Does the treat aisle at the pet store sometimes feel like a mystery box for your furry friend? You want to reward your dog with something tasty, but you worry about all those long, unpronounceable ingredients. It’s tough to know what truly nourishes your best friend and what might just be empty calories or worse.
Finding truly healthy dog treats can feel like a chore. You see bright packaging promising “all-natural,” but behind the label, you might find fillers, artificial colors, or sugars that aren’t good for your dog’s long-term health. We all want happy, energetic dogs, and the right snacks play a big role in keeping them that way.
This post cuts through the confusion. We will show you exactly what to look for—and what to avoid—so you can confidently choose treats that support your dog’s energy levels and overall wellness. Get ready to unlock the secrets to guilt-free rewarding!
Top Healthy Dog Treats Recommendations
- Chicken First: Pur Luv Jerky Wrapped Dog Treats are jerky dog treats made with Real Chicken as the very first ingredient
- Real Sweet Potato: The center of these tasty chicken wrapped dog treats is real sweet potato that dogs love, and is good for them too
- Rawhide Free: These chicken jerky dog treats are a 100% rawhide free alternative to traditional rawhide dog chews
- Limited Ingredients: Pur Luv sweet potato treats for dogs feature limited ingredient decks so you know exactly what you’re feeding your dog
- Easily Digestible Healthy Snack: The Pur Luv Chicken and Sweet Potato chews offer a tasty and easily digestible chicken dog treats
- Perfect Dog Treats For Daily Dental Care: Greenies natural dog teeth cleaning treats are crafted to support the 4 areas veterinarians check most: plaque, tartar, gums, & breath and are made with natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals & nutrients
- Veterinarian-Recommended Dog Dental Treats: Greenies Dental Dog Treats are veterinarian-recommended dental treats for dogs that clean teeth and freshen breath
- Dental Chews For Dogs Fights Tartar: Including Greenies teeth cleaning dog treats into your daily dog dental care routine supports 47% less tartar accumulation and 40% less plaque accumulation in 28 days (Data on file)
- Clinically Proven Dog Teeth Cleaning Treat: This dog dental chew offers clinically proven dog dental care to help maintain your four-legged friend’s oral hygiene
- Unique Texture For Dog Teeth Cleaning: Made for a dog between 25-50 lbs., these Greenies dog treats have a unique design that cleans down to the gumline and positively balances the oral microbiome to help support whole-body health
- 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.
- FRESH BAKED AROMA: Combining the aromas of oven-baked pumpkin, cinnamon, and yogurt, this treat delivers the warm, inviting scent of homemade pumpkin pie
- MADE with PUMPKIN: BLUE Health Bars dog treats prove that a healthy treat can be tasty, too; with ingredients like oatmeal, pumpkin, and cinnamon, these bars feature the ingredients you’ll be proud to feed your furry family members
- CRUNCHY DOG TREATS: For dogs who prefer a crunch, these dog biscuits are oven baked for a texture they’ll love
- 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 BHA & artificial colors
- HEALTHY DOG TREATS: Made with only the finest natural ingredients and enhanced with vitamins and minerals, Blue Buffalo natural dog treats feature the ingredients you’ll love feeding as much as they’ll love eating
- Perfect Dog Treats For Daily Dental Care: Greenies natural dog teeth cleaning treats are crafted to support the 4 areas veterinarians check most: plaque, tartar, gums, & breath and are made with natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals & nutrients
- Veterinarian-Recommended Dog Dental Treats: Greenies Dental Dog Treats are veterinarian-recommended dental treats for dogs that clean teeth and freshen breath
- Dental Chews For Dogs Fights Tartar: Including Greenies teeth cleaning dog treats into your daily dog dental care routine supports 47% less tartar accumulation and 40% less plaque accumulation in 28 days (Data on file)
- Clinically Proven Dog Teeth Cleaning Treat: This dog dental chew offers clinically proven dog dental care to help maintain your four-legged friend’s oral hygiene
- Unique Texture For Dog Teeth Cleaning: Made for a dog between 50-100 lbs., these Greenies dog treats have a unique design that cleans down to the gumline and positively balances the oral microbiome to help support whole-body health
- THREE TASTY FLAVORS: This variety pack includes Bacon, Egg & Cheese, Apple & Yogurt, and Pumpkin & Cinnamon varieties — tasty flavors from real ingredients your dog will love
- CRUNCHY DOG TREATS: For dogs that prefer a crunch, these dog biscuits are oven baked for a texture they’ll love
- 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 BHA & artificial colors
- HEALTHY DOG TREATS: Made with only the finest natural ingredients and enhanced with vitamins and minerals, Blue Buffalo natural dog treats feature the ingredients you’ll love feeding as much as they’ll love eating
- Contains three (3) 16-oz bags of BLUE Health Bars Natural Crunchy Dog Treats Biscuits, Bacon, Egg & Cheese, Apple & Yogurt, and Pumpkin & Cinnamon
- FRESH BAKED AROMA: Combining the savory scents of bacon, egg & cheese, this recipe is the next best thing to a bite of your breakfast sandwich
- MADE with BACON: BLUE Health Bars dog treats prove that a healthy treat can be tasty, too; with ingredients like oatmeal, bacon, and egg, these bars feature the ingredients you’ll be proud to feed your furry family members
- CRUNCHY DOG TREATS: For dogs who prefer a crunch, these dog biscuits are oven baked for a texture they’ll love
- 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 BHA & artificial colors
- HEALTHY DOG TREATS: Made with only the finest natural ingredients and enhanced with vitamins and minerals, Blue Buffalo natural dog treats feature the ingredients you’ll love feeding as much as they’ll love eating
- 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
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Healthy Dog Treats
Choosing the right treats for your dog can feel overwhelming. You want something tasty, but you also want it to be good for them. This guide will help you pick the best, healthiest options for your furry friend.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping, check the label carefully. Good treats offer more than just a quick snack. They should support your dog’s overall health.
