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Zukes Treat Review

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Zukes Treat Review

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At SpiritDog Training we love to train dogs, and of course we need treats for that! After working with thousands of online students as well as in-person clients in a multitude of training settings, we sure know which treats work the best even for picky dogs.

Today we want to share our thoughts on the popular Zuke’s treats and review them all for you. Zuke’s provides a variety of high-quality treats in many different flavors. Their treats are small and soft, which is very important for frequent training. It allows owners to reward their dogs frequently without having to worry about excessive calorie intake. We want our dogs to be well-behaved – but not overweight!

Our Top Choice: Zuke’s Mini Naturals

Our favorite Zuke’s treat!
Best Zuke's Overall
Zuke's Mini Naturals Training Dog Treats
$16.98 ($1.06 / oz)

This treat has it all. It is soft, chewy and has a delicious chicken flavor which any dog will love. Each treat has less than 3 calories, letting you reward your dog as much as you want - without guilt! Chicken is the #1 ingredient, and the treat has other nutritious contents such as berries and herbs.

The treats are so soft that you can break them up into even smaller pieces if you are working with very small dogs such as Pomchis or Cavachons.

These treats do not contain corn or soy, making them an excellent option for dogs with allergies or intolerances. No artificial flavours go into these treats - only high-quality goodness!

With over 25,000 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, you cannot go wrong with this choice.

If you are looking for a choice specifically for your pup, check out our reviews to find the perfect option - whether you have a puppy, a senior dog or a group of dogs in your household!



Get our TOP training treat choice!
03/26/2024 03:55 pm GMT

Table of Contents

Mini Reviews

Looking for a treat specifically suited to your dog’s age or lifestyle? Here are our top choices of Zukes treats for puppies, active dogs, multi-dog households and more!

Best for Growing Puppies

Best for Growing Puppies
Zuke's Puppy Naturals Training Dog Treats Crafted in the USA
$7.98 ($1.60 / oz)

Do you have a puppy under 10 months that is just getting started in training? These puppy training treats are perfect for him or her. They are small and extremely tasty - getting the attention of even the most distracted puppy!

If you have a very small breed puppy, you can break the individual treats up into several pieces as well. 

These puppy treats contain leading levels of DHA and EPA to support healthy brain development.

They are glutenfree and grainfree - no fillers, only healthy ingredients.

I recommend these frequently for my clients in puppy classes.



Treat that pup!
03/26/2024 05:25 pm GMT

Best Zuke’s for Athletic Dogs

Running, jumping, swimming puts an extra strain on our dog’s bodies. The right supplements are crucial.

Best for Athletic Dogs
Zuke's Hip Action Hip & Joint Natural Dog Treats Crafted in The USA
$19.03

Is your dog your hiking companion, mountain bike buddy or agility teammate? If you have an active dog, you want to make sure that you provide him with joint supplements in his diet. Many dogs develop arthritis as they are aging unless you feed them joint-improving supplements. 

These treats let you do both - reward your dog for a job well done and keep him in great physical health!

Each individual treat contains 300mg of glucosamine and 50mg of chondroitin. They are pretty big, so you want to break them up when treating a small to medium-sized dog.

You can choose from three flavors. My own dog Fusion likes Beef the best.

Hip problems are especially common in Retrievers, Border Collies and Shepherds. If you have a dog of these breeds, this is the treat for you!


Treat your athletic companion!
03/28/2024 06:35 am GMT

Best for Multi-Dog Households

Have several pups who like different flavors? A variety pack is your best bet.

Best for Multi-Dog Households
Zuke's Mini Natural Soft Dog Treat Three Pack
$11.39

If you have more than one dog (I have four!) you know how quickly a bag of treats can be gone, and how everyone has their own preference. By picking this collection of Zukes treats, you get three different flavors so each dog gets their favorite!

My Golden Retriever likes the duck flavor the best, My Border Collies prefer peanut butter and my Chinese Crested is a chicken-guy. This is also a good Zukes product if you have just adopted a dog and do not yet know which flavor he enjoys the most.


Spoil all the pups!
03/27/2024 05:50 pm GMT

Best Holistic Superfood Zuke’s

Our favorite when it comes to healthy ingredients.

Best Holistic Superfood Treat
Zuke's Superfood Blend Natural Dog Treats

Do you make health-conscious choices for yourself when it comes to food? Do you make sure to get in your antioxidants, fruits and vegetables? Your pooch shouldn’t have it any other way either!

These Superfood treats make training both fun and super healthy. They come in three varieties: with berries, with greens and with vegetables. 

While healthy, the Zukes Superfood treats are not the best choice for picky eaters. If your dog is known to turn his nose up on treats, then he will probably not like these treats due to their low meat content.

Get holistic nutrition for my pup!

