Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Chicken Review

I am picky about training treats because they live in the real world: pockets, treat pouches, glove boxes, puppy class bags, and those frantic moments when your dog is doing something good and you have about one second to pay them for it. Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Natural Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats Chicken Recipe are clearly aimed at that exact job. They are soft, bite-sized, chicken-forward rewards in a 9-oz bag, made for training and treating rather than replacing a meal.

As The Pet Dude, I look at treats a little differently than I look at a cute impulse buy. I want the dog to care about the reward, but I also want the ingredient panel and the practical handling to make sense. With these Blue Bits, the big draw is simple: real chicken is listed as the first ingredient, the texture is soft-moist, the morsels are small enough for repeated training, and the formula avoids chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives like propylene glycol, and artificial colors like red dye 40.

This review is for fellow dog people who are using treats for sit, recall, leash manners, potty training, cooperative harness removal, or just a little good-dog moment at the end of a walk. I am reviewing the Chicken Recipe 9-oz bag specifically, while also noting that the listing shows chicken and beef options plus a larger package option.

What it is

Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Chicken Recipe is a natural soft-moist dog training treat from Blue Buffalo. The listing describes them as tender, bite-sized morsels that are perfect for training and perfect for treating. The product is targeted to dogs, with the listing showing adult as the age range description, medium as the dog breed size field, and medium and large breeds under breed recommendation. At the same time, the feature copy says the DHA helps support cognitive development and calls them an ideal puppy treat, so there is a bit of listing overlap between adult-dog fields and puppy-training language.

The bag reviewed here is the 9-oz package. The item form is treats, the flavor is chicken, and the container type is a bag. The listed special ingredients include chicken, oatmeal, brown rice, fish oil, and flaxseed. The product benefit is described as a healthy, tasty training and treating option, and the recommended use is training.

Key product facts I care about

• Brand: Blue Buffalo
• Manufacturer: Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd
• Recipe reviewed: Chicken Recipe
• Bag size reviewed: 9 oz
• Texture: soft-moist
• Form: bite-sized morsel training treats
• First ingredient claim: real chicken first
• Contains DHA: listed to help support cognitive development
• Allergen information: chicken meat
• Free-from claims: no chicken or poultry by-product meals, no corn, wheat, or soy, no artificial preservatives like propylene glycol, and no artificial colors like red dye 40
• Available options shown on the listing: chicken, beef, 9-oz pack, and 1-pound pack
• Colors available: not really applicable here; this is a consumable dog treat, not gear. The listing is about recipe and package size rather than color choice.

One small note: the listing includes an animal food diet type field that says special diet. I would not treat that as a therapeutic or prescription-style claim from the description alone. The main product copy presents these as dog training treats, not as a medical food. If your dog needs a special diet or has a health condition, that is a professionalerinarian conversation, not a treat-bag decision.

First look: why these treats get attention

The first thing I notice with this type of treat is whether it feels like a realistic training reward or more like a cookie that happens to be small. Blue Bits are meant to be meaty, tender, and bite-sized. That matters because a training treat has a different job than a long-lasting chew. It needs to be quick to deliver, quick for the dog to eat, and interesting enough that the dog comes back ready to work.

The smell is a real part of the appeal. In day-to-day use, these have the kind of savory, jerky-like aroma that gets dogs tuned in fast. I do not need a treat to smell good to me, but I do want it to be easy for a dog to locate and value. For dogs that are distracted, nervous around a new person, or learning a new routine, smell can do a lot of the initial heavy lifting.

I also like that they are soft enough to break. When I am doing a lot of repetitions, I do not always want to hand over a whole treat every single time. These can be split into smaller bits for encouragement training and positive reinforcement, especially with smaller dogs or puppies with tiny mouths. The downside is that softness depends heavily on storage. If the bag is left unzipped, they can dry out quickly and become much harder. Once dried, they are more likely to crumble instead of breaking neatly.

In daily use / hands-on testing

For me, a training treat succeeds or fails in motion. It is not enough for a dog to like it in the kitchen. I want to know if it works when I am asking for behavior around distractions, in a pocket on a walk, or during a short indoor session when I need clean, fast reinforcement.

Training value

Blue Bits fit the training-treat format well. They are small, soft, and easy to feed one after another without asking the dog to stop and chew for a long time. That makes them useful for classic short-session work: sit, down, name response, come, leash check-ins, and rewarding calm behavior.

I especially like them for situations where the reward needs to happen fast. A dog who checks in beside you on a walk should be paid while the behavior is happening, not ten seconds later after you have snapped a big biscuit in half. These are already in a convenient reward size for medium and larger dogs, and for smaller dogs I would be comfortable breaking them down further.

They also make sense for relationship-building. A soft, smelly treat can be helpful when a dog is unsure about a new person, provided the setup is safe and the dog has space. I would never bribe a scared dog into contact or ignore barking, growling, or avoidance. But when paired with distance, barriers when needed, and simple reward-based interactions, these are the kind of treat that can help a dog form a positive association with a person or routine.

