The single bag
Freeze-dried cheddar dog treats
Updated
Freeze-dried cheddar dog treats are cheddar that has had its water pulled out in a freeze dryer, so a piece snaps instead of bending and does not leave grease on your fingers. Ours is cheddar cheese made from pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt and enzymes, the ingredient line printed on the bag. Each bag holds 8 oz (227 g), and Sniff and Shift makes it in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania. It contains dairy.
What freeze-drying does to cheddar
Fresh cheese is soft because it is full of water. In a freeze dryer that water is removed, and what is left is a piece that snaps instead of squishing. It does not leave a film on your fingers, and once it is dried it needs no refrigeration. That is the practical case for it as a training treat: it rides in a jacket pocket or a treat pouch without melting or smearing.
Two honest notes. Crisp pieces shed crumbs, and the last of the bag will be smaller bits; sprinkle them over a meal or save them for a tiny dog. And drying does not take the fat out: the listing gives a fat minimum of 50 percent, so this is a rich treat, and small pieces do the work.
Ingredients
What the bag says
- Ingredients printed on the bag: pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes
- Net weight on the bag: 8 oz (227 g), the only size we sell
- Contains dairy, and the bag lists salt
- Small batches, made in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and shipped from there
Skip it for a dog that reacts to dairy. If you do not know yet, ask your veterinarian before the first piece.
Guaranteed analysis
From the guaranteed analysis on our product listing:
| Guaranteed analysis | Amount |
|---|---|
| Crude protein | 34% minimum |
| Crude fat | 50% minimum |
| Crude fiber | 4% maximum |
| Moisture | 6% maximum |
| Metabolizable energy | 5,251 kcal per kilogram, approximately 148.9 kcal per ounce (printed bag label) |
Those percentages describe the dried bites, so do not line them up against a fresh slice of cheese: the water is a big part of what changed. What matters for a training session is the energy figure. At about 148.9 kcal per ounce, a few small pieces are a few calories, and a handful of big ones adds up quickly.
The bag's feeding directions call it a treat, reward or topper for intermittent or supplemental feeding only, not a complete and balanced diet. Keep water out, stay with your dog while it eats, and wash your hands after handling, as the label also asks.
Treat budget calculator
Enter your dog's daily calories and see what 10 percent looks like in cheddar bites.
kcal per day
Use the number from your vet or your dog food bag.
0kcal treat budget (10%)
0grams of this treat
0ounces
This is arithmetic on the energy figure in our product listing and the number you enter, not feeding advice. The 10 percent figure is the general treat guideline from VCA Animal Hospitals. Ask your vet for your dog's calorie target.
Energy figure: 5,251 kcal ME/kg from the package label of Freeze-Dried Cheddar Cheese Dog Treats.
How people use it
- On a walk: a few small pieces in a pouch for recall, loose leash and "leave it".
- In class: pea-sized pieces for quick repetitions. The training guide shows how to time them.
- For small dogs: crumble it into smaller bits.
- On a meal: the bag label lists topper as a use, so crush a few pieces over the bowl. Count them toward the day's treats.
New to feeding cheese, or wondering about lactose and fat? Read can dogs eat cheese. Comparing cheese treat formats? See cheese treats for dogs.
Storage
Close the zip seal every time and keep the bag in a cool, dry cupboard; there is no need for the fridge. University of Minnesota Extension notes that freeze-dried foods absorb moisture easily (UMN Extension, freeze drying, opened 2026-10-16), so a closed bag is what keeps the pieces crisp.
Bundles with the cheddar bites
Three bags in one box, or a rubber tire toy with a bag of cheddar bites for tug and treat. Both contain dairy. Supervise your dog with the tire toy.
What owners say
Kept these in my car for dogs I come across and they all love them!
Both our dogs love these and the portion size is perfect for our Shih Tzu. We like supporting this business.
Another great choice, my dogs enjoy these a lot.
Our doodle absolutely loves the freeze dried cheese Totally addicted 😀
My dog loves them! They're a perfect training treat.
Great for training!
Questions
What are the ingredients?
Cheddar cheese. The ingredient line printed on the bag reads pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes: the milk, cultures, salt and enzymes that cheddar is made from. Nothing else is listed.
Does it contain dairy?
Yes. Cheddar is a dairy food, so skip it for a dog that reacts to dairy, and ask your veterinarian if you do not know yet.
How is freeze-dried cheese different from cheese from the fridge?
Texture and storage. With the water gone the piece is crisp and clean to hold, and the closed bag sits in a cupboard. The fat stays: the listing gives a minimum of 50 percent.
How many calories per ounce?
The printed bag label gives metabolizable energy of 5,251 kcal per kilogram, approximately 148.9 kcal per ounce.
Can puppies have the cheddar bites?
Our listing names puppies as well as adult dogs. It gives no puppy amounts, so ask your veterinarian how many treats your puppy should have, and keep the pieces small. See puppy training treats.
How big is the bag?
The bag label gives a net weight of 8 oz (227 g). It is the only size we sell; the 3-pack is three of the same bags.
How do I store it?
Close the seal after each handful and keep the bag somewhere cool and dry. It does not go in the fridge.