The Best Dog Jerky Treats (Review) in 2021

So, what do you need to know when it comes to buying jerky dog treats for your pup? With such a wide selection of dog treats on the market, it can be a bit of a nightmare, but jerky treats are up there as one of the best providers of all the right nutrients if you know where to look, and we pet owners always want what’s best for our furry family.

Do Dogs Like Jerky?

The short answer: of course they do! Or at least most do. You’ll inevitably get the odd dog that couldn’t care less about jerky treats, just as you’ll get the odd human that doesn’t like cheese. But if your pup is the kind to enjoy a nice little bit of meat to munch on alongside their daily dog food, then this is a fantastic snack choice. Dog’s naturally feel drawn towards meat, and jerky can be an excellent alternative to having to cook and prepare meat for them and a nice way to introduce some of that protein into their diet.

Features to Consider When Buying a Dog Jerky Treats

The most important thing to remember when looking at purchasing jerky for your dog is to avoid human jerky. Always look to an animal retailer, as human jerky tends to contain a lot of spices to flavor it, and many of these spices can be quite upsetting for a dog’s stomach.

Like when you’re buying dog food, you must always look into what a treat contains before committing to it. There are many jerky dog treats in the market that contain far more additives, preservatives, dyes, and other ingredients than you’d want to see in something that your dog will be consuming. The following things are definitely worth keeping your eye out for:

• Simple Recipes
• Grain-free and corn-free
• Additive, dye, and preservative-free
• No animal by-product
• high protein percentage

By avoiding animal by-products you can be sure that your jerky treats aren’t being filled with rubbish that they don’t need, and be reassured that your dog is getting exactly what it says on the tin. A high protein percentage will be beneficial to give your pup the energy they need to enjoy their day to the max. And to top it off, a lack of additives and preservatives will limit your pup’s chemical consumption (that’s not to say that all additives and preservatives are evil, but quite often completely unnecessary), so long as you are sure to check the packaging of the treats for a recommended “consume by” date so that they are eaten within that time frame. For example, with chicken jerky, you wouldn’t leave a cooked chicken breast on the side and eat it a week later, so be just as mindful when it comes to your pup’s jerky treats.

Benefits of Jerky Treats for Dogs Over Other Dog Treats

Jerky treats are the simplest, and most straight-to-the-point treat that you can buy. Where so many other treats can be stuffed with sugar, fillers, chemicals, and general products that are not beneficial to your doggo, particularly as sugar can degrade their teeth just as it does humans, jerky is all about the meat. Meat comes completely naturally to every dog, and so it stands to reason that treats, like chicken jerky, that are made up of mostly meat would be the best option for them. They are high in protein, good for their teeth, easy on their digestion, and let’s face it, absolutely delicious, even humans like a bit of jerky now and then!

Jerky Treats for Dogs FAQ:

Q: Is jerky hard for dogs to chew?

A: It depends very much on the dog, but also on the jerky. Dogs are naturally made to be able to chew through flesh and in severe cases even bone, so to say that they would struggle to chew jerky is a bit of a stretch. However if your dog suffers from dental problems or has perhaps lost teeth in the past, it may prove a little bit more troublesome for them. If you are worried about your furry pal struggling to chew their new snack, we’d recommend looking for jerky that has a higher moisture content. This is going to be a softer texture, and therefore easier for them to chew.

Q: How to store jerky dog treats?

A: It comes back to the old classic of “store in a cool, dry place”. Once you have opened a packet of jerky treats, you need to be sure to seal them back up when they’re not being eaten and place them in a cool, dry place (like a fridge) until they have all been eaten. Like we said before, be sure to check the “consume by” date, to avoid making your little buddy sick.

You may also like our review of the Dog Food Containers.

Our Top Picks

Nudges Grilles

A proud USA brand of jerky, which is grain-free, additive-free, and made to recreate the delicious flavor of a perfectly grilled steak. After over 10,000 happy loyal customers, it’s hard to find a fault with these yummy doggy snacks. The resealable packaging helps you to seal in the freshness, and their customers have found them to be the perfect training treat.