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Showing posts with label REVIEWS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label REVIEWS. Show all posts

Loyalty Pet Treats for Dogs - Review

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We all know that our pets live longer through the food we feed them. These Aussie made pet treats are manufactured on the Sunshine Coast to the highest standards with no compromise on the product’s composition or its quality!

Tired of seeing only highly processed dog treats on supermarket shelves as your only option during grocery shopping? You can never be entirely sure of what is in them or where they were manufactured but when you're in a hurry, you may occasionally grab a pack hoping for the best (until the next food recall that is...).

There is a perception that buying all natural human-grade pet treats is expensive and certainly when we visit dog markets and events, we sometimes find that pricing does not reflect what is in the pack…

What is different about the Loyalty Pet Treats range?

The owners of Loyalty Pet Treats are passionate about supporting healthy food choices for all pets and real hands-on manufacturers, not simply marketers whose product is made by someone else and branded under another name. 

They can guarantee all pet treats they sell are manufactured by them - and assure you of its composition and quality!

Loyalty Pet Treats is also the only pet treat manufacturing company in the world using a unique exclusive advanced dehydration technology, following HACCP principles and Safe Food Queensland standards.

Using refrigeration, coupled with their patented Nutrieseal™ system, they dehydrate pure lean meat at low humidity and low temperatures to produce premium quality treats every time. The Nutrieseal™ system is designed for dehydrating food products and seal in the flavours, not just for meats but also in fish, poultry, vegetables and fruit.

The result is a diverse range of low-fat, nutrient dense treats full of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals. Though primarily aimed at dogs, all these treats can also be eaten by cats and even ferrets!

The extensive Loyalty Pet Treats range

Only a sample of the many varieties of Loyalty Pet Treats - what shall I have first?
There are dozens of treats to choose from - including beef, pork, lamb, poultry, seafood etc. - so even if your dog is allergic to one or more proteins, you can still find something healthy to wet his/her appetite! We were excited to come across some new and original combinations in addition to the traditional jerky and liver treats normally used for training.

1. Tasty Trainers Pure Beef

Tasty Trainers Pure Beef are made from Queensland premium beef with nothing added. Our dogs loved the pleasant natural smell so this easily became a one bite treat for a special reward and yes, this is a high value treat that commands their full attention!

2. Tasty Trainers Reef & Beef
With a low fat content of only 6%, Tasty Trainers Reef & Beef are a nutritional and healthy treat. 
As a training tool, both treats are very easy to break into small pieces and easy to keep in your treat bag or pocket without leaving you with greasy fingers..

3. Chicken Nibbles
These 100% Australian Chicken Breast Jerky were only 2.1% fat, both suitable for dogs and cats. These chicken treats are made with “human grade” quality breast meat!

Aramis has her eyes on a Quackal Duck Liver Treat
4. Quackals Pure Duck Liver
This treat is best saved for the fussy cat or (or hard to train) dog. As with all these treats, the Nutrieseal TM process intensifies the natural aromas of the duck liver and even the fussiest pet will not be able to resist this treat!

5. Lamb Morsels
These Lamb Liver Morsels are thin and crispy using only Australian grass fed lamb. 
These liver treats are easy to break and perfect for pets with sensitive tummies, food allergies and skin conditions. 
6. Flivers 
Fliver is 100% pure Australian natural fish and liver with no binding agents, no additives, no preservatives. Mouth-watering for your pet and one of our dog's favourites! Very easy to break into small pieces for training, but a crunchy chewy treat if fed in a large piece.

7. Seafood Gems
The most common benefit of consuming green lipped mussels is the high concentration of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. Studies have also showed it was an effective treatment for chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs.

Now if you're after value for money for your pooches, we would also highly recommend the following treats...

8. Chewy Roo treats 
These are made of 100% pure kangaroo meat and the company’s best sellers. Our dogs clearly agreed as these were the first to go! The texture of these long roo strips will help scratch off dental plaque residues and assist in preventing the build-up of tartar. It was great fun watching them tearing off long strips as some pieces were quite large so this treat may be best suited to the medium/large dog breeds and active chewers.

