If you recently welcomed a new pup into your home or plan to adopt a puppy soon, you are going to need a lot of puppy treats for dog training.
While throwing a tennis ball or playing with your pup might seem like a great reward for learning a new command, working on crate training, or potty training, puppy training treats are usually most effective as a reward when training.
Growing up with my mom being a certified professional dog trainer, I have seen firsthand how important it is to keep your pup motivated during training. As a dog trainer, I find the easiest way to help your puppy feel loved and motivated is to reward them with some of the best puppy training treats.
Healthy treats are a great way to supplement your new dog’s diet as he grows. After talking to friends, reading online reviews, and seeing which treats my pup liked best, these are some of the best treats that I suggest you give them while training.
Product
Details
Top Pick
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites
- Weight: 0.22 Pound
- Food Form: Treats
Single-Ingredient
Stewart Freeze-Dried Liver Dog Treats
- Weight: 0.875 Pound
- Food Form: Treats, Freeze-Dried, Food Topping
Low-Calorie
Zuke’s Mini Training Dog Treat
- Weight: 1 pound
- Food Form: Treats
Small-sized
Bil-Jac Little Training Dog Treats
- Weight: 1 pound
- Food Form: Treats
Wholesome Option
Redbarn Naturals Chicken Recipe Dog Food Roll
- Weight: 0.25 Pound
- Food Form: Wet Food
Easy to Use
KONG Stuff’N Easy Treat Puppy Recipe
- Weight: 2.6 Pounds
- Food Form: Wet Fo0d
For Sensitive Pups
Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Savory Salmon Dog Training Treats
- Weight:0.25 pound
- Food Form: Treats
Crunchy Option
Old Mother Hubbard Oven Baked Dog Biscuit Treats
- Weight:1.25 Pounds
- Food Form: Treats
For Picky-eaters
Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Biscuits
- Weight:0.57 pound
- Food Form: Treats
Best Puppy Training Treats
Let’s embark on a delightful journey of training your puppy with the tastiest rewards! Whether it’s crate training, training to stop barking or managing separation anxiety in dogs, these best puppy treats for training not only make it easy to train dogs but also keep those tails wagging with joy!
1. Wellness Soft Puppy Bites
Wellness is a great, all-natural brand for training treats for puppies. The Wellness Soft Puppy Bites are designed specifically for puppies, as they contain proteins that are easy to digest and DHA, which helps boost their development.
These are my favorite training treats for puppies because they’re the perfect size. The chewy and soft texture is great for a number of different breeds, and you won’t have to worry about them struggling to chew when they’re teething.
One of the best things about these grain-free treats is the all-natural ingredients. They don’t contain artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, corn, or soy.
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites
The price of “Wellness Soft Puppy Bites ” varies, so check the latest price at
2. Stewart Freeze-Dried Liver Dog Treats
The Stewart Freeze-Dried Liver Dog Treats are great low-calorie treats that your pup can enjoy as you’re trying to train them to do various things. You can give your doggo these single-ingredient treats if they’re at least one year old.
Some of the picky-eating dogs I trained tend to enjoy these soft treats more than others. If your dog is selective, you can crush these freeze-dried treats into tiny pieces and sprinkle them on top of their regular food during meal times.
I find this to be a great way to add extra nutrition, and they’ll love the taste too. The Stewart Freeze-Dried Liver Dog Treats are healthy and do not contain any low-quality ingredients.
Stewart Freeze-Dried Liver Dog Treats
The price of “Stewart Freeze-Dried Liver Dog Treats ” varies, so check the latest price at
3. Zuke’s Mini Training Dog Treat
I have not yet met a dog who does not enjoy Zuke’s Mini Dog Training treats. These are some of the best dog training treats that are like a dessert for your pup. They contain soft, healthy peanut butter and oats and only natural ingredients.
One of my favorite reasons for using Zuke’s treats during a training session is that they are very low in calories, as they contain less than three calories per treat. The Zuke’s Mini Dog Training treats are perfect for most dogs who have a calorie restriction or like sweeter treats.
