You've got a puppy sitting in front of you, tail wagging, zero interest in the command you just gave — and then you pull out a treat. Suddenly, you have their complete and undivided attention. Sound familiar? That's not bribery. That's neuroscience. And when you choose the right treats and use them correctly, they become the single most powerful tool in your entire puppy training toolkit.
The problem is that not all treats are created equal. Give the wrong ones and you're either boring your puppy into ignoring you, overfeeding them without realising it, or accidentally reinforcing bad habits. Give the right ones at the right moment and commands that seemed impossible click in a matter of days.
In this guide we cover exactly what makes a great puppy training treat, the best options in every category, affiliate-linked product recommendations we've vetted, how to use treats effectively without creating a dog that only listens when food is involved, and the most common treat-related training mistakes to avoid.
Quick Answer: What Are the Best Training Treats for Puppies?
The best puppy training treats are small (pea-sized), soft, smelly, low in calories, and made from natural ingredients. Soft commercial training treats, freeze-dried single-ingredient meats, and small pieces of real food like boiled chicken or cheese are all excellent options. The "best" treat for your puppy is whichever one they find most motivating — and that may vary depending on the difficulty of the command you're teaching. Save your highest-value treats for the hardest tasks.
Table of Contents
- What Makes a Good Puppy Training Treat?
- Best Types of Puppy Training Treats
- How to Use Treats Effectively in Training
- The Treat Value Ladder: Matching Treats to Tasks
- Prevention Tips: Avoiding Treat-Related Problems
- Pro Tips and Mistakes to Avoid
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- Related Posts
What Makes a Good Puppy Training Treat?
Before you buy anything, it's worth understanding what you're actually looking for — because the criteria for a good training treat are quite different from what you'd look for in a regular snack or chew.
Small and soft. Training sessions involve rapid repetition — your puppy may receive 15–20 rewards in a single 5-minute session. If each treat takes 30 seconds to chew, you lose all training momentum. Treats should be pea-sized or smaller, soft enough to swallow in one quick bite so you can move straight on to the next repetition.
Low in calories. A puppy receiving treats every few minutes across multiple training sessions per day can easily consume a significant portion of their daily calorie allowance from treats alone. Low-calorie options let you train generously without overfeeding. As a rule of thumb, treats should make up no more than 10% of your puppy's total daily calorie intake.
Strong smell. Dogs navigate the world through their nose far more than their eyes. A treat with a strong, distinctive smell grabs your puppy's attention instantly — even at a distance or in a distracting environment. This is why plain kibble works in a quiet room but falls flat at the park, while freeze-dried liver works everywhere.
Natural ingredients. Growing puppies are sensitive to artificial additives, fillers, and low-quality proteins. Choose treats with a short, recognisable ingredient list — ideally single-ingredient or close to it — that you'd feel comfortable feeding every day without concern.
Appropriate for age. Very young puppies (8–12 weeks) have sensitive digestive systems. Start with gentle options and introduce higher-value treats gradually as they settle in.
Best Types of Puppy Training Treats
Here's a breakdown of every category worth knowing, with specific product recommendations where relevant.
1. Soft Commercial Training Treats
These are purpose-built for training — tiny, soft, fast to consume, and consistent in quality. They're the most convenient option for everyday training sessions because you can pop them in a treat pouch and go.
Look for options with meat as the first ingredient, no artificial colours or preservatives, and a size small enough that you don't need to break them further. Some worth considering:
- Zuke's Mini Naturals — one of the most popular training treats worldwide, available in chicken, salmon, and rabbit. Tiny, soft, and low-calorie.
- Wellness Soft WellBites — natural ingredients, soft texture, comes in several protein options.
- Blue Buffalo BLUE Bits — grain-free soft treats made with real meat, great for sensitive stomachs.
Best for: Everyday training, basic commands, high-repetition sessions.
2. Freeze-Dried Meats
Freeze-dried treats are the heavy artillery of the treat world. Single-ingredient options — chicken, beef, salmon, liver — with nothing added, just the protein freeze-dried to preserve it. The smell is intense, the nutritional profile is excellent, and most puppies go absolutely wild for them.
Because they're higher value, use these for challenging commands, high-distraction environments, or breakthrough moments where you really need your puppy's full attention.
- Stella & Chewy's Carnivore Crunch — freeze-dried chicken, beef, or salmon, made with 90%+ meat. Break into tiny pieces for training.
- Primal Freeze-Dried Liver Treats — single-ingredient beef or chicken liver, intensely smelly and highly motivating.
Best for: High-distraction training, difficult commands, recall training, vet visits.
3. Homemade Puppy Treats
If you prefer to know exactly what's going into your puppy's treats, homemade options using dog-safe ingredients are a fantastic and cost-effective alternative. Simple recipes using pumpkin, oats, peanut butter (always xylitol-free), or sweet potato can be baked in batches and frozen for convenience.
The only real downside is time — but if you're already cooking at home, making a batch of puppy treats once a week is straightforward. A silicone mini muffin tray produces perfectly portioned training-sized pieces.
