Paw Nation Product Picks - Natural Dog Treats Are Put To The Test

Confused by all the natural pet treat options available? We decided to do the work for you and have some of Paw Nation's official testers (pictured here) evaluate five brands of treats.

Sure, there was a slight flaw to the methodology (it's hard to find a treat these testers don't like), so while we made sure that each of these was a hit, we also looked into why we as pet owners might choose these products over others.

Brand: Doggies Unlimited
What we tried: A variety of biscuits, jerky and pet-food mix.
The biggest hit: Jayden's Turkey Jerky.
Why we like it: The ingredients listed on the package aren't just things we recognize; they're things that we would eat (turkey, carrots, sweet potato, zucchini, etc.). In fact, the products are so fresh that they recommend you refrigerate them for a longer shelf life, just like human food. And not that the dogs cared, but we liked the way the biscuits were shaped like hearts and bones. Adorable.
What we observed in the testers: The smaller sized treats were wolfed down in no time, but the bigger treats (while still eaten as quickly as possible), were thick and really crunchy, so there was a little mess. But don't worry, the dogs cleaned it right up!
Brand: Robbie Dawg
What we tried: Turkey Sausage and Romano Cheese Dog Biscuits, Honey BBQ Chicken Little Lulus and Real Brooklyn Pizza in a "Let's Go For a Walk" tin.
Why we like it: This is a treat with personality. The brand and treats are named for the founder's dogs, Robbie and Lulu. All-organic ingredients are used, and the treats (especially the Real Brooklyn Pizza flavor) smell good even to us. We were surprised at how handy the "Let's Go For a Walk" tin was. It makes it super easy to bring treats along for training when we walk the neighborhood.
What we observed in the testers: The small size makes them easy to chew, even for smaller dogs.

Brand: Free Range Dog Chews
What we tried: Buckarooz, which are deer antlers.
Why we like it: We love the fact that the Buckarooz are entirely cruelty free and renewable. Deer shed their antlers each year, and these chews are made from the discarded antlers. There's even a "happy deer guarantee" that "no deer were harmed, bullied, or even teased in the making of these treats." The company also offers high quality meat-based treats, including their new Grass Fed Angus Dog Treats.
What we observed in the testers: There was one chew to review and two dogs so we weren't sure how it would go. We were surprised to see that the more submissive dog, Ladybug, dove right in and snagged the Buckarooz, while the other dog, Mya, was content to go back to her regular chew toy. Ladybug has remained devoted to the chew, and it's still going strong weeks after she started.

Brand: Stella & Chewy's
What we tried: Carnivore Kisses 100% Angus Beef Treats
Why we like it: Clear labeling. Each treat is made entirely of premium Angus beef that's been diced, freeze-dried and inspected by the USDA, so there's no need to worry about fillers or artificial ingredients. Also, they don't have nearly as strong a smell as many other meaty treats we've tried.
What we observed in the testers: The texture seemed to throw the dogs off on the first treat, but once they realized it was delicious and beefy, they were following us around for more.

Brand: Three Dog Bakery
What we tried: Lick 'n Crunch Carob Dog Treats with Peanut Butter Filling
Why we like it: We have a confession. We actually ate one of these cookies. OK, maybe it was more like a few. They look like cookies for humans and taste delicious! This doesn't come as a surprise, though, as Three Dog Bakery has been focused on providing tasty dog food and treats made of the best ingredients for more than 20 years.
What we observed in the testers: As much as we liked these, the dogs enjoyed them more. Maybe they actually thought they were getting food from the table.

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