Lucy Hip To Be Square Duck & Pumpkin Treats Review

Intro — why I spent time with these treats

I’m The Pet Dude: a pet parent who reads labels, tests treats in training sessions, and cares about giving snacks that don’t upset a sensitive gut. Lucy Pet’s Hip To Be Square Duck & Pumpkin treats landed on my radar because they promise simple, limited ingredients, a semi‑moist texture, and an ingredient set that reads more like a kitchen list than a chemistry exam. They’re marketed for training and everyday rewards, and the listing calls out single‑source protein (USA duck) plus pumpkin — both things many owners look for when sensitivity or variety matter.

What it is — first look

At a glance, this product is a 6 oz bag of semi‑moist meaty dog treats sold in a bag and described as "wafer" in form. Key facts from the listing:

• Brand: Lucy Pet Products; model LPPSR100.
• Item form: wafer — semi‑moist, meaty treats.
• Unit count: a 6 ounce bag (6.08 ounces listed).
• Primary flavor/ingredients called out: USA duck is the first ingredient and pumpkin is included.
• Diet/ingredient claims: grain free, gluten free, soy free, wheat free; categorized as limited ingredient.
• Age range: labeled all life stages.
• Recommended uses: training, everyday reward; specific uses listed include behavior and coat.
• Feeding instructions in the listing: intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.
• Manufactured in the USA; the listing also notes the product supports the Lucy Pet Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) charity.

The product carries a short guaranteed analysis in the listing: crude protein minimum 17%, crude fat minimum 18%, crude fiber maximum 2%, and moisture maximum 22%.

In daily use / hands-on testing

I ran these out during training sessions, reward time, and as an occasional afternoon treat. Because they’re semi‑moist wafers, they sit in a middle ground between crunchy biscuits and soft training chews.

How they work for training

• Breakability and size: The square wafer shape and firmness make them straightforward to break into smaller pieces; the listing and usage notes both indicate they’re easy to slice or break for tiny training bursts. In practice, smaller dogs and puppies benefit from small chunks — one piece can be divided into several rewarding bites.
• Palatability: The duck + pumpkin combo is described as meaty and delicious in the product copy; in real sessions these treats function well as high‑value rewards for focused work or new behaviors.
• Consistency: Being semi‑moist, they don’t shatter into crumbs like hard biscuits, which I appreciate when I want tidy training sessions rather than a pile of crumbs on the floor.

Size & portioning

• Bag size: The product comes in a 6 oz bag, which is convenient to carry but not huge. If you train daily with small dogs, a 6 oz bag will go faster than you might expect.
• Cutting for puppies: The treats are easy to cut into smaller pieces for tiny mouths. Some testers trimmed a single treat into multiple micro‑rewards to prevent overloading during rapid‑reward training sessions.

Storage & freshness

• Storage: The listing identifies the container type as a bag; typical practice for semi‑moist treats is to seal the bag between uses to maintain freshness. The listing does not specify a recommended in‑bag storage period after opening.
• Freshness notes from extended experiences: there are documented cases of receiving bags that were close to expiration when purchased through certain channels. When bought from other retailers or the brand directly, buyers have reported receiving fresher bags with a longer remaining shelf life. The listing itself does not state a specific shelf life or expiration window.

Materials & build quality (ingredients & nutrition)

For consumables, "materials" means ingredient sourcing and the nutrition profile. The listing provides the ingredient list and the guaranteed analysis, so I focused on those.

Ingredients

The listing lists the ingredients in order: duck, vegetable glycerin, chickpea flour, pumpkin, cane molasses, salt, natural smoke flavor, mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract. The product is presented as a limited‑ingredient, grain‑free treat with USA duck as the first ingredient.

Guaranteed analysis

• Crude protein: minimum 17%.
• Crude fat: minimum 18%.
• Crude fiber: maximum 2%.
• Moisture: maximum 22%.

These numbers position the treat toward the higher end of fat for a training reward, which explains the rich mouthfeel and high palatability. The pumpkin and chickpea flour are the primary carb/binder elements instead of corn, wheat, or soy — the listing emphasizes that the treats are grain free and free of corn/wheat/soy allergens.

Special ingredients & claims

• Special ingredients listed: duck and pumpkin.
• Allergen information: labeled gluten free, soy free, wheat free.
• Diet type: limited ingredient, marketed as a good choice for dogs with sensitivities to grain.
• Made in the USA is stated on the listing.

Safety considerations

When it comes to treats, safety covers ingredients (allergens), choking risk, and product freshness. The listing and experience notes provide direct guidance.

Ingredient safety

• Allergen profile: The listing explicitly calls the product gluten free, soy free, wheat free and grain free. If your dog has a known allergy to duck, pumpkin, or any listed ingredient, avoid feeding. The listing does not claim any third‑party certifications for hypoallergenicity.
• Guaranteed analysis: With crude fat listed at a minimum of 18%, these are richer than some dry training treats. Keep this in mind if your dog is on a calorie‑restricted plan; the listing also instructs that these treats are intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.

Choking and portion safety

• Form and size: wafers are semi‑moist and breakable, so for small breeds and puppies you should pre‑break into small pieces to reduce any choking risk and avoid long chewing sessions.
• Feeding guidance: the listing includes a direct feeding instruction that these treats are for intermittent or supplemental feeding, so they should not replace balanced meals.