9. Duck wings are aromatic (no off-putting processed smells here) and definitely the drool making treats! As they are flight bones, these are softer and suitable even for an older pet with worn teeth, so our senior dog could happily partake! 

They're a great chew for the gums and teeth with the added benefits of being a delicious, healthy and nutritional snack. A digestible longer lasting treat - though with Malinois every morsel tends to be inhaled rather than chewed!

 What We Really Liked

We did appreciate the effort that has gone into designing some colourful modern packaging which clearly labels all the ingredients, nutritional value and exact weight in each pack and also lets you see what's inside when you turn them over...

Most varieties are available in larger size packs which are more economical if you have larger dogs or a multi-dog household. Many treats are available starting from 100g all the way up to a 1kg bag depending on the flavours.

Despite the fact that there are no preservatives, additives, or binding agents all these treats will last 12-15 months if kept dry (no need to refrigerate) so our recommendation would be to get samples of each variety to mitigate postage costs if you're interstate.

Price & Where to Buy

RRP: from $5.72 (100g Lamb Liver Morsels); $9.02 (100g Fliver); $27.55 (500g Chewy Roo); $56.63 (500g green-lipped mussels) but there are dozens of varieties and pack sizes available.

For more information and to order (delivery is available nationwide), please visit www.loyaltypettreats.com.au

Disclaimer: Product gifted by Loyalty Pet Treats for the purpose of this review

Waggly Club Dog Subscription Box - Review

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We all love to plan something special for our best friends. The joy and excitement on our dogs' faces from even the smallest of surprises really is indescribable. 

With the fourth birthday of our twin Malinois on the horizon, we decided to contact the Waggly Club to trial their monthly subscription box. They exceeeded our expectations by despatching not just their standard monthly subscription box but also their latest offering for active chewers after we alerted the team to the "special needs" of our Maligators.  

Unfortunately, when busy with work and other commitments we often don’t have the time to shop and treat them as much as we would like. This is why pet subscription boxes - a specially curated box of goodies delivered to your door each and every month - are increasingly popular!

WHAT IS THE WAGGLY CLUB BOX?

Waggly Club is a monthly pet subscription box filled with high-quality dog toys and treats delivered to your door. The contents change every month to keep things exciting for your dog and you! If you're new to this whole concept, it means that by subscribing to any of the plans, you’ll receive a new box of dog toys and treats delivered to your door, similar to a magazine subscription.

WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Prices vary depending on how long you subscribe for. The monthly option is for those who don’t want any commitment, extending out to three- and six-month subscriptions which are cheapest per box. All subscriptions can be cancelled easily and at any time however please note that will go through until the end of your commitment so think about you're most comfortable with...

Waggly Club also offer ‘one off’ boxes which have no subscription at all. These are great as gifts for friends and family or an occasional treat for your pooch. 

WHAT WAS IN OUR WAGGLY BOX THIS MONTH?

With the standard subscription box, you can expect to receive each month 2 to 3 dog toys and 1 or 2 lots of healthy and tasty treats (4 to 6 items in total, tailored to the size of your pooch).

Dog toys included are selected from reputable, safe brands, such as Kong, Outward Hound, Zippy Paws, Fuzzyard etc. The treats are usually low fat, high-value treats (jerky, liver etc.) which are great as a training aid to reward your dog.

Aramis takes her job as chief taster very seriously and took time to inspect every item in this box with great care!
In our Game Day Box we found three dog toys from NERF Dog including a colourful Nerf Blaster - a standard tennis ball; a Nerf Crunchable  - a larger ball made of rubber outer with a crinkle interior and low volume squeaker. 

We liked the fact it was light enough to be tossed around the house without breaking anything but could be used outdoors too: we gave it a quick rinse under water each time to wash off all the dirt! Sadly the Crunchable was put to the test very quickly and its stitches came apart after only a few days but then again, our dogs are not average chewers...

