5 Best Made-in-the-USA Dog Treats [2024 Reviews] (2024)

People need dessert, dogs need treats. It’s a simple fact of life!

In fact, dogs need treats more than humans need dessert, because treats for dogs can serve as a training incentive, a nutritional bonus, and a sign of your love and appreciation.

No doubt your doggo has some strong opinions when it comes to treats, but you’ll want to steer him towards healthy, high-quality options. Usually, a surefire way to ensure safety and quality is to look for treats sourced from and made in the United States.

Across the globe, countries have varying standards for safety and quality when it comes to pet treats. Some treats sold in your local pet store come from places where the standard is quite low, and by giving your pup these treats you can unknowingly put him at risk for a host of health issues.

At the very least, your pup is not reaping the benefits of the healthy and wholesome options out there. But when you feed your pooch snacks sourced exclusively from the US, you can rest assured that he’s getting ingredients manufactured to a high industry standard.

Your dog deserves the best, so consider American-made treats next time you’re shopping for snacks!

We’ll explain the benefits of US-made treats and identify five of the best ones available below. But, if you’re in a hurry, just check out our quick picks!

Quick Picks: Our Three Favorite US-Made Dog Treats

• Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats — Grain-free treats from one of the leading dog food manufacturers, these bite-sized morsels are available in a variety of flavors to suit your pup’s palate.
• Nudges Steak Grillers — Made with real steak, these tasty treats are easy to tear into small pieces, and they’re made without any animal by-products.
• Blue Buffalo Health Bars — These crunchy treats are made without corn or wheat, and they’re packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

5 Best USA Made Treats for Dogs

There are a ton of great treats on the market, but the following five US-made options are easily among the best choices for most doggos.

1. Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Treats

About: Buffalo-based treat maker Milk-Bone has been cooking up beloved dog treats for years. Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Treats are a softer version of the classic Milk-Bone snacks, and they’re packed with vitamins and a flavor your pooch will love!

Features: Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Treats boast twelve different vitamins to promote several aspects of pooch health. And they’re made with real, delicious proteins, such as beef and chicken.

Options: Sold in 25-ounce containers or in smaller pouches, with your choice of filet mignon or chicken flavors.

2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats

About: The popular pet food manufacturer also makes a variety of pet treats! Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats are delightful bite-sized snacks, offered in a variety of flavors.

Features: These grain-free delights are made without by-products. And, like all Blue Buffalo products, they’re made in the USA from healthy, nutritious ingredients.

Options: Sold in 8-, 10-, and 24-ounce packages, these tasty treats are offered in Salmon & Venison, Duck, Salmon, Turkey, or a Variety Pack of flavors.

3. Blue Buffalo Health Bars

About: The second appearance of Blue Buffalo on our list, Blue Buffalo Health Bars are another great American-made snack with even more flavors and options.

Features: These crunchy delights are packed with immune-health supporting vitamins, and they leave out the corn and wheat by-products.

Options: There’s a wide variety of flavors that are sure to satisfy your pup’s taste buds, including Apple & Yogurt, Bacon Egg & Cheese, Banana & Yogurt, Pumpkin & Cinnamon, and more.

4. Chews Premium Grillers Made with Real Chicken

About: Complete with real grill marks, Chews Premium Grillers Made With Real Chicken is an all-natural meaty delight that your dog will devour!

Features: These tasty morsels are made with chicken from the US, without additions of corn, wheat, or soy.They’re also made without any artificial flavors or preservatives.

5. Nudges Steak Grillers

About: Nudges Steak Grillers are steak-flavored delights, made with American beef, in US-based kitchens.

Features: These steak treats are made without extra flavors or preservatives, boasting all-natural ingredients. They don’t contain any animal byproducts, and they’re quite easy to tear into smaller pieces if necessary.

Options: These treats are sold in quantities of 3-, 10-, 16-, and 36-ounce, bags, with the option of chicken or beef flavors.

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Does Your Dog Even Need Treats?

Treats for your pup are as important as healthy snacks are to you. Daily meals and feeding habits are of course vital to general health, but the right treats can enhance your pup’s physical condition, mood, and mind.

Here are the main reasons why treats are a must:

• Training — A tasty treat is the perfect incentive for teaching your pup to sit, stay, and more! Treats are vital to piquing the interest of your pooch and keeping him focused on learning to perform tricks.
• Distractions —Dreaded trips to the vet and similar frightening situations for your pooch can be made a little less scary by scrumptious snacks. Distractions for dogs can also be useful when meeting new friends (human or canine), going exciting places, and more, to keep your pup’s attention on you, his handler.
• Quality of Life — Treats aren’t called treats for nothing! Just like you enjoy a snack or dessert from time to time, your pup surely enjoys the dog-friendly delicacies he’s given. Variety is the spice of life for dogs too!
• Supplemental Calories — Just like humans need extra calories before and during exercise, pups may need some extra energy for long and strenuous walks. Healthy treats with the right ingredients can give your pooch the boost he needs, when he needs it.

Picking Treats for Your Pooch: Factors to Consider

Not all dog treats are alike, so don’t just pick the first one you see on the shelf with a cute pup on the packaging. Do your research on ingredients, the manufacturer, and the reviews, and select the best treat based on your pooch’s needs.

Here are a few factors to consider when you pick out the perfect treat for your doggo:

• Specific Health Concerns — Does your dog have any dietary restrictions? If so, this should be the forefront of your treat-choosing criteria. While your pup’s daily diet is a pretty good indicator of what treat ingredients will sit well in his stomach, it’s best to watch him closely after starting him on new treats for any negative reactions.
• Calories — Some dogs need treats to gain weight. Others, more commonly, need to lose a pound or two. Thankfully, there are treats out there to fit most any caloric needs. If your dog is on the husky side (and isn’t a husky), be sure and choose treats accordingly.
• Pooch Preferences — Consider your dog’s regular meals and preferred flavors when selecting a treat. From pork to beef to seafood, dog treats come in every flavor imaginable, just like dog food.
• Ingredients — When it comes to selecting the right treat for your pup, a healthy composition is key. Typically, the fewer ingredients, the better. To get a good idea of what your pooch is eating, read the first few ingredients on the list, and look for meat to be a primary ingredient.

Why Are US-Made Treats the Best?

To be fair, a lot of countries across the globe produce high-quality pet treats. For instance, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Western Europe offer several great options for pet treats.

However, USA-made treats offer a host of benefits that few international options can match:

• Safety — Treats made in America must meet standards and expectations when being marketed and sold in the US. While treats from other countries are similarly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, most of the time it only steps in after problems have been reported. It’s best to buy USA-made treats, since you can rest assured that the ingredients sourced stateside are safer.
• Quality — Simply put, treats made in America are typically a higher quality product than those made elsewhere. While ingredients and quality vary by brand, American-made treats are more likely to have fewer low-quality ingredientsand more naturally-fed animal products.
• Ease of Shipping — Obviously, American customers will have an easier time with shipping from companies based in the US. Additionally, you can count on the freshness of the treats you’re receiving since they aren’t traveling too far geographically.

Treats are an essential part of good pet ownership. Picking the right treat starts with picking the right brand, and American-sourced treats tend to set the standard for quality and convenience.

Which USA-made dog treats does your pooch enjoy? Let us know in the comments below!

Want more good ol’ made in the USA pet items? Check out our articles on:

• Best Made-in-the-USA Dog Toys
• Top USA-Made Dog Beds