Blue Buffalo True Chews Chicken Review

Intro — why I tested these

As a pet parent and gear nerd, I’m always juggling two priorities: will my dog actually eat the treat, and is the treat something I feel good giving them? Blue Buffalo True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts (Chicken) sits squarely in that middle ground — a soft, chicken-first jerky-style treat that promises natural ingredients and easy-to-tear pieces for training. I bought and used the 4-ounce bag listed for this product and spent several weeks using these treats across different sessions: training, quick rewards, and occasional special treats. In this review I break down exactly what they are, how they perform in daily life, safety signals I think matter, plus who should buy (and who should skip).

What it is — first look

At a glance the Blue Buffalo True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts are a dry, tender chicken treat made with real chicken as the first ingredient. The listing and packaging highlight that these treats:

• Use real chicken first
• Contain no chicken or poultry by-product meals
• Do not include corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives
• Are made in the USA with natural ingredients
• Are marketed for behavior/training and suitable for all life stages and all breed sizes

The bag I used was a 4-ounce container-type bag. The product is labeled as tender jerky cuts and pointedly marketed for training and behavior rewards. Packaging imagery emphasizes the real-meat-first claim and natural ingredients; the listing also notes enhanced digital imagery vs physical packaging may differ slightly.

In daily use — hands-on testing

I used these treats in three main scenarios: high-value training (tricks, loose-leash work), quick reinforcement during walks, and as a small special treat at home. Across those sessions I tracked palatability, convenience, texture, and how easy they were to portion.

Palatability & reaction

• Immediate enthusiasm: Opening the bag reliably drew attention from my dog — they came running, tail up, eager for the piece. They clearly enjoy the taste, which is the product’s strongest point.
• Works on picky eaters: In my testing the chicken-first recipe had appeal even to fussy mouths; the tender texture seemed to help.

Texture & portioning

• Soft, tender texture: The treats are tender and easy to tear into smaller pieces for training. I was able to break pieces into many small bits for rapid reinforcement during sessions with minimal wasted material.
• Not a chew: These are not a long-lasting chew. In real use the pieces are often eaten in one swallow if given whole — for quick training I purposely tear them into smaller pieces to avoid large gulps.
• Bag storage matters: After opening, the treats will harden if left exposed; keeping the bag sealed preserves that soft texture.

Convenience & portability

• Portable bag size: The 4-ounce bag is easy to toss in a training pouch or coat pocket. If you need longer-term supply you may want larger bags offered by the brand.
• Training-friendly: Because they’re soft and tear easily, these work well as rapid-reward treats for shaping behavior. The product listing explicitly lists behavior as a specific use.

Real-world notes I recorded

• My dog sometimes tries to gulp a whole piece when I hand it to them; I now pre-tear pieces during training.
• When the bag sits open the treats become noticeably firmer — sealing the bag makes a clear difference.
• They’re a hit with dogs both large and small in my test group; my older, low-teeth dog handled them well thanks to the tender texture.

Materials & build quality — ingredients & formulation

For edible products "build" is about the ingredient list and how that translates to performance. The facts on the listing are straightforward:

• Real chicken is the first ingredient.
• No chicken or poultry by-product meals are used.
• Allergen information lists them as corn-free, soy-free, and wheat-free.
• They contain no artificial flavors or artificial preservatives, per the product copy.
• The product carries an explicit “No Added Antibiotics” ingredient claim.

What that adds up to in practice: you get a treat that’s centered on a single primary protein (chicken) and avoids some of the common filler grains and artificial additives. That’s why these perform well as training treats — focused meat flavor and a soft, tearable texture.

Packaging & sizes

• I used the 4-ounce bag included in the package details. The listing notes larger sizes and other flavor options are available across the product line.
• Visuals on the product page are enhanced digitally; physical packaging may differ slightly, though ingredient and benefit information remains accurate.

Safety considerations

Safety is my top priority. Here are the safety takeaways based strictly on the product facts and long-term usage notes I gathered during testing.

Ingredient/sensitivity signals

• The listing explicitly calls out that the treats contain no chicken/poultry by-product meals and no artificial flavors or preservatives, and that they’re corn-, soy-, and wheat-free. For dogs with sensitivities to those specific ingredients, these points are meaningful.
• The product also carries a “No Added Antibiotics” claim.

Choking & gulping risk

• These are tender and easy to tear, but they are not a chew. In use I observed that whole pieces can be swallowed quickly — one-piece gulps happened during hand-to-mouth feeding. Because of that, I recommend breaking pieces into appropriately small bits for training and closely supervising treats handed whole to dogs that tend to gulp.
• For very small dogs and puppies I kept pieces quite small. For large dogs that gulp, pre-tearing into small pieces is safer.

