Schmackos
Schmackos is a fair-value, Australian-made everyday treat brand that does exactly what it sets out to do: cheap, palatable, easy-to-break rewards that most dogs adore. The trade-off versus premium single-ingredient ranges is label transparency, with broad "meat and meat by-products" lists and added sugars and humectants, so dogs who need cleaner labels will do better elsewhere. Like all treats, feed them in moderation as no more than about 10% of daily calories alongside a complete and balanced diet. Not veterinary advice.
Schmackos is one of Australia's most recognisable everyday dog-treat brands, made locally by Mars Petcare and famous for the "Dogs go wacko for Schmackos" jingle. The core range is built around soft, air-dried Strapz meaty straps (Beef, Chicken, Liver and BBQ Lamb), plus Stix sticks, crunchy Marrobones biscuits and multi-flavour variety packs. These are affordable, supermarket-and-pet-store staples designed as quick rewards for training, play and good behaviour rather than as a meal. Labels lean on broad "meat and meat by-products" descriptors rather than named single proteins, which is typical for the value tier, but the treats are Australian made, widely loved and easy to find almost anywhere.
Scored by the Pet Reviews independent review board
Independent scoring · Updated June 2026 · Not veterinary advice
Overall score · /100
Good
Weighted across six areas
- 0
- Value
- 0
- Ingredients
- 0
- Transparency
- Overall score
- 0/100
- Value score
- 0/100
- Ingredient quality
- 0/100
- Transparency
- 0/100
Our verdict
Schmackos is a fair-value, Australian-made everyday treat brand that does exactly what it sets out to do: cheap, palatable, easy-to-break rewards that most dogs adore. The trade-off versus premium single-ingredient ranges is label transparency, with broad "meat and meat by-products" lists and added sugars and humectants, so dogs who need cleaner labels will do better elsewhere. Like all treats, feed them in moderation as no more than about 10% of daily calories alongside a complete and balanced diet. Not veterinary advice.
How Schmackos scores
Every brand runs through the same 100-point model. Each area below is weighted by importance — price and ingredients carry the most.
Ownership & transparency
- Ownership
- Mars Petcare Australia (USA-owned Mars, Incorporated)
- Country of manufacture
- Australia
- Retailer relationship
- Independent — widely stocked across retailers
Pros & cons
What works
- Australian made by Mars Petcare with very wide supermarket and pet-store availability
- Affordable everyday price tier - easy to keep stocked for training
- Soft Strapz tear easily into small pieces, ideal for reward-sized portions
- Strong dog palatability and a loyal, multi-generational fan base
Watch-outs
- Labels use broad 'meat and meat by-products' descriptors rather than named single proteins
- Recipes include added sugars, humectants and salt typical of the value tier
- Not grain-free, so unsuitable for grain-sensitive dogs
Who it's for
Best for
- Budget-conscious owners wanting an everyday training reward
- High-volume training where you need lots of small, soft pieces
Look elsewhere if
- You want named single-ingredient, human-grade treats with full label transparency
- Your dog needs grain-free or low-sugar treats
Which Schmackos product should you buy?
Schmackos treats are an occasional reward, not a meal — keep them to about 10% of your pet's daily calories. Here's the exact pack to reach for depending on what you need it to do.
Strapz with Beef Dog Treats 500g
Buy this if you want the brand's strongest all-rounder: the classic soft beef strap that most dogs go wacko for, at an everyday price.
From $12.95
Strapz Variety Pack Beef, Chicken & Liver 500g
Buy this for the best cost per treat in the dog range — the economical pick if it's part of the daily routine.
From $16.95
Stix Beef Dog Treats 500g
Buy this when you want to keep a dog happily occupied — a longer-lasting chew for downtime and boredom.
From $24.95
Key Schmackos products we rate
Cost / day
$0
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$25.90/kg
0.5kg bag
First ingredient
Meat (Beef and/or Sheep and/or Pork)
Protein
0%
The classic soft beef strap that most dogs go wacko for, at an everyday price.
Cost / day
$0
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$33.90/kg
0.5kg bag
First ingredient
Meat (Beef and/or Sheep and/or Pork)
Protein
0%
Three crowd-pleasing Strapz flavours in one bag for easy variety.
