One thing that most pet parents have in common is that they love giving their pets treats. Treats are great to train our pups (or let them pretend we’re training them) as well as just give them a little something special to brighten their day. Nothing makes our days like making their day, right?

But just like we humans can get a bit fluffy when we take in treats, so can our pups. That’s why we want to be sure that the treats we give our dogs are not only low-calorie, but that they’re not empty calories either. Because if you’re going to give your pup some treats, might as well make them ones that are good for them too.

And that’s why more companies are producing treats that have added benefits for dogs other than a happy dance and wagging tail. As research suggests that feeding dogs foods closest to their ancestral diets is good for keeping them healthy (and happy), companies turn to raw to mimic as best they can. While raw treats are not necessarily new to the pet product world, freeze-dried treats are becoming more popular with pet parents as they look to give their dogs healthy treats.

What does freeze-drying raw treats do, you ask? In essence, the treats are flash frozen, and then the moisture is removed with a vacuum process. This is what makes freeze-dried raw treats safe for your pup—bacteria and other microorganisms can’t survive without water, and removing the water removes the risks of bacterial contamination. Best, it does so without having to use any additives or chemical preservatives to do so. (And if you don’t believe us, ask the folks at NASA about how long they’ve used the freeze-drying process to feed their astronauts safely!)

If you ask your dog, the number one reason you should buy freeze-dried raw treats is that they are doggone delicious. And how could they not be? The perk to freeze-dried raw treats is that they are typically treats that have a minimal ingredient list; for those who have dogs with allergies or food sensitivities? This is the route to go with treats because fewer ingredients mean fewer problem areas for your dog. If you’re looking for a natural treat, a freeze-dried treat is fabulous because it’s been naturally preserved without the use of chemicals or preservatives.

Additionally, because freeze-dried treats are not dehydrated, there is more nutrition packed into each treat. While you may be confused by the difference in freeze-dried and dehydrated, the gist is that freeze-dried treats are frozen at uber-low temperatures while dehydrated treats are dehydrated with super high heats. This means that a lot of the nutrition benefit your dog would get from the treat is actually cooked out with a dehydrated treat, while a freeze-dried treat maintains nutritional content as close to the way it would for your dog’s ancestors in the wild.

And, freeze-dried treats maintain shelf stability for a long time. Again, remember NASA uses freeze-dried foods for its astronauts because they are safe, tasty products that preserve nutrition and shelf-stability and freeze-dried raw treats do the same for our dogs. Better, because the freeze-drying process takes out all the water in the treat, they are very lightweight in the end. That means that you’ll actually be getting a deal on the raw treats because you’re not paying for the water that’s been removed in the freeze-dried process, and you’ll end up with a lot more protein for a lot less space (and money)!

As freeze-dried raw treats continue to hit the market, it’s important to know that not all freeze-dried raw treats are created equal. You’ll want to be sure that the ingredients are minimal and are free of sugar, salt, soy, grains, colors, flavors or preservatives.

And since you’re looking to give your dog a treat that not only tastes delicious but is good for them, check out one of our favorites— Charlee Bear Meaty Bites Treats.

We always love products that were developed with people’s pets in mind, and that’s just what happened with Charlee Bear treats. Charlee Bear Meaty Bites are named after an adorable Teddy-Bear looking rescue named Charlee. He was the inspiration behind his parents wanting to create the healthiest, tastiest treats they could for him, and in doing so, have created that for all of our dogs.

But Charlee Bear Meaty Bites are not your average freeze-dried treat. No, they are the first raw, freeze-dried meat treats that are infused with superfoods—real vegetables and fruits—for added nutrition. Even more, they include probiotics.

Research continues to shed light on the importance of good gut flora in humans, and it’s not much different for our dogs. Good guts mean better health and defense against illness and infection, and Charlee Bear Meaty Bites include probiotics to help boost your dog’s immune system and gut flora.

Yes, there are other freeze-dried raw treats, but only Charlee Bear Meaty Bites are freeze-dried raw treats infused with superfoods like blueberries, apples and sweet potatoes and also include probiotics. Not to mention, they’re 100% grain-free. And, they’re made in the USA by the Gottsacker family, who uses state-of-the-art technology to verify the quality and purity of every batch.

They’re tasty (at least my dog says so, and who else matters?) and nutritious, and made by people who love pets as much as I do. What’s not to love?