Also included was the Nerf Trackshot, a larger and more durable plush dog toy in bright yellow/blue which also comes with a squeaker.

The stitching is three times stronger than in a standard plush in this specialty line however it would not survive a tug-of-war between our Malinois so we opted to gift this one to our our senior dog Conner who's now (a little...) more gentle with his toys!

All toys were bright and colourful but from our perspective, it would have been nice to sample a mix of brands rather than three of the same...

However what our dogs showed the most interest in were the dog treats with an interesting combination of "surf and turf".

As is now the case with most subscription box providers, the Waggly Club procure their own range of treats and our dogs first sampled their Shark Cartilage treats - dehydrated to lock in the nutrients, with no preservatives or additives. To their utmost delight, these were extremely odorous and deliciously crunchy under tooth and the first ones were devoured within seconds!

The Cow Hoof filled with a natural, grain-free kangaroo filling constitutes a great healthy treat to leave in the morning, as this should keep your dog occupied for a while.

With three very determined woofers and one in particular prone to resource guarding, we decided not to put this treat out to tender to tempt fate...

We selected Aramis to test this new delight whilst the other two were left commiserating in the house! The cow hoof was promptly emptied of its filling and she then chomped on it for a while... 

We then let her siblings out in the garden and rumour has it that the cow hoof is now buried amongst our spring bulbs!

WAGGLY CLUB 'ACTIVE CHEWER' BOX

Our review happened to coincide with the Waggly Club introducing their newly redesigned packaging box in bright purple delivering - in our opinion - much stronger branding, and you can expect to see this new style in coming months.

June saw the introduction of an option specially designed for the "Active Chewer" in your life... Because this box includes a premium durable dog toy, the trade-off is that you'll only get one toy plus three healthy dog treats from the Waggly Snacks range.

We'd never heard of the KONG Goodie Bone previously, but it is yet another durable chew toy you can stuff with treats, pastes or peanut butter. We received one in a Large size, which suits dogs from 13-30kg, which placed us at the upper limit!  


The oddly star-shaped slots on both ends are too large to hold normal size kibble or treats but luckily we found that the stick-shaped Shark Cartilage from our other Waggly Club box worked a treat!

To make it up to Porthos for missing out earlier on that delicious cow hoof, he was invited to test out the Goodie Bone and he promptly snapped off the ends of the treats sticking out! 

To get them completely out of the tubes is going to take a bit more effort but he's perfecting his technique...

Depending on the month you could receive dog treats from a range of brands such as SavourLife, Wag etc. We (by that I mean our dogs!) did enjoy the combination of the Waggly Snacks dog treats contained in our box this month:
  • Beef Liver  - a classic dog treat which is easy to snap into smaller pieces for your training sessions so a little goes a long way!
  • Chicken Necks - only a handful in the pack and because these are quite large, I'd use them as a high value one-off reward...
  • Roo Jerky - a favourite of any dog, they're easy to break down into small chunks so perfect for the training pouch.

Waggly Snacks range of natural treats: Beef Liver / Chicken Necks / Roo Jerky

All these treats (including the mince filled cow hooves, shark cartilage etc.) and some of the dog toys featured in previous monthly boxes can be purchased separately via the newly launched Waggly Club online shop.

PRICE & WHERE TO BUY

RRP: from $45/month (6-month subscription), $50/month (3-month) or $60/month (one-off box). 
You can upgrade to the 'Active Chewer' option - which includes a premium tough - for $5 more per month. All these options include free shipping Australia wide.

For more information or to order your first box, please visit www.wagglyclub.com.au

PETKIT - GO Smart Pet Leash Review

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The GO Smart Pet Leash recently arrived on our shores and it may just be what you need to help you reach your fitness goals with your pooch. We certainly hope this will inspire us to explore more!

HOW DOES THE GO SMART PET LEASH WORK?

The GO Smart Pet Leash by PETKIT was the winner of the 2017 Red Dot Design Awards, one of the top industrial design awards widely recognised in the world.