Cost / day
$0
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$25.90/kg
0.5kg bag
First ingredient
Meat and meat by-products from chicken, beef, lamb and/or pork
Protein
0%
A soft chicken-flavoured strap that's a reliable, wallet-friendly training staple.
Cost / day
$0
~15kg adult
Cost / feed
$0
2 meals/day
Price / kg
$29.90/kg
0.5kg bag
First ingredient
Meat and meat by-products from liver
Protein
0%
A high-value liver strap with the strong aroma keen, food-motivated dogs love.
Every Schmackos product, ranked & reviewed
All 7 Schmackos products, ranked by our independent score, each with its own review and live price comparison across retailers. Tap any product for the full breakdown.
Strapz with Beef Dog Treats 500g
From $12.95
Strapz Variety Pack Beef, Chicken & Liver 500g
From $16.95
Strapz with Chicken Dog Treats 500g
From $12.95
Strapz with Liver Dog Treats 500g
From $14.95
Strapz BBQ Lamb Flavour Dog Treats 200g
From $6.95
Stix Beef Dog Treats 500g
From $24.95
Marrobones Original Crunchy Dog Treats 737g
From $15.95
Best & weakest value in the range
Schmackos Strapz with Beef Dog Treats 500g
The classic soft beef strap that most dogs go wacko for, at an everyday price.
Schmackos Marrobones Original Crunchy Dog Treats 737g
Lower-scoring on our value-and-quality blend at $21.64/kg. Compare carefully on cost per day before choosing it over the rest of the range.
Price across retailers
Everyday pricing for Schmackos key products is a guide and can change. The cheapest retailer can shift with sales, member and subscription pricing — always check price per kg before you buy.
Lowest everyday price in this table. Prices are a guide and can change.
Retailers that stock Schmackos
Alternatives to Schmackos
Budget · Average
A convenient, affordable daily dental chew that dogs love and you can buy anywhere — a reasonable part of a dental routine, especially if brushing is a battle. Just know it's a cereal-based compound treat rather than a single-ingredient one, and count the calories. For a purer treat look at The Paw Grocer; for grain-free dental, Bell & Bone. Daily dental chews complement brushing and vet checks, they don't replace them.
VitaPet
Mid-range · Good
VitaPet is a genuinely convenient, well-priced everyday treat range that most dogs love, with real meat listed first on its tenders and sticks and broad availability in supermarkets and pet stores. Labels are simple but multi-ingredient and the range is imported rather than Australian-made, so shoppers chasing single-ingredient or human-grade transparency will find cleaner options elsewhere; for accessible training rewards and snacks it earns its shelf space. Feed these as an occasional treat alongside a complete and balanced diet, keeping treats to no more than about 10% of your dog's daily calories. Not veterinary advice.
Final verdict on Schmackos
Schmackos is a fair-value, Australian-made everyday treat brand that does exactly what it sets out to do: cheap, palatable, easy-to-break rewards that most dogs adore. The trade-off versus premium single-ingredient ranges is label transparency, with broad "meat and meat by-products" lists and added sugars and humectants, so dogs who need cleaner labels will do better elsewhere. Like all treats, feed them in moderation as no more than about 10% of daily calories alongside a complete and balanced diet. Not veterinary advice.
Schmackos FAQs
Schmackos scores 72/100 overall (Good) on our 100-point model, with a value score of 86/100. Schmackos is a fair-value, Australian-made everyday treat brand that does exactly what it sets out to do: cheap, palatable, easy-to-break rewards that most dogs adore. The trade-off versus premium single-ingredient ranges is label transparency, with broad "meat and meat by-products" lists and added sugars and humectants, so dogs who need cleaner labels will do better elsewhere. Like all treats, feed them in moderation as no more than about 10% of daily calories alongside a complete and balanced diet. Not veterinary advice.
Across the retailers we track, Pet Circle currently shows the lowest everyday price on a key Schmackos product. Prices are a guide and can change often, so compare price per kg and member or subscription pricing before you buy. See our full price comparison above.
Worth comparing carefully against Pedigree DentaStix, VitaPet. Each sits in a similar tier; check cost per day and ingredient quality for your dog's size and needs.
Within the range we rate, Schmackos Strapz with Beef Dog Treats 500g scores best on our value-and-quality blend. Match the bag size to your dog's daily serve so you are comparing cost per day, not just sticker price. This is general information, not veterinary advice.