Quick answer: The best treats for a pitbull puppy are small, soft-to-moderate, high-protein, and made from simple, natural ingredients — ideally single-ingredient chews with no rawhide, additives, or fillers. Keep treats to about 10% of your puppy's daily calories, size them for a small mouth, and pick chews that support teething without being too hard on developing teeth.
I'm Preston Smith, co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. Pitbull puppies grow fast and chew hard, so the treats you choose really matter. Here's how I'd think about it.
What should I look for in a pitbull puppy treat?
Pitbull puppies are muscular, high-energy dogs with strong jaws, so a few things matter more for them than for the average pup:
- High-quality protein. Growing muscle needs real meat. Look for treats made from 100% real meat rather than grain-heavy biscuits. The American Kennel Club notes that puppies need more protein and calories than adult dogs to fuel healthy growth (AKC).
- Simple, natural ingredients. Skip artificial additives, dyes, and preservatives. A single-ingredient treat means you always know exactly what your puppy is eating.
- Right size and texture. Small mouths and teething gums do best with appropriately sized, moderately firm chews — not rock-hard bones that can crack baby teeth.
- No rawhide. Rawhide is a common choking and blockage risk and isn't easily digestible. We're no rawhide, period.
- Calorie control. Treats should stay at roughly 10% of daily calories so they don't unbalance a puppy's carefully formulated main diet (VCA Animal Hospitals).
Are bully sticks good for pitbull puppies?
Yes — bully sticks are one of my favorite treats for pitbull puppies, and they check nearly every box above. Our bully sticks are 100% natural, single-ingredient, made from 100% real meat, and fully digestible, with no rawhide. For a strong-chewing pittie, a bully stick satisfies the urge to gnaw while supporting teething, and because it breaks down in the digestive system it's far safer than rawhide. If your puppy is new to chews, start with a thicker stick and supervise. For a full breakdown of when puppies can start, see our guide on bully sticks for puppies.
What about softer training treats?
Pitbull puppies are smart and food-motivated, which makes them a joy to train — but training means lots of small rewards. For quick reps you want a soft, low-calorie, bite-sized treat you can hand out fast. Small pieces of a natural, meat-based treat work well, and you can rotate flavors to keep sessions interesting. Whatever you use for training, count those calories toward the daily 10% so they don't add up on top of a full chew session.
Can pitbull puppies have trachea and other soft chews?
Beef trachea is another good option for growing puppies. It's softer than a bully stick, naturally contains glucosamine and chondroitin that support developing joints, and is fully digestible. If you're weighing options, we cover the details in are trachea dog treats safe.
How many treats can a pitbull puppy have per day?
Follow the 10% rule: treats and chews together should make up no more than about 10% of your puppy's daily calories, with the rest coming from a complete, balanced puppy food. Because pitbull puppies are prone to putting on weight quickly when overfed, err on the smaller side, break treats into pieces, and always provide fresh water alongside any chew.
Why I trust these treats for my own dogs
At Bully Sticks Central every chew is ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms and 100% high-quality guaranteed. No rawhide, no fillers, no mystery ingredients — just real, single-ingredient meat treats I'd give my own dogs. For a pitbull puppy that chews hard and grows fast, that simplicity is exactly what you want.
Explore all of our natural dog treats and chews to find the right fit for your growing pittie.
This post was last updated at July 17, 2026 15:50