Freshness & quality control

• Freshness warnings: multiple long‑term ownership notes document receiving bags with short remaining shelf life when purchased from certain channels, which is a quality control and freshness issue to watch. The listing itself does not specify a guaranteed shelf life or the typical date window shipped units should have remaining.
• Mitigation: If you buy through a channel where short remaining shelf life is a concern, check the bag’s expiration date on arrival and consider purchasing from outlets that consistently provide longer remaining shelf life or the brand directly.

Cleaning & maintenance (practical handling)

As a bagged semi‑moist treat, maintenance is minimal but important:

• Seal the bag after each use to avoid the treats drying out or becoming sticky; the listing identifies the container as a bag but does not provide closure instructions.
• Store in a cool, dry place and consume within a reasonable period after opening — the listing does not provide an explicit opened‑bag shelf life.
• If you’re carrying a few pieces in a training pouch, note they’re semi‑moist so they won’t produce as much dust as crunchy biscuits but can leave a bit of residue if stored long term in fabric pouches.

Who this is for — and who should skip

Fit matters. The listing and long‑term usage patterns point to clear winner/skip groups.

Who should try these

• People training puppies and adult dogs who need a tasty, easy‑to‑break reward — the wafer form makes tiny pieces feasible for rapid reinforcement.
• Dog parents prioritizing limited ingredients and grain‑free formulas, especially those looking for alternatives to chicken or beef proteins (duck is the first ingredient).
• Dogs with sensitivities to corn, wheat, or soy — the listing specifies gluten free, soy free, and wheat free.
• Owners who prefer products made in the USA and who like the idea that a purchase supports the Lucy Pet Foundation (a registered 501(c)(3) charity), both called out in the product copy.
• Those who want a semi‑moist reward that’s less crumbly than biscuits but still easy to portion.

Who should skip these

• People strictly limiting calories or fat: the listing shows a relatively high minimum fat content (crude fat min 18%), so these are richer than many ultra‑lean training treats.
• Owners of dogs with known allergies to any listed ingredients (duck, pumpkin, chickpea flour, molasses, etc.).
• Buyers who need guaranteed long remaining shelf life on arrival and who cannot confirm that from their chosen retailer — there are documented cases of near‑expired bags arriving through some channels, and the listing does not promise a specific shelf‑life window for shipped units.
• Those who are strictly budget‑minded: these are positioned as a premium, limited‑ingredient product rather than a bargain bulk training treat.

Value & final verdict

There’s a product persona here: premium, limited‑ingredient, semi‑moist rewards that double as training treats and occasional snacks. The ingredient list (duck first, pumpkin included) and the gluten/soy/wheat‑free labeling are the strongest selling points. The guaranteed analysis gives a sense of the product’s richness and moisture, which explains why dogs find them so appealing.

Pros

• Clean, limited ingredient list with USA duck as the first ingredient and pumpkin included.
• Grain‑free and labeled gluten free, soy free, wheat free — useful for dogs with those sensitivities.
• Semi‑moist wafer texture makes portioning for training easy and reduces crumbling mess.
• Made in the USA and tied to a charity element (Lucy Pet Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3)).
• Listed for all life stages and recommended uses include training and coat support.

Cons / issues to be aware of

• Freshness and quality control inconsistency through some retail channels — documented cases of receiving bags with short remaining shelf life.
• Relatively rich formula (crude fat min 18%) so portion control matters for dogs on calorie‑restricted diets.
• 6 oz bag is not large; frequent trainers or multi‑dog homes may go through it quickly.
• The listing does not specify opened‑bag shelf life or specific shipping date guarantees.

Check before you buy — quick checklist

• Confirm the bag’s printed expiration date on arrival if freshness matters to you.
• Decide whether the 6 oz bag size fits your training frequency or whether you’ll want to repurchase often.
• Note the guaranteed analysis (protein min 17%, fat min 18%, moisture max 22%) and consider calorie control if your dog needs it.
• Verify listed allergen claims (gluten free, soy free, wheat free) against your dog’s known sensitivities.
• If you want to support the Lucy Pet Foundation, the product copy notes that purchases help that 501(c)(3) charity.

Verdict

If you want a high‑palate, limited‑ingredient training treat made in the USA that’s easy to portion, Lucy Pet Hip To Be Square Duck & Pumpkin is a solid choice. The ingredient list is straightforward — duck and pumpkin at the top — and the semi‑moist wafer form is genuinely useful for training. The main downside is freshness control from some retail channels and the relatively small 6 oz bag for frequent trainers. For dogs who like rich, meaty rewards and owners who value a clean ingredient list, these treats are worth trying; just double‑check the bag’s expiration on arrival and manage portions for calorie control.

Check before you buy (short checklist)

• Confirm expiration date on arrival if buying through a channel you don’t trust for freshness.
• Plan how quickly you’ll consume a 6 oz bag—trainers may want to buy more often or from sources that guarantee longer remaining shelf life.
• Break or slice for tiny dogs and puppies to avoid long chewing sessions and control calories.

Colors available

• blue

Final notes

Lucy Pet Hip To Be Square Duck & Pumpkin treats have a clear identity: premium, limited‑ingredient, semi‑moist rewards that work well in training and for dogs with certain grain sensitivities. The product listing includes all the key facts you need to evaluate fit (ingredients, guaranteed analysis, form, intended use), but it doesn’t promise a specific shelf‑life window or opened‑bag guidance — make freshness part of your buying checklist. If you favor ingredient transparency and a meaty, pumpkin‑accented reward, these are worth a try.