Dog lovers often ask the same quiet question when those pleading eyes look up from the treat pouch: “Am I giving my pup something that will truly nourish her—or just a junk-food cookie disguised as love?” If you’ve landed here because the bright-orange bags of Canine Carry Outs caught your eye on the shelf, you’re not alone. They’ve been a staple in pet aisles for decades, promising irresistible flavors that make tails blur with excitement. But 2025 has ushered in an era where transparency, cellular-level nutrition science, and eco-friendly production practices matter as much to pet parents as cost and convenience.
Before we toss another soft chewy square into the shopping cart, let’s dig into what these classics bring to the bowl—good and not-so-good—and map out thoughtful paths to healthier, safer alternatives your four-legged friend deserves. Consider this your field guide to navigating the treat aisle with the confidence of a veterinary nutritionist, minus the lab coat.
Top 10 Canine Carry Outs Dog Treats
Detailed Product Reviews
1. Canine Carry Outs Beef Flavor Dog Treats, 22.5 Ounce Bag
Overview: Canine Carry Outs Beef Flavor Dog Treats arrive in a generous 22.5-ounce bag of soft, chewy morsels designed to mimic real beef jerky in look and taste. Crafted in Topeka, Kansas, these playful, bite-sized shapes aim to transform any training routine into an enthusiastic game.
What Makes It Stand Out: The half-pound-plus package delivers an unusually high treat volume for the brand line, making it ideal for multi-dog households or heavy trainers. The artificially enhanced beef aroma is surprisingly potent, turning even distracted pups into focused pupils.
Value for Money: Because the retail price isn’t disclosed, absolute value judgments are tough; yet, judging by companion SKUs, expect a mid-tier price that works out cheaper per ounce than the small pouches. If you need quantity and softness without premium ingredients, this jumbo bag is likely the sweet spot.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: large, resealable bag; universally loved soft texture; fun, rip-apart shapes reinforce engagement; Made-in-USA reassurance.
Cons: ingredient list leans heavily on corn syrup and by-products; no actual beef, only “beef flavor”; oversized pieces for toy breeds.
Bottom Line: Grab it if you burn through treats fast and your vet is fine with moderation; skip it if you demand real meat as the first ingredient.
2. Canine Carry Outs Dog Treats, Bacon Flavor, 47 Ounce, Made with Real Bacon
Overview: One zip-top 47-ounce sack of Canine Carry Outs Bacon Flavor crams in a half-pounder shy of three pounds of soft, smoky strips made with real bacon. Manufactured in Topeka, Kansas, the familiar cartoon-bone shapes fit comfortably in pockets for instant, tail-wagging gratification.
What Makes It Stand Out: Size matters—the bag is big enough to stock an obedience class or keep a power-chewer satiated for months. Real bacon inclusion sets it above the beef-only lineup, giving an authentic smoky scent that dogs find irresistible.
Value for Money: At $9.98 ($3.40/lb) you’re paying convenience-store pricing for warehouse quantity, effectively an 80% discount versus individually wrapped treats. It’s one of the cheapest per-pound bacon-flavored rewards on mainstream shelves.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: mega bulk at penny-pincher pricing; soft texture easier on senior teeth; resealable top stays fresh; no exotic sourcing to trigger allergies.
Cons: cereal-heavy recipe inflates calorie count; strong smoky odor can coat hands; some bags arrive half-crushed during shipping.
Bottom Line: If bacon drives your dog wild and your pantry needs a refill, this milk-carton of treats is a steal—just balance with reduced meal portions to avoid pudgy waistlines.
3. Canine Carry Outs Chicken Flavor Dog Treats, 4.5 Ounce Bag
Overview: A modest 4.5-ounce pouch of Canine Carry Outs Chicken Flavor offers bite-sized, soft chews made with real chicken for subtle savor. Produced in Delano, Minnesota, the pint-sized bag targets small breeds, trial shoppers, or portion-strict trainers who still want poultry appeal.
What Makes It Stand Out: Unlike larger bags, this mini package slips into coat pockets for on-the-walk rewards. Real chicken inclusion is a notch above generic “flavor,” giving faint but genuine poultry aroma that finicky dogs notice.
