What’s the secret to a happy Shih Tzu? Often, it’s a perfectly timed, delicious treat! These little lions deserve the very best snacks, but finding them can feel like a maze. You want something healthy, something they will actually eat, and something that won’t upset their sensitive tummies. It is frustrating when you buy a bag only to watch your furry friend turn their nose up at it!
Choosing the wrong treat can lead to tummy troubles or even dental issues for your small companion. We know you worry about what goes into those tiny bodies. That is why we dug deep to find the ultimate guide for Shih Tzu treats.
Keep reading to discover the safest, tastiest, and healthiest treat options perfectly sized for your beloved Shih Tzu. We break down what ingredients to look for and which ones to avoid. Get ready to become the treat expert every Shih Tzu dreams of having!
Top Dog Treats For Shih Tzu Recommendations
- CONTAINS: One 25-oz. canister of Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy dog treats
- MADE WITH REAL BEEF & FILET MIGNON: Tender, tempting dog snacks they won’t be able to resist
- WHOLESOME AND TASTY: With 12 vitamins & minerals, like iron, zinc and B12, plus 18% protein
- EASY TO CHEW: Soft dog treats for dogs of all ages and sizes
- LOVED SINCE 1908: Produced in Buffalo, NY and Topeka, KS
- VET RECOMMENDED FORMULA- A daily nutritional supplement with a synergistic blend of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants!
- TASTY SOFT CHEWS- Our delicious heart shaped soft chews help maintain optimal health in dogs no matter the breed, age or activity level! Easy to administer!
- DIETARY SUPPLEMENT- Perfect to supplement your dog's diet. Helps with skin & coat, digestion, bladder support, and overall health!
- MADE IN USA- Made in FDA, USDA and FSIS Regulated Manufacturing Facilities. All raw materials utilized are of the highest quality and are evaluated for purity and potency prior to use.
- Healthy Breeds offers an assortment of dog healthcare products, grooming products and treats for over 200 breeds! Make sure to search for your breed! Click the Healthy Breeds hyperlink above the title to see our amazon storefront!
- FIVE FLAVORS DOGS LOVE: Made from pork hide and rawhide, then wrapped with real, savory chicken, wholesome duck and hearty chicken liver flavor
- LONG-LASTING: Good ‘n’ Fun Triple Flavor Kabobs are truly delightful, long-lasting rawhide treats your dog will love
- GOOD SOURCE OF PROTEIN: Perfect to give your dog every day for a chew full of fun and flavor
- NATURAL CHEWING ACTION: Promotes clean teeth from the natural action of chewing
- KABOB SHAPE: Wrapped with premium cuts of real chicken canines crave
- MADE with APPLES: BLUE Health Bars dog treats prove that a healthy treat can be tasty, too; with ingredients like oatmeal, apples and yogurt, they feature the ingredients you’ll be proud to feed your furry family members
- MINI CRUNCHY DOG TREATS: A smaller bite with the same crunch, these dog biscuits are oven baked for a texture dogs love
- WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: These dog treats don’t contain any chicken (or poultry) by-product meals and are free from corn, wheat and soy; plus, they’re free from artificial preservatives like BHA & artificial colors
- HEALTHY DOG TREATS: Made with only the finest natural ingredients and enhanced with vitamins and minerals, Blue Buffalo natural dog treats feature the ingredients you’ll love feeding as much as they’ll love eating
- INCLUDED IN PACKAGE: Contains One (1) 16-oz bag of BLUE Health Bars Mini Crunchy Dog Biscuits, Oven-Baked with Natural Ingredients, Apples & Yogurt
- HUMAN-GRADE: If you wouldn’t eat it, why would you feed it? From the ingredients they’re made with to the kitchens they’re made in, our treats meet strict USDA standards fit for human consumption
- ALL NATURAL: Our kitchen-crafted Essential Beef Savory Bites are made from quality, 100% all natural ingredients and free range beef raised on family farms; Tear open a bag for lots of doggy kisses!
- HIGH QUALITY INGREDIENTS: Truth is our first ingredient; We carefully cook our natural Essential Beef Savory Bites in small batches using honest ingredients like free range beef, cassava root, ground celery, and rosemary extract—never any by-products or waste
- NO GLYCERIN, GRAINS, CORN, WHEAT OR SOY: Our all natural treats are made from wholesome, healthy recipes; Every bite is free from fillers, artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors and chock full of real meat flavor
- U.S-GROWN BEEF: Full Moon treats are proudly made in the United States using regionally sourced ingredients, including USDA approved free range beef
- CONTAINS: One 40-oz. canister of Milk-Bone MaroSnacks small dog treats with real bone marrow
- CRUNCHY OUTSIDE, MEATY INSIDE: A dog biscuit with a satisfying combo of texture and mouthwatering flavor
- ONLY 10 CALORIES EACH: Ideal dog training treats that can also be used as an everyday snack
- MADE WITH CALCIUM: Helps maintain strong teeth and bones
- BAKED WITH LOVE: Produced in Buffalo, New York, USA
- TRIPLE FLAVOR BEEF HIDE CHEW: Good ‘n’ Fun Triple Flavor Wings are made with premium chicken, delicious pork hide and long-lasting beef hide.
- GREAT SOURCE OF PROTEIN: Wrapped with premium cuts of real chicken.
- FUN SHAPE: Treat your pup to a fun ‘n’ flavorful chew time with this wing-shaped chew.
- SATISFIES YOUR DOG’S NATURAL URGE TO CHEW: The natural chewing action helps reduce tartar buildup and remove plaque.
- SNACK FOR ALL DOGS: Your dog is sure to love this truly delightful, long-lasting treat.