Additionally, pup parents like these treats because they do not cause your hands to smell like meat. Zuke’s Mini Naturals are packaged in a resealable pouch so that you can bring them with you on the go and do not need to worry about them getting stale when they are not being used.
Zuke’s Mini Training Dog Treat
The price of “Zuke’s Mini Training Dog Treat ” varies, so check the latest price at
4. Bil-Jac Little Training Dog Treats
Bil-Jac Little Training Dog Treats are the perfect puppy training treats for your small pup. The small size is ideal so your dog can enjoy it any any point throughout the day.
These treats are chicken liver flavored, are made using real chicken, and do not contain any soy or gluten. The Bil-Jac treats are a great low-calorie option for small breed pups, containing fewer calories per dog training treat.
Whether you are rewarding your furry friend for learning a new command, training your puppy not to bite, working on modern hound dog training, or finally getting the hang of potty training, these soft treats are a guilt-free way of helping your dog feel appreciated and loved.
Bil-Jac Little Training Dog Treats
The price of “Bil-Jac Little Training Dog Treats” varies, so check the latest price at
5. Redbarn Naturals Chicken Recipe Dog Food Roll
The Redbarn Naturals Chicken Recipe Dog Food Roll is a less traditional way to treat your pup during a dog training session, but it might be more enjoyable for them than a regular treat. This treat comes in a rolled tube containing over 50 percent protein (chicken) and a blend of nutritious veggies, vitamins, and minerals.
These natural ingredients help support your pup’s healthy skin and coat and are a delicious reward for learning a new behavior like leash training.
The Redbarn Naturals Chicken Dog Food Roll can be fed to your pup as a meal, but in this case, cutting off small pieces into treats will be the best way to offer it as a reward. You can store this roll unopened for up to one year, but it needs to be refrigerated once you open it.
As a professional dog trainer, I have seen both puppies and adult dogs benefit from this dog food roll during training, and I highly recommend it to pup parents.
Redbarn Naturals Chicken Recipe Dog Food Roll
The price of “Redbarn Naturals Chicken Recipe Dog Food Roll ” varies, so check the latest price at
6. KONG Stuff’N Easy Treat Puppy Recipe
The Kong Stuff’N Easy Treat Puppy Recipe is perfect for various reasons. First, it can be sprayed directly into your pup’s mouth. Second, it is a peanut butter flavor, which most puppies love.
Third, there are no messes due to the nozzle on the container. Lastly, you can stuff this treat recipe directly into your pup’s favorite KONG toy so he can enjoy the treat and play with it after training.
The KONG Stuff’N Easy Treat is considered a slow-eating training treat, which is perfect for pups who tend to eat too fast or enjoy savoring their treats.
Once you give your puppy this treat, he won’t be able to stop smacking his lips for hours, and you can feel good knowing that he enjoyed a delicious and healthy treat.
KONG Stuff’N Easy Treat Puppy Recipe
The price of “KONG Stuff’N Easy Treat Puppy Recipe ” varies, so check the latest price at
7. Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Savory Salmon Dog Training Treats
The Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Dog Training Treats are a bit different than the previous treats I discussed, as they are made of salmon.
These soft and chewy treats are great for our furry friends with sensitive stomachs because these treats contain fish proteins, flaxseed, brown rice, and oatmeal. Containing omega fatty acids, DHA, and salmon, these training treats are great for growing pups.
The salmon and omega 3 help support a shiny and healthy coat, and the DHA helps to support cognitive development. You can’t go wrong feeding your puppy or adult pup Blue Buffalo Blue Bits training treats as a reward for their hard work.
Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Savory Salmon Dog Training Treats
The price of “Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Savory Salmon Dog Training Treats ” varies, so check the latest price at
8. Old Mother Hubbard Oven Baked Dog Biscuit Treats
Some of the best training treats are crunchy and stinky treats. Old Mother Hubbard’s biscuits have a ton of protein and fiber, so they’re a great choice to celebrate a successful training session.
As you’re walking, training, or taking your pup out, you can keep this high-value training treat in your pocket to reward your dog for everything they do correctly. You can give them the whole treat or even break it up into smaller training treats to make it last.
