Ever wonder why some dog treats smell like a forgotten gym sock, but your dog goes absolutely wild for them? It’s a real puzzle for dog owners! We all want training treats that work, but sometimes the stinkiest ones seem to be the most effective. This creates a tricky situation: do you choose the treat your dog loves, or the one that won’t clear the room?
Finding the perfect, high-value, smelly treat can feel like a treasure hunt. You need something powerful enough to grab your dog’s attention during tough training sessions, but you don’t want to be embarrassed every time you open the treat pouch. Dealing with smelly snacks is a common training pain point, leaving many owners frustrated and confused about what truly works best.
This post cuts through the confusion. We will explore exactly why strong-smelling treats are training gold. You will learn how to identify the best, most motivating smelly options available, and discover tips for managing the aroma so you can train without the nose wrinkles. Get ready to boost your training success—let’s dive into the world of stinky but spectacular dog treats!
Top Smelly Dog Treats For Training Recommendations
- 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.
- BITE-SIZED: These bite-sized, soft & chewy treats are the perfect size for training! At 3-calories they are great for frequent training sessions. Each bag comes with approximately 130 treats.
- SOFT & CHEWY: The soft & chewy texture makes these treats easy to break into smaller pieces for training. There is no greasy residue left on your hands and they don’t crumble!
- WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: Feel good about the treats you feed your dog. Made with wholesome ingredients like salmon, these treats have no wheat or corn, and are free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
- RECOMMENDED BY PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS: Professional trainers use and recommend Tricky Trainers for improved focus and efficient training.
- LIVE LIFE WITH YOUR DOG BY YOUR SIDE: Every treat is an opportunity to celebrate your dog, your best friend. Whether you’re rewarding a job well done, supporting their health and wellness, or giving a moment of delight, the Cloud Star family of brands has a high-quality, minimally processed treat that honors the incredible bond you share. Because life is better with your dog by your side.
- BIG MOTIVATION IN EACH MINI BITE. Each of these 3 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 DOGS OF ALL SIZES. These bite-sized treats are the perfect size for training and every day treating for dogs of all sizes. Each 20 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.
- 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
- 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
- HUMAN-GRADE: If you wouldn’t eat it, why would you feed it? From the ingredients they’re made with to the kitchens they’re made in, our treats meet strict USDA standards fit for human consumption
- ALL NATURAL: Our kitchen-crafted Essential Beef Savory Bites are made from quality, 100% all natural ingredients and free range beef raised on family farms; Tear open a bag for lots of doggy kisses!
- HIGH QUALITY INGREDIENTS: Truth is our first ingredient; We carefully cook our natural Essential Beef Savory Bites in small batches using honest ingredients like free range beef, cassava root, ground celery, and rosemary extract—never any by-products or waste
- NO GLYCERIN, GRAINS, CORN, WHEAT OR SOY: Our all natural treats are made from wholesome, healthy recipes; Every bite is free from fillers, artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors and chock full of real meat flavor
- U.S-GROWN BEEF: Full Moon treats are proudly made in the United States using regionally sourced ingredients, including USDA approved free range beef
- Sit, stay, treat! Our chewy, low-calorie training bites make for the best rewards (... or, simply, extra treating!) - from teaching tricks to incentivizing good behavior to hiding inside puzzle toys, too!
- Perfectly sized training bites (4 calories each!) to reward all those sitting doggies, those Instagram posting mutts, and the slightly naughtier puppies who need a little daily bribing.
- Proudly Baked in the USA: We start each recipe with the highest quality (tastiest!) ingredients, sourced in the USA local to our bakeries.
- Our Promise: Wheat, corn, and soy-free recipes - and never, ever any artificial ingredients or preservatives. We keep our ingredient lists short, our batches small, and our ovens toasty.
- Our Story: Bocce’s was started in a tiny NYC kitchen with a mixer, an oven and a scruffy mutt named Bocce, with the belief that our furry friends (pups and kitty cats, too!) deserve better. Better food with fresher, simpler, all-natural ingredients.
- 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!
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Smelly Dog Treats for Training
Training your dog takes patience, and the right motivation helps a lot. Smelly dog treats are fantastic tools. Their strong scent grabs your dog’s attention, making training sessions much more effective. This guide helps you choose the best stinky snacks for your furry student.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for smelly training treats, focus on what makes them effective and safe.
