8 Best Dog Treats at PetSmart in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Just like humans, dogs love the occasional treat! Not only are treats a great way to bond with and reward your pooch, but they can also be useful tools in training. Of course, these treats should ideally be healthy, packed with beneficial ingredients, and free from fillers or artificial additives, just like your dog’s regular food.

PetSmart is one of the biggest specialty pet retailers in the United States, with over 1,600 stores across the U.S. and Canada. The stores sell small pets and accessories, as well as a variety of foods and treats for cats and dogs. If you’re looking for a treat for your pooch, PetSmart is a great place to find one!

Of course, a large franchise like PetSmart sells a ton of different treat brands and varieties, so choosing the perfect one can be challenging. We rounded up eight of the best dog treats at PetSmart, along with in-depth reviews, to help you narrow down the options and find the perfect treat for your canine companion!

A Quick Comparison of Our Top Picks in 2023

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Hill's Natural Soft Savories Dog Treats	Real peanut butter is the first ingredient Ideal for puppies, adults, and seniors Added healthy fruits and veggies	Check Price
Best Value		Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Beef	S.A.-beef is the first ingredient Packed with DHA and omega fatty acids Free from by-product meals	Check Price
Premium Choice		Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Treats	Made with real beef Tasty, smokey flavor Soft and easy to chew	Check Price
		Merrick Power Bites Dog Treats	Contain real, deboned beef as the first ingredient Added healthy veggies High protein content	Check Price
		Beggin' Strips Bacon Flavor Dog Treats	Three different package sizes Easy-to-chew texture Contain real bacon	Check Price

The 8 Best Dog Treats at PetSmart

Hill’s Natural Soft Savories dog treats contain real peanut butter as the first ingredient for a delicious taste that your pooch will adore. The treats have a soft and tender texture that makes them ideal for growing puppies, as well as adults and seniors. They are packed with healthy ingredients like peas, bananas, and chicken fat to give your pooch a treat that is healthy, wholesome, and tasty. The treats are free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives and made in the U.S.A.

A handful of customers reported that these chews weren’t as soft as advertised, and many senior dogs had a difficult time chewing them, but overall, we found these to be the best dog treats at Petsmart.

Blue Buffalo Blue Bits contains tender beef as the first ingredient and other healthy additions, like oatmeal, peas, and brown rice. They are the best dog treats at PetSmart for the money. The bits also contain flaxseeds to provide a natural source of omega fatty acids that are great for your dog’s skin and coat, along with salmon oil that is loaded with DHA to support healthy cognitive development in growing puppies. The treats are perfectly sized for training sessions and walks and are free from poultry by-product meals, grains, and artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.

These treats have a pungent odor, though, and some pet parents reported that the treats may have caused gas and loose stool in their pooches.

Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Treats are great if you’re looking for premium treats for your pooch. These savory treats are made using real beef filet mignon infused with a natural smoke flavor, along with chicken for an 18% protein content overall. The bone-shaped treats are soft and easy to chew and great for puppies and seniors alike. Not only will your pooch love the flavor, but these treats are also fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals to help keep your dog healthy.

The major issues that we found with these treats are the inclusion of sugar in the ingredients, which is disappointing, and the addition of artificial colors and preservatives.

Merrick Power Bites contain real, deboned beef as the first ingredient and healthy vegetables like potatoes and peas. The bites have a protein content of 16% overall. The treats are loaded with protein and essential omega acids for optimal skin and coat health and are completely free from grains like soy or corn. They have a soft, chewy texture. These treats are 100% free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives and cooked in FDA-approved kitchens in the U.S.A.

These treats have a pungent, artificial odor that many dogs won’t enjoy. Also, they are hard and crumbly, not chewy as stated, causing many dogs not to eat them.

Beggin’ Strips Dog treats contain mouth-watering smokey pork as the first ingredient, providing a 15% protein content overall. They come in three different sizes: 25-, 40-, and 48-ounce bags. These treats are soft and tender and easy to chew, making them ideal for older puppies and seniors alike, and they can be torn easily into smaller pieces for training. The treats are free from artificial flavors and colors and contain real bacon for an irresistible flavor, and they are produced in the U.S.A.

These treats contain several questionable ingredients, including sugar, corn syrup, and various grains. They also have a pungent odor that some dogs do not enjoy.

