If you’re gonna ask your dog to work, you have to pay him.
But dogs don’t care about cash — they want their payment in FOOD!
To get the best results from your dog, you need primo treats that provide maximum motivation. Your old box of dried-up, stale milk bones won’t cut it.
And we’re here to help — we’ll show you the very best dog training treats around to keep your dog’s attention and get them performing their very best for you!
When it comes to training treats, they’ve got to be tiny. This is because you don’t want your dog getting full during your training session or taking a long time to chomp and break apart a big biscuit. Using smaller treats will help keep your dog in excited to train without slowing down training.
Training treats should also be soft to make them easier to eat. We want to avoid hard, crunchy treats that take longer to eat.
The stinkier the better! Dogs’ experience the world primary through their sense of smell, so stinky treats really get them psyched up!
I’m sure your dog would love liverwurst as a treat, but those don’t travel well in a pouch or baggie. You need treats that can retain their shape and won’t get all mushed together when they’re in your pocket or training pouch.
The Best Dog Treats For Training: Our Favorites
Ready to get training? We’re detailing the best dog treating for training below! These are fan favorites among four-footers, so try these out and see how they work for your pooch!
1. Zuke’s Mini Naturals Training Treats
About: Zuke’s Mini Naturals Training Treats offer a tasty reward in a small training-friendly size. With a quick chew, your smart pupper will be onto his next trick and wowing you in no time.
These are some of the most popular training treats out there and from using them myself, I can see why.
They’re the perfect size and texture — soft enough to be enticing, but still able to keep their shape in a stuffed treat pouch. And since they’re just a few calories each, you don’t need to worry about stuffing your dog before dinner.
They’re also great when it comes to affordability. If you get the bigger-sized bag, you’re getting a solid deal. You’ll be hard-pressed to find training treats for any cheaper!
Features:
- Made in the USA
- Contain no artificial flavors or colors
- Contain less than 3 Calories a treat
- A soft treat with a strong, enticing scent
- Compact size is perfect for holding, storing, and rewarding
Ingredients List
Chicken, Rice, Barley, Malted Barley Extract, Vegetable Glycerin...,
Tapioca Starch Modified, Cherries, Natural Flavor, Potato Protein, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Sunflower Lecithin, Dried Cultured Whey Product, Phosphoric Acid, Turmeric, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols
Pros
- Available in several different flavors
- Quite small, making them ideal for training
- Made in the USA with nutritious ingredients
Cons
- Can dry out if not stored properly
If your dog has specific dietary needs, such as a chicken allergy, they may need special hypoallergenic dog treats. You don’t want to ever be using food that your dog has an allergy or intolerance to — it’s just not worth it!
2. Wag Freeze-Dried Beef Liver Treats
About: Working on an extra tough trick where your pup needs some additional motivation? Look no further than these Wag Freeze-Dried Beef Liver Treats.
They’re super stinky — your dog will give you his undivided attention for a bite of these morsels. This makes them great for more challenging behavior modification work too, like reactivity training.
These are also single-ingredient treats, which means they’re made with beef and only beef (or only whatever protein you choose — they come in chicken and lamb versions too). This makes them perfect for dogs with chicken allergies or other intolerances.
The only downside is that they’re a bit expensive for such a small package (that’s almost always the case for freeze-dried treats. These are actually some of the more affordable ones). So while I wouldn’t recommend using these during regular training sessions, they work fantastically for those times you need to motivate your mutt a little more than usual.
They’re also a little on the larger side. You might need to break them up into smaller pieces for longer training sessions.
Features:
- Treats are freeze-dried
- No colors or additives
- Require no refrigeration
- Protein-rich recipe that dogs love
Ingredients List
Beef liver...,
That’s it!
Pros
- Single-protein means they’re great for dogs with allergies
- Extra stinky, making them super enticing
Cons
- They are likely too expensive for most owners to use as regular, day-to-day training treats.
- They may need to be broken in half for small dogs.
Freeze-dried treats have some big advantages — for one, they’re stinky as heck but aren’t gross to touch and handle (a real boon for squeamish pet owners). Most dogs find freeze-dried meat treats the most enticing.
But, they’re also a lot pricier than non freeze-dried treats. Decide if that value is worth the extra dig to your wallet!
3. Pupford Freeze Dried Salmon Dog Treats
About: Pupford Freeze Dried Salmon Dog Treats are another freeze-dried option, this time in a salmon flavor that’s perfect for pups who prefer seafood.
They’re super stinky, made in the USA, and come in the perfect size for training! They’re also just one calorie per treat, so you won’t have to worry about calorie counting for your canine.
