1. Backyard Bone Burying - Tree Attachment Setup

Best for

Backyards with a suitable mature tree or square/round timber post

Main problem solved

Dogs burying bones, dragging bones through dirt, or carrying dirty bones back inside

Primary setup

BoneZone® mounted to a tree using the Versatile Wall Mounts and heavy-duty straps

Best dog type

Small to large dogs, provided the tree and mount are suitable for the dog’s strength

Setup style

Semi-portable, non-permanent, no drilling required when using straps

Video

🎥 Add setup video link / icon here

BoneZone® alloy Clamp-Post / pole

Main vertical support for the jaw assembly

Versatile Wall Mounts

Hold the Clamp-Post securely against the tree

Heavy-duty straps with cam buckles

Wrap around the tree and secure the mounts without drilling

Plunger pin / height-locking pin

Sets and locks the working height

BoneZone® jaw assembly

Holds the bone, chew, or treat

BiteLock™ jaw insert, where suitable

Helps grip irregular bones or awkward shapes

Spill mats

Helps contain mess, drool, blood, crumbs, and bone fragments

Tree condition

Use a strong, mature, healthy tree. Avoid rotten, hollow, loose-barked, weak, or unstable trunks.

Trunk size

A trunk over roughly 100 mm diameter is generally easier to strap securely.

Ground surface

Choose a reasonably flat area where your dog can stand naturally.

Dog position

The dog should be able to chew without twisting its neck, crouching too low, or jumping upward.

Clearance

Make sure the dog cannot become tangled around the tree, straps, mount, chains/leads or nearby objects.

Supervision

BoneZone® is a controlled chew station, not an unsupervised feeding device.

1

Choose the tree

Select a healthy tree with enough clear trunk height to mount the system at your dog’s chewing level.

2

Position the complete assembled kit against the tree

Line up the assembled kit against the tree in a position that allows a full range of adjustability to suit the pets size.

3

Support the lower mount, then the upper mount

Place the lower Versatile Wall Mount against the trunk at the approximate lower support point for the Clamp-Post. Align the upper mount vertically above the lower mount so the Clamp-Post will sit straight.

4

Fit the straps

Run the straps through or around the mount points as designed, then wrap them around the tree trunk. Eyelet bolts can be installed in the side holes of the mount, and add hooks to the straps, in lieu of wrapping.

5

Tighten evenly

Tighten the cam buckles firmly. The mounts should not twist, slide, or rock when pulled by hand.

6

Set the height

Use the index plunger pin fixed to the lower jaw frame to set the jaw assembly at a comfortable chewing height for your dog.

7

Test before use

Pull the pole and jaw assembly firmly by hand. If anything shifts, retighten and realign before giving the dog a bone.

8

Add the bone

Load the bone into the jaws using the bone-loading instructions below.

1

Choose a suitable bone or chew

Use an appropriate bone, raw meaty bone, air-dried chew, or pet-safe chew suitable for your dog’s size, chewing style, and diet.

2

Find the best clamping point

Choose the thicker or more stable section of the bone. Avoid clamping only the thinnest, sharpest, or most brittle end.

3

Select the jaw face

Use the jaw face or BiteLock™ arrangement that gives the best grip without crushing the bone unnecessarily.

4

Place the bone into the jaws

Position the bone so your dog can chew naturally without hitting the tree, or biting too close to the clamp faces.

5

Tighten the jaws

Tighten until the bone is firmly held and cannot be easily pulled free by hand. Do not overtighten fragile bones. 

6

Check dog access

Your dog should be able to chew from a comfortable stance with all four feet on the ground and its neck/back in a natural posture.

7

Supervise the first session

Watch how your dog interacts with the setup. Adjust clamp, angle, or jaw position if needed.

8

Remove leftovers

Remove bone remnants when the session is finished, especially raw bones or anything that may spoil.

9

Clean the area

Wipe down the jaws, Clamp-Post, and any mess on the mat, BasePad, or surrounding ground. A bucket of warm soapy water and stiff nylon brush is great for cleaning clamp parts.

Supervision

Always supervise chewing, especially during the first few uses or with strong chewers.

Bone selection

Use bones and chews appropriate for your dog’s size, dental condition, diet, and chewing behaviour.

Tree protection

If leaving straps fitted for extended periods, check they are not damaging bark or holding moisture against the trunk.

Strap chewing

Do not allow dogs to chew the straps, buckles, mounts, or Clamp-Post.

Large power chewers

Very large or aggressive chewers may be better suited to a fixed post, wall mount, bolted base, or commercial-style installation.

Hygiene

Raw bones should be treated like raw meat. Clean the jaws and surrounding area after use.

The mounts slide down the tree

Trunk is too smooth, wet, tapered, or straps are not tight enough

Retighten the straps, reposition on a straighter section of trunk, add a non-slip protective pad, or choose a better tree.

The Clamp-Post rocks or twists

Upper and lower mounts are not aligned or straps are unevenly tightened

Realign both mounts vertically and tighten top and bottom straps evenly.

The dog can pull the bone loose

Bone is clamped on the wrong section, jaw face is not gripping well, or jaws are not tight enough

Reposition the bone, clamp on a thicker section, use a better jaw face/BiteLock™ arrangement, then retest by hand. Try to trap bones between two large ends to prevent slide-out.

The tree bark is being damaged

Straps are moving under load, too tight for long periods, or fitted to soft bark

Use protective padding, remove straps between sessions, choose a tougher tree, or use another mounting scenario.

The setup is messy underneath

Bone juices, marrow, drool, or fragments are falling to the ground

Add washable mat, tray, or designated ground-cover area under the chewing station.

The dog looks uncomfortable

Jaw height is too high, too low, or too close to the tree

Adjust the jaw to chest/shoulder-friendly height and create more clearance from the trunk.

The straps loosen after use

Bark compression, dog impact, vibration, or cam buckle settling

Check and retighten before, during, after every session. Temporary strap setups should be inspected regularly.