- Enjoy these soft-baked 'B's that are every doggy's favorite - from puppies, to picky eaters, to senior pups with sensitive mouths, too! These are a softer cookie with limited, natural ingredients. Perfect for pups looking for a chewier bite.
- Perfect for Everyday Treating: With just 9 ingredients (like oat flour, peanut butter, banana and rolled oats!) and only 9 calories per treat, you can feel good treating your favorite pup to this yummy recipe.
- Proudly Baked in the USA: We start each recipe with the highest quality (tastiest!) ingredients, sourced in the USA local to our bakeries.
- Our Promise: Wheat, corn, and soy-free recipes - and never, ever any artificial ingredients or preservatives. We keep our ingredient lists short, our batches small, and our ovens toasty.
- Our Story: Bocce’s was started in a tiny NYC kitchen with a mixer, an oven and a scruffy mutt named Bocce, with the belief that our furry friends (pups and kitty cats, too!) deserve better. Better food with fresher, simpler, natural ingredients.
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Choosing the Best Treats for Your Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are wonderful, small dogs with big personalities. They often need special care, especially when it comes to their diet. Picking the right dog treat matters for their health and happiness. This guide helps you choose the best snacks for your little companion.
Key Features to Look For
When buying treats for your Shih Tzu, certain features stand out. You want treats that match their size and needs.
- **Size and Shape:** Shih Tzus have small mouths. Look for small, bite-sized treats. Large, hard biscuits can be a choking hazard or hurt their tiny teeth. Soft or semi-moist treats are often best.
- **Nutritional Value:** Treats should not be just empty calories. Good treats offer small amounts of protein, fiber, or healthy fats. Avoid treats that are mostly sugar or artificial fillers.
- **Dental Support:** Many small breeds struggle with dental issues. Some treats are specifically designed to help clean teeth as your dog chews. Look for treats with a texture that encourages scraping plaque.
- **Training Suitability:** If you are training your Shih Tzu, you need small, easily broken pieces. You want a treat your dog loves but that won’t fill them up too fast during a long training session.
Important Ingredients to Consider
The ingredients list tells you everything about the treat’s quality. What goes into the treat directly affects your dog’s well-being.
High-quality ingredients improve the treat. Good ingredients include real meat (like chicken or beef), healthy vegetables (like carrots or sweet potatoes), or whole grains (like oatmeal). These items give your dog real nutrition.
Be very careful about artificial additives. Preservatives like BHA or BHT are often used to keep treats fresh longer, but many owners prefer to avoid them. Artificial colors and strong artificial flavors should also be avoided. They offer no benefit to your dog.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Treat Quality
Treat quality is not always obvious just by looking at the package. You must read the labels carefully.
What Boosts Quality?
- **Single Ingredient Focus:** Treats made from one main, recognizable ingredient (like dried salmon or real peanut butter) are usually top quality.
- **Natural Preservation:** Treats preserved naturally, perhaps with Vitamin E (tocopherols), show higher quality manufacturing standards.
- **Source Transparency:** Brands that clearly state where their ingredients come from often use better sources.
What Lowers Quality?
Low-quality treats rely on cheap fillers. Excessive corn, wheat, or soy can be hard for some dogs to digest. If these ingredients appear near the top of the list, the treat quality likely drops. Also, treats with very long ingredient lists often contain unnecessary extras.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the treat affects which type you should buy. Think about when and why you give treats.
For **daily rewards** during walks or playtime, soft, highly palatable treats work best. Your dog gets excited quickly, and training moves smoothly. These treats are usually eaten fast.
For **long-lasting entertainment** or crate training, choose a harder chew or a dental stick. These keep your Shih Tzu busy for a longer period, which is great for calming them down before bedtime.
Always remember that treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calories. Even the best treat given too often leads to weight gain.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Shih Tzu Treats
Q: How often should I give my Shih Tzu a treat?
A: You should give treats sparingly. Use them for training rewards or small gestures of affection. Keep them under 10% of the daily food intake.
Q: Are rawhide chews safe for Shih Tzus?
A: Generally, rawhide is not recommended for small breeds like Shih Tzus. They can swallow large pieces, which might cause blockages. Softer, digestible chews are safer choices.
Q: What is the best size treat for a Shih Tzu?
A: The best size is small and pea-sized or slightly larger. They should be easy for your dog to chew and swallow quickly without much effort.
Q: Can Shih Tzus eat human food as treats?
A: Some plain, cooked human foods are safe, like small pieces of cooked chicken or carrots. However, many human foods, like grapes, onions, or chocolate, are toxic and must be avoided.
Q: Should I choose hard or soft treats?
A: It depends on the use case. Soft treats are great for fast training rewards. Harder treats help clean teeth or keep them occupied longer.
Q: What ingredients should I absolutely avoid?
A: Avoid chocolate, xylitol (a sweetener), grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and excessive artificial colors or preservatives.
Q: How do I know if a treat is causing my dog digestive upset?
A: Look for signs like soft stool, gas, or vomiting after eating a new treat. If you see these signs, stop giving that treat immediately.
Q: Are grain-free treats always better for my Shih Tzu?
A: Not necessarily. If your dog is not allergic to grains, whole grains like oatmeal can be a good source of fiber. Grain-free is only necessary if your vet suggests it or if your dog shows an allergy.
Q: How long should a dental chew last for a Shih Tzu?
A: A dental chew should last at least five to ten minutes for a small dog. If it disappears in seconds, it is too small or too soft for long-lasting dental cleaning.
Q: When should I switch from puppy treats to adult treats?
A: Most Shih Tzus transition to adult food and treats around 10 to 12 months old. Check with your veterinarian for the exact timing based on your dog’s growth rate.