Value for Money: For $1.99 ($7.08/lb) you’re paying a premium over larger SKUs—per-pound cost rivals boutique freeze-dried treats—so value hinges on convenience rather than thrift. It’s still cheaper than boutique pet-store singles.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: ultra-portable, doesn’t leave greasy residue; resealable strip keeps leftovers fresh; chicken ranks ahead of beef for many sensitive stomachs; Made-in-USA transparency.
Cons: avalanche of corn syrup toward top of ingredient list; plastic pouch leaves eco footprint; size mismatch for giant breeds.
Bottom Line: Ideal “test drive” pouch to confirm your pup adores the flavor before scaling up to a value bucket, but heavy trainers should graduate to bigger bacon or beef bags.
4. Canine Carry Outs Sausage Links Beef Flavor Dog Snacks, 5 Ounce Bag
Overview: Canine Carry Outs Sausage Links replicate miniature beef breakfast links—visually and aromatically—for pups craving smoky indulgence. The 5-ounce zipper bag delivers a chewy, dual-texture strip with alluring scent, made domestically without sourcing mysteries.
What Makes It Stand Out: Shape novelty reigns here: the elongated “links” look like people food, instantly rewarding impulse pleasers begging at the grill. The sausage casing is less dense than jerky, allowing easy tear-into-training bites.
Value for Money: At $6.25 ($20.00/lb) it becomes the spendiest SKU on the list—watch those crumbs disappear quickly. Still, bang-for-buck improves if used sparingly as high-value jackpot treats rather than daily nibbles.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: lifelike appearance amps novelty; strong smoky aroma focuses distracted dogs; soft enough for puppies and seniors; compact bag travels well.
Cons: dizzy price equivalent to human jerky; added smoke flavor may prompt thirst; links can fuse in warmer delivery trucks.
Bottom Line: Buy a bag as specialized “chicken-liver-priced” reward—perfect for nail trims or vet visits—but lean on lower-cost bacon or beef chews for routine reinforcement.
5. Canine Carry Outs Bacon Flavor Dog Treats, 4.5 Ounce Bag
Overview: Pocket-sized 4.5-ounce pouches of Canine Carry Outs Bacon Flavor deliver real-bacon soft bites in playful silhouettes. The same Topeka plant oversees the recipe, guaranteeing regional consistency reminiscent of classic fatty bacon strips reimagined as training coins.
What Makes It Stand Out: Real bacon inclusion puts smoky authenticity center stage without overpowering delicate noses. Mini-morsel size equals one calorie apiece—perfect for calorie-counting guardians or clicker precision.
Value for Money: At $2.99 ($10.63/lb) it sits mid-range, neither the cheapest bulk nor boutique-treat absurd. Price/wow ratio holds if bacon remains your dog’s kryptonite and guilt prevents larger-bag spoiling.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: genuine bacon aroma for high-value reinforcement; airtight zipper locks in smokiness; uniform size prevents guesswork on treat allowance; USA-made trust.
Cons: same corn-centric base as cheaper flavors; bag empties within two extended obedience sessions; greasy residue on fingers.
Bottom Line: Keep it as pocket reinforcement for park recall drills—unless you own a pack; then jump up to the 47-ounce monster to avoid nightly restocks.
6. Canine Carry Outs Bacon Flavor Dog Treats, 5-Ounce
Overview: Canine Carry Outs Bacon Flavor Treats promise supermarket convenience with bacon punch in a 5-ounce pocket pouch. Designed as bite-sized payoffs for good behavior, they squeeze real bacon into a chewy, portable strip for busy walks or training breaks.
What Makes It Stand Out: The familiar, smoky aroma triggers instant drool from across the kitchen, while the soft chew dissolves quickly for dogs who normally gulp hard biscuits. The single-flavor pouch keeps portions tight and the price under a fancy coffee.