Features:
- Made from real salmon
- Freeze-dried to lock in maximum stinkiness
- 475+ treats in each bag
- No refrigeration required
- Made in the USA
Ingredients List
Wild-Caught Salmon, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Antioxidant)....,
Pros
- Super low cal treats made with minimal ingredients and maximum stank
- Come in tons of different flavor options
Cons
- Like all freeze-dried treats, they’re on the pricier side
If your dog has specific dietary needs, such as a chicken allergy, they may need special hypoallergenic dog treats. You don’t want to ever be using food that your dog has an allergy or intolerance to — it’s just not worth it!
4. Rocco & Roxie Gourmet Jerky
About: Rocco & Roxie Gourmet Jerky Sticks are nutritious, chewy, and stinky beef treats that dogs adore. And best of all, these treats are fairly mess-free, so you can use them to reward your dog without having to worry about a grody residue on your fingers and clothes.
The only drawback to using jerky roll style treats like these is that you’ll need to break them into smaller pieces for training — but that means each individual jerky stick will last quite a while, so you end up getting more bang for your buck.
In fact, when you break it down on per ounce cost, these jerky rolls are one of the more affordable options (definitely cheaper than freeze-dried and pre-cut treats).
Features:
- Jerky-like feel won’t leave you with greasy hands
- Made in the USA
- These treats contain no artificial flavoring
- Real, whole protein is the first listed ingredient
- Natural smoke flavoring added for extra appeal
- Backed by the manufacturer’s 100% satisfaction guarantee
Options: Available in beef and turkey flavors
Ingredients List
American-raised Beef, Rice Protein, Spices, Salt, Sugar,...,
Garlic Powder, Potassium Sorbate, Natural Wood Smoke Flavoring.
Pros
- These treats won’t stink up your hands like some other treats will (you may even be able to carry them in your pocket without issue).
- These treats are softer than many other jerky-style treats, making them suitable for training.
- Many dogs seem to love the taste of these treats.
Cons
- You’ll have to cut or tear these into smaller pieces before your training sessions.
- They contain garlic powder, which gives some owners pause.
5. BIXBI Pocket Trainers
About: All training treats should be small, but if you’re trying to train a tiny doggo, you need treats that are even smaller than normal!
Fortunately, BIXBI Pocket Trainers are perfect for such scenarios, and these bite-sized goodies make training fun for your little one. Packing a punch of flavor in their small size, they’re perfect for rewarding your pooch without adding to his waistline.
Features:
- Made in the USA
- No artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors are used in the recipe
- Contain less than 4 calories per treat for a guilt-free training reward
- Offered in 6-ounce packages
- Available in four different flavors to suit your pup’s palate
Options: Available in four flavors: bacon, chicken, peanut butter, and salmon.
Ingredients List
Pork, Chickpea Flour, Maple Syrup, Vegetable Glycerin, Tapioca Starch...,
Bacon, Natural Flavor, Gelatin, Salt, Lecithin, Phosphoric Acid, Sorbic Acid (a preservative), Turmeric, Citric Acid (a preservative), Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Rosemary Extract.
Pros
- The small size of these treats makes them perfect for training small dog breeds or puppies.
- These treats are tasty yet very low in calories.
- Most dogs go ga-ga over the taste of these super-stinky treats.
Cons
- They may be too small for large breeds and dogs who “inhale” their treats.
- While the odor of these treats often appeals to dogs, many owners found them to be too stinky for constant use (you may even have to wash your treat pouch more frequently).
6. Crumps’ Naturals Mini Trainers
About: Crumps’ Naturals Mini Trainers great little training treats that are perfectly portioned to be snack-sized, so they’ll work great in your pocket, palm, or training pouch.
I’ve been using these treats recently in a dog training class, and I’m always pleasantly surprised how quickly clients’ dogs tune into me — clearly I’m dishing out something that they like much more than whatever the owners brought!
Features:
- Made with North American beef
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Cooked in small batches at family owned and operated facility
- 100% traceable ingredients
- Each treat is just 3 calories
Ingredients List
Beef, Molasses, Brown Rice Flour, Rolled Oats, Flaxseed...,
Guar Gum, Paprika, Rosemary.
Pros
- High-quality moist treats
- Very low calorie count makes these a great choice for dogs who must watch their weight
- Freeze-dried options also available
Cons
- May be a problem for dogs with grain intolerances
7. Merrick Power Bites
About: Merrick Power Bites are itty bitty bites, but despite being small in size they’re BIG in flavor. Available in five different flavors, you can rotate tastes to keep your pup’s interest. We think the rabbit flavor is pretty cool since it’s not that common — that also makes it great for allergy-prone pups!
These are classic soft treats designed specifically for training, and they’re relatively affordable too.
