What are the Best Dog Jerky Treats? Top Chicken & Duck Chews for Dogs in 2020
Dogs love jerky treats even though they’ve had a lot of recalls in recent years, along with other problems. Not only this, but many of these aren’t actually unhealthy for your dogs. You just have to make sure that you’re buying the right jerky treats that not only your dog loves, but is good for them, and make sure that it’s made by the right retailers, and most importantly, that it’s not made in China. While China wasn’t intentionally causing the health problems for our dogs, reports stated that most ingredients that were used in the processing from China were actually what was making our fun-loving furry friends sick.
Therefore, on a good note, you may want to avoid anything overseas. If not, you can still make sure that they’re from sources that have a high reputation for being top of the line snacks for our pooches. Because of this, we devised and compiled a list for you of the best dog jerky treats out there, and we’ll explain why in full detail with each product, and at the end of this article.
Top 5 Dog Jerky Treats
What Were they Getting Sick From?
There is a rare kidney disorder that basically was hurting our dogs called Fanconi syndrome. What this is a urinary tract disorder that many China-made ingredients can increase a threat for, and it’s something to keep an eye on in your dog in general. Not only is this extremely harmful to people, but it can be even more devastating, and furthermore fatal to our pets. Basically, what this does is makes your pet release necessary electrolytes out in their urine, and can ultimately deprive and dehydrate your dog, especially once they start urinating excessively. It can also make a dog constantly feel thirsty, as it depletes their bodies slowly. While it can be treated if caught properly, it is very hard on your dog. This isn’t to say that ALL dog jerky treats are bad.
What Can Jerky Treats Do for Your Dog?
Jerky treats that are perfectly healthy offer lower calories than some of the more fatty dog treats, and a lot of times, if you get the right brand, it can have a higher protein content. Plus, they’re a great alternative to dental dog treats, and still have some of the same mouth cleaning qualities. Dogs usually love these treats, and they’re not meant to have too many of them, but even when they have them, they’re more than happy.
Just like the same way that jerky is good for us, they are also a healthy snack for your dog. Depending on the type of jerky you get, some are easy to chew for them and are great for training, while others are just all around great chew toys for them throughout the day (such as rawhide treats for example).
Top 10 Dog Jerky Treats
So, we’ve explained some important details so far, but let’s move forward shall we? Here is the promised list of the best pooch jerky products that you can buy on the market today.
① Bones & Chews All Natural Grain-Free Jerky
Bones & Chews are a popular product loved by many people and pets. You get a whopping 22 oz. of jerky treats that are made with all natural ingredients (To be exact – beef, chicken, chickpea flour, glycerin from vegetables, salt, natural flavors, vinegar, and mixed tocopherols). These treats offer a high amount of protein packed in a low calorie treat that dogs love. All of the ingredients are manufactured right here in the United States, and so is the product. These products don’t contain gluten, wheat, soy, or any by-product meals from anything that is not natural.
Pros
- Made in America.
- Has all natural ingredients that almost all dogs love.
- Contains beef and chicken to give your dog a good protein snack.
- Gluten, Soy, and wheat free
- Contains no animal by-products.
Cons
- Not for a pet on a poultry elimination diet.
- Some people complained that their dog did not like the product.
② True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts
These truly poultry treats are a wonderful way to give your dog a poultry snack anytime. Most dogs love chicken, but it’s really hard when it’s not cured because some dogs have trouble digesting it. Treating and curing it can still have ingredients that some dogs just can’t handle, but nevertheless, most dogs don’t have a problem when it comes to these treats. They have no corn, wheat, or any soy. Nor do they have anything artificial. The only added flavor to them is natural smoke flavor, and they’re made from USDA grade chickens that are purely organic and GMO free.
Pros
- All ingredients are USDA-grade ingredients.
- All natural and gluten free.
- Completely grain and soy free.
- All ingredients are GMO free.
Cons
- Your dog might not like it.
- Some people complained that their dog did not like the product.
- Made from chicken. Not suitable for dogs allergic to poultry.
③ Tylee’s Human-Grade Chicken Jerky
Tylee’s offers a “human-grade” jerky that is literally made from meat that’s completely organic and made in the United States. Not only that, these treats are literally just chicken. No additives, nothing. Just chicken. These treats give your pet 76 percent of pure protein and fat, and contains literally no additives. They’re sliced thin, and are easy to break into very small bites so you can give them to your dogs as a natural reward, regardless of their size. I know you may want to try them, but please do keep in mind they’re only meant for animal consumption for safety reasons.