Value for Money: At $1.22 per ounce, you’re paying for moderate quality but supreme pick-up-and-go convenience; hoarding pound bags later drives cost under a dollar per ounce, so this bag is essentially an easy trial size with a small up-charge.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: pup-approved bacon scent, breakable pieces for portion control, resealable bag with vivid printing. Cons: first ingredient is corn syrup, contains artificial colors and BHA preservative; not for sensitive stomachs, and the strips stick together in humid weather.
Bottom Line: Keep a pack in your hoodie pocket for immediate recall wins—just don’t build an entire diet around them. Moderation and a good brush later keep tails wagging guilt-free.
7. Canine Carry Outs 4.5 Ounce Halloween Spooky Cookie Dog Treat
Overview: Limited-run Halloween Spooky Cookie packs a 4.5-ounce blast of festive fun into classic Canine Carry Outs dough. Iconic ghost, pumpkin, and bat shapes land just in time for costume parades, giving pups a share of the spooky loot without chocolate risk.
What Makes It Stand Out: Themed shapes photograph brilliantly on Instagram and let dogs “trick-or-treat” alongside kids. Dark orange coloring even glows slightly under porch lights, adding novelty to obedience drills on Halloween night.
Value for Money: Price currently not listed online; it’s showing mainly as an in-store seasonal impulse buy. Expect it to retail close to standard 4.5-oz Canine Carry Out packs—maybe a 50-cent holiday lift at big-box stores.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: holiday excitement, same soft chew texture dogs expect, no costume drama required. Cons: no nutritional upgrade over regular formulas (still corn syrup plus artificial dyes), and once the season ends stock vanishes—so no long-term staple.
Bottom Line: Grab one bag for October photo ops and festive training spoils, but don’t hoard; move your pup back to year-round flavors November first.
8. The BH Products Canine Carry Outs Variety 6 Pack Bundle with Chicken, Bacon, Beef & Bacon, Burger Minis, Steak Bites, and Beef Flavors Sticker
Overview: This BH Products bundle boxes six popular Canine Carry Outs flavors—chicken, bacon, beef & bacon, burger minis, steak bites, and plain beef—into one 36-ounce sampler with a cheery bonus sticker for fans.
What Makes It Stand Out: Six bags slash decision paralysis and let finicky dogs vote with their snouts. Having every core flavor on hand means you can match the reward to the training challenge, while the sticker turns plain treat tins into canine swag.
Value for Money: Twenty-two bucks breaks down to $0.73 per ounce, matching wholesale club pricing while delivering variety you can’t score in singles. Basically buy five, get one free—minus the bulk-store membership.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: massive flavor spread, individually sealed pouches keep each bag fresh, great gift for multi-dog households. Cons: duplicate ingredient lists (mostly corn syrup), so sensitive tummies may react regardless of flavor; sticker is kid-targeted and peels quickly off plastic.
Bottom Line: Ideal for first-time Carry Outs households or anyone with picky rescues—buy the sampler, keep two favorites, donate the rest to the shelter.
9. Canine Carry Outs Dog Treats, Beef Flavor, 47 Ounce (Pack of 2)
Overview: A truck-stop-sized bundle: two hefty 47-ounce bags of soft beef treats offering 5.5 pounds of chewy motivation. Resealable gussets and retro cowboy imagery frame bone-shaped, beefy strips ready for marathon training sessions.
What Makes It Stand Out: Mass volume eliminates “oops, we’re out” moments before agility class. The slightly puffed center breaks cleanly into half-pieces for small mouths without crumbling like dry biscuits—perfect for stuffing puzzle toys too.
Value for Money: At $0.42 per ounce ($3.40 per pound), you’re paying sale-bin kibble prices for high-value pouches. Cheap enough to treat a neighborhood dog-walking crew without flinching.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: economies-of-scale pricing, soft chew appeals to seniors with fewer teeth, scent lingers politely indoors. Cons: bags are huge—store them inside another container to maintain freshness after the seal peels; ingredient panel still builds on wheat gluten and corn syrup, so calorie watchers must slice tiny bits.
Bottom Line: Buy once, stock for months. Portion daily rations ahead of time so the 5-pound bag doesn’t become a 5-pound problem on your Lab’s hips.
