The Best Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Many folks consider their pets to be like their own children, and they certainly act like it. We treat them to sweaters, dog cafes, pet strollers ... the list goes on and on. But if we care so much about how they look, maybe it’s time we start caring about what they eat. If you’re looking to give your furry friend the best food and treats money can buy, you’re in luck. We’ve put together a list of the best peanut butter treats available so that you can give your pooch a taste of the good life.
What to Look For
In order to determine which peanut butter treats were worthy of this list, we asked ourselves three questions: Are they formulated with nutritious, safe ingredients? Are they affordable enough to use on a consistent basis? Do dogs actually enjoy their flavor? A few options rose above the competition, such as SmartBones’ mini chews. These aren’t just delicious and packed with protein — they also help promote dental health. But when your pooch is feeling a bit more indulgent, an option like Kong’s dispensable dog treat paste might hit the spot. Read on to learn about the rest of our favorite options and why they stood out to us.
Pawstruck Peanut Butter Filled Cow Hooves
Quality snacks for our quality canines
It’s simple: dogs love tough, chewy textures and animal hide. If you want to give your dog these tasty treats, but you want an added filling for more flavor, these are the perfect solution.
These peanut butter-filled cow hooves from Pawstruck are made in the USA and are sourced from free-range, grass-fed cattle. They’re cleaned, processed, and filled with a delicious peanut butter filling that will be sure to entice your furry pals. . The treats are tasty, good for teeth, and sourced from the best quality ingredients. That sounds like a win-win to us.
Pros:
- The tough texture is great for your dog’s dental health, giving them a chewy substance to clean off plaque and tartar as they chew.
- If you’re aiming to avoid rawhide, this serves as a great alternative.
Cons:
- It’s possible that these can be a choking and splinter hazard, so be sure to always keep an eye on your dog while they’re chewing these.
SmartBones Mini Chews
Good gut health
Rawhide treats and chew toys are very popular among dog owners, but not among dogs’ digestive systems. Rawhide can cause a variety issues and is known to give dogs upset stomachs. If you’re looking for a treat that has all the benefits of rawhide but none of the risk, these mini chews from SmartBones are the treats for you.
Made with real peanut butter, chicken, and vegetables, these treats are designed to be easily digestible and healthy. Instead of using rawhide, the vegetable and peanut butter outside provides a similar texture. The real meat inside gives a good amount of protein, and the chewy nature of the treats helps promote healthy teeth in dogs. Skip the tummy aches and digestive issues — these treats are 99% digestible and made with ingredients your dog will love.
Pros:
- While plenty of edible treats and dog food on the market contain heavily processed ingredients mixed with fillers, these treats are made with real peanut butter, chicken, and vegetables.
- We’re glad to know that these chews are enriched with vitamins and minerals.
Cons:
- In some dogs, these can cause digestive issues, so monitor your dog’s stools when they first start eating these.
Kong Dog Treat Paste
Fill your chew toys with flavor
Most dog owners know the classic Kong toy as a bright red, almost indestructible rubber toy that can entertain dogs for hours at a time. They’re specifically made with a hole in the middle to insert dog treats so that your pets will work to get to them. If you’re looking for an excellent no-mess treat to put inside the toy, this paste from Kong is the perfect match.
This easy-to-use spray nozzle functions just like whipped cream or spray cheese: just point and press to dispense the tasty contents. This pack comes with two cans and offers several different flavors to choose from. Use it in your Kong toy, or just as a quick snack for your pets. No matter what you use it for, you’ll have delicious flavors ready for your dog in a matter of seconds.
Pros:
- If you already have Kong toys, this paste is perfect to use inside of them.
- While it may sound messy, this paste is anything but. Thanks to the spray nozzle, you can count on easy, no-mess dispensing.
Cons:
- If it’s not mixed well, it may dispense in liquid form.
Old Mother Hubbard Classic P-Nuttier Biscuits
That classic crunch
It’s been said that bigger is always better, and dog lovers are no stranger to this fact. Walk down any pet aisle and you’ll find enormous bags of dog food, giant tubs of kitty litter, and enough treats to last a lifetime. If you like to shop in bulk and give your dog delicious biscuits for months to come, these biscuits from Old Mother Hubbard may be perfect for you.
These oven-baked dog biscuits are crunchy and large, so they’re perfect for bigger dogs. If you have a small dog, you can always break the treats into pieces. These come in a massive 3.5-pound bag with no meat by-products and no artificial flavors. The company has been baking dog treats since 1926, so their homestyle recipes are tried and true. Give your dog the tastiest treats with a sterling reputation almost a century in the making.
Pros:
- These treats are pretty darn big, so if your large pooch demands large treats, these will hit the spot.
- We like that the ingredients are all-natural and that the price is still reasonable despite that.
Cons:
- If your dogs are small, you may have to manually break the treats into pieces for your dogs to eat them.
Nutro Crunchy Natural Biscuit Dog Treats
More flavor, less cost
When picking out tasty treats for your furry friend, it’s easy to get distracted by name brands and expensive prices. If you’re having trouble sorting through the shelves, fret not. More flavor doesn’t necessarily mean more money, and these dog treats from Nutro prove it. These peanut-flavored dog treats are high in protein and are only five calories per treat. Made with real peanut butter and weighing in at half the price of most competing brands, these treats are a deal any bargain hunter would love.
Pros:
- While you might assume such an affordable option is made with low-quality ingredients, that’s not the case. They’re made in the USA with no artificial flavors, no artificial preservatives, and no chicken by-product meal.
- Most peanut butter dog treats are chewy, but these are crunchy, which your dog may prefer.
Cons:
- At 16 ounces, the package is pretty small. It might not last you too long.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is peanut butter good for my dog?
Most peanut butter is safe for dogs to eat, and can even be a healthy source of protein and vitamins. Too much can be fattening to your dog, but in moderation, it can be a good snack. However, a sugar substitute called xylitol that is used in some low-sugar peanut butter can be dangerous for your pets to ingest. Be sure to read the ingredients and make sure that this substance is not in your peanut butter or dog treats.
Is dog peanut butter the same as human peanut butter?
Not necessarily. Peanut butter marketed specifically to dogs usually just contains peanuts. Human peanut butter can contain extra salt, oils, sugars, and more. Some extra ingredients can be harmful to dogs, so dog peanut butter tends to keep it all-natural and leave out any extra ingredients at all. Some human peanut butter is all-natural as well, so this isn’t a big difference in some cases.
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