Best for: Owners who prefer full ingredient control, puppies with food sensitivities or allergies.
4. Fresh Food Treats
Some of the most effective and nutritious training treats are already in your kitchen. Small pieces of boiled chicken breast, cooked salmon, low-fat cheese, or plain carrot work brilliantly for many puppies — and they're often more motivating than commercial treats because the smell is so much more intense.
Key rules: always use plain, unseasoned versions (no salt, onion, garlic, or spices), keep pieces tiny, and be aware of calorie content — cheese in particular adds up fast. Always verify that any fresh food you're using is safe for dogs before introducing it.
Best for: High-value moments, puppies who aren't motivated by commercial treats, owners who want a natural, whole-food option.
5. Kibble as a Training Treat
Often overlooked — if your puppy is highly food motivated and you feed them a high-quality kibble they enjoy, you can use a portion of their daily meal allowance as training treats. This is especially useful for young puppies where calorie management is important, or for owners who want to keep treat variety minimal.
The limitation is that kibble tends to be lower value than soft treats or real food, so it works best in low-distraction environments or for commands your puppy already knows reasonably well.
Best for: Calorie-conscious training, mealtime training, puppies who are highly food motivated.
How to Use Treats Effectively in Training
Having great treats is only half the equation. How and when you use them determines whether they accelerate your puppy's learning or create a dog that only performs when food is visible.
Timing Is Everything
The reward must happen within 2–3 seconds of the correct behaviour — ideally within 1 second. Your puppy's brain needs to connect the action to the reward, and that connection fades fast. If you're fumbling with a treat bag while your puppy has already moved on, the moment is gone. A treat pouch worn on your hip solves this problem almost entirely.
Keep Treats Small
Break every treat into pea-sized pieces or smaller before training begins. Training is about repetition and reinforcement — it's not about the size of the reward. Your puppy doesn't experience a pea-sized piece of chicken as less rewarding than a larger piece. They experience it as a chicken reward, full stop. Smaller pieces mean you can give more rewards without approaching your calorie limit.
Phase Treats Out Gradually
Once your puppy reliably performs a command (roughly 8 out of 10 correct responses without hesitation), begin transitioning to a variable reward schedule — treat sometimes, praise and play other times. This actually strengthens the behaviour, because variable rewards are more motivating than guaranteed ones. Don't remove treats entirely too quickly — fade them gradually over several weeks.
Match Treat Value to Task Difficulty
Not every command deserves the same treat. Save your highest-value rewards for the hardest behaviours — recall, staying when distracted, meeting other dogs calmly. Use lower-value treats for well-established commands your puppy can do in their sleep. This keeps the high-value treats genuinely special and motivating.
The Treat Value Ladder: Matching Treats to Tasks
Think of treats as having different tiers — and match the tier to the difficulty of what you're asking.
- Low value (kibble, plain rice cakes): Commands your puppy already knows well, low-distraction environments, mealtime training.
- Medium value (soft commercial treats, small pieces of carrot): New commands being learned, moderate distraction environments, everyday training sessions.
- High value (freeze-dried meat, boiled chicken, cheese): Recall training, high-distraction environments, new challenging behaviours, vet visits, grooming tolerance.
When potty training, timing is everything — always use medium-to-high value treats for outdoor toilet success and reward immediately. For more on timing and routine, follow our 7-day potty training plan for best results.
Prevention Tips: Avoiding Treat-Related Problems
Account for treats in daily calorie totals. Before starting any treat-heavy training period, calculate your puppy's daily calorie allowance from their food packaging (based on expected adult weight). Treats should account for no more than 10% of that total. On heavy training days, reduce their meal portions slightly to compensate.
Introduce new treats gradually. A puppy's digestive system is sensitive, especially under 12 weeks. Introducing multiple new treat types at once can cause loose stools or digestive upset. Add new treats one at a time and monitor for any reactions.
Store treats properly. Soft treats dry out quickly once opened, reducing their appeal and potentially their safety. Use an airtight container and consume within the recommended period after opening. Freeze-dried treats have longer shelf life but should also be kept sealed.
Never use unsafe human foods. The following are toxic to dogs and must never be used as treats under any circumstances: chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, macadamia nuts, xylitol (found in some peanut butters and sugar-free products), and avocado. Always verify a new food is dog-safe before using it in training.
Don't use treats as comfort or apology. Treats given randomly — to comfort a stressed puppy, to apologise for something, or just because they look cute — dilute their power as training rewards. Keep treats associated with desired behaviour and you maintain their motivational value.
Pro Tips and Mistakes to Avoid
Pro Tips
Use a clicker alongside treats to sharpen timing. A clicker marks the exact moment of correct behaviour with a distinct sound, which your puppy learns to associate with an incoming reward. This is particularly useful when you can't deliver the treat instantly. Click the moment the behaviour happens, then deliver the treat within a few seconds.