Walks, pockets, and treat pouches

On walks, I prefer training treats that are not giant, crunchy, or messy. These are soft-moist, so they are more pocket-friendly than wet food but more aromatic than a dry biscuit. I would still rather carry them in a treat pouch or small bag than loose in a pants pocket, because soft treats can leave scent behind and the aroma is part of what makes the dog notice them.

They work nicely as a walk reward because you can bring a small handful and use them for check-ins, passing distractions, or returning home calmly. One practical routine I like is saving a reward for the end of the walk when the harness comes off. If a dog tends to fuss during gear removal, a predictable treat at the end can turn that part of the routine into cooperation instead of wrestling.

For puppies

The listing has one of those mixed signals that pet parents should actually notice. The age range description says adult, but the feature copy says the treats have DHA to help support cognitive development and describes them as an ideal puppy treat. In practical terms, the soft texture and small size are puppy-friendly qualities, and they can be useful for potty training and early positive reinforcement. But because the listing itself includes adult as the age field, I would be cautious with very young puppies and ask a qualified professional if your pup has special diet needs.

Texture is the biggest puppy win here. Puppies with little needle teeth often do better with soft rewards than hard biscuits. These are easy to chew, easy to split, and quick to eat. For heavy training days, breaking one treat into smaller pieces can stretch the bag and keep the reward rate high without turning every behavior into a full treat.

For adult and senior dogs

For adult dogs, these are straightforward training treats. The listing recommends them for training and describes them as a healthy and tasty treating option. For seniors, the soft texture is the main appeal. Older dogs that prefer softer treats may find these easier than crunchy cookies.

That said, chicken is clearly part of the recipe and is specifically listed under allergen information as chicken meat. If your dog does poorly with chicken, this is not the bag I would choose. The listing does show a beef option, but this review is for the chicken recipe, and cross-recipe tolerance is not something I would assume for a sensitive dog.

For picky dogs

The chicken aroma and soft texture make these more exciting than a plain hard biscuit for a lot of dogs. In my experience with this style of treat, the smell alone can make a dog start offering sits and check-ins. Still, no treat wins every dog. Some dogs will eat these without acting obsessed, and the highest-value reward for a particular dog may still be fresh food or another treat texture.

That is not a failure; it is just dog reality. If your dog is food motivated, Blue Bits are likely to be useful. If your dog is extremely picky, I would think of them as a convenient everyday reward rather than guaranteed magic.

Ingredients and nutrition notes

The most important ingredient claim here is that real chicken is first. The listing also calls out oatmeal, brown rice, fish oil, and flaxseed as special ingredients. The formula is presented as natural and uses wholesome ingredients, with no chicken or poultry by-product meals, no corn, wheat, or soy, no artificial preservatives like propylene glycol, and no artificial colors like red dye 40.

Those are meaningful shopping filters for a lot of dog parents. If you specifically avoid corn, wheat, soy, red dye 40, propylene glycol, or poultry by-product meals in treats, this product lines up with that preference. If your main issue is chicken sensitivity, though, this is obviously not the right recipe, because chicken is the flavor, first-ingredient claim, and listed allergen.

What I would not overclaim

I am not going to pretend a training treat is a complete diet. The listing calls these treats and positions them for training and treating. They are rewards, not the foundation of a dog’s nutrition. I also would not use the diet type field to make any medical promise. If your dog is on a special diet, has a delicate stomach, or needs strict ingredient control, a professional should be part of the decision.

I also would not call them universal for every dog just because the ingredient list avoids several common things people look to avoid. A treat can be made without corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, and certain artificial preservatives and still be wrong for a dog who cannot tolerate chicken. Fit matters more than marketing shortcuts.

Materials & build quality

Because this is a consumable, build quality is really ingredient quality, texture, and packaging practicality. I am not scoring it like a crate, leash, or aquarium filter. There is no frame to bend or latch to fail. The quality question is whether the treat arrives in a usable form, stays soft when stored properly, and performs its training job.

Texture

The soft-moist texture is the defining feature. When fresh and properly closed, the treats are tender enough to chew quickly and break into smaller pieces. That gives them a lot of flexibility across dog sizes. A medium or large dog can take them whole. A tiny dog, puppy, or dog doing dozens of repetitions can get smaller pieces.

The texture is also the main weak point if the bag is not closed carefully. Left unzipped, these can dry out fast. Once they harden, they are less pleasant to handle, less easy to portion, and more crumbly when you try to split them. My practical advice is simple: close the bag every time, press out excess air if you can, and do not leave it open on the counter during a long training session.

Smell and palatability

The smell is strong in a good dog-treat way. It comes across as meaty and jerky-like rather than bland. That is part of why these can punch above their size in training. A small reward with an obvious smell is often more useful than a larger reward a dog barely notices.

The chicken flavor seems to be the star. The listing also shows beef as an option, but the chicken recipe is the one centered on real chicken first. If your dog already enjoys chicken-based food or treats, this is a natural fit. If chicken is a no-go in your house, skip this recipe.