Best for Picky Eaters

I train with dogs that have all kinds of food-drive – from super-high to really low. If your pup is one of the more picky eaters, this is my top choice:

Best Zuke’s for Clean Teeth

Best for Sparkling Teeth
Zuke's Z-Bone Grain Free Dental Chew Dog Treat

This dental treat is less of a training reward. Your dog can chew it after training and clean his teeth as he does so! Dogs require regular dental care just like humans. Many dogs are apprehensive towards having their teeth brushed though, so using a dental chew treat makes it fun for them.

The treats’ shape helps to reach even the teeth further back in your dog’s mouth. Zuke’s also adds parsley, alfalfa and fennel to help support fresh breath. No more stinky dog breath after eating these!

Get clean teeth!

Buying Guide

What should you watch out for when choosing dog treats? How do you know your dog will like the treats you are getting? Here are out top tips for picking the right treat for your dog.

Size

You should always strive to pick treats that are small or can be broken up into smaller parts. The bigger your treats are, the faster your dog’s tummy will fill – and then your training session is over before you actually got a lot of repetitions in!

Dogs do not actually know if they got a small or medium-sized treat. They usually swallow them instantly. By picking a small treat you can be sure that your pooch won’t consume too many calories. Again: we want our dog to be well-trained – not obese.

Softness

Chewy treats work best for most dogs. This is because crunchy treats have the tendency to crumble, and then your dog might sniff the ground to find all crumbles, which lets him get distracted and interrupts your training. By the time your dog has picked up all the crumbs and looks back at you, he has probably forgotten what you were working on in the first place!

If you are training in a dog training class or facility, chances are that they do not allow crumbly treats anyway. The more dogs are at one place, the more distracting it is for them if there are crumbs on the floor. 

Picking a soft treat will be a better choice for most dogs.

Ingredients

What ingredients does your chosen treat contain? When looking at the ingredient list, make sure that your dog is not allergic against anything that went inside the treat. You also want to avoid treats that primarily are made out of soy, corn or wheat – these grains have little nutritional value and are not very tasty for dogs either.

The first ingredient should ideally be chicken, beef, sweet potato or similar – if your treat contains high amounts of these, you know it is a good one!

Taste

Dogs have individual preferences for certain tastes. Some dogs like chicken better than beef, others prefer tuna over rabbit. By getting to know what exactly your dog likes, you will be set up much better to pick the perfect treat for him. Some breeds are not picky at all and enjoy all kinds of food – Doodle dogs for example are big foodies – while others might refuse to eat a treat unless you get their favorite flavor! 

Many lap dogs are particularly picky eaters and will only eat treats of their favorite type of meat.

FAQ

Are Zukes dog treats good?

Yes! After working with thousands of dog training clients both online and in-person, I can confidently say that these treats are loved by many dogs and will be a great addition to your training. Make sure that you are using treats generously and reward your dog whenever he does something correctly. The #1 training mistake is to not reward your dog enough.

The more you can treat your dog in training, the faster he will learn what it is you want him to do!


Is Zuke’s owned by Purina?

Yes, Zuke’s was acquired by Nestle Purina Pet Care in 2014. The company continues to operate out of Durango, Colorado. All treats are produced in their facility there.

Are Zuke’s treats safe?

Zuke’s has been producing dog treats since 1995 and has never had a single recall – so yes, they are as safe as it gets!

As with everything your dog eats, you should of course make sure that he does not have any allergies against any of the ingredients. Your dog should also never be unsupervised with a bag of Zuke’s – he could stick his head in there and suffocate, or choke on the treats.

The treats should be cut up for small dogs in case they swallow them too quickly.

Can too many dog treats be harmful?

Yes, as with everything – too much of a good thing is a bad thing! Dog treats are never intended to replace your dog’s daily food. You should not stop to feed him his regular dog food and replace it with dog treats. This would be very harmful for him!

Treats are meant to be a special reward for teaching your dog a new skill or perfecting a difficult behavior, such as walking on a loose leash or learning a trick. The smaller your dog is, the less treats you should feed him in total. You should not give your 10 pound Shorkie a treat pouch full of any treats, no matter how healthy they are.

Your dog needs complete nutrition as provided by commercial dog food, either kibble or raw.

Where are Zuke’s dog treats made?

Zuke’s treats are made in the US – namely in Durango, Colorado. After Zuke’s was acquired from Purina, the production stayed in the Durango facility.

What are Zuke’s dog treats made from?

The specific ingredients will depend on which treat specifically you choose. All Zuke’s treats however are corn-free, wheat-free and soy-free and never contain artificial colors or flavors. Depending on which kind you choose, your dog’s treat might contain chicken, beef, duck or peanut butter – or (in the case of Superfood treats) berries, greens and vegetables!