Have you ever watched your adorable puppy zoom around, full of energy, but then struggled to get them to listen for even a second? Training a new puppy is exciting, but those little furry friends need motivation! Choosing the perfect training treat can feel like a huge puzzle. Should it be soft or crunchy? Big or tiny? The sheer number of bags on the pet store shelf can make your head spin, leaving you worried you might pick the wrong thing and slow down your training progress.
Don’t worry! You are not alone in this treat-buying confusion. The right treat can turn a stubborn pup into a focused learner, making those crucial early training sessions much smoother and more fun. This guide cuts through the noise. We will break down exactly what makes a treat ideal for puppy learning, focusing on size, ingredients, and effectiveness.
Keep reading to discover the secrets to selecting treats that your puppy will work hard for, helping you build a strong, obedient companion faster than you thought possible. Let’s dive into the world of high-value rewards!
Top Dog Treats For Training Puppies Recommendations
- 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
- GRAIN-FREE PUPPY TREATS: These bite-sized, soft puppy training treats are the perfect reward during training sessions or any time you want to thank your dog for good behavior. Puppy bites contain 6 calories per individual treat!
- SUPPORTS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT: Soft dog treats are crafted with salmon, a healthy source of DHA to promote healthy brain development.
- HEALTHY INGREDIENTS: These treats for dogs are made with minimal ingredients focused on quality proteins: made with lamb and salmon, with added vitamins specifically for puppies.
- NO CORN, WHEAT, OR SOY: Treats for dogs do not contain wheat, wheat gluten, corn, soy, or artificial colors.
- MADE IN USA: Our dog treats are quality-assured, made in USA, and crafted from the finest globally-sourced ingredients. Treats are tender, healthy, and bite-sized for small, medium, and large dogs of all lifestages, and activity levels.
- 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.
- REAL CHICKEN FIRST: Baby BLUE Training Treats are made with delicious real chicken as the first ingredient, plus DHA for cognitive development, making them the ideal reward for your puppy’s best behavior
- MEATY TRAINING TREATS: For puppies that love a meaty treat, Baby BLUE training dog treats are tender, bite-sized morsels that make them perfect for training
- WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: These dog treats contain NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals and are free of corn, wheat and soy; Plus, they’re free of artificial preservatives and colors
- 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) 4-oz bag of Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Training Treats Natural Puppy Soft Dog Treats, Savory Chicken
- 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) 11-oz bag of BLUE Bits Natural Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats, Chicken Recipe
- Lots of flavor, not fillers: Just three simple, all-natural ingredients mean low calories and high nutritional value, making a tasty but healthy treat that your pup will actually love
- Ready for training, wherever you are: The best training is consistent training. Our small treats are lightweight and perfectly sized for quick rewards so they are ready to go whenever there is a training opportunity
- Mess free treats: No oily, greasy, crumbly messes here, Pupford treats keep your hands and pouches clean. You can even keep some in your pocket for walks, classes, or mini adventures without worrying about them getting grimy or stale
- Motivate even the pickiest of pups: A wide range of flavors makes it easy to find the perfect fit for your pup’s tastes
- Pupford Promise: We strive to always provide simple, high-quality, healthy pup essentials. If you or your pup aren't happy with a purchase, let us know so we can help find the right fit!
- 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
- 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.
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Puppy Training Treats
Bringing a new puppy home is exciting! Training is key to a happy dog. Good training treats make this process much easier. This guide helps you choose the best snacks for your growing pup.
Key Features to Look For
When you shop for puppy training treats, look for specific features. These features help your puppy learn quickly and stay healthy.
1. Size and Shape
- Small Bites: Treats must be tiny. Puppies need many rewards during a short training session. Large treats take too long to chew. They also add too many calories quickly. Aim for pea-sized pieces.
- Soft Texture: Soft treats are best. Puppies are still losing baby teeth. Hard biscuits can hurt their gums. Soft, chewy treats are easy to swallow fast, keeping the training momentum going.
2. High Value vs. Low Value
Trainers use different treats for different situations. You need a mix!
- High-Value Treats: These are your jackpot rewards. Use these for difficult new commands (like recall). They should smell strong and taste amazing to your puppy (e.g., small pieces of real chicken or cheese).
