When welcoming a new little bundle of fluff into your home, puppy training treats are just as essential as good-quality puppy food, a cosy bed and plenty of toys. These tasty little chew, bites and biscuits are more than just treats to spoil your pup; training treats for puppies play a key role in teaching your baby dog the right behaviour. They help encourage and reinforce good behaviour and keep your dog motivated to learn and remember more. The right treats will make training sessions more enjoyable for you and your pooch.
It's no secret that teaching your puppy how you want them to behave can be one of the most challenging parts of pet ownership in the first couple of months and years. That’s why being armed with puppy treats for training is a good idea as they act as a great motivational tool. Your pup will be more likely to do what you’ve asked them to do if they get something tasty out of it as a reward. You can use training treats to teach your new dog to sit, stay, roll over and paws, as well as get them to stay in their crate, go to the toilet outside, come into the house when asked and so much more. Your little fluff will soon associate performing these tasks with gaining a reward, so they’ll be more likely to do what you’ve asked of them.
Best puppy training treats at a glance:
• Best overall puppy training treats: Lily's Kitchen Chicken Nibbles with Salmon Puppy Treats – View on Lily’s Kitchen
• Best grain-free puppy training treats: Harringtons Fresh Bakes Grain Free Puppy Treats – View on VioVet
• Best low-calorie puppy training treats: Denzel's Puppy Bites – View on Amazon UK
Just like when it comes to choosing wet or dry puppy food for your new arrival, there’s some consideration needed when deciding what training treats to feed them. You’ll need to think about their breed, size, activity levels and any dietary requirements they may have as well as the taste and nutritional value of each treat. It’s important to remember that although training treats tend to be in bite-sized pieces, the calorie value of each one can soon add up over a training session. With this in mind, you’ll need to make sure you make the necessary adjustments to your pup’s diet to accommodate the extra chews and biscuits between meals.
To help you decide what are the best puppy training treats for you and your pup’s needs, we’ve searched the web to bring you a selection of training treats for puppies that will provide the high-value reward needed to help reinforce and teach positive behaviours. We've got the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about training treats, too.
Best puppy training treats
Best overall puppy training treats
Lily's Kitchenwww.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Packed full of valuable protein and natural ingredients, what better reward for your pooch than these Lily's Kitchen Chicken Nibbles with Salmon Puppy Treats? They're made with freshly prepared chicken with salmon so they've got a high meat percentage and then they're gently baked to give them a chewy, flexible texture so you can break up them into bite-size pieces. These tasty treats are designed for puppies from two months so they've been made with small mouths in mind.
Customer review: "My puppy Henry loves these as a little training treat and a reward when he has been good in his crate."
Pros
- 86 per cent meat
- Made with natural ingredients
- A source of protein
Cons
- Although the recipe is grain-free, they're made in a factory that handles grains so traces may be present
| Treat bag weight: | 70g |
| Flavour: | Chicken with Salmon |
- Ingredients: Chicken (66%), Salmon (20%), Vegetable Glycerin (derived from Rapeseed Oil), Potato Starch, Parsley. Additives: Technological Additives: Antioxidants (Tocopherol extracts from Vegetable Oils
Best grain-free puppy training treats
VioVetwww.viovet.co.uk
There's no reason for puppies with a grain allergy, sensitivity or intolerance to miss out on treats, thanks to these Harringtons Fresh Bakes Grain Free Puppy Treats. The recipe is free from grains so it's ideal for those pups with a more sensitive digestion system. There are no artificial colours or flavours either, just wholesome ingredients, such as chicken and rice, and essential vitamins and minerals to provide balanced nutrition during training.
Customer review: "I really like the size of these treats, they are a perfect size, not too big and not too small and there are quite a lot in the bag. My puppy absolutely loves them and the fact they are grain free helps his stomach."
Pros
- Grain-free recipe
- High meat percentage
- Suitable for all dogs aged eight weeks and over
Cons
- Some puppies may have allergies or intolerances to chicken
| Treat bag weight: | 100g |
| Flavour: | Chicken |
- Ingredients: Chicken 56.3% (26.1% Freshly Prepared Chicken, Dried Chicken 27.5%, Chicken Fat 2.7%), Sweet Potato, Glycerine, Potato, Yoghurt (4.2%), Plant Fibre, Vitamins & Minerals, Seaweed
Best low-calorie puppy training treats
AmazonIf you're worried about your pup gaining weight from eating all the rewards of their training, these Denzel's Puppy Bites will be a good option for you. The recipe of peanut butter, sweet potato and salmon is designed to be low calorie, plus it's grain-free and hypoallergenic, too so they're a great choice for pups with sensitive tums. As they contain salmon and salmon oil, these baked treats are naturally high in Omega 3, which helps to promote cognitive and retinal development for your pooch.
Customer review: "We use these to train our puppy and she absolutely loves them. Shy of a high-value treat like cheese, these are great for trick training, reinforcement and just as a little treat for when she's due an unwanted bedtime. They're soft enough to use when loose-lead walking as well which is great. We have this on a 6-weekly subscription and it's so convenient knowing she'll always have treats on hand. Would definitely recommend."
