Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Review: Worth It for a Border Collie?
Our verdict
Blue Bits are a sensible everyday training treat for a Border Collie: soft, small, easy to break and widely available. They suit owners who train in lots of short sessions and want something that doesn’t crumble in a pouch. If your collie needs a high-value reward for tough distractions, or has a chicken sensitivity, look elsewhere or keep these for easy work.
- Best for: Everyday training reps
- Not for: Dogs sensitive to chicken
- Bag size for most Border Collies: 11 oz
Plenty of people break training treats in half and call it done. With a Border Collie, that’s often not enough. A collie learning a new trick or practicing heelwork can easily rack up 50 or more rewards in a session, and a treat that’s crumbly, hard or too big turns a quick session into a snack break with lots of chewing and searching the grass.
Blue Bits are built around that problem. They’re soft, bite-sized, and made to be handed out fast. We looked at what the listing says about the chicken recipe, how the soft texture works for a quick-learning herding dog, and where the treat falls short.
What Blue Buffalo Blue Bits are (and aren't)
Blue Bits are soft-moist training treats. The chicken recipe lists real chicken as the first ingredient and adds DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, which Blue Buffalo says supports cognitive development in puppies and dogs of all ages. The brand says the treats contain no chicken or poultry by-product meals, no corn, wheat or soy, and no artificial preservatives like propylene glycol or colors like Red Dye 40.
The larger 19 oz bag listing adds that omega 3 and 6 from flaxseed support skin and coat, and that brown rice and oatmeal are included, so this is not a grain-free treat. It’s described as suitable for all sizes and life stages, puppies included, and made in the USA.
What they aren’t is a meal replacement or a high-value jackpot. For most collies, Blue Bits sit in the middle: tasty enough for regular reps, not as exciting as cheese or freeze-dried liver.
That middle position is actually useful. Collie trainers often talk about a reward ladder: kibble for easy stuff at home, a mid-value treat for new skills and mild distractions, and the best stuff for recall off sheep or away from a fox scent. Blue Bits fit neatly on the middle rung, which is where most of your daily training happens.
Key specs
| Brand | Blue Buffalo |
|---|---|
| Product | Blue Bits Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats, Chicken Recipe |
| Texture | Soft, bite-sized |
| First ingredient | Real chicken |
| Added | DHA (omega-3) |
| Free from | Chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives and Red Dye 40 |
| Bag sizes covered here | 4 oz, 11 oz, 19 oz |
| Made in | USA |
Which size fits a Border Collie
The treat is the same in every bag, so this is really about how fast you go through them and how quickly you can finish an opened bag while the treats are still soft.
4 oz bag
Good for trying the flavor or keeping a spare bag in the car. A collie in training will go through it quickly.
11 oz bag Our pick
The middle size suits most Border Collie owners who train most days. Big enough to last, small enough to use up while the treats are fresh.
19 oz bag
Worth it for multi-dog homes or very heavy training, such as a puppy in daily classes. Reseal it carefully so the treats stay soft.
What we like
Soft enough for rapid-fire rewards
The soft texture is the main selling point for collie owners. A soft treat is swallowed in a second, so the dog goes straight back to work. That keeps your rate of reinforcement high, which is how you get the quick, sharp responses this breed is capable of.
Easy to split
Because they’re soft, you can tear Blue Bits into smaller pieces with your fingers. For a 30 to 45 lb dog doing a long session, halving each treat keeps calories more reasonable without losing the reward.
A clean ingredient list for an everyday treat
Real chicken first, no by-product meals, no corn, wheat or soy, and no Red Dye 40, according to Blue Buffalo. For a treat you’ll hand out by the dozen, many owners like knowing what they’re feeding.
Puppy friendly
The brand says Blue Bits suit puppies, and the soft texture is kind to baby teeth. That fits the early weeks when a collie puppy is learning name, sit, and recall games all at once.
What we don’t like
Not a top-tier reward for every collie
For a dog fixated on sheep, squirrels or a ball, a soft chicken treat may not compete. Keep a higher-value reward for recall in distracting places and use Blue Bits for routine work.
Can dry out once opened
Soft-moist treats tend to harden if the bag is left open. Seal it well, or keep a day’s worth in a small container so the main bag stays closed.
Calories aren't in the listing
The Amazon listing doesn’t give a calorie count per treat, so check the bag. Training treats should stay under about 10 percent of daily calories, and a busy collie session can add up.
This matters more with collies than people expect. A lean, athletic Border Collie can carry a couple of extra pounds without it showing much under a full coat, so feel for the ribs every few weeks rather than relying on the mirror.
Pros
- Soft and quick to eat
- Easy to tear into smaller pieces
- Real chicken first ingredient
- Contains DHA
- Suitable for puppies
Cons
- Not high value enough for every situation
- May harden once opened
- Contains grains, if that matters to you
Tips to get the most from it
- Tear each treat in half for long sessions so you can reward more often without overfeeding.
- Keep a small, sealed tub in your treat pouch rather than carrying the whole bag.
- Use Blue Bits for routine reps and save cheese or freeze-dried meat for recall around livestock or wildlife.
- Cut your collie’s meal slightly on heavy training days to balance the extra treats.
- If you’re trying them for the first time, introduce slowly and watch for any tummy upset.
Alternatives worth a look
Pupford Freeze-Dried Training Treats Pick these if your collie needs something more exciting, or you want a very small, low-calorie treat for big sessions.
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites A grain-free, lamb and salmon option with a calorie count on the listing, useful for puppies or dogs that don’t do well on chicken.
Frequently asked questions
Are Blue Bits good for Border Collie puppies?
Blue Buffalo says they suit puppies, and the soft texture is easy on young teeth. Keep pieces small and check with your vet about total treat intake while your puppy is growing.
How many Blue Bits can I give in a day?
Check the calorie information on the bag and keep treats under about 10 percent of daily calories. On heavy training days, reduce the meal slightly to make room.
Are Blue Bits grain free?
No. The listing mentions brown rice and oatmeal. They are free from corn, wheat and soy, according to Blue Buffalo.
My collie gets overexcited with food in training. Will soft treats help?
Soft treats are quick to eat, which keeps sessions moving, but they won't calm an overaroused dog on their own. Try delivering treats slowly from your hand, placing them on the ground for a calmer sniff, and keeping sessions short with breaks in between.
Do Blue Bits come in other flavors?
Yes, Amazon lists other recipes such as beef and salmon. This review covers the chicken recipe.
Bottom line
Blue Bits do the job a training treat should: they’re soft, small, and fast to eat, which matters with a breed that can do a dozen reps in a minute. For most Border Collie owners, the 11 oz chicken bag is a reliable everyday choice.
Pair them with something higher value for hard situations, keep the bag sealed, and they’ll cover a lot of daily training.
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