@YorkshireFelix Having bought virtually every natural chew on the market I consider myself (sadly) an unwitting expert on these now haha. Re long-lasting chews, for chewing rather than eating, we have had a lot of luck with these – and I caveat that she is picky as hell:
– cow/water buffalo/lamb/anything hooves, stuffed or empty. V good value as they tend to last for ages and you can use them as enrichment toys too by stuffing them yourself
– goat/lamb/cow horns, empty
– lamb/cow horn marrows
– wood chews, either a root or an olive wood bar thingy
– moose hide chews (doesn’t smell, lasts forever here – also available in other animals)
I find all of the above are much softer on teeth than antlers. We do have an antler but I only got it recently, from a venison farmer we know, as I felt they were too hard when she was small. I’ve tried Yaks but never have any success with them at all – don’t think she likes the taste. Have also had success recently with ostrich bones – not the huge caveman ones but drumsticks and wings. Small enough for a cocker mouth, easy to carry around, and non-splintering.
Re abandoning them half-eaten – he might come back to them, as their tastes seem to change. When we first had pupsy she would gladly eat a chicken foot a night but now, she won’t touch them, while other snacks that have been stored in the toy box awaiting their fate have been rediscovered months later with great enthusiasm.
In general if I’m keen for her to get started on a new one I tend to smear the end or a particularly knobbly bit that she can get her teeth on in Arden Grange liver paste. It stinks but it does seem to work and then they get a lick out of it too. They also do salmon and turkey but I find the liver one the best.