The ingredients used to make pet food and treats have been in the spotlight since a wide recall in 2007. This recall included dozens of pet food products that were making cats and dogs sick, and a few companion animals were even killed after ingesting toxic ingredients. Now, more than 10 years later, products like Charlee Bear Grain Free Crunch are gaining attention for using limited, natural ingredients.
Inexpensive dog treats are often filled with chemicals, fillers, and artificial ingredients. It's important that you read the label and understand exactly what your dog will be eating. You should be able to read and recognize most of the ingredients on the label. If there is an ingredient you don't understand, do a quick Google search to find out what it is.
The purpose of a grain-free dog food diet is to mimic your pet's ancestral diet. Because dogs evolved to primarily consume meat (animal-based protein), many experts argue that feeding dogs a similar diet will keep them healthier and extend their lifespan.
Grain-free dog food and treats are easy to digest, and the high percentage of meat protein and healthy fats, alongside a low percentage of carbohydrates and no grains, may improve a dog's performance. In fact, some scientific studies have shown exactly this to be the case.
Keep in mind that a grain-free diet isn’t ideal for all dogs. A few recent studies from the FDA found that grain-free diets may cause heart disease in some dogs. It's best to check with your veterinarian to ensure that a grain-free diet is the best option for your pup. If they agree, Charlee Bear Grain Free Crunch may be a good treat option for your Fido.
Charlee Bear Grain Free Crunch Review
As the name suggests, these dog treats are 100% grain-free. They are also free of corn, wheat, and soy. There are no artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors included in Charlee Bear Grain Free Crunch.
As you can see in my video review above, our dogs are big fans of these treats. Our Lab, Saddie, will eat pretty much anything. She also eats everything very quickly. Sometimes I wonder if she even tastes her treats!
Our Beagle, Molly, is much pickier. She usually prefers soft treats and dehydrated treats made from 100% meat. She also eats everything very slowly. I was happy to see that Molly enjoys Charlee Bear Grain Free Crunch. These treats are crunchy, but she really seems to like the flavor and texture.
Although there is no information on the company's website or the product's packaging stating where the ingredients are sourced, Charlee Bear does manufacture their products in the United States. Grain-Free Crunch dog treats are available in 3 varieties:
- Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Cranberry
- Chicken, Pumpkin, and Apple
- Bacon and Blueberry
We got to sample all three flavors, and our dogs seemed to like everyone. Each treat only contains 3 calories, so they are perfect to use for training sessions. The full list of ingredients for each recipe is:
- Bacon and Blueberry: Peas, chickpeas, dehydrated pork, potato flour, dried whole eggs, bacon fat, sweet potato powder, dried blueberries, palm oil, cinnamon, mixed tocopherols (to preserve freshness).
- Chicken, Pumpkin, and Apple: Peas, chickpeas, chicken, potato, pea starch, dehydrated liver, dried egg product, dried pumpkin, dried apples, coconut oil, tapioca, natural flavor, cinnamon, and mixed tocopherols (to preserve freshness).
- Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Cranberry: Peas, chickpeas, dehydrated turkey, potato, pea starch, dried egg product, dehydrated sweet potato, dried cranberries, coconut oil, tapioca, natural flavor, cinnamon, and mixed tocopherols (to preserve freshness).
Depending on the flavor that you choose, you can get an 8-ounce bag of Charlee Bear Grain Free Crunch on Amazon for $7.67-$8.73. I think this is a very reasonable price considering the quality of the treats and the amount in each package. They are also a bit cheaper than dog treats made with similar quality ingredients.
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