Packaging

The container type is a bag, and the practical storage lesson is to keep it zipped. I cannot stress this enough. The treats are at their best when they stay soft. A soft-moist treat that dries out becomes a different product in your hand and in your dog’s mouth.

The 9-oz bag is a reasonable size for a training-treat rotation. It is not a single-session sample, but it is also not so huge that I would want it sitting open forever. If you train heavily or have multiple dogs, the listing does show a larger package option.

Safety considerations

Treat safety is not glamorous, but it is where I slow down. Blue Bits are bite-sized and soft, which is generally helpful for quick reward delivery, but pet parents still need to match the treat to the dog in front of them.

• Chicken allergen: The listing identifies chicken meat under allergen information. Dogs with chicken sensitivity should skip the chicken recipe.
• Size and chewing: These are bite-sized morsels. For very small dogs, puppies, or dogs that gulp, breaking the treat into smaller pieces is a sensible move.
• Not a meal: These are training treats. They should not replace a complete diet.
• Age ambiguity: The listing says adult in the age range field but also describes DHA and puppy use. For puppies with special dietary concerns, check with a professionalerinarian.
• Special diets: The listing has a special diet field, but the description is for training treats. Do not use that field as a substitute for professional guidance.
• Storage: Keep the bag zipped. Dried-out treats can become harder and more crumbly.

I do not see a choking-specific warning in the listing, but any treat can become a gulping problem for the wrong dog. If your dog inhales food, train with smaller pieces and supervise. If your dog has known swallowing, dental, or digestive issues, ask a professional before changing treat routines.

Who this is for / who should skip

Best fit

• Dogs learning basic manners: Sit, down, come, name response, and leash check-ins all benefit from small, fast rewards.
• Medium and large dogs: The listing specifically includes medium and large breed recommendations, and the morsel format suits quick training.
• Small dogs when portioned: The treats can be broken into smaller pieces, which makes them more practical for tiny dogs.
• Puppy training households: The soft texture and DHA callout make them appealing for early training, though the listing’s adult age field is worth noting.
• Senior dogs that prefer soft treats: Older dogs that do not love hard biscuits may do better with this texture.
• Pet parents avoiding certain ingredients: These avoid chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, propylene glycol, and red dye 40.
• Dogs motivated by smell: The meaty aroma is one of the strongest practical advantages.

Think twice or skip

• Dogs with chicken sensitivity: Chicken is central to this recipe and is listed as the allergen.
• Dogs that need a strict special diet: Do not rely on the listing’s diet-type field without checking with a qualified professional.
• Pet parents who leave bags open: These can dry out quickly if not kept zipped.
• Dogs that only work for ultra-high-value fresh rewards: Some picky dogs may eat these but not go wild for them.
• Households wanting a crunchy dental-style treat: These are soft-moist training morsels, not hard chews or biscuits.

Value

I would place Blue Buffalo Blue Bits in the everyday training-treat lane with a brand-name ingredient story rather than the cheapest bulk reward lane. The listing price can move around, so I would not chase a fixed number. What matters is whether the bag gives you enough training usefulness for the money.

For me, the value improves when I break the treats into smaller pieces. If I am rewarding a puppy, a small dog, or a dog who is doing a lot of repetitions, one morsel can become several quick rewards. That stretches the bag and also keeps training from becoming treat overload.

The value drops if the bag dries out because someone left it open. Soft-moist treats are a little more maintenance than dry biscuits in that way. If your household is chaotic, or if kids are helping with training, make the zip-the-bag rule part of the routine.

Verdict

Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Chicken Recipe earns its place as a solid, practical training treat. I like the soft-moist texture, the real-chicken-first positioning, the bite-sized format, and the absence of chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, propylene glycol, and red dye 40. The treats are especially useful for reward-based training, leash manners, potty training routines, and dogs that respond strongly to a meaty smell.

The two cautions are straightforward. First, chicken-sensitive dogs should not use the chicken recipe. Second, these need to be stored carefully because the soft texture can turn dry and crumbly if the bag is left unzipped. I also wish the listing were cleaner on life stage, because it says adult in one field while the feature copy talks about DHA and puppy use.

My bottom line: if your dog likes chicken, does well with soft treats, and you want a small reward for frequent training, Blue Bits are an easy product to recommend. If your dog has a chicken issue, needs a strict special diet, or you want a treat that can sit open without changing texture, I would shop elsewhere.

Check before you buy

• Confirm your dog can have chicken, since chicken meat is listed as the allergen.
• Choose the Chicken Recipe only if chicken-based treats already fit your dog’s routine.
• Plan to keep the bag zipped so the treats stay soft-moist.
• Break pieces smaller for puppies, tiny dogs, or gulpers.
• Remember these are training treats, not a complete food.
• If your dog is on a special diet, ask a qualified professional before adding new treats.
• Check the package size option that best matches how often you train.
• If your dog is extremely picky, treat this as an everyday reward candidate, not a guaranteed jackpot.