YAKERS Dog Chews and Crunchy Snacks review

Sometimes it’s hard to find the right treat for your pooch and it’s not always easy to know whether your dog's snacks are the healthiest or most practical choice. Thanks to our partners, Pets & Friends, we were sent some YAKERS Dog Chews and Crunchy Snacks to be reviewed by Animal Friends dogs, so you know whether you should give them a go for your pooch.

The canine critics

Let’s take a look at the lucky dogs who are ready to test the treats sent to us by Pets & Friends.

Catrin and Harley

Harley is a five-year-old Border Collie with an addiction to playing fetch. She’s super easy to please but hates all things fish. Her favourite things to do is… yep, you’ve guessed it… chase tennis balls. Or footballs. Or rugby balls.

Marvel, who’s only briefly mentioned below, is a ten-year-old Border Collie. The grumpy grandad of the house, he loves to take up the entire sofa, but nothing beats a good, slow, walk on the beach.  

Rebecca, Harri and Gertie

Harriett is a 2-year-old Chihuahua cross French Bulldog. She’s a high-maintenance, stubborn and sassy diva who craves attention and praise. She loves lazy mornings and crazy evenings, giving kisses and being wrapped up in her blanky. She is the biggest Chihuahua I’ve ever met with a personality to match and we wouldn’t change a thing!

Gertie is a 21-month-old Boston Terrier cross French Bulldog. She loves her food and tasty treats, but new toys are her favourite. She brings so much daily love and laughter to our family with her stinky little butt and chainsaw snoring ways. She loves to play and sit on your lap and hates dogs on the TV. She’s an absolute sweetheart and perfect counterpart to her sister Harriett.

Alexis and Indie

Indie (full name Indiana Bones), is a 5-year-old Bulldog cross. While weighing in at a hefty 48kg and having what most delivery drivers refer to as a 'I wouldn't mess with her' bark, Indie is a puppy at heart and loves all people and other pets. She loves her walks and meeting new faces, and is never one to turn down a tasty treat, but her absolute favourite thing to do is curl up on the sofa with her head on mummy's lap on weekend mornings while she drinks her tea.

YAKERS Dog Chew

Made from a mix of skimmed Yak and cow’s milk, YAKERS are healthy and tasty treat for dogs of all sizes. Gluten-free, long-lasting, and made with no preservatives these chews are rich in calcium and protein without adding any nasties!

Pros

• Long-lasting
• Non-smelly
• All-natural
• Different sizes

Cons

• Tough on teeth
• Can make a dog drooly while eating this snack
• The end piece can be dangerous if not watched

Price starting from: £2.99

Longevity 5/5

Catrin and Harley

Can’t fault YAKERS for its longevity. While it only took Harley a day to get through the chew, this is the longest she’s ever paid attention to anything like this. It’s such an added bonus that the small end pieces can be microwaved until they puff up, giving dogs an extra treat to enjoy at the end!

Rebecca, Harri and Gertie

YAKERS in the medium size last about a week in our house which is longer than any other treat we’ve tried!

Alexis and Indie

The YAKERS Dog Chew lasts for hours. Almost as good as a normal bone!

Enjoyment 5/5

Catrin and Harley

Harley seemed to enjoy the treat, working hard to soften it before she was rewarded with pieces to chew off. She came back to the YAKERS time and time again until there was not much left at all. Marvel, our older dog, would have a chew when he’d get the chance, too!

Rebecca, Harri and Gertie

Our two girls never seem to get bored of gnawing on the YAKERS chew, the only problem is they always want the one the other is eating!

Alexis and Indie

Indie was very happy to eat the YAKERS Dog Chew but lost a little interest in it over time, so I removed it and then gave it to her again on a later occasion.

Value for money 4/5

Catrin and Harley

We can’t fault the price. In fact, once we’d microwaved the end bit of the chew for the dogs to share an extra treat, I was straight online to buy a couple more. I think that it’s a fair price tag to help keep a fussy pooch entertained for a few hours.