Features:
- Made in the USA
- Contains no corn, soy, wheat, or grains
- Each treat contains 5 calories
- Real meat is always the first ingredient
- Available in five pooch-approved flavors
Ingredients List
Deboned Rabbit, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potato Protein, Potato Starch...,
Organic Cane Molasses, Vegetable Glycerin, Flaxseed, Safflower Oil, Pea Fiber, Citric Acid, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Carrots, Apples, Blueberries
Pros
- The assortment of flavors available makes it easy to keep your pooch’s interest and avoid flavor boredom.
- Regardless of which flavor you select, most dogs seem to find these delicious.
- Made with antioxidant-rich fruits for extra nutritional value.
Cons
- These treats will dry out if not stored properly.
- Some owners complained that the size and shape consistency of these treats was sub-par.
- These treats contain milk, which may cause digestive difficulties for some dogs.
8. Hot Dogs
About: Plain old hot dogs are my favorite training treats to use with dogs, as they’re soft, stinky, tasty, and cheap! I cut them into teeny, tiny bits — smaller than a penny — to make them work best.
If necessary, you can opt for turkey franks instead of beef or pork hot dogs. While they may not be the classiest treat available, their cost and effectiveness makes them hard to beat!
Pros
- Soft, stinky, yummy, and affordable.
- You can easily cut hot dogs into sizes that are perfect for your pooch.
- You don’t have to cook hot dogs, like you would some other human proteins (like chicken or beef).
Cons
- Hot dogs can be a bit messy in treat pouches and make your fingers stinky.
- Because you’ll have to cut them up, hot dogs require you to do a bit more work than commercial training treats.
9. String Cheese
About: String cheese is another human-food favorite that also works great on dogs. No reason to buy expensive freeze-dried liver if you have a dog that will go bonkers for string cheese!
Like hot dog pieces, string cheese is soft and can be cut to any size. It’s more transportable than hot dogs, but less stinky.
Pros
- Cheap and easy to purchase in gigantic quantities.
- Bits of cheese are tasty and motivating for dogs, yet they won’t leave the mess that some other training treats do.
Cons
- Cheese farts are a real problem for some pooches (as is other types of digestive difficulties).
- You’ll have to cut them into training-appropriate pieces.
- Cheese isn’t as stinky as hot dogs or other meat-based training treats.
Are you struggling to find the perfect tasty tidbits for your pooch? You can always try to make some homemade dog training treats.
This will give you the chance to custom craft exactly what you and your doggo need!
Training Treat Selection Tips: Finding Treats Your Dog Will Adore
Choosing the best dog treat for training your dog will go a long way in transforming your pup into the ideal canine citizen. So, be sure to consider the following things when picking the best training treats for your pup!
- Check the ingredient list. Be sure to read through ingredients on your dog’s treats. Make sure that you avoid treats that contain ingredients your dog is allergic to or has difficulty digesting.
- Experiment with different treats. Some dogs will do anything for freeze-dried treats, while other dogs prefer tiny apple bits — you’ll just have to experiment a little to figure out the perfect training treats for your pooch.
- Make a list of your dog’s favorite foods. Rank your dog’s favorite snacks and then use that to guide your treat-selection process! This way, you can pull out the tastiest options when you’re working on tough training situations, and use the mediocre treats for easy training sessions.
- Keep things interesting by mixing it up. If your dog doesn’t know what’s coming out of your hand next, he’ll work harder to earn the treats. Just as slot machines are addicting for humans, offering a variety of different treats keeps your dog addicted to training. I often mix hot dog pieces, kibble, and chicken bits in my treat bag. It keeps dogs interested and prevents them from getting too sick of any given treat!
- Use what works for both you and Fido. Picking the right treats is obviously about selecting ones your dog likes, but it’s also about staying within your budget and fitting the nutritional goals for your dog. Hot dogs and string cheese can be great motivators for some dogs, but if your dog is normally fed only organic, free-range bison, hot dogs may not seem so appealing. Find what works for you and your dog!
Consider getting a treat pouch to hold those tasty morsels! Small, chewy, stinky treats often don’t work well inside jacket pockets. Plus, a treat pouch is a much better — and more effective — accessory for dog training than a scary-looking (and painful) shock, prong, or choke collar!
Help! My Dog Isn’t Treat Motivated!
What if your dog isn’t treat-motivated? To any owner with a food-obsessed canine, the idea of treats not being able to motivate your dog sounds crazy!
However, it does happen. Some dogs just don’t find treats rewarding — and that’s ok.
Does your dog like toys? Praise? Cuddling? Find what your dog likes instead, and give those as rewards for training successes.
You can even teach a dog to like food by giving him food, and then rewarding him with a toy afterwards! He’ll quickly learn that treats are good, because they foreshadow playtime.
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What does your dog go bonkers for? Does your dog do backflips for a certain treat? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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