Ever wonder why your dog seems more interested in that dropped crumb on the floor than your perfectly timed command? It’s a common frustration for dog owners everywhere! Choosing the right training treat can feel like navigating a maze. You want something your dog loves enough to focus, but you also worry about unhealthy ingredients or treats that crumble too fast during crucial training moments. It’s tough balancing motivation with good nutrition.
If you are tired of ineffective training sessions or unsure if you are rewarding your furry friend properly, you are in the right place. We are diving deep into the world of dog training treats. By the end of this post, you will know exactly what makes a treat effective, how to match the treat to the training goal, and what ingredients to look for (and avoid!). Get ready to transform those training struggles into training successes.
Top Dog Training Treats Recommendations
- Triple Action: Pedigree Dentastix Large Breed Dental Care Treats come with triple action which reduces tartar buildup, cleans teeth, and freshens breath
- X-Shape Design: Designed with a unique X-shape and chewy texture, these dental treats help scrape away plaque while chewing to help clean hard-to-reach teeth
- Feeding Guidelines: Treat your large dog (40 lbs.) one treat a day to bring a smile to your best friend
- Delicious Flavor: Pedigree Dentastix Large Breed Dog Treats Fresh Flavor brings a delicious fresh flavor your dog will love
- Quality Recipe: Pedigree Dentastix Large Breed Dental Care Treats are made with no added sugar or fillers
- Highly Palatable with natural pork liver base
- 500 treats per bag!
- Only 1.5 calories per treat
- Clean ingredients with no corn, soy or artificial flavors
- Made with natural bacon
- REAL CHICKEN FIRST: BLUE Bits dog training treats are made with delicious real chicken as the first ingredient making them an ideal reward for your best friend’s best behavior
- SOFT TRAINING TREATS: For dogs that love a soft treat, BLUE Bits are tender, bite-sized morsels that are the perfect size for training; plus, with DHA to help support cognitive development, they’re an ideal puppy treat
- WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: These dog treats don’t contain any chicken (or poultry) by-product meals and are free from corn, wheat, and soy; plus, they’re free from artificial preservatives like Propylene Glycol and colors like Red Dye 40
- HEALTHY DOG TREATS: Blue Buffalo natural dog treats feature the healthy, wholesome ingredients you’ll love feeding as much as they’ll love eating
- Contains: One (1) 19-oz bag of BLUE Bits Natural Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats, Chicken Recipe
- REAL BEEF FIRST: BLUE Bits dog training treats are made with delicious real beef as the first ingredient making them an ideal reward for your best friend’s best behavior
- SOFT TRAINING TREATS: For dogs that love a soft treat, BLUE Bits are tender, bite-sized morsels that are the perfect size for training; plus, with DHA to help support cognitive development, they’re an ideal puppy treat
- WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: These dog treats don’t contain any chicken (or poultry) by-product meals and are free from corn, wheat, and soy; plus, they’re free from artificial preservatives like Propylene Glycol and colors like Red Dye 40
- HEALTHY DOG TREATS: Blue Buffalo natural dog treats feature the healthy, wholesome ingredients you’ll love feeding as much as they’ll love eating
- Contains: One (1) 19-oz bag of BLUE Bits Natural Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats, Beef Recipe
- Small treats for bite-sized rewards during training
- American chicken is the #1 ingredient
- No added corn, soy or wheat; No added colors or artificial flavors
- Made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world
- 2-pound bag of dog treats in a resealable pouch
- BUDDY TRAINING BITES - These bite-sized treats are chock full of meaty flavor from appetizing pork liver as the 1st ingredient, so they are easy to eat and perfect for dogs of all ages.
- ALL THE GOOD STUFF - Our training treats are made in the USA and they are free of corn, soy, artificial flavors and preservatives. With Buddy, you can feel good about serving your best bud the treats they deserve!
- LOW CALORIE - Only 1.5 calories per treat to help make your dog training sessions last longer! The delicious aroma will have your pup coming back for more.
- 501 TREATS PER BAG - Reward your dog's good behavior with 500 treats per bag. Buddy is healthy, tasty & fun!
- EVERYBODY LOVES BUDDY: Buddy is the perfect companion for your best friend! Buddy's delicious flavors are sure bring your pup joy! Buddy has a range of treats - all made with real, simple ingredients that you can pronounce.
- FREEZE-DRIED RAW BEEF LIVER DOG TREAT: Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Dog Treats pack more protein than industry standard into every bite to deliver the peak vitality your dog deserves. Our natural freeze-dried raw dog treats are made from responsibly sourced, premium butcher cut beef liver.
- BETTER PROTEIN = BETTER BENEFITS: The best freeze dried dog treats on the market use premium butcher cut raw protein to unlock the benefits of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals in raw muscle and organs, because pets deserve the energetic playtimes, healthy skin, shiny coats, strong teeth, and essential gut health that a high-protein diet delivers.
- PROUDLY AMERICAN CRAFTED: All our dog treats and food are responsibly sourced and humanely harvested to ensure the quality of our proteins. We go above industry standards to preserve flavor and ensure the highest quality of protein and nutrients in every Vital Essentials product.
- MADE WITHOUT: Dog treat additives, fillers, dyes, flavorings, artificial preservatives, grains, or rendered by-products. Vital Essentials also offers the widest variety of single-protein raw dog food and treats on the market—great for picky eaters and dogs with allergies!
- RAW DOG TREATS FREEZE DRIED FOR PEAK FRESHNESS: Our protein is frozen within 45-minutes of harvesting to lock in peak nutrients, flavor, and freshness. A slow-freeze-dry ensures minimal processing, while preserving the vital nutrients that our pets deserve, the way nature intended.
