How to make sure yak chews are right for your pup
As yak cheese chews have become more and more popular with dogs of all sizes and ages, you may be wondering if yak chews would be a good choice for your own chew-loving aficionado.
Known and loved for their long-lasting chew time and simple ingredients, yak milk chews originated in the Himalayas and have quickly been embraced as the perfect treat for dogs everywhere. If you’ve been thinking about whether yak chews would be a soul-satisfying and safe match for your dog too, you’re in the right place.
We've been hearing from dog parents curious about our yak cheese chews, often asking the same questions. At the top of the list of the most common:
"Are yak chews too hard for my dog?"
Let's dive into answers to that and your other key questions:
- What yak chews are
- How yak chews help your dog's health overall -- including dental and mental health
- What to know as potential watch-outs
- How to maximize your dog's yak cheese chewing for your pup's dental health, mental stimulation, and overall calm
Your yak cheese questions answered...
What is the right yak cheese hardness for my dog?
Yak chews offer a unique option for dogs: they combine dental health benefits with the self-soothing chewing action dogs are hardwired for and a milky cheese taste dogs love.
They are intentionally created to be hard enough to last for a good long time (across several sessions of entertaining enrichment for most dogs) and to help clean teeth and reduce tartar.
The magical mechanism that makes yak chews work: they soften with your dog's saliva thanks to their all-natural ingredients. That means as your dog chews, your dog produces saliva, and in turn the yak chew softens enough to give your pup a pliable but dense chew, allowing your dog's teeth to move in and out, and providing almost a flossing action as your dog happily chews away.
All that makes the firmness level and gradual softening of yak chews just right for most dogs. Since yak chews have a degree of "give" to their texture, they can be a wonderful choice when other options like bones, cow hooves, or other hard chew toys are too unforgiving.
You are right though to pay attention to hardness and your individual dog! That's especially true if you have an extremely young puppy, a senior with loose or sensitive teeth, a super aggressive chewer who might bite off big chunks without gnawing first, or any-age dog who is currently showing signs of dental pain.
If any of those concerns sound like your dog, what to do? You can always pre-soften the yak chew a bit (or a lot) to get your dog off to a good start while you keep an eye on your dog's chewing style and progress.
How can I pre-soften a yak chew?
It's easy to give your dog a jump on healthy, saliva-softened chewing with a little pre-softening. Just place one end or all of the yak chew in a glass of hot water for a few minutes until it feels like the right degree of softness for your dog. As your dog chews safely on this pre-softened chew, the chewing action produces plenty of saliva to naturally keep the softening process going for your pup.
What can I do to keep the small endpiece safe for my dog?
With all fully edible chews, at some point, your dog is left with an endpiece that's small enough to risk swallowing whole and becoming a choking hazard if not taken away. What makes yak cheese endpieces different is you can easily turn them into yak cheese treats your dog can safely enjoy to every last bite!
Here's how to make yak milk chews into yak puffs:
Simply soak the endpiece in water, then microwave it for 45-60 seconds, and voilà! You have a yak milk puffy, crunchy treat for your pup!
What makes yak chews so good for dogs
Three big reasons are at the heart of why so many dog parents make yak chews part of their pups' regular chewing repertoire:
1) Dental health support
Chewing helps scrape away plaque and tartar, making yak chews a go-to option for improving oral hygiene in your dog. If you're among the many pet owners and their dogs who struggle with regular brushing (pretty much all of us!), yak chews are a happy addition to your oral health routine with their unique hard/softened chewing texture.
2) Long-lasting entertainment and enrichment
Yak chews give your dog hours of chew time, keeping your pup engaged, happy, and calm. Our dogs are hardwired to love chewing and instinctively use it to self-soothe. All the "feel-good" hormones in dogs' brains are released with the act of chewing to give our dogs both mental stimulation and relaxation.
When you give your dog a yak chew, you're literally, scientifically giving your dog hours of soul-satisfying chewing!
3) Natural and simple ingredients
Made with only three, all-natural ingredients, our yak chews are a healthful alternative to heavily processed and artificial chews.
Yak chews' 3 ingredients: yak/cow milk — with just a small amount of lime juice and salt to solidify the milk into a durable chew treat. They're naturally rich in protein and calcium for your pup. No chemicals, preservatives, or artificial anything.
Why all types of chewing need supervision
All chewing should be supervised for extra peace of mind while your dog joyfully chews away. It’s important to be aware of your dog's chewing style and potential hazards with all chews, from bones to bully sticks to yak chews.
When dogs chew down to smaller pieces, you want to avoid the risk of choking or digestive obstruction. That's especially true for larger breeds who might try to swallow chunks whole. With yak chews, you can jump in before the chew becomes too small and turn it into a cheese puff treat (simple details above).
Another watch-out is the possibility of dental injury. Aggressive chewers (whether puppies or adult dogs) can inadvertently crack or chip their teeth on anything too hard. This can lead to broken teeth or discomfort for your dog. Senior dogs can run similar risks with a too-hard chew. (That's why vets warn against giving dogs ice cubes as many dog owners can be inclined to do btw.)
A few practical pro tips to keep your favorite chewer happily chewing:
- Limit each chewing session to 15-30 minutes to avoid jaw overexertion or injury.
- Choose a chew size appropriate for your dog to avoid choking hazards. Look on our package for our guide to matching weight with chew size from small to monster sizes. When in doubt, always size up for a chew larger than your dog's mouth!
- Select and prepare chews based on these key markers: your dog’s size, age, and chewing habits to ensure your pup's safety and maximum enjoyment.
Give your dog good soul-satisfying yak chews (+ one to a shelter dog on us)!
All of us at Mighty Paw are here to help dogs live their fullest lives with you. And to support you in making the most of your life together, in adventures large and small.
That includes bringing you information and products like our yak chews for your pup's healthiest, happiest life by your side. And when you buy one of our yak chews for your dog, we give one to a shelter dog through our Chews for Change / Buy One, Give One program with our rescue partners. We know the benefits of yak chews help make all dogs happier and healthier... AND more adoptable!
We're committed to bringing you high-quality products that are safe, healthful, and practical for everything you need to keep your dog living the good life with you -- and to share them with shelter dogs on their way to their own forever good life.
