Ever watch your tiny puppy zoom around, full of energy, and wonder how you’ll ever teach them to sit and stay? Training those little paws can feel like a huge task! Finding the perfect reward is a big part of that puzzle. Many dog owners get stuck staring at shelves packed with bags and boxes. Should you choose soft chews, crunchy biscuits, or tiny, smelly morsels? The choices are overwhelming, and using the wrong treat can slow down your progress or even upset your puppy’s tummy.
Choosing the right training treat is crucial for building a strong, positive relationship with your new best friend. The right reward keeps your puppy focused and eager to learn, turning frustrating moments into fun learning sessions. This post cuts through the confusion. We will explore exactly what makes a great training treat for growing puppies—think size, ingredients, and reward value.
Keep reading to discover the top tips for selecting treats that motivate your puppy without overfeeding them. By the end of this guide, you will feel confident picking out the best fuel for successful puppy training sessions!
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.
- 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
- 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: 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
- Contains one (1) 36 ounce canister of mini dog biscuits in 3 tasty flavors: beef, chicken and bacon
- Tasty mini dog treats prepared with care and right-sized for treating more often
- Crunchy texture helps freshen breath and reduce tartar build-up, perfect for sloppy doggie kisses
- Wholesome goodness at only 5 calories per treat with 12 vitamins and minerals
- Bone-shaped deliciousness that makes dog life more fun
- MINI CRUNCHY PUPPY TREATS: These delicious, grain free crunchy treats are made with 2 kinds of fresh meat plus added vitamins specially for puppies and a natural source of DHA to promote healthy brain development
- ALL NATURAL: These crunchy and tasty treats are made with whole fruits and veggies including superfoods like blueberries and sweet potatoes for a naturally craveable flavor and a boost of antioxidants
- THOUGHTFULLY MADE: We craft delicious treats with simple, natural, high quality ingredients chosen for their nutritional benefits; no meat byproducts, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
- FIND THE RIGHT TREATS: From puppy to senior, small dog to large breed, crunchy to chewy, grained to grain free, treating to training, we've got an all natural recipe for every dog's needs and taste
- TRAINING AND REWARDING: These bite sized crunchy puppy training treats are the perfect rewards during training sessions or any time you want to thank your dog for good behavior
- 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: Perfect Treats for Training Your Puppy
Bringing a new puppy home is exciting! Training is a big part of those first few months. Good training treats make learning fun and fast. This guide helps you choose the best snacks for your growing star.
Key Features to Look For in Training Treats
When you shop, keep these important features in mind. These points help you find treats that work best for training sessions.
1. Size Matters Most
- Small & Quick: Training treats must be very small. Puppies get full fast. If treats are too big, they stop paying attention. Look for pea-sized or smaller options.
- Easy to Break: You should be able to break the treat into even smaller pieces easily. You don’t want crumbs everywhere.
2. High Value vs. Low Value
- High Value: These are the super tasty treats. Use these for brand-new, hard commands (like recall). They should be smelly and soft.
- Low Value: These are everyday, easy rewards. Use these for things your puppy already knows well.
3. Texture and Freshness
- Softness: Soft, chewy treats are best. Puppies chew slowly. Soft treats disappear quickly, keeping the training flow going.
- Shelf Life: Check the package date. Very fresh treats smell better and taste better to your puppy.
Important Ingredients and Materials
What goes into the treat affects your puppy’s health and focus. Always read the ingredient list first.
Top Quality Ingredients
- Real Protein Source: The first ingredient should be a named meat, like “chicken,” “salmon,” or “beef.” This makes the treat appealing.
- Simple Fillers: Look for treats with limited, recognizable ingredients. Things like sweet potato or oatmeal are fine in small amounts.
Ingredients to Avoid
- Artificial Colors and Flavors: These add nothing good for your puppy. They can sometimes cause hyperactivity or tummy upset.
- Unknown By-products: Avoid vague terms like “meat meal.” These ingredients often offer low nutritional value.
- Excessive Sugar or Salt: Treats are rewards, not meals. Too much sugar can cause energy crashes during training.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The quality of a training treat directly impacts how well your puppy learns.
Quality Boosters
- Natural Preservatives: Treats preserved with Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) stay fresh longer without chemicals.
- Added Nutrients: Some treats include healthy fats like Omega-3s, which support brain development.
Quality Reducers
- Hardness: Very hard biscuits are poor for quick training. The puppy spends too much time crunching instead of learning.
- Strong Odor (The Bad Kind): If a treat smells strangely chemical, the quality is likely low. High-quality treats should smell meaty, not artificial.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the treat during training changes your experience.
Best Use Cases
- Short Sessions: Use training treats for short, frequent training bursts (5-10 minutes).
- Distraction Training: When training near loud noises or other dogs, use the highest-value treats. Your puppy needs a huge reward to ignore distractions.
- Pocket Friendly: Good training treats come in resealable bags. You need easy access when your hands are busy holding a leash or clicking a marker.
A great user experience means the treat doesn’t crumble into dust in your pocket. It should be easy to grab one-handed.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Puppy Training Treats
Q: How often should I give my puppy training treats?
A: Give treats frequently during training sessions—sometimes every few seconds when teaching something new. Outside of training, only use them for good behavior.
Q: Can I use regular dog food as training treats?
A: You can, but most puppies ignore kibble when they are excited. Training treats should smell stronger and taste better than their regular food.
Q: Are freeze-dried liver treats good for training?
A: Yes! Freeze-dried liver is often a very high-value treat because it smells strongly and is easy to break into tiny pieces.
Q: How big should a training treat be?
A: Aim for tiny—about the size of your pinky fingernail. You want your puppy to swallow it in one second or less.
Q: Should I use treats if my puppy is overweight?
A: If your puppy needs to lose weight, use very tiny treats, or substitute a portion of their daily kibble as rewards.
Q: What is a “high-value” treat?
A: A high-value treat is something your puppy loves more than anything else. It’s the best reward you have for tough training jobs.
Q: When should I stop using training treats?
A: You never completely stop rewarding good behavior, but you start using them less often. Switch from rewarding every time to rewarding randomly (intermittent reinforcement).
Q: Can treats cause stomach upset in puppies?
A: Yes, especially if you switch brands often or give too many rich treats. Introduce new treats slowly, one at a time.
Q: Are hard biscuits okay for training?
A: Hard biscuits slow down training because the puppy has to chew for a long time. Soft, chewy treats are usually better for quick responses.
Q: Do I need different treats for different commands?
A: Some trainers use different values. Use a low-value treat for “sit” and a high-value treat for “come” when you are outside.