10. Canine Carry Outs Dog Treats, Beef Flavor Small Chew Bones, 2.8 Ounce (Pack of 12), Long Lasting Chews, Delicious Meaty Center
Overview: Twelve individually wrapped 2.8-ounce resealable sleeves of mini bone-shaped chews deliver slow, savory gnawing sessions. A visible meaty middle visible through a gap invites dogs to excavate, turning each chew into an edible puzzle.
What Makes It Stand Out: Portioned sleeves stop staleness on road trips and campfire weekends; the dual-texture shell-and-center combo lasts longer than standard soft strips yet still softens for puppies without breaking molars. Arrives in a tidy display-ready carton ideal for resale in training clubs.
Value for Money: At $7.03 per pound, you’re paying dental-chew prices for mid-tier grocery ingredients. The packaging convenience drives half the cost, so treat it as travel entertainment rather than staple diet.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros: 12 grab-and-go packs, fun meaty reveal, lasts five-to-ten minutes for most dogs, USA-made. Cons: corn syrup and synthetic dyes persist, bone shells can flatten into sticky blobs in hot cars, and ambitious chewers finish fast.
Bottom Line: Toss two sleeves in every glove compartment and backpack. They keep bored pups busy at rest stops, but stick to lighter calorie rewards once you’re home and near the treat jar.
The Heritage Behind Canine Carry Outs
Back in the 1980s, when neon windbreakers were in and dial-up was still a dream, Canine Carry Outs were introduced as an affordable, shelf-stable snack that felt like giving your pup a slice of steak from your dinner plate. Their signature soft texture was revolutionary: chewy enough for small mouths, strong-smelling enough for older dogs with fading olfactory senses, and packaged in resealable bags that fit car consoles perfectly. Over the decades, the treat line has expanded into bacon strips, “rib-eye” shapes, and even catering to teacup breeds. Yet the question remains: has formulation innovation kept up with what we now know about canine metabolism?
Ingredient Transparency in 2025
The biggest change sweeping the treat industry this year isn’t flashy flavors—it’s radical transparency. QR codes on packaging now link consumers straight to searchable data on sourcing, toxicity reports, and third-party lab audits. Canine Carry Outs’ parent company has responded with an “open book” policy, releasing full nutritional transparency sheets via blockchain-backed certificates. But “transparent” doesn’t automatically mean “irreproachable.” Know how to read between the lines when glycerin percentages or smoke flavors appear in lowercase on ingredient decks.
Nutritional Breakdown & Red Flags
Protein Sources: Real vs. Such-and-Such Meals
Meat by-products may legally include anything from gizzard trim to ear cartilage. That variability can spike or drop the amino-acid profile month to month, potentially triggering GI flare-ups in sensitive pups. If your dog’s coat turns dull or itchiness flares post-trough scarfing sessions, look first at protein sourcing inconsistencies.
Fats & PUFAs (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids)
Rendered fat provides the signature “mouth feel,” but it’s also a magnet for free-radical oxidation. Inspect the bag for TBHQ or mixed tocopherol preservatives; the latter is a natural Vitamin-E blend offering antioxidant protection without controversial links to hyperactivity or liver burdens.
Salt, MSG & Canine Taste Receptors
Dogs have one-sixth the number of taste buds we do, yet their sodium receptors are exquisitely sensitive. High salt loads can spell dehydration or even urinary crystal formation in certain breeds. MSG can ramp up palatability, but there is anecdotal chatter—still unproven clinically—about behavioral excitability. When you glance at the Guaranteed Analysis, any repeated counts above 1.5% sodium warrant a second thought.
Artificial Coloring & Dye Loads
Until 2024, several Carry Outs SKUs featured Red 40 or Yellow 6. Both dyes persist in extrusion tests even after digestive “rinse cycles,” fueling consumer petitions to the FDA. Newer stock is dye-free for select flavors, so flip the bag over: vivid hues = older inventory.
