9 Best Treats For Shih Tzu in 2026

A flexible, easy-to-chew dental stick that breaks down readily rather than forcing a senior or sensitive dog to gnaw on something rock-hard. The patented grooves and oval openings are designed to increase surface contact across different areas of the teeth, which helps control plaque and tartar without demanding a heavy chewing commitment from your dog. Made in the USA with no artificial flavors or colors and a gluten-free recipe, it suits Shih Tzu owners who want daily oral care that won’t stress aging or delicate mouths.

The trade-off is that this treat is designed for dogs in the 5-15 pound range, so it won’t suit larger dogs. Compared to Greenies Teenie Natural Dental Dog Treats, which are also sized for similar weights, Groovies uses an extra flexible texture that breaks down more easily. That can be a better fit for a senior dog or one with sensitive teeth. The 22-count bag is a standard size for daily use, and the design focuses on gentle, effective oral care.

Forty-seven percent less tartar accumulation in 28 days is the kind of number that makes a dental treat worth taking seriously. Greenies Teenie uses a unique texture designed to scrub down to the gumline, and the formulation positively balances the oral microbiome to help support oral health. For an owner who wants a daily chew that delivers on its clinical promise, this is a straightforward option backed by data. The chicken flavor keeps it palatable, and the 43-count bag gives you over a month of daily treats without restocking.

Commitment is key: you need to give one every day to maintain the plaque and tartar reduction the data shows. That is easy enough for most routines, but if you travel or forget, the benefit drops off. Compared to Groovies Senior & Gentle Chewers, which uses a flexible design for gentler chewing, Greenies has a firmer texture that may not suit a Shih Tzu with sensitive gums or missing teeth. Stick with this one if your dog has a healthy mouth and you want the most proven dental stats in the lineup.

The turkey and apple flavor is specially formulated with DHA to help support puppies’ brain and eye development, which makes it a useful treat for a growing young dog. These petite bones are intended for x-small puppies up to 15 pounds, so they’re sized appropriately for small mouths, and the all-natural ingredients include no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. With three flavors in the variety pack, you can see which one your puppy prefers while using them as training rewards to encourage positive chewing habits.

The obvious trade-off is the count: three bones per pack means you’ll run through them fast if you’re using them for daily training sessions. Unlike the Greenies Puppy Teenie Natural Dental Treats which offer 22 treats in a bag, these Nylabone chews also don’t claim any dental-cleaning action. So if your main concern is tartar control for a puppy, the Greenies option covers that ground while still including DHA and calcium for growth. For an owner focused on safe, digestible chews that support early development without artificial additives, this is a smart starting point, just budget for refills.

Fewer than four calories per treat means you can reward a Shih Tzu repeatedly during a training session without throwing off their daily food intake. That matters for a breed prone to packing on weight when treats add up. The apple and bacon flavor is described as tempting and designed to grab a dog’s attention, making it suitable for training rewards. The crunchy biscuit texture provides a satisfying bite, and the sweet potato ingredient is noted for supporting digestion. The lack of wheat, corn, or soy makes these a safe option for dogs with common food sensitivities.

The crunchy, mini biscuit shape works best for training rewards rather than as a chewy dental aid or a substantial snack. For dogs that need oral-care support, Greenies Teenie Natural Dental Dog Treats are veterinarian-recommended for oral health and freshening breath. But for low-calorie, frequent rewarding with clean ingredients, these Fruitables treats deliver exactly what the calorie count promises.

Seven calories per strip means you can give a small dog several rewards without overdoing it. Real meat is the first ingredient, and the soft, easy-to-chew texture works well for small mouths that struggle with crunchy biscuits. The resealable pouch keeps them handy between uses, and there are no artificial flavors.

These are purely a reward treat; they don’t offer dental cleaning like a dental chew does. If your dog needs both a treat and oral care, you’ll want to consider a dental option. But for everyday training or just giving your dog something tasty that’s easy on the teeth and low in calories, these deliver exactly what they promise: a soft, bacony bite.

Veterinarian-recommended and clinically proven, these dental treats clean down to the gumline, targeting the four areas vets check most: plaque, tartar, gums, and breath. Designed for puppies between 5 and 15 pounds, the unique texture fits a small mouth and helps build a daily dental routine. The formula includes DHA and calcium to support your puppy’s development while freshening breath.

The primary consideration with these dental chews is the age requirement, as they are formulated specifically for puppies who are at least six months old. A younger Shih Tzu, for example, would need a different option entirely. For puppies in that age range and weighing between five and fifteen pounds, the treat features a unique texture designed to clean down to the gumline. This design targets the four areas veterinarians check most: plaque, tartar, gums, and breath. The formula includes natural ingredients plus added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients like DHA and calcium, supporting both dental health and overall development during the puppy stage.

An 8-ounce bag of soft, chewy treats that skip the corn, soy, and artificial additives many owners want to avoid. The bite-sized pieces and peanut butter base make them easy to break apart for training or just a quick reward. Buddy Biscuits keeps the ingredient list short and pronounceable, which matters when you’re feeding a dog prone to food sensitivities and you’d rather not guess what’s in the bag.

These are purely a soft treat with no dental benefits, so they won’t scrape plaque the way a structured chew would. If your dog needs both a reward and oral care, you’ll want to rotate in a dental option. But for a daily soft treat that sticks to simple ingredients and avoids the fillers, this bag delivers exactly what it promises without pretending to be something else.

OraVet’s key difference is delmopinol, it forms a barrier on teeth after chewing to protect against bacteria that cause bad breath, not just scrape off plaque mechanically. That matters for a Shih Tzu whose small mouth and crowded teeth make breath issues common. At 30 chews per pouch, each one is sized for extra small dogs between 3.5 and 9 pounds. So you’re not guessing whether a treat meant for a 15-pound dog will be too tough or too big. The chews are highly dissolvable, which helps reduce the risk of choking for small dogs.

This is a daily commitment: skip a day and the protective barrier doesn’t renew, so it’s not a once-in-a-while reward like Groovies Senior & Gentle Chewers. That Groovies option is extra flexible and designed for senior or gentle chewers, which may suit some dogs better. But if your main concern is keeping breath fresh and plaque under control with a vet-backed active ingredient, OraVet’s design targets exactly that, as long as you stick to the routine.

Each bag holds approximately 500 treats, so you can reward your dog dozens of times without running out mid-session. At just 1.5 calories each, these mini soft bites let you reinforce good behavior repeatedly without wrecking a small dog’s daily calorie budget. The pork liver and real bacon flavor provides strong motivation for training, and the soft, chewy texture is gentle on small mouths. For owners who want a high-value reward that keeps training affordable and effective, this is a practical choice.

These treats are purely about training motivation, not dental care. If your dog also needs help with plaque and tartar, you will want to pair these with a dental chew like Greenies Teenie Natural Dental Dog Treats, which are designed for oral health. But for training sessions, enrichment activities such as puzzle toys and snuffle mats, or everyday treating, the Pet Botanics treats deliver a lot of reward for very few calories. Just check the ingredient list if your dog has sensitivities to pork or bacon.