Pros
- Low-calorie option
- Good for sensitive stomachs
- Comes in a pack of six so they'll last a while
Cons
- Some reviewers found the smell of these not very pleasant
| Treat bag weight: | 100g per bag (comes in a pack of six) |
| Flavour: | Peanut butter, sweet potato and salmon |
- Ingredients: Chickpea Flour, Salmon (18%), Sweet Potato (17%), Vegetable Glycerine, Peanut Butter 13.1% (Peanuts, Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil, Coconut Oil), Linseed, Salmon Oil, Analytical Constituents: Protein 21.5%, Crude Fibres 11.7%, Crude Oils and Fats 2%, Crude Ash 5.5%, Moisture 18%
Best natural puppy training treats
AmazonEncourage your pup and reward their good behaviour with these Natural Dog Treats from Pets Purest. Made with 100 per cent turkey and gently air-dried to lock in the goodness, these treats are all-natural, making them hypoallergenic and grain-free, not to mention high in protein and low in fat. As these treats are 100 per cent natural, they can help towards a shinier coat, healthier skin, better digestion and increased energy levels.
Customer review: "We use these for toilet training our 6 month old Cockapoo puppy. Really high quality and good value, and most importantly the pooch loves them!"
Pros
- 100 per cent natural
- High in protein
- Low in fat
Cons
- Some reviewers didn't like the smell
| Treat bag weight: | 100g |
| Flavour: | Turkey |
- Ingredients: 100% turkey
Best puppy training treats for flavour variety
Pets at Homewww.petsathome.com
These meaty Wagg Dog Training Treats are ideal to use as a reward and are sure to get your puppy's tail wagging. They're oven-baked for a great taste and have no added sugar too. With beef, chicken and lamb treats, there are three different flavours to entice your hound so they won't get bored of these semi-moist, soft and meaty treats in a hurry. As they're suitable for dogs from eight weeks old, you can still feed these to your pup even when they're fully grown.
Customer review: "They are smaller than the usual treats from Wagg, which is great! I used them for training every day! The puppy loves the taste of these ones as well! I like that there are three different flavours."
Pros
- Three flavours inside
- Good size for small mouths
- Meaty and oven-baked
Cons
- Contains wheat as a main ingredient which some pups may be allergic to
| Treat bag weight: | 125g |
| Flavour: | Beef, chicken and lamb |
- Ingredients: Wheat, Beef Meal (14%), Glycerine, Poultry Meal (4% chicken), Lamb Meal (4%), Fat, Yoghurt, Whey Powder, Minerals. Additives (per kg): Vitamins: Vitamin A 10,000 iu, Vitamin D3 1,000 iu, Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol acetate) 60 iu. Trace Elements: Calcium iodate 1 mg, Cupric sulphate pentahydrate 5 mg, Manganous sulphate 15 g, Zinc sulphate 75 mg, Sodium selenite 0.15 mg. Antioixidant, Colours, Preservatives
Best budget puppy training treats
Pets at Homewww.petsathome.com
Delicious, soft, chewy and kind to purses, these Pedigree Tasty Minis Puppy Treats Chicken Chewy Cubes will go down a treat with puppies and owners alike. Designed for smaller mouths in tiny little cubes, they're just what you need to quickly reward sitting, staying and more. They contain added calcium to support the development of strong teeth and bones as well as added dietary fibre to promote healthy digestion. Plus, there are no artificial colours or flavours so you can feel good about what you're rewarding your pup.
Customer review: "These are great! my pup loves these. So great for training as you know exactly how many your pup is allowed. The ingredients are so good and healthy for your dog. Happy pup, happy life. Would definitely recommend."
Pros
- Good size for little mouths
- No artificial colours or flavours
- Great value
Cons
- Not suitable for puppies under nine months
| Treat bag weight: | 125g |
| Flavour: | Chicken |
- Ingredients: Cereals, Meat and Animal Derivatives (including 13% Chicken), Derivatives of Vegetable origin, Minerals, Seeds, Protein 20.3%, Crude Fibres 2.2%, Crude Oils and Fats 10.3%, Crude Ash 7.1%, Moisture 14%, Calcium 1.3%
Best supermarket puppy training treats
Sainsbury'swww.sainsburys.co.uk
If you're after some treats you can pick up alongside your weekly food shop, take a look at the Sainsbury's Training Dog Treats. These tempting treats are rich in tasty chicken so your pup will be sure to follow your every command once they get a whiff. They come in a handy small size and they come in a resealable pack to keep them fresher for longer. At less than £1 a pack, these training treats are great value for money.
Customer review: "We have a new black Labrador puppy and these treats are the perfect size to use for training."
Pros
- Great price compared to other products in our list
- Convenient
- Resealable pack
Cons
- One reviewer commented they didn't like the smell
| Treat bag weight: | 125g |
| Flavour: | Chicken |
- Ingredients: Meat and Animal Derivatives (20% Chicken), Cereals, Derivatives of Vegetable Origin.