Leash Slot / Buckle Release / Power Button (L to R)
This clever Bluetooth device fulfils a whole range of functions: it serves as a traditional dog leash with the added bonus of being ergonomically designed with your long handling comfort in mind.

The outside handle is made from solid polycarbonate whilst the inside is of soft TPE polyethylene.

The GO is designed for dog owners to be able to replace the leash to meet different functional needs when walking their dogs (e.g. shock-absorbing, reflective options etc.) and there will be many colour choices in the future, however for the purpose of this review we tested the device with a Standard Rope (metallic grey). 

You simply insert the rope buckle (made of strengthened metal) in the slot on the handle until you hear the click sound (don’t push too hard!). If you need to remove it, the “Buckle” button (above the "GO" button) allows the leash to pop out very easily.

LED illumination all around the handle
A fantastic innovation is the Integrated Lighting System which serves a dual purpose. If you press the “GO” button for 3 seconds, this activates the Circular Lamp Band (both on the left and right hand sides all around the handle) delivering soft illumination at night and additional safety warning. If you walk your dog at night time, you can enable this function through the App.

Pressing the “GO” button for only 1 second will switch on the additional bright Torch Light located at the front of the handle. This comes in handy to illuminate a dark location, avoid a puddle and easily find your keyhole when you come late from your dog walk!

Another clever feature (which you may need or not) is the Incoming Calls prompt. If your mobile is tucked away in a bag or turned on silent during your walks, the handle itself will vibrate (*if connected normally to your phone). You can adjust the vibration times and types on the app to alert you of an incoming call or text on your smartphone. 



However as the name indicates, the GO Smart Pet Leash is an “Intelligent System” which you need to pair with the PETKIT app in order to keep track of your walking patterns every time you head out. This is probably the main reason why you would decide to buy one in the first place!

As you head out the front door, you simply press the “GO” key for 2 seconds which enables the dog walking mode. The PETKIT app will compile a roadmap of your walk in the background and store it in its history.

If you have forgotten to keep your device charged, you will receive a message within the App telling you that “My GO” has low power reminding you to charge it before your next walk! It will also send you notifications of any new firmware available for your device.

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?

As with any wearables, you need to give your device a full charge before you get started (it comes with a micro-USB cable, the USB charging port is cleverly hidden inside the handle and is covered up with a rubber cap when not in use). 
The indicator lights up during charging and turns off automatically once fully charged.

PETKIT app Menu to access all devices
with incoming alert (low battery)

If you don’t have any other PETKIT devices, like the FIT P2 Activity Monitor or the Pet Mate video monitoring system, you first need to download the free app (for Android or iOS devices) and create your account. 

If you have multiple dogs and/or products you can easily add these as you go along.

You will then pair your GO Smart Pet Leash device with your mobile phone before the first use. 

Simply press the “GO” key for 5 seconds until you feel the handle vibrate 3 times and the front light indicator flashes. The instructions on the screen are easy to follow so if we could do it, you won’t have any issues!

You may want to set yourself a daily walking target to stay motivated over winter so we opted for one hour - quite a lot for our senior dog these days but not really a challenge for our two young Malinois!

At the end of each walk the app will have recorded not only your itinerary, but also the total distance and time walked and you can review your history at any time. 

You could also share these route maps with other approved users (partner or a dog walker) via the app.

Just remember to check that your device is charged, press the “GO” key and open your app on the way out the door and that’s it… Happy walkies!


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
  • Using Bluetooth 4.0
  • Handle Weight: 100g
  • Handle Dimensions: 10.8cm (height) x 11.8cm (depth) x 2.55cm (width)
  • Rope Length: 100cm
  • Using LED light

PRICE & WHERE TO BUY

Because this device is brand new to Australia, you may have to wait a few weeks before you start seeing it in a select number of pet retail stores and online but it would make a popular Father’s Day or Christmas gift present for the technologically-minded fur parent!

We will keep you updated on where and when you can get your hands on it!