High Value & Potency
- Intense Aroma: The smell must be strong. A weak smell won’t motivate a distracted dog. Look for ingredients known for strong odors, like certain meats or fish.
- Small Size: Training treats must be small. You give many treats during a session. Small treats prevent overfeeding and keep your dog focused.
- Soft Texture: Soft treats break easily. Your dog can chew them quickly and get back to training. Hard biscuits slow down the reward process.
Safety and Health
- Limited Ingredients: Fewer ingredients mean less chance of allergies. Simple recipes are often better for frequent training rewards.
- Nutritional Balance: While they are treats, they should not be junk food. Check for added vitamins or minerals if you use them often.
Important Materials in Smelly Treats
The ingredients create that irresistible smell. Know what to look for on the label.
Top Smelly Ingredients
- Real Meat/Organ Meats: Liver, chicken, or beef are top choices. Freeze-dried options retain the strongest natural smell.
- Fish Products: Salmon or whitefish provide a powerful, appealing odor for many dogs.
- Cheese or Dairy (Use Caution): Some dogs love cheese smells, but check if your dog tolerates dairy well.
Materials to Avoid
- Artificial Scents/Flavors: These don’t motivate dogs like real food smells do. They reduce the treat’s overall quality.
- Excessive Fillers: Ingredients like corn or soy add bulk but little training value. They dilute the desirable smell.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The way a treat is made drastically affects how well it works for training.
Quality Boosters
- Freeze-Drying: This process locks in the natural aroma and nutrients better than baking. Freeze-dried treats are usually the smelliest.
- Human-Grade Sourcing: When manufacturers use high-quality meat sources, the final product smells better and is safer.
Quality Reducers
- High Moisture Content: Wet treats spoil faster and often have a less intense smell after opening.
- Long Baking Times: Over-baking can cook away the volatile compounds that create the strong odor.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about *when* and *how* you will use these high-value rewards.
Best Use Cases
- High-Distraction Environments: Use smelly treats outdoors, near other dogs, or during busy times. The strong scent cuts through background noise.
- Teaching New, Difficult Commands: For complex tricks or recall training, you need the best motivation possible.
- Short, Focused Sessions: Because they are so tempting, use them for short, intense training periods rather than casual snacking.
User Experience Tips
Keep smelly treats in an airtight container. This keeps the smell strong for your dog and prevents your treat pouch from smelling like a fish market! Always reward immediately—the quick smell and taste reinforce the behavior instantly.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Smelly Dog Training Treats
Q: Why are smelly treats better than regular treats for training?
A: Smelly treats are high-value. They grab your dog’s attention immediately, especially when they are distracted by exciting things like squirrels or other people.
Q: Can I use smelly treats for everyday rewards?
A: It is best not to. Save the super-smelly treats for hard training tasks. Use low-value, regular treats for easy, everyday rewards so the high-value treats stay special.
Q: How long do freeze-dried smelly treats last once opened?
A: Most freeze-dried treats last several weeks if sealed tightly and kept dry. Always check the package instructions for the best storage advice.
Q: Are strong-smelling treats safe for puppies?
A: Yes, if the ingredients are appropriate for puppies. Look for treats specifically labeled for small dogs or puppies, as they need softer textures and smaller pieces.
Q: What if my dog loves the smell but won’t eat the treat?
A: This is rare, but it can happen. Try a different protein source (e.g., switch from chicken to fish). Sometimes the texture is the issue, not the smell.
Q: Should I break the treats into even smaller pieces?
A: Yes, absolutely. For effective training, treats should be pea-sized or smaller. This allows for rapid delivery and prevents your dog from filling up too fast.
Q: Do grain-free smelly treats smell stronger?
A: Not necessarily. The smell comes from the meat or fish, not the presence or absence of grains. Quality sourcing is more important than being grain-free.
Q: How do I stop the treats from making my treat pouch smell?
A: Use a small, sealed plastic baggie *inside* your treat pouch to hold the smelly treats. You can also wipe the pouch out regularly.
Q: Can I make my own smelly training treats at home?
A: Yes. Dehydrating or very low-temperature baking lean meats like liver creates very potent, natural training rewards.
Q: Are fish-based smelly treats suitable for all dogs?
A: Most dogs love them. However, if your dog has known fish allergies, stick to poultry or beef-based smelly options instead.