Best puppy training treats for fresh breath
Pooch & MuttSuitable for all breeds from 16 weeks old, you can use these Pooch & Mutt Fresh Breath Mini-Bone Treats for training from puppyhood into adulthood and beyond. As you can probably tell by the name, these Pooch & Mutt treats will keep your pup's teeth in tip-top condition as they chew because of the crunchy texture of the biscuits and keep the stinky doggy breath at bay, thanks to the added peppermint oil. These bone-shaped treats are made with 100 per cent natural ingredients and are wheat-free, plus they're naturally low in calories, too.
Customer review: "Handy sized treats for training and rewarding your dog"
Pros
- Help keeps puppy breath at bay
- Can be used from 16 weeks and beyond into adulthood
- Natural ingredients
Cons
- Only available as a pack of six so you can't buy one tube to see if your puppy likes them first
| Treat bag weight: | 125g per tube (come in a pack of six) |
| Flavour: | Chicken |
- Ingredients: Oat flour, rice flour, chicken gravy, dried chicken (7%), parsley, peppermint oil (0.4%), vitamin e (0.33%), chicory extract (0.1%), yucca extract (0.1%). analytical constituents: crude protein 12.3%, crude oils & fats 12.8%, crude fibre 1.4%, inorganic matter 2.6%
Best meaty puppy training treats
Viovetwww.viovet.co.uk
Containing 95 per cent meat, these Natures Menu Original Real Meaty Chicken Treats for Puppies will be a real high-value reward while you're training with your pup. They won't be able to resist these chicken and pork bites and they can easily be broken apart to make them last. As well as containing a high amount of meat, the all-natural recipe is made without grain and it doesn't contain artificial flavours or colours either.
Customer review: "I have a super fussy pup, but these are his absolute favourite. These are really good, as they can be broken into 3 tiny pieces for training, all the dogs we've met on walks can smell them, which is what dogs like. Arrive really quick and good value for money."
Pros
- Natural recipe
- Made without grain
- Can be broken up into smaller pieces
Cons
- May be too rich for some pups due to the high meat content
| Treat bag weight: | 60g |
| Flavour: | Chicken and pork |
- Ingredients: Chicken (50%), Pork (45%), Minerals
FAQs
How do you train a puppy with treats?
The idea of using treats to train a puppy is that by rewarding your little pooch for displaying behaviours you want them to do, they’ll create a positive association with that behaviour and do it in return for a reward.
Timing is crucial with using treats during training as you’ll want to reward your baby fluff immediately after they show the behaviour you want them to, so they make that connection between the action and the reward. The most important thing is to be consistent.
Once you’ve got it so your pooch is responding to the cue you’ve given them, like sitting when you’ve told them to ‘sit’ and given them the visual signal for sitting, rather than solely performing for the treat, you can then phase out the treats so you’re only rewarding them for the best attempts.
It does take a lot of time and patience to train your puppy so don’t be disheartened if your pup doesn’t seem to be getting it straight away.
What are the best treats to give a puppy while training?
When looking for training treats for puppies, there are a couple of things you’ll want to consider to make sure you’re choosing the best option for you and your pup. The best puppy training treats are ones that your little fluff considers a high-value reward, meaning they’ll be more likely to repeat the behaviour you’re trying to train them to do in return for something super tasty. That’s why puppy training treats tend to have a quite strong scent to be more enticing to them.
Many puppy owners have had success with soft and chewy treats because they can often be broken down into smaller pieces so not only are they the right size for their little mouths, but also can help prevent overfeeding. The smaller the treat the better, too as you can offer quick rewards that won’t take too long for your pup to demolish so it doesn’t interrupt the flow of training you’ve got going on.
Puppies are more clever than you think and they'll soon realise if you've swapped out a high-value reward for something they find less appealing. However, puppies can soon get bored of eating the same thing too, so you'll want to make sure you've got a variety of training treats available that your pup values all the same that you can interchange as needed.
Are puppy training treats healthy?
While puppy training treats are only small, the calories can soon add up during a training session. It’s not to say that puppy training treats aren’t healthy, but you should be cautious about overfeeding your pooch. You should adjust the amount of food you’re giving your pooch at mealtimes if you’ve been feeding them a lot of treats throughout the day to balance out the calories. You can also look at low-calorie training treat options if you’re particularly worried about giving your pooch too much.
Are training treats safe for puppies?
Training treats are perfectly safe for puppies, but you’ll want to keep an eye on how they react to a chosen treat. As they’re still so young, figuring out what food and treats best suit a pup takes time. They could have allergies, intolerances or sensitives to certain ingredients so if you notice symptoms, such as diarrhoea, itchy skin, vomiting or lethargy, after introducing a treat to your pup, you should stop giving it to them and consult your vet. You may need to take extra care looking at the ingredient list on the packet before feeding them to your pooch and switch to treats that cater for their dietary feeds, like grain-free treats.
How many training treats a day for a puppy?
Just like when you were working out how much dry or wet puppy food they need in their bowl for meal times, the amount of puppy training treats little fluffs can have in a day will depend on their breed, size and age, as well as the overall calorie content of the treats you’re feeding them. There’s no magic number to the amount of treats you can feed your pooch in a day, but it’s important to balance the amount of treats they’re having with their regular diet to keep them at a healthy weight while they're growing.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.