I love giving these treats to dogs as a reward because they are low in calories, do not make my hands smell like meat, and do not leave a mess.
I prefer to give these treats to the pups with sensitive tummies since they use all-natural ingredients like chicken, oatmeal, apples, flaxseed, and carrots.
Old Mother Hubbard Oven Baked Dog Biscuit Treats
The price of “Old Mother Hubbard Oven Baked Dog Biscuit Treats ” varies, so check the latest price at
9. Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Biscuits
Stella and Chewy’s Raw Coated Biscuits are a favorite high-value treat amongst the pups that I have trained and am currently training.
These chewy treats are oven-baked and coated in freeze-dried raw cage-free duck and do not contain any fillers, gluten, added hormones, artificial colors, or flavors.
They are the perfect size for all types of breeds of any age, which is why I like to keep this healthy snack on hand during training sessions. Each biscuit contains less than three calories per treat, making it a great low-cal snack.
Throughout my experience, I have also noticed that many of my picky pups prefer these freeze-dried treats as rewards, compared to chicken or liver training treats.
Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Biscuits
The price of “Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Biscuits ” varies, so check the latest price at
Key Considerations for Training Dog Treats
Let’s unlock the secrets to successful dog training with treats that tick all the right boxes:
Size Appropriate
When choosing which size treats to get for your pup, it is important to remember your dog’s size. Smaller dog breeds require tiny treats, mostly because they need to be able to chew and digest the tinier pieces more easily.
Larger breeds can handle larger and harder treats without an issue. Additionally, your pup’s weight also has an influence on what size treats to use for training.
My smaller furry friends have different caloric needs than our larger pups, which is why it is necessary to know the size of the treats and how much to feed your dog.
Quickly Consumed Vs. Slowly Consumed
If your pup tends to be an aggressive chewer and quickly consumes treats, you should give them a treat that requires less chewing so they can enjoy it for a little bit longer.
Consider using a dog training leash for puppies to help control your pup from overeating when it is time for treats. Gently pull back to let him know to go slower.
If your pup slowly consumes, it is best to give them harder treats to give them something to work for slowly. Dogs that consume slowly might enjoy the Old Mother Hubbard Biscuit Treats, and the pups that consume quickly might like the KONG Stuff’N Easy Treat Puppy Recipe.
Hard vs. Soft Training Treats
Your pup’s size and age can impact whether you need hard vs. soft training treats. Larger breeds with stronger jaws often do well with hard training treats, and smaller breeds do well with soft training treats.
Smaller pups may struggle with chewing something that is hard compared to a soft and chewy treat.
Introduce Various Treats
You really can’t know what type of treat your pup prefers for sure until you have introduced various kinds!
Your pup might prefer chicken or beef or may even like duck the best. It is good to switch up the treats every now and then to try new things and keep them interested, as puppies sometimes get bored with the same treats each day.
FAQs
Is it Beneficial to Give Treats to Puppies During Training?
Treats are a great way to help you and your puppy communicate during training. If your pup finally lets you use a leash for training, a treat can be beneficial so he feels loved and appreciated.
How Many Training Treats Are Recommended?
Depending on your pup’s size, one to two treats should be a good amount, but more can be given during training. As long as you keep your buddy’s caloric needs in mind, you can give him as many treats as you feel is necessary.
What Are the Qualities of a Good Puppy Treat?
When choosing treats for your puppy, you should find treats that are nutritious, small, low in calories, and can easily crumble if needed.
Which Dog Training Treats Are Recommended by Vets?
The puppy training treat list I suggested today is vet-recommended. Any training treats that are low-calorie, contain all-natural ingredients, and do not contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives are recommended by vets.
Final Thoughts
With the proper training, your furry friend can accomplish anything. Using the best dog training treats as a reward is the best way to communicate with your pooch during training.
Treats help your pup understand that you are proud of their accomplishments and would love to see them do it again. As a professional dog trainer, I know that giving your dog some of these healthy training treats can help make training go more smoothly for both you and your puppy.
While it may seem overwhelming in the beginning, you and your puppy will reach your end goal sooner than you think!