Do a "what motivates my puppy" audit. Test several treat types — a soft commercial treat, a piece of freeze-dried liver, a piece of cheese — and see which one produces the most intense, focused response. That's your highest-value treat. Reserve it for your most important training goals.
Keep treats on your person during the early weeks. The best training opportunities are the unplanned ones — when your puppy spontaneously sits, or comes to you without being called. If you have treats in your pocket, you can reward these moments instantly. If you have to go find treats, the moment is gone.
Use puzzle feeders and food toys as a treat alternative. Mental stimulation from a treat-dispensing toy provides the same reward value as hand-delivered treats, builds problem-solving skills, and slows eating. A Kong or puzzle feeder can replace a portion of treat allowance while still keeping your puppy engaged and rewarded.
Mistakes to Avoid
Using treats without purpose. Every treat your puppy receives should be linked to a behaviour — even if that behaviour is simply "sitting calmly" or "making eye contact." Random treats reduce their training value and can contribute to a puppy that expects constant food for no particular reason.
Overusing treats so your puppy only listens when food is visible. This is the most common treat-related training mistake. If your puppy learns that treats only appear when you're holding the bag or treat pouch, they learn to watch for the bag — not for the command. Keep treats out of sight in a pocket or pouch, and vary when they appear. This is also one of the top 10 puppy training mistakes that slow down progress.
Sticking to the same treat value for everything. Using your highest-value treats for simple, well-established commands burns through them fast and means you have nothing special to offer when you really need it. Match the treat to the task — always.
Forgetting to phase treats out. Treats are a learning accelerator, not a permanent requirement. A dog that will only perform commands when treats are on offer hasn't really learned the command — they've learned to negotiate. Start introducing variable rewards as soon as a behaviour is reliable.
FAQs
Can I use kibble as training treats?
Yes — and it's an underrated option. Many puppies will happily work for their regular kibble, especially during mealtime when motivation is naturally high. Using a portion of their daily meal allocation as training treats is a great way to keep calorie intake in check while still training generously. The limitation is that kibble tends to be lower value in distracting environments, where you may need something smellier and more exciting.
How many treats are too many?
The 10% rule is your guide — treats should account for no more than 10% of your puppy's total daily calorie intake. On heavy training days, reduce their regular meal portions slightly to compensate. If you're unsure of your puppy's daily calorie needs, your vet can give you a specific figure based on their current weight and expected adult size.
What if my puppy isn't food motivated?
First, try upgrading the treat value — move from kibble to soft treats, from soft treats to freeze-dried meat or real chicken. Most puppies that seem "not food motivated" are simply being offered treats that aren't exciting enough relative to everything else competing for their attention. If you've genuinely tried high-value treats with no success, try using play, a favourite toy, or verbal praise as your reward instead — some puppies are more toy or praise motivated than food motivated.
Should I always use treats when training?
During the learning phase of a new behaviour — yes, treats every time. Once the behaviour is reliable, begin fading to a variable schedule (treats sometimes, praise other times). Eventually, for well-established commands in familiar environments, verbal praise and occasional treats are sufficient. The goal is a dog that performs because they've learned the behaviour, not because they're calculating the likelihood of a snack.
Are there treats I should absolutely avoid?
Yes. Never use chocolate, grapes or raisins, onions or garlic, macadamia nuts, or any product containing xylitol. Also avoid treats with very high sodium content, artificial preservatives, or large amounts of sugar. When in doubt, check the ingredient list and verify with your vet before introducing a new food.
At what age can I start using treats in training?
You can begin reward-based training from the day your puppy comes home — typically 8 weeks of age. Start with soft, gentle options suited to their young digestive system and keep treat sizes very small. Short, positive training sessions with immediate treat rewards are appropriate and beneficial from week one.
Conclusion
The right training treat at the right moment is one of the most powerful things in your puppy training toolkit. Choose treats that are small, soft, smelly, and natural. Match the value of the treat to the difficulty of the task. Time your rewards within seconds of the correct behaviour. And phase treats out gradually as commands become reliable — because the goal is a well-trained dog, not a dog that's perpetually negotiating for snacks.
Start with a few different options, figure out what makes your individual puppy light up, and build from there. Every pup is different — and finding your puppy's personal "jackpot" treat is one of the most useful things you can do in those first weeks of training.
What's your puppy's favourite training treat? Share in the comments below — and subscribe for more training tips, product guides, and everything you need to raise a happy, well-trained pup.
Related Posts
- Complete Puppy Training Guide — The full hub covering crate training, biting, recall, and every foundational behaviour your puppy needs.
- Decoding Your Puppy's Potty Puzzle: A Complete Guide to Solving Potty Training Problems — Where treats and timing combine — the full guide to house training with positive reinforcement.
- How to Stop Puppy Biting Everything in the House — Treat-based redirection strategies for the nipping and chewing phase.
- Top 10 Puppy Training Mistakes (And How to Fix Them) — Including the most common treat-related errors that slow your puppy's progress.
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