Rebecca, Harri and Gertie

They are good value for money, but you need to shop around as one a week can get expensive especially when you have two dogs!

Alexis and Indie

The YAKERS Dog Chew aren’t cheap but because they last a long time, and they don’t upset my dog’s tummy, they are worth the extra pennies.

Final verdict 5/5

Catrin and Harley

Harley loved YAKERS! I wish we’d known about them sooner as they’re definitely something I would have bought to keep our dogs occupied during the day. Once microwaved, they’re easy to cut in half (with a serrated knife) to create even more treats! Overall, I see YAKERS becoming a favourite amongst my collies.

Rebecca, Harri and Gertie

I would buy YAKERS again but in the medium size. The small is too small for my girls and I found them to be a little more brittle than the bigger option.

Alexis and Indie

I’d buy a YAKERS when I need Indie to be entertained for longer periods of time, such as when I leave the home for an hour or more.

YAKERS Crunchy Strips

A substantial treat, the YAKERS Crunchy Strips are made with the same ingredients as the Chews and are just as low in fat, too! These natural dog treats are also rich in calcium and protein, helping keep your pooch happy and healthy.

Pros

• All-natural
• Seems yummy
• Different uses

Cons

• Sizes of treats vary
• Quite expensive
• Leaves a crumby mess

Price starting from: £5.99

Longevity 2/5

Catrin and Harley

The crunchy strips aren’t designed to last in the same way the YAKERS Dog Chews are, but they make a great quick treat for dogs of all sizes. The amount you get in a pack varies depending on the size of each strip, which makes it a nice surprise for your pooch when it comes to reward time.

Rebecca, Harri and Gertie

These treats, although clearly very tasty, do not last very long but it’s long enough to know they’ve had something exciting.         

Alexis and Indie

Indie is a big girl with a strong jaw, so she managed to get through a medium-sized Crunchy Strip within a minute or so – just enough time though to distract her while I started eating my own dinner!

Enjoyment 5/5

Catrin and Harley

Both dogs loved the strips, which wasn’t a big surprise considering they enjoyed the microwaved ends of the larger chews. They came looking for more as soon as they were done, so I think I’ve found another favourite!

Rebecca, Harri and Gertie

I don’t have to guess if my girls enjoy these. This is their newest favourite crunchy snack, and no doubt will bankrupt me and my husband over the course of their lives.

Alexis and Indie

Hardly touched the sides! Definitely a winner for Indie.

Value for money 3/5

Catrin and Harley

It’s a little more than we’d usually pay for a bag of treats but since we now know the brand and trust its tastiness, it’s something we’d buy in the future.

Rebecca, Harri and Gertie

I think these are slightly overpriced for the amount that you get in the bag but as the girls love them so much, I’ll have to keep buying them now they’re hooked.

Alexis and Indie

Purely because it didn’t take her long to get through it, I would say a 3/5. There were six sticks in the bag but ultimately, for the time it takes her to eat one versus the cost, I think the YAKERS Dog Chew is better for a larger dog.

Final verdict 4/5

Yakers Product Review from Animal Friends Insurance on Vimeo.

Catrin and Harley

Since they vary in size, each treat can be used for something different! From a reward for certain tricks to some tasty distractions when you’re headed out the door, we think these make great snacks. It’s an added bonus that they’re 100% natural and free from preservatives!

Rebecca, Harri and Gertie

We use these every day as after the humans have eaten dinner, the girls get an after-dinner treat. This is usually in the form of dental sticks or similar but after the success of YAKERS Crunchy Strips, we’ll have to add these to our regular shop!  

Alexis and Indie

A handy treat to keep your dog distracted for short to medium lengths of time. This would work well when out at a pub, you need to leave the house quickly, or when you are just sitting down for dinner.

Where to order your YAKERS

YAKERS Dog Chews and Crunchy Strips are available from a number of retailers but you can buy from our partners Pets & Friends here.