Pros That Still Make the Bag Attractive
Despite the scrutiny, fans keep buying them for good reason. Cost-per-treat is unbeatable in bulk bins, making them the go-to for shelter volunteers doling out positive reinforcement training. Softness cushions an aging senior’s dentition, and the smell is a cognitive stimulant for dogs with incipient canine cognitive dysfunction.
Cons Owners Overlook
Underweight pups see weight gain faster than you can say “calorie surplus”; label calorie counts run about 400 kcal per 100 grams, which is ice-cream-level density. Storage molds can colonize edges once the factory seal is broken, especially in humid climates where the oxygen absorber saturates prematurely.
Caloric Energy Density—How Much Is Too Much?
Measure treats as a percentage of daily RER (resting energy requirement). Bonus bites comprising more than 10 % of total calories can nudge your dog into hyperphagia, trigger pancreatitis flare-ups, or simply derail a weight-management regime. When in doubt, plug numbers into an interactive calorie calculator for your dog’s life stage.
Sodium & Chloride Load: Kidney Stress
Early-stage renal disease amplifies a dog’s sodium sensitivity. Once glomerular filtration declines, excess sodium hangs around in extracellular fluid, driving hypertension and worsening proteinuria. If your vet has flagged blood-urea-nitrogen levels above 30 mg/dL, consider sodium-restricted treats proportioned out like medication with a veterinarian’s oversight.
Allergen Simulants: Yeast, BHA, & Gluten Fragments
Yeast extract adds umami zest but can cross-react with environmental mold allergies. BHA remains FDA-approved in micro-doses, yet EFSA opinions in Europe raise eyebrows at cumulative exposure. For gluten-sensitive breeds (especially Wheaten Terriers), trace gliadin fragments hiding in wheat flour binders can spark chronic ear infections and face-rubbing fits.
Recalls & Regulatory Concerns Over the Last 5 Years
Although the parent company has only once initiated a Class III voluntary recall concerning off-odor in 2021, independent 2022 consumer lab tests detected glyphosate residues at levels exceeding EU thresholds. The EPA responded that levels were “within US tolerance limits,” but the takeaway is simple: fluctuations in supply chains can introduce contaminants that weren’t on the spec sheet last month.
Packaging Trends & Environment Impact
Traditional multi-layer metallized pouches are oven safe and keep oxygen out, but they’re nearly impossible to recycle. Look for emerging 2025 SKU versions carrying the “How2Recycle” monotone icon and mono-material pouches that can be processed by Trex programs. Bags sourced from post-consumer plastics reduce virgin resin use by up to 30 %, though double-check municipal sorting capabilities for true end-of-life outcome.
Veterinary Consensus Updated for 2025
Referral-level nutrition committees, including the ACVN, have adopted a tiered traffic-light scoring system. Soft treats dense in by-product meals and synthetic additives sit solidly at “amber,” recommending moderation. The consensus is clear: they are safe but not optimal when overused. Weekly treats limited to 3 % of caloric intake generally elicit zero red-flag blood work.
Behavior-Based Feeding: Training Calorie Budgets
Turn your pup’s daily calorie allocation into a training game plan. Split total treats into 5 kcal nibs and batch-cook them into ziplocked daily rations. Pair high-value chunks (like whole organ meat cubes) with single-digit calorie fillers (ice cubes, plain sweet potato chews) to balance reinforcement strength with waistline control.
How to Read Supplement Dairy Labels for Treat Ingredients
Watch for chelated minerals—look for amino-acid attached trace minerals written as “zinc proteinate” instead of “zinc oxide” because they absorb threefold better. Similarly, spot taurine inclusion if you’re working to support dilated cardiomyopathy-prone breeds; while non-essential in most dogs, its appearance in a treat line signals nutritional foresight.
At-Home Safety Checks & Expiration Tips
Perform a “squeeze & sniff” test: any sour or rancid fat odor means fats have oxidized and vitamin E has been depleted. Store in airtight, opaque containers at or below 70 °F; walk-in pantries trump garages across most of North America’s humidity map. Don’t freeze them—glycerol can crystalize, causing erratic texture and crumbling.
