Anchovies vs Sardines for Dogs and Cats: Which to Pick

Anchovies vs sardines for dogs does not have a winner, because the better one depends on the job. Anchovies are the smaller fish, with a moderate whole-fish smell, that suits a training pocket, and sardines are the bigger fish that suits a single treat or a crumble over a bowl.

On our own scorecard the two score alike, 4 of 5 for crunch and 3 of 5 for training value, so the real differences are size, smell and how you plan to feed them. We make both, freeze-dried, in Malvern, Pennsylvania. This page sets them side by side and then helps you choose.

Are anchovies and sardines the same fish

No. They are two different kinds of small silver fish that people mix up, and both are often sold whole. A sardine is the larger of the two, and an anchovy is slimmer and smaller. Both turn up in cans, but the tinned versions are not what we are talking about here, since tinned anchovies are usually salt-cured and tinned sardines come packed in oil or sauce. Our bags hold the fish and nothing else.

Anchovies and sardines side by side

• Ingredient: anchovies in one bag, whole sardines in the other. Each has a single ingredient and nothing added.
• Piece size: we list both as small to medium whole fish.
• Crunch: 4 of 5 for each.
• Training value: 3 of 5 for each.
• Calories on the label: about 83.1 kcal per ounce for anchovies and about 94.9 kcal per ounce for sardines.
• Bag sizes: anchovies come in one 2 ounce bag. Sardines come in 1.5, 3 and 6 ounce bags.
• Bones: sardines are fed bones and all, and the small bones come out brittle after freeze-drying.

The calorie line is the one that surprises people. Per ounce, sardines run a little richer, so a bag of sardines goes a little less far than a bag of anchovies if you feed them piece for piece.

Size and smell

Size is where the species differ most. A sardine is a bigger fish than an anchovy and it makes the sardine the more substantial piece to hand over. We list both bags as small to medium whole fish, so look at the pieces when your bag arrives instead of assuming.

Smell is the other half. Our anchovies carry a moderate natural smell, typical of whole fish, and that smell is the reason dogs work for them as a training reward. Both fish are whole and both smell like fish, and we would rather you know that than be surprised in the car.

When to pick anchovies

Pick anchovies when the bag lives in a pocket. Pieces can be fed whole or broken smaller, so one fish can become a couple of rewards. That smell helps when a dog is distracted by everything else at a park or a show. The anchovies come in one 2 ounce bag, so there is no size to pick.

When to pick sardines

Pick sardines when you want a larger piece. Whole sardines work as a single treat, broken up for quick rewards, or crumbled over a meal. The three bag sizes are the other reason to pick them. The 1.5 ounce bag is the one to try first, and the 6 ounce bag makes sense for a house that goes through them. If you like the odd ones, we also make sardine heads, and yes, the eyes look back at you.

How much by dog size

These are treats. Keep all treats to about 10 percent of what a dog eats in a day, and a few times a week is plenty.

• Small dogs under 20 pounds: part of a fish, broken up.
• Medium dogs, 20 to 50 pounds: one or two pieces.
• Large dogs over 50 pounds: two or three pieces.

Both are listed for adult dogs of all sizes. Since a sardine carries more calories per ounce, count it as a bit more than an anchovy of the same weight.

Cats

Both fish ship for dogs and for cats. For a cat, offer a piece whole or crumble it over food, in much smaller amounts than a dog gets. The same label wording applies: feed as a treat or topper, provide fresh water, and watch while the cat eats.

Trying a new fish for the first time

Start with one small piece, plain, on a day when nothing else is new, and wait a day before giving more. Fish is a new food for plenty of dogs. If yours is on a special diet, or has had trouble with fish before, ask your veterinarian before you start. Breaking a piece down is also the easy way to keep a first portion small.

Storing both

Reseal the bag after opening and keep it in a cool, dry place. That goes for either fish. Keep it away from the sink and from steam, since moisture is what turns a crunchy piece soft. The longer version is in our guides to anchovies and sardines.

Where to find them

You can find Freeze-Dried Anchovies and Freeze-Dried Whole Sardines in our freeze-dried treats for dogs collection.

Questions

Which is better for small dogs, anchovies or sardines?

Anchovies are the easier fit, since the fish is smaller and one piece breaks into a few rewards. A sardine can be broken up just as well. Our scorecard lists both as small to medium whole fish.

Are sardines or anchovies better for dogs overall?

Neither wins. Anchovies suit training because of the smell, and sardines suit a larger single treat or a topper. Many people keep both and rotate.

Are anchovies and sardines the same?

No, they are different fish. A sardine is bigger and an anchovy is smaller and slimmer. Our bags are each a single fish with nothing else in them.

Are your anchovies salty like the tinned kind?

Ours are freeze-dried with no added ingredients, which means no salt curing and no seasoning. The ingredient list is one word, anchovies.

Can I feed both in the same week?

Yes. Many people do, one for training and one as a treat. Just count both toward the same 10 percent treat total, and remember sardines carry more calories per ounce.

Do dogs and cats both get the same fish?

Both ship for dogs and for cats. Offer cats smaller amounts, whole or crumbled over food, and provide fresh water.

Do they need refrigeration?

No. Reseal the bag after opening and store it in a cool, dry place.