RRP: A$119.95 (White or Green) exclusive to Western Pet Products in Australia.

Trade enquiries from potential stockists are welcome.

Disclaimer: we received this product complimentary from PETKIT for review purposes.

ZiwiPeak Lamb Air-Dried Cuisine - Review

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ZiwiPeak’s Daily-Dog Air-Dried Lamb Cuisine is a 100% natural dry food made in New Zealand and what is called a “raw equivalent” diet based on the wild prey meat diet. The air drying process makes this dry food similar to a dehydrated food, however you don't need to add water to the food when you feed it. 

All the formulas (lamb, beef, venison and venison and fish) use no preservatives, fillers or grains. According to ZiwiPeak, real meat, heart, liver and kidney are used in their foods, so this is a 90% meat and organ diet. The remaining 10% consists of ingredients, like cold-washed green tripe and bone, plus essential vitamins and minerals. 

The range contains around 3% of green-lipped mussels (sustainably farmed in NZ) which are recognised as a source of glucosamine, chondroitin (great for joints) as well as healthy Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.

ZiwiPeak dog foods are AAFCO approved and they do not use products that contain ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT, or other artificial colours or preservatives.

The Air Dried Lamb Cuisine formula contains around 33% protein and the fat is around 27%. The fat provides a lot of the energy for your dog that is often provided by the carbs/fillers used in a typical commercial dog food. 

The company says that this food is over 95 percent digestible for your dog. All of their ingredients are from New Zealand and the lamb is raised on farms where the livestock is grass-fed. The gentle air-drying process delivers a high quality diet while maintaining the nutritional integrity of the natural raw materials but food is best used within 30 days after opening.

'DAILY DOG' AIR-DRIED LAMB CUISINE INGREDIENTS

The first named ingredients in this food are: Lamb meat (56%), Lamb Liver, Tripe, Heart and kidney (34%), NZ Green Mussels and Chicory Inulin.
  • Lamb meat is 59% protein, 36% fat, and 5% carbohydrates. Lamb provides these essential proteins and fats that dogs need in their diet for muscle and brain function. Lamb is also a relatively new and substantially different meat source, making it another fine option for an allergen-free product. It is also a good source of Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus and Manganese, Omega-6 fatty acid, and a very good source of Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B12, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Selenium.
  • Liver (from lamb) is a good source of Thiamin plus a source of Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper and Selenium.
  • Tripe from lamb (stomach lining) is the third ingredient and a good source of protein, fat, and many of the same vitamins and minerals that are in lamb meat.
  • Heart and kidney from lamb. These organ meats are usually considered offal however they're excellent foods when used in small amounts (very rich) as packed with vitamins and minerals for good nutrition. 
  • Chicory inulin. Inulin is a dietary fibre and a prebiotic that comes from the chicory root. It has become a new popular addition to many dog foods because of its prebiotic properties.
This food also contains fish oil – a common source of omega-3 fatty acids; kelp, an excellent source of trace minerals such as iodine, and chelated minerals which are usually found in premium dog foods.
WHAT WE LIKED

Ever since our Malinois Porthos joined our pack 2 years ago, we have had a hard time finding a food that his delicate stomach will tolerate. Even the occasional treat of raw chicken wing or meat loaf and vegetables would trigger a stomach upset, probably a legacy from having Parvovirus when he was abandoned as a puppy, followed by 2 weeks of intensive care at the vet and months of recovery at the shelter.

Ever since he's had issues putting on weight despite being fed a high-quality high-protein food in larger amounts than his siblings, which is why we were quite keen to try the ZiwiPeak 'Daily Cuisine' Air-Dried range.

Not following my own advice of introducing new foods progressively, I decided to start him on the full amount of ZiwiPeak from the get go, in order to assess its digestibility and I can honestly say that he surprised us by doing well on this food from day one.

This food is substantially different to any dry kibble I've ever bought, looking more like little squares of beef  jerky (or in that case lamb) and it's also great for use as a training treat.

