Freeze-dried anchovies, strong smell, one ingredient
Updated
About the smell
Open the bag and you will know. Whole anchovies smell strongly of fish, and that is the reason they earn their place in a training pouch: a dog will put in effort for it. Better to hear it here than to be surprised in your kitchen.
Beyond the smell, each anchovy is a small whole fish. Our scorecard puts the crunch at 4 of 5 and training use at 3 of 5. You can hand one over as it is or snap it into bits for quick rewards. The listing's fit chart says adult dogs of any size.
What is in the bag
Anchovies, Stolephorus chinensis, as the only ingredient, with no grains, fillers or dyes. No two fish look quite alike in size, shape or color. They are smaller and drier than our sardines, which makes them easy to carry on a walk, and the bag reseals, which you will be glad of with a smell like this. Sniff and Shift freeze-dries them in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania. We make no claim about where the fish are caught.
Contains fish. If your dog has had a problem with seafood before, check with your veterinarian before the first one.
Guaranteed analysis
From the package label:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Crude protein (min) | 67% |
| Crude fat (min) | 5% |
| Crude fiber (max) | 6% |
| Moisture (max) | 11% |
| Metabolizable energy | 2,930 kcal ME/kg, approximately 83.1 kcal/oz |
Treat budget calculator
Type in your pet's daily calories and see what a 10 percent treat share is in anchovies.
Use the number from your vet or your dog food bag.
Simple arithmetic on the label's energy figure and your number, not feeding advice. Your veterinarian can give you the daily calorie target. The 10 percent share comes from VCA's treat guidance (opened 2026-10-16).
Energy figure: 2,930 kcal ME/kg from the package label of Freeze-Dried Anchovies: Fish Treats for Dogs & Cats.
Serving, handling and storage
These are a treat or a topper, never a full diet on their own. Put fresh water out and stay with your pet while it eats. Anchovies are whole fish with their bones, and the AKC warns that fish bones are small, brittle and dangerous for dogs (AKC, Can Dogs Eat Fish, opened 2026-10-16), so break them down for a small mouth.
These anchovies are raw before freeze-drying; they are not cooked. VCA urges caution with freeze-dried or dehydrated raw treats because of the risk of bacterial contamination to the pet, other pets and people (VCA, Dog Treats; VCA, Cat Treats, both opened 2026-10-16). Handle them as the FDA advises for raw pet food: wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, clean the bowl and surfaces they touch, and skip face licks right after (FDA, Get the Facts, opened 2026-10-16).
No refrigerator needed. Close the bag after each use and keep it somewhere cool and dry. For more on anchovies, canned and freeze-dried, read can dogs eat anchovies.
Questions about freeze-dried anchovies
Are these anchovies made for dogs?
Yes. They are a dog and cat treat with anchovies as the only ingredient, served as a snack or a topper. If your dog has reacted to seafood before, talk to your veterinarian first.
Just how fishy is the smell?
Very. It is the normal smell of whole fish, and it is why dogs work for them.
Can cats have them?
Yes, they are listed for cats. A cat can have one whole or crumbled over food.
Do they need to be refrigerated?
No. Keep the closed bag in a cool, dry spot.
Is there a recurring order for anchovies?
No. Anchovies are a one-time purchase only.
Compare with a sardine
A sardine is the larger piece; an anchovy is smaller and drier.