The 2025 Mindset: Upgrade with Healthier Building Blocks
Modern treat crafting follows three pillars: species-appropriate protein spectrum (at least two animal sources), micronutrient co-factors rather than synthetic top-offs, and breed-aligned calorie density. Begin swapping ingredients rather than whole foods. Think zucchini spirals or fish-skin rolls braided into treat prongs instead of packing artificially smoke-flavored wheat dough.
10 Easy Swaps Based on Canine Nutritional Needs
(These are general categories, not ranked recommendations.)
1. Air-Dried Muscle Meat Strips
Single-ingredient, gently dehydrated strip cuts deliver 70-80 % protein with minimal off-odor and zero glycerin.
2. Functional Freeze-Dried Organ Bites
Kidneys and spleens are rich in bioavailable trace minerals; serving size shrinks since they pack equivalent nutrition in a pea-sized bite.
3. Dehydrated Fish Skin Rolls
Omega-3 support plus natural dental scrubbing via collagen matrix once slightly rehydrated by saliva.
4. Low-Lactose Fermented Cheeses
Tiny shavings of goat cheese or kefir curds act as high-value training pellets—fermentation strips lactose to gut-safe levels.
5. Steamed & Cubed Root Vegetables
Sweet potatoes and parsnips provide slow-burn carbs and beta-carotene, satisfying sweet cravings minus blood-sugar spikes.
6. Homemade Bone Broth Gels
Gelatinous cubes soothe joints with collagen and offer low-calorie hydration through flavor, ideal for elderly dogs who struggle to drink.
7. Cricket Protein Training Crumbles
Sustainable, hypoallergenic insect protein boasts complete amino acids and arthropod-based chitin that supports gut microbiome diversity.
8. Baked Veggie & Cricket Meal Biscuits
Blends the insect protein above with pumpkin and egg for crunchy texture without gluten or legume lectins.
9. Hydrolyzed Single-Protein Cubes
Pre-digested peptides reduce immune-triggering epitopes common in poultry or beef-sensitive dogs.
10. Plain Freeze-Dried Egg Yolk Dust
Each tablespoon boasts two grams of fat-soluble vitamins and choline; crumble over kibble or mix into lick mats for cognitive enrichment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many Canine Carry Outs can I give my 20-lb beagle daily without causing weight gain?
Limit total soft treats to 5 % of daily calories, roughly four half-inch squares if she’s otherwise couch-potato level active. Adjust based on walks and training session intensity.
2. Are the fats in these treats likely to trigger pancreatitis in susceptible breeds?
Yes, especially in Miniature Schnauzers and English Cocker Spaniels. Swap to lean, air-dried single-protein treats if your vet has ever noted serum lipase elevations.
3. Can I rehydrate these chews for senior dogs with dental disease?
Soaking in warm bone broth softens texture but rinse off excess sodium broth left behind before serving.
4. Why do the treats smell so pungent, and should I worry?
The odor is largely from smoked flavoring and digest; however, a sour or fermented whiff indicates spoilage—discard immediately.
5. Do they contain actual bacon slices?
Technically no. The “bacon flavor” is synthesized from hydrolyzed protein plus smoke essence; only 2-3 % of the formula comes from pork by-products.
6. Are any flavors dye-free as of 2025?
The “grilled steak” and “chicken grill” varieties switched to turmeric and paprika for coloring instead of chemical dyes in all U.S. lots past April 2024.
7. How long does an opened bag last?
Roughly 4 weeks if sealed in a cool pantry, but summer heat can cut that to 2 weeks. Check freshness labels weekly to prevent rancidity.
8. My shelter adopted diabetic dogs—safe or skip?
Skip. The glycerin and corn syrup raise glycemic index; trans-fat adhesives linger beyond typical insulin waves.
9. Can I microwave them into training “crackers”?
Microwaving desiccates glycerin, turning chews into brittle shards that can lodge in throats. Avoid unless you’re ready to powder them first.
10. Is insect-protein really hypoallergenic like vets claim?
For most dogs, yes—crickets are phylogenetically distant from mammalian proteins. However, introduce any novel protein gradually over 7–10 days to monitor individual tolerance.