Based on our dog's ideal 30kg weight, the dietary requirement is to feed him 255g daily which I split into two equal amounts as our dogs are fed twice daily (early morning and early evening). 

I was surprised by this lower amount as Porthos' previous kibble required feeding 300g daily to maintain the same weight but keep in mind that this is an air-dried (= dehydrated) food so a little goes a long way.

I always thought our dogs were happy eating the same food day in day out, but Porthos’ body language when opening this new bag and getting a waft of the air-dried lamb cuisine would suggest that something quite special was on the cards… 

There’s much to like in this food, especially if you like the raw equivalent or prey diet for dogs. We found it to be of very high quality (only a few ingredients in the food, all from named sources and with no heavy processing) and we also liked the fact it was highly digestible for our sensitive dog.

We also liked the fact that ZiwiPeak provides full nutrient profiles for each formula on their site so you can check the nutrients in the food yourself. Do keep in mind that these foods are higher in fat, especially if your dog has any kind of problem with fat in his diet (e.g. diabetic dogs). 

Our only disappointment is that the maximum bag size is 5kg which does not last very long when you feed large breed dogs especially in a multi-dog household. 
Compared to other high-quality premium dog food brands, it is quite expensively priced which may put it out of reach of many dog owners.

PRICE & WHERE TO BUY

RRP: from $25 (454g pouch). Also available in 1kg, 2.5kg and 5kg bags.

For more information, please visit www.ziwipeak.com.au

Disclaimer: product supplied by Love That Pet for editorial consideration.

Friendly Dog Collars - Review

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How often has it happened that you and your dog are enjoying a nice walk together, obeying leash laws and all of the sudden an unleashed dog comes barrelling at you out of nowhere? It happens to us on nearly every walk and there are some repeat offenders! Usually, their owner is not far away and will offer some vague excuse at why their dog is unable to wear a collar or leash... and at that stage I have to bite my tongue!

But their dog is only half of the equation isn’t it? Your dog could be a shy dog, an anxious dog (we have one of these), a leash reactive dog (we have one of them too), a blind or deaf dog, or you may be practicing some training exercise which requires your dog's full attention. This not the time to be distracted by complete strangers hailing you from the other side of the street, joggers or even bike riders on the footpath, creeping up on you...

Thankfully we discovered an Australian company Friendly Dog Collars offering a fantastic range of colour-coded (based on the simple traffic light system) collars, harnesses and leashes, that clearly spell out our dog’s temperament to the world.

Not only can these highly visual collars and leashes provide an extra safeguard against potential incidents and attacks but most importantly, they may help other dog owners realise that it is irresponsible to let their pooch run around uncontrolled ...

The range has been expanded and now includes 10 separate collections covering any possible situation (Blind, Deaf, Service Dog, Friendly, Nervous, Caution, No Dogs, Do Not Feed, Training or Adopt Me, which is great conversation starter for foster carers).

Each collection features specific colour coding and wording with six items in each range, depending on your dog’s needs.

The collars, harnesses and leashes are made of a super strong polypropylene webbing with large bold lettering that can be seen from a distance.

The collars come in two different styles (a standard clip collar and a half clip collar or martingale style) and the sizes can be adjusted to fit your dog. The extra large width (4 cm) adds visibility to the wording on the collar.

The adjustable strap harness is fully adjustable and will suit the most common breeds from Jack Russell Terrier to Rottweiler (fitting chests ranging from 59-92 cm).

Also available are the matching leashes, which feature very comfy neoprene handles.

For those cold rainy days, there is also a reflective weatherproof coat with the printed words visible on both sides.

WHAT WE LIKE

Sporting our bright yellow "Nervous" collar/harness/leash combo on our recent outings, I found it a huge relief not to have to explain why our rescue dog needed some extra space on the footpath as he often gets anxious if someone walks forcefully towards him and tries to make direct eye contact. 

All the products are machine washable at 30ºC (you can wrap them in a towel or an old pillowcase). All products must be rinsed well in freshwater after their use in saltwater.