1. Simple Ingredient Lists
- Look for treats with ingredients you can actually recognize. Fewer ingredients are usually better.
- The first few ingredients should be whole foods, like real meat, vegetables, or whole grains.
2. Functional Benefits
Some treats offer extra help. Think about what your dog needs:
- Joint Support: Treats containing glucosamine or chondroitin help older dogs.
- Skin and Coat: Omega fatty acids (like those from fish oil) make coats shiny.
- Dental Health: Chewy textures or special shapes help scrape tartar off teeth.
3. Proper Sizing and Texture
The treat size must match your dog. A tiny treat for a Great Dane is useless. A huge biscuit for a Chihuahua is a choking hazard. Texture matters too:
- Hard Biscuits: Great for long-lasting chewing and dental cleaning.
- Soft & Chewy: Ideal for senior dogs or those with sensitive teeth.
- Freeze-Dried: Very high in protein and easy to break into small training rewards.
Important Materials: What’s Inside Matters
The quality of the ingredients directly affects how healthy the treat is. Always prioritize natural sources.
Protein Sources
Real meat should be the star. Chicken, beef, salmon, or lamb are excellent choices. Avoid generic terms like “meat by-products” if possible.
Natural Fillers and Binders
Healthy fillers add fiber and structure. Good options include sweet potato, pumpkin, oats, or brown rice. These help digestion.
Natural Preservatives
Treats need to stay fresh. Natural preservatives like Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) or Vitamin C are much safer than artificial chemicals like BHA or BHT.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Understanding what boosts or hurts a treat’s quality helps you make smarter choices.
Quality Boosters (Good Stuff)
- Single Ingredient: Treats made from just one item (like dried liver or sweet potato strips) offer the purest nutrition.
- Organic Sourcing: Ingredients grown without harmful pesticides are always better.
- Made in the USA or Trusted Countries: Look for transparency in where the ingredients come from.
Quality Reducers (Things to Avoid)
- Artificial Colors and Flavors: These add nothing beneficial and can sometimes cause allergies.
- High Sugar Content: Many cheap treats use corn syrup or molasses to make them palatable. Dogs do not need added sugar.
- Mystery Meats: If the protein source is unclear, move on. Low-quality ingredients are often hidden here.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the treats impacts your purchase decision.
Training vs. Snacking
For daily training sessions, you need small, highly desirable, soft treats that a dog can eat quickly. For evening relaxation, a longer-lasting dental chew works better.
Allergy Management
If your dog scratches a lot or has tummy troubles, you need limited-ingredient treats. Novel proteins (like venison or duck) are great for dogs sensitive to chicken or beef.
Shelf Life
If you buy in bulk, ensure the treats are shelf-stable (like hard biscuits). If you buy soft, refrigerated, or freeze-dried options, you must store them properly to prevent spoilage.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Healthy Dog Treats
Q: How often should I give my dog treats?
A: Treats should only make up about 10% of your dog’s total daily calories. Use them for training or rewards, not as meal replacements.
Q: Are grain-free treats always healthier?
A: Not necessarily. Some dogs thrive on grains like rice. Grain-free is only necessary if your dog has a specific grain allergy. Read the ingredients, not just the label claims.
Q: What is the biggest warning sign on a treat label?
A: Artificial preservatives like BHA, BHT, or Ethoxyquin are major red flags. Choose natural preservatives instead.
Q: Can I give my dog human food as treats?
A: Sometimes, yes. Plain, cooked carrots, apple slices (no seeds), or small pieces of cooked chicken breast make excellent, healthy treats.
Q: How do I know if a treat is causing my dog’s tummy upset?
A: If your dog gets loose stools or gas after eating a specific treat, stop giving it. Reintroduce it later to confirm the link, then avoid that ingredient.
Q: What is the difference between a training treat and a chew?
A: Training treats are small and soft for fast rewards. Chews are larger and harder, meant to keep your dog busy for several minutes.
Q: Should I worry about rawhide?
A: Many vets suggest avoiding traditional rawhide because it can cause choking or intestinal blockages if swallowed in large pieces.
Q: Are expensive treats always better?
A: Generally, yes, because they use higher quality, whole-food ingredients. However, you must still check the label; price doesn’t guarantee health.
Q: What are ‘Limited Ingredient Diets’ (LID) treats?
A: LID treats use only a few, simple ingredients. Vets often recommend these for dogs with many food sensitivities.
Q: How should I store soft, homemade-style treats?
A: Because they lack strong preservatives, soft treats usually need refrigeration or freezing to stay fresh for more than a week or two.