Review Summary

True Chews dog treats are part of the Blue Buffalo line (though they weren’t always) and can be located in most pet stores and online, so you may be familiar with them. The brand offers a fairly good selection of dog treats that feature different kinds of meats as the first ingredient, different textures, and a grain-free option, making them a good choice for most pups. And according to reviews, these treats are definitely dog-approved!

However, there are some downsides to these treats—mostly ingredient-related—that might make them unsuitable for your pup. Below, you’ll find all the relevant info you need to make a decision about whether to feed these to your pet or not, including reviews of the best treat recipes, an overview of the good (and less good) ingredients, and more!

At a Glance: The Best True Chews Treats Recipes:

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Our Favorite		True Chews Chicken Jerky Cuts Dog Treat	High-protein Quality protein source Soft pieces	Check Price
		True Chews Steak Grillers Dog Treat	High-protein Real beef and steak Picky eaters seemed to enjoy	Check Price
		True Chews Chicken Pot Pie Dog Treats	Quality protein source Carrots for eye health Fairly low-calorie	Check Price
		True Chews Chicken Bacon Dog Treats	Real meat as the first (and sometimes second) ingredient High-protein Picky eaters seemed to enjoy	Check Price

True Chews Dog Treats Reviewed

Though True Chews has been around since 2010, they only became a part of the Blue Buffalo label in 2021. So if you used to give your dog these treats but haven’t in a while, you might find some things have changed. Two excellent things about these treats are the main ingredients and the fact that ingredients are very limited, which makes them suitable for dogs with allergies.

However, there are also a few ingredients that can be found in certain treats that might have health implications for your pet. Here’s what you need to know.

Who Makes True Chews Dog Treats, and Where Is It Produced?

The True Chews dog treat brand was introduced in 2010 by Tyson Foods but was purchased by General Mills in 2021 (though at the time of purchase, Tyson Foods said it would continue supplying meat for the products). Now True Chews dog treats are packaged under the Blue Buffalo label, which was acquired by General Mills in 2018.

There’s little to be found as to where these dog treats are made, but at the time of purchase General Mills also obtained a manufacturing plant in Iowa, so there’s a good chance that there is at least one location where True Chews are made.

Which Type of Dog Is True Chews Dog Treats Best Suited For?

Because True Chews dog treats all feature protein from real meat and come in various flavors and styles (chewy, jerky, etc.), they should be suitable for most dogs. The brand even has grain-free treats if your dog requires a grain-free diet, plus they offer alternative protein sources such as duck if your dog is allergic to common proteins found in dog treats.

There are also a couple of recipes that contain peas, though, which have been tentatively linked to heart problems in dogs, so you may want to watch for that. But other than the peas, it seems that the only reason it might not be suitable for your pup is if they don’t like the taste.

Which Type of Dog Might Do Better with a Different Brand?

If you’re worried about the effect of peas on the health of your dog’s heart, we’d suggest going with a dog treat that doesn’t contain them, such as Pup-Peroni Original Beef Flavor Dog Treats. If your pup just doesn’t like how any of the True Chews dog treats taste, we recommend going with a  such as Greenies Regular Dental Dog Treats.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Knowing what goes into your pet’s food and treats is essential since you want them to remain as healthy as possible. So, here’s a closer look at the main ingredients of True Chews dog treats—the good and the bad.

Real Meat as the Main Ingredient

The best thing about True Chews dog treats is that they use real meat as the first ingredient (and occasionally as the first two ingredients), so these treats are not only high in protein, but the protein comes from a quality source. Protein sources include chicken, beef, steak, duck, pork, and turkey.

Limited Ingredients

The next best thing about these dog treats is that they are incredibly limited in the number of ingredients they contain. Most seem to include eight or fewer ingredients, making them a potentially better option for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies. That also means they contain no artificial fillers or preservatives.