PRICE & WHERE TO BUY

RRP: $33.95 for the adjustable strap harness; from $22.95 for the slip collar; from $24.95 for the leash (available in 60cm, 120cm or 180cm).

For more information, please visit www.friendlydogcollars.com.au


Product gifted by Friendly Dog Collars for editorial consideration.



Have you tried this range? What did you think? We’d love to hear your honest opinion. You can leave your review in the comment section below or share pictures and videos of your dog wearing this LED collar on our social media pages. 

Aussie Antlers – Dog Wash Café

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Some dogs need soft deer antlers whilst others require hard antlers to chew on. We learnt this through experience seeing previous deer antler chews virtually disappearing in front of our eyes after a few short sessions.

Whatever your dog’s requirements might be, the team at Aussie Antlers will help you find the perfect match.

WHAT ARE AUSSIE ANTLERS?

Aussie Antlers are strictly sourced from Australian deer farms (not imported). They are naturally shed, full of nutrients, do not splinter and our dogs loved them! The colour, length, diameter and density of each piece varies as this is a naturally grown product and no two pieces are ever the same.

Based on our user feedback stating that our Belgian Shepherds - especially the two younger Malinois - are extremely powerful chewers, a special piece of 100% organic Australian Red Deer Antler was selected and shipped to us. 
Australian Red Deer Antler large 25cm piece
We received an extra large piece of antler, approxinately 25cm long and weighing around 250 grams. These pieces are best suited for the larger dog breeds or those - like us - looking for a heavier, denser antler piece that will last longer.

We decided we would set it aside as a special Christmas treat for our three Belgian Shepherds as they don’t mind sharing chew toys.

We had purchased various brands of antler chews in the past year and found our dogs enjoyed chewing on these mostly in the evenings after dinner, whilst we’re watching TV - though occasionally the loud background noise can get on your nerves… 

With 3 large dogs working efficiently as a “tag team”, deer antlers usually disappeared within a couple of weeks and we were on the lookout for something that would last a lot longer.


Australian Red Deer Antler cross section

Just taking this antler chew out of the package, I could feel an immediate difference in its density and weight. So did our dogs apparently when they were finally presented with their Christmas present: they all dutifully had a quick chomp but one after the other, they promptly abandoned this antler after only a few minutes.

The antler looked like extremely hard work for them before they could reach the nice-smelling (we can only assume) softer inside part.


If your dog is not interested at first, you can try rubbing the antler a little with a file or sandpaper, or soaking in water overnight, or a little peanut butter. –

It took the best part of three weeks and the repeated assaults of our female Malinois to start seeing a dent in this antler. All of the sudden, the other two dogs started taking an interest (apparently all the hard work had now been done…) and they would take it in turns to pick this antler chew and chomp on it for short sessions. 
Belgian Malinois grinding a large piece of deer antler

WHAT WE LIKE

A whole 7 weeks later, the original 25cm antler piece has now been ground down to a little stump barely 6cm long and it is not long before it needs to be retired… We're pretty happy with the time one single antler lasted given that three powerful chewers were taking turns to use it. We hear that other dog breeds may take up to 6 or even 12 months to go through a piece.

Yes, these hard duty deer antler chew will cost you a little more initially but if you actually work out the cost on a weekly basis, they end up being much more economical and who has time to visit a pet shop every other week anyway?

Antler Tips:

For intense chewers, you can give the antler as a treat for a controlled period each day, for 1 to 2 hours maximum ONLY. 
With most dog breeds, it is be perfectly fine to leave an antler chew in the backyard full time.

As a general rule, a dog should not be allowed to grind down more than 1cm of antler per few days. Make sure the antler is removed once it is small enough for them to swallow whole. 

As with any new toy or treat, it's a good idea to observe your dog with their first antler to discover their chewing habits.

PRICE & WHERE TO BUY

Sizes available from XSmall to XXLarge (ask for advice if you’re unsure which one to select the first time).

RRP: $8 - $44 from dogwashcafe.com.au