Pros
- Manufactured with All-American ingredients.
- Human Grade meats is the only ingredients.
- They’re literally just chicken.
- Perfect for all dogs.
- No additives.
Cons
- If your pet is allergic to poultry these aren’t the product for them.
- They are just chicken, as mentioned above.
- There are no added vitamins or minerals.
④ Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats
Blue Buffalo has done it again. Their Wilderness Trail Chicken jerky treats are completely grain free, and is compiled of only three natural ingredients. Chicken, sugar, and salt. While they’re excellent for all dogs, they of course are made from chicken, so if your dog has a problem or allergy to poultry, you may want a beefier alternative. Nevertheless, most dogs don’t have allergies to poultry, and these tasty treats can be a product that many dog lovers feed their dogs. They are meant for adult dogs only, since small puppies can choke on certain kinds of treats that aren’t optimized for their mouths, so you should make sure not to feed it to a pup less than 6 months of age.
Pros
- Great for all adult dogs.
- A basic treat most dogs love.
- High protein snack with chicken as a primary ingredient.
- No additives, and is grain free, gluten, free, and soy free.
Cons
- Some dogs don’t like the taste of them.
- They are made of chicken.
- They contain sugar.
⑤ American Journey Beef Jerky Grain-Free Dog Treats
American Journey has a beef jerky similar to Blue Buffalo and the other two. This would be the beefy alternative we were talking about aside from the Bones & Chews brand dog jerky treats. Made entirely of beef, sugar, and salt, these jerky treats are high in protein, and offer no additives, or added flavors. Dogs love beef, and most importantly, they love American beef, which is another great thing that is important to note about this product – none of the ingredients are sourced anywhere than right here in America. One good thing about this product is that while it has a long shelf life, it can be refrigerated to make it last even longer for your dog. The treats are semi-soft, and offer a great snack for even some of the pickiest eaters out there.
Pros
- American-made ingredients and production.
- GMO, No additives, soy, gluten, or grains.
- Made of premium beef.
- Contains no chicken.
Cons
- Not meant for dogs with beef allergy.
- Not suitable for puppies under 6 months.
- Shorter shelf life than some other jerkies.
- Not as high in protein as some chicken varieties.
⑥ Waggin’ Train Chicken Jerky Tenders
Made of only 3 natural ingredients, these chicken jerky tenders are shaped like real chicken tenders. They’re made with E-440 pectin, which is a natural pectin, vegetable glycerin, and chicken breast. They are meant for adult dogs only, but they are literally just made of chicken as the primary meat. Many people break these tenders into bite-sized pieces for their smaller pooches. They’re safe for literally all dogs, and despite looking natural and real, they’re not intended for human consumption of course. Many people have rated this with 5 stars, and the only problem that anyone has ever had was some inconsistency (which can happen during packaging, but is quickly resolved) in product size. Another great thing is the variety of sizes you can choose from, which is 30-oz, 18-oz, 11-oz, and 3-oz. What’s even better is that these also are All American.
Pros
- Many choices for package sizes.
- High protein chicken snack.
- Manufactured in the USA.
- Contains only 3 American-Made ingredients.
Cons
- Contains chicken.
- Contains pectin.
- Only for adult dogs.
- Product packaging (piece size) not always consistent.
⑦ Full Moon Chicken Jerky Dog Treats
Since chicken jerky is all of the craze, Full Moon jumped on it to create human grade dog treats. No, this does not mean that you should try to eat them, but with ingredients like chicken, organic cane sugar, vinegar, and rosemary extract, these treats are manufactured from ingredients here in the USA, and the fact that the Full Moon brand has never had any recalls since they’ve started making this product, this product is actually probably one of the only dog treats on the market out of a select few that would even be safe and nourishing if a human did eat them (meaning that a person wouldn’t get sick for eating them). While they’re growing in popularity, there aren’t as many people who invest into these treats as others, even though the price is great, but that’s simply because the brand is newer.
Pros
- One of the only few treats that could be safe for human consumption.
- Made of chicken.
- All ingredients are organic.
- Good price for a newer brand.