- BIG MOTIVATION IN EACH MINI BITE. Each of these 1.5 calorie treats are packed with flavor from pork liver, real bacon, and added botanicals that will keep dogs focused and eager to learn!
- TRAIN. ENRICH. TREAT. These low calorie training rewards are great for training sessions, enrichment activities such as puzzle toys and snuffle mats, and every day treating occasions.
- GREAT FOR SMALLER DOGS. These bite-sized treats are the perfect size for training and every day treating for smaller dogs. Each 10 oz bag includes approximately 500 treats
- REWARD THE EVERYDAY Pet Botanics healthy training rewards are perfect for training and treating every day in every way. These soft & chewy treats have no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
- PROUD MEMBER THE CLOUD STAR FAMILY. With Cloud Star products, you can spend less time worrying about what to feed your pet and spend more time Living Life with Your Dog by Your Side.
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Dog Training Treats
Choosing the right training treats can make a huge difference when teaching your dog new tricks or good manners. Think of these treats as tiny rewards that help your dog understand what you want them to do. We break down what you need to know before you buy.
1. Key Features to Look For
When shopping, keep these important features in mind. These make a treat great for training.
- Size and Portability: Training often means giving many treats quickly. Look for treats that are small—about the size of a pea or smaller. They should be easy to carry in a treat pouch without crumbling everywhere.
- High Value vs. Low Value: Some dogs need a super yummy treat (high value) for hard tasks like ignoring squirrels. For easy tasks like “sit,” a regular, less exciting treat (low value) works fine. Buy a mix!
- Softness: Soft, chewy treats are best. Dogs can gobble them down fast. This keeps the training session moving quickly. Hard biscuits take too long to chew.
- Smell: A good, appealing smell helps grab your dog’s attention, especially in distracting environments.
2. Important Ingredients and Materials
What goes into the treat matters for your dog’s health and training success.
Healthy Ingredients
- Real Meat or Protein: The best treats usually list real chicken, beef, salmon, or liver as the first ingredient. This makes the treat highly desirable.
- Simple Formulas: Treats with fewer ingredients are often better. They reduce the chance of upsetting your dog’s stomach.
- Natural Preservatives: Look for natural preservatives like Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols).
Ingredients to Approach with Caution
- Artificial Colors and Flavors: These add no nutritional value and can sometimes cause reactions in sensitive dogs.
- Excessive Fillers: Ingredients like corn, wheat, or soy listed high on the list can reduce the quality of the treat, as they don’t offer much reward power.
- High Fat Content: While fat makes treats tasty, too much fat can lead to an upset stomach if you give them constantly during long training sessions.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The quality of the treat directly affects how useful it is for training.
Quality Boosters:
Treats that are single-ingredient (like dried liver) generally offer top quality. Also, treats made in countries with strict food safety rules often mean higher quality control. Always check the “Made in” label.
Quality Reducers:
If a treat crumbles into dust in your pocket, it reduces quality because it becomes messy and hard to dispense fast. Very dry, hard biscuits also reduce quality for active training because they slow down the pace.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the treats changes what kind of treat you need.
High-Distraction Training (Outside or Dog Park)
You need high-value treats here. Think small pieces of real cheese or freeze-dried meat. These powerful rewards help your dog focus when exciting things are happening nearby.
Basic Obedience (Inside the House)
For teaching “sit” or “down” at home, you can use lower-value, everyday training snacks. These can be slightly larger or less smelly. You give these often, so they should be healthier for daily use.
Puppy Training
Puppies have tiny stomachs. You must break even the smallest treats into even tinier pieces, or use very low-calorie options. Frequent, small rewards work best for young dogs.
Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Dog Training Treats
Q: How often should I give training treats?
A: During an active training session, you might give a treat every few seconds when first teaching a new behavior. Once the dog understands the behavior, you switch to rewarding intermittently—sometimes after one successful repetition, sometimes after three.
Q: Can I use my dog’s regular kibble as training treats?
A: Yes, you can! If your dog loves their kibble, use it for basic training inside the house. This keeps calories low. However, you will likely need tastier treats for hard outdoor training.
Q: Are grain-free treats always better?
A: Not necessarily. Grain-free became popular, but some dogs do better with carefully chosen grains like oatmeal. Look at the whole ingredient list, not just the “grain-free” label.
Q: How do I stop giving too many treats?
A: Keep the treats tiny—pea-sized is ideal. Also, remember to reduce the number of treats you give as your dog gets better at the skill. Start rewarding every time, then move to rewarding every second or third time.
Q: Should I use soft or hard treats for training?
A: Soft, chewy treats are generally preferred because dogs eat them quickly, keeping the training momentum going. Hard treats slow things down.
Q: What if my dog has a sensitive stomach?
A: Look for single-ingredient treats, like plain dried chicken breast or sweet potato. Avoid artificial additives, colors, and high amounts of fat or unknown proteins.
Q: How do I store soft training treats?
A: Since soft treats lack strong preservatives, you must keep them sealed tightly in an airtight container. Some people store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh longer, especially in warm weather.
Q: What is a “high-value” treat?
A: A high-value treat is something your dog absolutely loves—something they rarely get, like tiny pieces of hot dog, cheese, or specialized freeze-dried liver. Use these for tough training challenges.
Q: Can too many treats lead to weight gain?
A: Yes, they absolutely can. Training treats must be factored into your dog’s total daily calorie intake. Always use the smallest viable piece size.
Q: Are smelly treats always the best training treats?
A: Strong smells help capture attention in noisy, exciting places. For high-distraction environments, a smelly treat is usually best. For quiet, focused work, smell is less important.