Blue Buffalo Stix Natural Soft-Moist Dog Treats, Chicken Rec
✅ PROS
- Real deboned chicken is the first ingredient — not meal, not by-product
- Soft, pliable texture that breaks into small pieces easily — ideal for training or senior dogs
- No chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives
❌ CONS
- Stix are shorter than expected — about 3 inches, not the long strips some photos suggest
- Some bags arrive with treats already dried out or stuck together, depending on warehouse storage
- Strong chicken aroma — noticeable even through the bag, which may be off-putting for sensitive noses
The Verdict
Let’s be honest: most dog treats on Amazon are either rock-hard biscuits that make you worry about your dog’s teeth or greasy jerky strips with ingredient lists that read like a chemistry experiment. Blue Buffalo Stix sit in a different category entirely — soft-moist, chicken-first, and genuinely useful for training. But are they worth the premium? Here’s the breakdown after digging through the specs and 229 verified buyer ratings.
What You’re Actually Getting
The 13-ounce bag contains roughly 40–50 stix, depending on how the pieces break during shipping. Each stick is about 3 inches long and a quarter-inch wide — think a flattened, chewy twizzler rather than a meaty jerky strip. The texture is what sets these apart: pliable enough to bend without snapping, but firm enough that they don’t crumble into a mess in your pocket.
The ingredient list is genuinely clean for the category. Real deboned chicken leads the formula, followed by chicken broth, oats, and barley. No chicken by-product meal, no corn, wheat, or soy, and no artificial preservatives like BHA or ethoxyquin. For dogs with grain sensitivities, these are a solid option — the grains present are whole and identifiable, not mystery fillers.
Real-World Performance
The soft-moist format is the star here. You can break a single stix into 10–12 small training pieces without any tools, and they stay pliable even after being in a treat pouch for hours. One buyer noted, “My 70-pound lab demolishes these in one bite, but my 8-pound Yorkie takes her time chewing — the texture works for both.” That versatility is rare.
The chicken smell is noticeable — distinctly savory, not artificial. If you’ve ever opened a bag of treats that smelled like a fast-food chicken nugget factory, you know what I mean. Most dogs go nuts for it, but if you’re sensitive to pet food aromas, this one is potent.
What Buyers Consistently Praise
The 4.6-star average isn’t an accident. Across the reviews, three themes dominate:
Picky eater approval. Multiple owners of notoriously finicky dogs — Shih Tzus, Maltese, and one particularly stubborn Corgi — report these are the only treats their dogs will consistently take. One reviewer wrote, “My dog turns her nose up at everything, but she does tricks for these.”
Senior dog friendliness. The soft texture is a genuine win for older dogs with dental issues. Several reviewers specifically mention using these for dogs with missing teeth or sensitive gums, where hard biscuits are no longer an option.
Training effectiveness. The small-piece breakability makes portion control easy, and the high-value smell keeps dogs focused. Trainers and agility owners specifically call these out as reliable high-reward treats.
Where It Falls Short
No product is perfect, and the complaints here are worth noting. The stix are shorter than many buyers expect. If you’re picturing long, jerky-like strips, you’ll be surprised — these are more like stubby chew sticks, closer to 3 inches than the 5–6 inches some product photos suggest.
Storage is also a factor. Several reviewers report that if the bag isn’t resealed completely, the treats dry out within a few days and lose their soft texture. And a handful of buyers received bags where the stix had partially melted or stuck together during shipping — a known issue with soft-moist treats in warm weather.
Who Should Buy These
Get these if: You have a picky eater, a senior dog with dental sensitivities, or you need a high-value training treat that breaks into small pieces without crumbling. They’re also a solid choice if you’re avoiding treats with artificial preservatives or by-product meals.
Skip these if: Your dog prefers crunchy biscuits, you need long-lasting chew treats (these are gone in seconds, not minutes), or you’re looking for a budget option — the price per ounce runs higher than standard training treats.
FAQ
Q: Are these safe for puppies? A: Yes, but supervise. The soft texture is easy for puppies to chew, and the small pieces are appropriate for training. Just account for the calories in your puppy’s daily allowance.
Q: How many calories per stix? A: Each stix is about 12 calories — roughly half the calorie count of a typical milk-bone biscuit. That makes them a reasonable choice for frequent training sessions.
Q: Can these replace a meal? A: No. They’re treats, not a complete diet. They don’t meet AAFCO nutritional requirements for a full meal, so stick to using them as supplemental rewards.
The Verdict
Rating: 4.6/5 — Buy it.
Blue Buffalo Stix deliver exactly what they promise: a soft, chicken-first training treat that works for picky eaters and senior dogs alike. The cons are minor — shorter than expected, storage-sensitive — and don’t undermine the core value. If you’re tired of treats your dog snubs or biscuits that crack teeth, these are worth the upgrade.
Buy it if: You need a high-value, soft treat for training or a senior dog with dental issues. Skip it if: You want long-lasting chews or a budget-friendly bulk option.
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.