- Low-Value Treats: Use these for easy, known behaviors (like sitting in a quiet room). These are everyday, healthy kibble substitutes. They prevent overfeeding.
3. Calorie Content
Puppies grow fast. Too many treats lead to weight gain. Check the label! Training treats should be low in calories, usually under 5 calories per piece. Remember, treats should not make up more than 10% of your puppy’s daily food intake.
Important Materials and Ingredients
The ingredients list tells you a lot about the treat’s quality. You want healthy, simple foods for your developing puppy.
What to Seek Out:
- Real Protein Sources: Look for meat, poultry, or fish listed as the first ingredient. This makes the treat highly desirable.
- Simple Carbs: Ingredients like sweet potato, oatmeal, or brown rice offer good, slow energy.
- Natural Preservatives: Vitamins like Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) keep the treats fresh naturally.
What to Avoid:
- Artificial Colors and Flavors: These add no nutritional value. They just make the treat look appealing to you, not necessarily to your dog.
- By-Products and Fillers: Avoid vague terms like “meat by-products.” These ingredients are low quality.
- Excessive Sugar or Salt: Puppies do not need added sugars. High salt levels can be bad for their kidneys.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Quality directly affects how well your puppy responds and how healthy they stay.
Quality Boosters:
- Limited Ingredient Diets (LID): If your puppy has a sensitive stomach, LID treats are excellent. They use very few ingredients, making it easier to pinpoint potential allergens.
- Whole Food Sourcing: Treats made from recognizable, whole foods (like freeze-dried liver) generally offer better nutritional support.
Quality Reducers:
- Hardness: Extremely hard, crunchy treats reduce quality for young puppies because they are difficult to chew quickly, slowing down the training pace.
- Strong, Unnatural Smells: If a treat smells overwhelmingly like artificial smoke or chemicals, the quality is likely low.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the treats matters as much as what they are made of.
- On-the-Go Training: For walks or park sessions, you need treats that do not crumble easily in your pocket or get sticky in the heat. Look for treats packaged in resealable bags or small, sturdy containers.
- Crate Training: When first introducing the crate, high-value, quick-to-eat treats work best. The goal is to associate the crate with something amazing happening immediately.
- Impulse Control Practice: For teaching “wait” or “leave it,” you need very tiny, easily dispensed treats. You want to reward the moment they look away from the distraction, not after they finally eat the treat.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Puppy Training Treats
Q: How often should I give my puppy training treats?
A: You should give them often during short training sessions—sometimes every few seconds when learning something new. Always decrease frequency once the puppy masters the skill.
Q: Can I use my puppy’s regular kibble as treats?
A: Yes! If your puppy likes their regular food, this is the healthiest, lowest-calorie option for easy training tasks.
Q: When should I switch from puppy treats to adult dog treats?
A: Most veterinarians suggest switching around 9 to 12 months, depending on the breed size. Always transition slowly to avoid stomach upset.
Q: Are freeze-dried liver treats good for training?
A: Absolutely. Freeze-dried meats are high-value, easy to break into tiny pieces, and puppies love the intense flavor.
Q: What is the difference between a training treat and a regular dog biscuit?
A: Training treats are small and soft for fast consumption. Regular biscuits are larger, harder, and meant to be eaten more slowly as occasional snacks.
Q: My puppy gets gassy after eating certain treats. What should I do?
A: Gas often means the puppy cannot digest an ingredient well. Stop using those treats immediately. Switch to single-ingredient, very simple treats to see what causes the reaction.
Q: Should I use soft treats or crunchy treats for training?
A: Soft treats are usually better for active training because they are consumed quickly, allowing you to move on to the next repetition faster.
Q: How should I store these treats to keep them fresh?
A: Keep soft, moist treats in the refrigerator or freezer if the bag suggests it. For dry treats, store them in an airtight container away from heat and sunlight.
Q: Is it okay if my puppy eats too many treats in one day?
A: Yes, it is a problem. Too many treats displace necessary nutrients from their main diet and can cause obesity. Always count the calories.
Q: What if my puppy ignores the treats during training?
A: This means the treat is not “high value” enough for the current distraction level. You need to upgrade to something smellier and tastier, like real meat or soft cheese.