you will see
| Pizzle | Animal | What it looks like | Usually a good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bully sticks | Bull or steer (beef) | Straight sticks, thin to jumbo, 6 and 12 inch | Every size of dog; thickness sets chew time |
| Lamb pizzles | Sheep | Thin, curly sticks, about 6–9 inches | Small and medium dogs (about 15–40 lbs) |
| Pork pizzles | Pig | Often twisted or braided | Shoppers looking for a non-beef option |
Bully sticks: the pizzle most people know
When someone says "pizzle stick" in the US, they very often mean a bully stick. Beef pizzles are the largest of the three, so they come in the widest range of thicknesses, from thin sticks for small dogs to jumbo sticks for heavy chewers. See our guide Bully Sticks for Your Business: Which Size and Count to Buy First for how to choose sizes.
Lamb pizzles: smaller and lighter
Lamb pizzles are thinner and lighter than bully sticks, with a natural curl. Ours run 6–9 inches and are listed for small and medium dogs (about 15–40 lbs). They are a good choice for a smaller dog, or for a customer who wants a pizzle but not a full-size bully stick. We carry ValueBull Lamb Pizzle Sticks in 20, 40, 80 and 100 count bags, plus bulk packs of 120 and up, and a twisted version, ValueBull Pizzle Twists (Premium Lamb).
Pork pizzles: the twisted one
Pork pizzles are usually sold twisted or braided. They give shoppers who avoid beef another single-ingredient option.
Are pizzles safe for dogs?
Pizzles are single-ingredient chews with no added dyes, salt, preservatives, fillers or grains. Like any chew, give them with supervision and in moderation:
- Pick a size your dog cannot swallow whole. When a stick gets short enough to swallow, take it away.
- Keep fresh water nearby.
- Introduce any new chew slowly and watch how your dog does with it.
Selling pizzles in your store
Shoppers search for pizzles in many ways: "pizzle," "pizzle stick," "lamb pizzle," "bull pizzle," "pork pizzle." Many of them don't say which animal they want. A few habits help the sale:
- Name the animal on the label. "Lamb pizzle sticks" or "beef pizzle (bully stick)" answers the first question before a customer has to ask.
- Stock by dog size. Lamb pizzles for small and medium dogs, bully sticks in thin to jumbo for everyone else, covers most customers.
- Offer a count that matches how people buy. Small bags sell at the register; bulk packs suit multi-dog homes, groomers, trainers and daycares.
- Bag your own, or buy them ready to sell. If you repack chews for resale, our Resale Packs come pre-bagged in clear bags, and bully stick resale packs are ready for the shelf.
How to buy
- For your own dogs or a small business: buy bags or bulk pizzle packs right on ValuePetSupplies.com. Shipping is free, and code VPS15 takes 15% off (excludes wholesale packs).
- For a store or reseller: apply for a wholesale account for wholesale pricing on our natural chews, or browse our wholesale bully sticks.
Pizzle FAQ
Is a pizzle the same as a bully stick?
A bully stick is one kind of pizzle: the beef one. "Pizzle" covers the same chew from other animals too, such as lamb and pork.
What is a lamb pizzle?
A lamb pizzle is the dried pizzle of a sheep. It is thinner and lighter than a bully stick, which makes it a better fit for small and medium dogs.
Which pizzle should I start with?
For a small or medium dog, start with a 20 or 40 count bag of lamb pizzles. For a bigger dog or a strong chewer, start with a bully stick in the thickness that matches your dog's size.