- Contains no animal by-products.
- No product recalls.
Cons
- Contains vinegar.
- Some dogs won’t eat them.
- There have been issues with shipping these.
⑧ Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky Recipe Dog Treats
Milo’s Kitchen has an excellent chicken jerky treat, and while they’re a somewhat newer brand as well, these chicken jerky treats are a great treat to give to your training dog. The one key factor to keep in mind with these treats, is that though chicken is the main ingredient, they do contain other things, such as soy flour, soy protein, natural smoke flavor, garlic powder, BHA (a preservative), Caramel color, and Onion Extract. There isn’t enough to harm your dog at all of any of these alternative ingredients however, as they’re merely for flavor, and plus dogs that consume small amounts of garlic can actually have a perfectly altered pH balance so they can have more resistance to parasites like mites and fleas.
Pros
- Contains many ingredients that are all natural.
- All ingredients are American-made, as are the treats.
- Most dogs love these.
- Newer brand with flavor most dogs love.
- Suitable for dogs of all breeds and sizes.
Cons
- Contains soy.
- Contains other additives (natural and not natural).
- Contain garlic powder and onion extract.
- Your pet may not like these.
⑨ Triumph Grain-Free Turkey, Pea & Berry Recipe
Who doesn’t like to Triumph? Well, the truth is there aren’t very many people who don’t like to win, and because of this, that’s why Triumph grain-free turkey, pea & berry dog jerky treats are on our list. All ingredients are sensitive to dogs that may have allergies, and they contain no corn, wheat, or by-products. It’s a great snack that has loads of vegetables mixed with the turkey and chicken in them, and they also have added minerals that your dogs need as well. The fruits in the mix add to the antioxidants in the treats, which make them a great snack for dogs of all sizes, since they are made to actually help dogs reduce the risks of food allergies they may have even according to scientific research.
Pros
- This dog treat has no grains or animal byproducts.
- Packed with antioxidant fruits that many dogs will eat.
- Excellent for a semi-vegetarian snack.
- Promotes healthy urinary tracts in dogs.
- Good for your dog’s skin and coat.
Cons
- Contains berries, and may give your pet diarrhea.
- Contains poultry. Not for dogs on an anti-poultry diet.
- Some dogs won’t eat it.
⑩ Dogswell Jerky Hip & Joint Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dog Treats
Dogswell hip & joint formula is designed to help more than just your dog’s tastebuds or potty training habits. This grain-free treat has no added sugar, no gluten, wheat or soy, and they’ve added natural glucosamine chondroitin which is great for joints. They do contain a new ingredient in them, which is New Zealand Green Mussel which gives your furry friend even added joint relief and is packed with Omega-3 fatty acids that your pet loves and needs. For your pet’s skin and coat, they contain vitamin E, which is also essential and helps your pet from the inside and out. All ingredients of this product are manufactured together right here in the United States, and nothing is from China at all. They do note in their Q&A however that if your pet has severe cases of hip dysplasia, that these treats won’t cure it. For something like that, you would need to take your friendly pup to the vet to have corrected, but they do help with joints overall.
Pros
- Contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin for joint health.
- Loaded with Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
- Manufactured in the United States.
- Contains vitamin E for healthy skin and coat.
- Great for dogs of all sizes.
Cons
- The Mussel is imported from New Zealand (not American).
- Made with Chicken.
- Nod designed for puppies less than 6 months.
Conclusion & What is the Best Jerky Treats for Dogs
While almost all items on this list contain chicken (except for the one strictly beef one), our hats tip-off to Bones & Chews All Natural Grain-Free Jerky (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE) because of their all-natural ingredients, and their overall nutritional value. Not only that, but they have the largest amount of protein and crude natural fats packed into a treat. Many people love giving this to their pet, regardless of its size, and even though they’re not designed for puppies, they are soft enough for an older pup to chew. The main thing to consider is that the ingredients are All-American, and that nothing can be processed whatsoever in China.
While these treats are all generally pretty harmless, you want to make sure that you never give your dog a chew toy, chew treat, or even a jerky treat unsupervised as they can contain particles, break up into larger pieces, and pose a choking hazard at any time for your dog. It’s crucial that you keep in mind your dog’s size when giving them this treat, and don’t give them one that is too large for them to swallow, as some pets do try to swallow them whole.
