Why Freeze-Dried Treats Are Taking Over Canadian Pet Stores

Šapice Pet Wellness
2026-04-01T15:59:03-04:00

Freeze-dried treats preserve nutrition, flavour, and ingredient integrity better than any other processing method. Discover why Canadian pet owners are making the switch and explore our full range.
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Walk into any well-stocked Canadian pet store today and you'll notice a shift on the treat shelves. Freeze-dried treats — once a niche product found only in specialty retailers — now occupy prime shelf space alongside traditional baked biscuits and jerky. The reason is simple: once pet owners understand what freeze-drying actually does to food, they rarely go back.

What Is Freeze-Drying?

Freeze-drying (lyophilisation) is a preservation process that removes moisture from food without using heat. The food is first frozen, then placed in a vacuum chamber where the ice converts directly to vapour — a process called sublimation — without passing through a liquid phase. The result is a shelf-stable product that retains virtually all of the original food's nutritional content, flavour, and aroma.

This is fundamentally different from conventional drying or dehydration, which uses heat and degrades heat-sensitive nutrients, enzymes, and volatile aromatic compounds in the process.

Why Freeze-Dried Treats Are Superior

Nutritional Integrity

Because no heat is applied, freeze-drying preserves proteins, vitamins, and enzymes in their natural state. A freeze-dried piece of salmon retains essentially the same nutritional profile as fresh salmon — something no heat-processed treat can claim.

Ingredient Transparency

The best freeze-dried treats are single-ingredient — one protein, nothing else. This makes them ideal for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies, and for owners who want complete clarity about what they're feeding.

Palatability

Freeze-drying concentrates flavour and aroma by removing water while leaving everything else intact. The result is an intensely aromatic treat that dogs find irresistible — making freeze-dried treats exceptionally effective as high-value training rewards.

Shelf Stability

Without moisture, freeze-dried treats are shelf-stable for extended periods without refrigeration or artificial preservatives — a practical advantage for Canadian pet owners who buy in bulk or travel with their pets.

Our Freeze-Dried Range

At Šapice Pet Wellness, our Functional Treats collection and Rewards & Chews collection feature an extensive range of freeze-dried options covering a wide variety of proteins:

Classic Proteins

Freeze-Dried Chicken 50g and 100g — a universally loved protein, ideal for training

Freeze-Dried Turkey 43g and 85g — lean and flavourful

Freeze-Dried Beef Liver 50g and 100g — intensely aromatic, a top high-value training treat

Fish Proteins

Freeze-Dried Salmon 85g and 43g — rich in omega-3 fatty acids, great for coat and skin health

Exotic and Novel Proteins

Freeze-Dried Venison — a lean, novel protein ideal for dogs with common protein sensitivities

Freeze-Dried Kangaroo — one of the leanest red meats available, excellent for weight-conscious dogs

Freeze-Dried Goat — a highly digestible novel protein

Freeze-Dried Steak — a premium beef option for the most discerning dogs

Unique Formats

Freeze-Dried Marble Cheese Minis — a high-value dairy treat, perfect for training

RMR Freeze-Dried Taster Pack — a variety pack for discovering your dog's favourite protein

How to Use Freeze-Dried Treats

Training: break into pea-sized pieces for high-repetition training sessions

Topper: crumble over kibble to increase palatability and nutritional value

Enrichment: hide inside a snuffle mat for a high-value foraging challenge

Rehydration: add warm water to create a food topper or gravy for picky eaters or seniors

Freeze-dried treats represent the clearest possible expression of the natural pet food movement — real food, minimally processed, with nothing added and nothing taken away except water.

Shop our Functional Treats collection →