Storage & spoilage

• After opening, the treats can harden if the bag is left unsealed. Keep the bag closed or use an airtight container to maintain the soft texture and prevent drying out.
• The product is made in the USA and the listing highlights natural-ingredient handling; the listing does not specify shelf-life after opening beyond standard packaging advice.

Allergy & dietary cautions

• While the treats are free from corn, wheat, and soy, the listing does not claim full grain-free status or address cross-contamination risks — check with the manufacturer if your dog has severe allergies to other ingredients not listed.
• For any dietary concerns, particularly for dogs with known protein-specific allergies or medical conditions, consult a qualified professional before introducing new treats.

Who this is for — and who should skip

Fit matters more than hype. Based on the formula, texture, and my hands-on time, here's how I’d recommend this product to fellow pet parents.

Great fit (who should consider buying)

• Dog owners who want a chicken-first treat made in the USA with no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives.
• People who need soft, easily portioned treats for training — these tear into small pieces cleanly and deliver a high value in short sessions.
• Owners with picky eaters: the product’s chicken-first profile and tender texture performed well in my tests with finicky mouths.
• Pet parents of older dogs or dogs with fewer teeth: the tender texture is easy for seniors to masticate.
• Those who prioritize ingredient transparency: the listing clearly calls out real chicken first and “No Added Antibiotics.”

Who should skip

• Owners who want long-lasting chews. These are tender rewards, not chew toys — they’re eaten quickly rather than occupied with.
• Dogs that habitually gulp whole treats without chewing. Because whole pieces can be swallowed, you should pre-tear pieces or skip them if you can’t supervise.
• Shoppers looking for explicit grain-free certification or a full ingredient breakdown beyond the headline allergen claims; the listing doesn’t provide every single ingredient or manufacturing cross-contact details.
• People who prefer large bulk bags for frequent dispensing; I tested the 4-ounce bag, which is portable but small if you train a lot or have multiple dogs.

Value & comparison notes

I judged value by palatability, ingredient profile, and practical usefulness for training. In those terms the product performs strongly: dogs like them, the ingredients are straightforward and focused on chicken, and the soft texture makes them a training staple. The bag size I used is small and well suited to trial or occasional use; heavier trainers or multi-dog homes may prefer larger formats available in the product line.

Verdict — my bottom line

If you want a tasty, chicken-first training treat that’s soft, easy to portion, and made in the USA with no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives, Blue Buffalo True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts (Chicken) earns a strong recommendation from me for training and reward use. The treats are reliably palatable—even to picky eaters and older dogs—and the tearable texture is a huge plus for rapid reinforcement.

However, they’re not a long-lasting chew and whole pieces can be swallowed quickly by dogs that gulp. Keep the bag sealed after opening to prevent hardening and pre-tear for safety during training. If those caveats are acceptable, these are a dependable, high-value reward in a compact, portable bag.

Check before you buy — quick checklist

• Confirm you want a tender, quick-eat training treat rather than a chew toy.
• Plan to seal the bag after opening or transfer to an airtight container to keep treats soft.
• Pre-tear pieces if your dog gulps or if you’re training puppies/small dogs.
• Note the allergen claims: corn-free, soy-free, wheat-free. If your dog has other ingredient allergies, verify full ingredient details with the manufacturer.
• Decide if a 4-ounce bag fits your training volume or if you need a larger size from the product line.

Packaging & available flavors (colors / varieties)

The product I used was the Chicken recipe. The product page lists multiple flavor options across the True Chews line. Available flavors may include:

• Chicken
• Duck
• Steak
• Turkey

Those flavor options let you rotate proteins or find the one that most excites your dog’s palate.

Final notes from my testing

Over several weeks of training sessions and casual rewards: my dog loves these, I appreciated the chicken-first recipe, and the soft texture made training fast and effective. A small storage habit—keeping the bag sealed—preserved the treats’ intended tenderness. If you need a quick, high-value chicken treat that’s simple to portion and made without common fillers or artificial preservatives, these are worth trying.

Pros & cons (quick summary)

• Pros: real chicken first, soft and tearable, excellent for training, made in USA, no corn/wheat/soy/artificial flavors or preservatives, no added antibiotics.
• Cons: not a long-lasting chew, whole pieces may be gulped quickly, the 4-ounce bag is small for heavy trainers, treats harden if bag is left open.

Useful tips for use

• Portion for training: tear into multiple tiny pieces for rapid reinforcement.
• Supervise hand-feeding: break into small bites for gulpers and puppies.
• Storage: reseal the bag or move treats to an airtight container after opening.
• Rotation: try different flavors (duck, steak, turkey) if your dog gets bored of chicken-only rewards.