If your dog demolishes chews in minutes, you have probably looked at yak chews, the hard cheese bars often sold as "Himalayan dog chews". They have a reputation for lasting forever. Here is how they really compare with bully sticks, and how to get the most chewing time out of either.
What is a yak chew?
A yak chew is a traditional hard cheese: yak and/or cow milk is curdled, pressed, then smoked or air-dried for weeks until it is rock-hard. Ingredients are usually milk, salt and lime juice. A bully stick is dried beef pizzle, a single muscle protein. See What bully sticks are made of.
Which lasts longer?
Size for size, a yak chew usually lasts longer. It is much harder, so dogs wear it down slowly by gnawing and softening it with saliva. A bully stick softens faster and frays from the end. In our own testing with medium-sized dogs, a 6-inch thin bully stick lasted about 10–20 minutes, a 12-inch thick stick about an hour, and a 12-inch braid 90 minutes or more across several sessions.
But longer isn't automatically better. A chew that lasts because it barely gives under the teeth is also the kind vets warn can fracture teeth in strong chewers.
Side-by-side comparison
| Bully stick | Yak chew | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Beef pizzle (muscle) | Hardened cheese (yak/cow milk) |
| Hardness | Firm, softens as chewed | Very hard at first |
| Thumbnail test | Passes: you can dent it | Often fails when new |
| Lasts | Minutes to 90+ min, by thickness | Often longer for the same size |
| Smell | Low-odour when well dried | Very low |
| Digestibility | High | High; often lactose-reduced |
| Leftover end | Take away at about 5 cm | Take away; some brands suggest microwaving it into a puff |
| Best for | Most dogs, sized correctly | Gentle-to-moderate chewers who like to gnaw |
Kind to teeth?
Veterinary dentists use a simple rule of thumb: if you can't press a small dent into a chew with your thumbnail, it may be hard enough to fracture a tooth. A bully stick passes. A new yak chew often doesn't, so for dogs who crunch hard rather than gnaw, a bully stick is usually the safer long-lasting option. If your dog chews gently and patiently, a yak chew can be a good choice.
What lasts longer than a bully stick?
If you want more chewing time without moving to very hard chews, change the bully stick rather than the chew type:
- Go thicker, not longer. A thin 12-inch stick is still a thin stick. Thick and jumbo sticks wear down far more slowly.
- Go braided. Three strands woven together make our braided bully sticks the longest-lasting chew we sell.
- Use a holder. It stops gulping and lets your dog use more of each stick.
- Split sessions. End a session after 20–30 minutes, rinse and dry the stick, and give the rest tomorrow.
Calories
Both are calorie-dense. Bully sticks run about 9–22 kcal per inch, depending on thickness (Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2013). Yak chews are also rich, and because one bar can last days, the calories add up over the week. Keep all treats under about 10% of daily calories: see How many calories are in a bully stick?
Which should you choose?
- Power chewers and crunchers: a thick, jumbo or braided bully stick, supervised.
- Patient gnawers: either works; a yak chew may last longer.
- Puppies and seniors: a thinner bully stick that softens quickly. Skip very hard chews while adult teeth come in, and for dogs with sore teeth.
- Dogs with dairy sensitivity: a bully stick.
For the full safety picture, read Are bully sticks safe for dogs?, or compare more options in Choosing the right chew for your dog.
Sources
- Freeman LM, Janecko N, Weese JS. Nutritional and microbial analysis of bully sticks and survey of opinions about pet treats. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2013;54(1):50–54.
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Why bones are not safe for dogs.