Potatoes

Here’s where the ingredients begin to get a bit questionable. Dogs can eat potatoes, so long as the potatoes are cooked (never feed raw potatoes to your dog!), but it’s not necessarily healthy. While potatoes do contain vitamins and nutrients a dog needs, they are also a carb-heavy food, which isn’t great for dogs with diabetes or those watching their weight.

There’s also a chance potatoes fall into the same category as peas when it comes to your dog’s heart health (though that link is more tentative than the pea link). So, potatoes aren’t totally bad for your pup, but they also aren’t a great regular addition to a dog’s diet.

Colored with Paprika

The majority, if not all of True Chews dog treats, appear to be colored with paprika, and, while not toxic to your pet, paprika isn’t really dog-friendly. Admittedly, treats being colored with paprika should mean there isn’t much there. But if your pup is extremely sensitive to spice, paprika may cause stomach upset.

Contains Peas

As previously stated, a few of the True Chews dog treats (but not all!) contain peas, an ingredient that has been linked to dilated cardiomyopathy in canines. If that’s a concern for you, you should check the ingredients to ensure you’re getting a treat that does not contain peas.

A Quick Look at True Chews Dog Treats

Recall History

True Chews dog treats do not seem to have had any recalls in their history.

Reviews of the 3 Best True Chew Dog Treats

Ready to take a closer look at the three best True Chew dog treats to find out more?

1. True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts with Real Chicken Dog Treats

With 25% crude protein and only 58 calories per piece, these treats offer your dog a high-protein snack. And with real chicken raised with no hormones or antibiotics as the first ingredient, that protein comes from a high-quality source. Plus, these treats are soft and chewy, making them an excellent choice for older dogs who have difficulty chewing hard treats and food.

Though the ingredients in these treats are limited, potatoes are the second one listed, and this is a not particularly healthy ingredient to have. These jerky cuts are also colored with paprika, which may upset the stomachs of dogs with sensitive digestive systems.

2. True Chews Premium Grillers with Real Steak Grain-Free Dog Treats

The True Chews Premium Grillers have just a touch less protein than the treats above, but that protein still comes from an excellent source in the form of 100% beef and sirloin steak sourced in the U.S. They are also chewy, like the jerky cuts, making them easier for dogs to chew. And the package these treats come in is resealable to keep things as fresh as possible. Several pet owners commented that their picky eaters loved these grillers!

Like most True Chews, these dog treats contain potatoes and are colored with paprika, so be aware of the potential health concerns that come with those ingredients. There were also several reports from 2021 that these dog treats were moldy upon arrival; hopefully, that issue has been cleared up by now.

3. True Chews Premium Chicken Pot Pie Recipe Dog Treats

These chicken pot pie dog treats will definitely offer your pup a unique taste, and with real chicken as the first ingredient, plenty of protein to boot. The chicken pot pie morsels are chewy and soft enough for any dog to chow down on and are only 40 calories per piece, so they’re reasonably low-calorie. Plus, these treats include carrots, which are beneficial for eye health!

On the downside, these treats contain peas and potatoes, both of which have potential links to adverse effects on the health of a dog’s heart. They are also colored with paprika, which could cause upset stomachs in dogs with sensitive digestive systems.

What Other Users Are Saying

There’s really no better way to determine whether a dog treat might be suitable for your pet than by finding out what other dog owners have to say about the product. Here are just a handful of things people have to say about True Chews.

Conclusion

Overall, we give True Chews dog treats 4 out of 5 stars. While the addition of real meat as the first ingredient and the other ingredients being very limited is a plus, a few ingredients might not be that wonderful for your dog on a regular basis. Both peas and potatoes may be linked to dilated cardiomyopathy in canines, while paprika can cause upset stomachs in dogs with sensitive digestive systems.

If neither of those is of concern, though, you may find these treats to be a hit with your pup (especially if you have a pet with allergies or food sensitivities), as most dogs seem to be big fans!