I thought pressed was better for a while too, but then I did some more research and discovered the problem with them. They are all made in Asia, mostly China, because they are made of water buffalo hide. You should never buy rawhide from outside the US because the chemicals they use are much less regulated. I had a conversation with the pet store owner where I get Maya's food when I asked if the pressed rawhide bones were made in the US. She told me never to believe anyone who told me it was because they don't make it here. She said she wouldn't give it to her dog b/c of the problems there have been with things made in China. She recommended some US rawhide, which I passed up because of my worries about blockage. I hate how hard it is to find things that dogs like that are safe. My pup has zero interest in Nylabones and only slightly more in antlers. She also swallowed a huge chunk of bully stick once, which freaked me out.