SmartBones SmartSticks Chicken Dog Treats mimic the taste and texture of rawhide but without the potential digestive risk. These treats are highly digestible, with 1.5% fiber content, and like rawhide, they are great for your dog’s teeth and gums. They are enriched with vitamins E and B12, minerals, calcium and zinc, real chicken, sweet potatoes, and cassava. The delicious flavor and stick shape of the treats make for a healthier and safer alternative to rawhide.

These treats do contain questionable ingredients, like corn and soy, and artificial preservatives and flavors. Also, they are hard and brittle, which some dogs may not enjoy, and produced outside of the United States.

Old Mother Hubbard Classic P-Nuttier Baked Dog Treats are slowly oven-baked to a crunchy texture with an irresistible peanut butter flavor. They contain healthy fruits and veggies, like apples and carrots, and have an overall protein content of 12%. These biscuits are great alternatives to chew treats, perfect for puppies and senior pooches, and they are free from artificial preservatives and meat by-products. They also contain herbs, like rosemary and spearmint, to keep your dog’s breath smelling great. They come in three different sizes and are made in the U.S.A.

These treats are in biscuit form, and a handful of customers report receiving bags full of broken treats and crumbs. Also, even the smallest sizes are too big for small dog breeds, and they may have difficulty eating these treats.

Get into the festive spirit with Zuke’s Mini Naturals Holiday Dog Treats! These festive, Christmas tree-shaped treats have turkey as the first ingredient, along with wholesome sweet potatoes and cranberries. The treats are free from corn, wheat, and soy. At less than 3 calories per treat, they are ideal for treating your pooch without the risk of added calories. They have a soft and chewy texture and are crafted in the U.S.A.

These treats may be low in calories but are small in size and not ideal for large dogs. They also come in a small package for the high price, and some customers reported that they had a strange odor that their dogs did not enjoy.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Treats at PetSmart

There are a ton of dog treats on the market, and not all are created equal! Some of these treats contain only the best ingredients that are actually healthy additions to your dog’s diet, while others contain ingredients that should not be given regularly, if at all.

Treats are a great way to reward your pooch and are essential training tools, too. During the initial training stages, you’ll likely be giving many treats to your pooch, so you’ll want them to be not only tasty but also healthy. Let’s look at a few factors to consider when buying treats for your canine companion.

Ingredients

Ingredients are the most important things to look for in dog treats. Like your dog’s food, you want the treats to be free from any fillers, sugar, or artificial ingredients and be packed with as many healthy additions as possible. As with your dog’s regular food, you want the first ingredient to be from an animal source, like beef or chicken. The treats you choose should have recognizable ingredients, like meats, vegetables, and fruits, and should be free from dyes, preservatives, and human foods like sugar.

Calories

Calories can add up quickly, and the number of calories per treat is an important consideration. Naturally, the smaller the treat, the fewer calories there’ll be; otherwise, you can try to break the treats apart, which can be difficult with chewy treats. The calorie content is especially important if you have a dog that is trying to lose weight or you are training your dog often using treats.

Texture

Most dog treats on the market are chewy in texture, which is great because these take a while for your pooch to eat. That said, if the treats are very chewy, they can be difficult to break apart and difficult to eat for senior dogs. Biscuits may be a better option for senior dogs or puppies, although chew treats are great if you need to distract your pooch for any length of time.

Conclusion

The Hill’s Natural Soft Savories Dog Treats are our pick for the best dog treats from PetSmart overall. They contain real peanut butter, a soft and tender texture, and healthy ingredients like peas and bananas and are free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

Blue Buffalo Blue Bits contain tender U.S.A. beef as the first ingredient and are the best dog treats at PetSmart for the money. The treats contain flaxseeds and salmon oil loaded with DHA, are perfectly sized for training sessions and walks, and are free from poultry by-product meals, grains, and artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.

Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Treats are great if you’re looking for premium treats for your pooch. These savory treats are made using real beef, filet mignon, and chicken, are soft and easy to chew, and are fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals to help keep your dog healthy too.

PetSmart is a great place to get food, accessories, and treats for your pooch. There are a ton of options, though, and it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. We hope that our in-depth reviews have narrowed the options and helped you find the best treats for your canine companion!

Featured Image Credit: Christian Mueller, Shutterstock