Aside from the fact that you can play with your dog anytime you like, one of the most amazing and exciting experience as a dog owner is to train it. Training your dog shapes them into a well-disciplined and more responsible creature, which might benefit you in the future. It might be hard to imagine at first, but it’s important to start the mission little by little.
There are many ways to make dog training easy. The most obvious one is to reward them with tasty and energizing training treats. This way, they could experience what it’s like after doing something good.
To start your dog training mission, delicious and fun treats complete the dog-training starter pack. Giving them tasty treats are one of the best ways to show that you appreciate what they’ve done. In return, they’ll be more motivated and determined.
Store some goodies to reward them after a job well done. However, if you’re new to all of this, below are some of the best dog training treats you could find in stores.
Best Dog Training Treats : Top Picks
Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats
Quick Summary
Rated by: Debbie
Perfectly made for every dog training, the Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats have less than three calories per piece. For dogs with dietary restrictions, these treats are made from corn, wheat, and soy-free.
It’s always a good thing to know that your dog gets the proper diet he deserves, while still having fun with it.
These mini dog treats are specially made in the USA with only the best and safest ingredients. With Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats, every training session is made fun and enjoyable. Your dog will surely be kept energized and motivated once he knows that a delicious and exciting treat awaits him.
PROS
- Does not have a greasy feel
- Perfect softness
- Available in different flavors
CONS
- Expensive
- May dry easily
- Needs to be transferred to a better and resealable packaging
BLUE Buffalo Health Bars Crunchy Dog Treats
Quick Summary
Rated by: Debbie
With each crunchy munch your dog makes, the BLUE Buffalo Health Bars make sure your dog is getting what it deserves after a hard day’s work.
These dog treats do not just keep your dog stuffed, but also helps clean teeth. He’ll know he’s in for some delicious treat after having just one taste of this treat.
A bag of 12 pieces is made of whole grains and healthy vegetables. Each BLUE Health Bars are oven-baked with pure goodness.
Made with Omega-3 fatty acids and vital antioxidants, your dog is kept healthy with a strong immune system.
The BLUE Buffalo Health Bars do not have corn, wheat, or soy which are known to be linked to dog allergies. If you’re looking for the best dog training treats, this might be it.
PROS
- Source of good nutrition
- Smells good
- Quality ingredients
CONS
- Not suitable if your dog is gluten intolerant
- May result to stomach issues
- Highly brittle
ValueBull All Natural 6 inch Regular Bully Sticks
Quick Summary
Rated by: Debbie
If your dogs love challenges, these big bullies are the best dog training treats for them. With a price you’ll love, the ValueBull Bully Sticks will certainly bring out the champion within your dog. This healthy treat will keep your dog busy whole afternoon, at the same time, getting their teeth cleaned.
The ValueBull All-Natural Bully Sticks is guaranteed safe without additives, nor hormones included, just beef and buffalo realness.
Each bully sticks are 6-inch long and will help promote good oral hygiene. Packed in a resealable bag, each stick is kept fresh without extra preservatives.
No matter how much your dog enjoys the ValueBull Bully Sticks, the recommended serving should not exceed one stick a day. It is recommended to serve it with a lot of fresh water. Lastly, just like any proper food storage, these bully sticks should be dry at room temperature.
PROS
- Safe for sensitive stomachs
- Perfect for aggressive chewers
- Proper size
CONS
- Little pricey
- Does not last long
- Poor quality
Old Mother Hubbard Bitz Natural Crunchy Dog Training Treats
Quick Summary
Rated by: Debbie
Serving dog treats for over 80 years, the Old Mother Hubbard Bitz Natural Crunchy Dog Training Treats make dog training seem like an easy task.
Each treat is baked with real cheddar cheese, chicken, and dried rosemary. Made with all-natural ingredients without any artificial preservatives, your search for the best dog training treats is finished.
With each treat made with only two calories, these bite-sized yummy treats will perfectly fit inside a dog training treat pouch. These wholesome treats are oven-baked to preserve the natural flavors brought by the natural ingredients.
The Old Mother Hubbard is a known manufacturer in the USA, so this is a guarantee that all ingredients are found and raised only in the USA.
With every Old Mother Hubbard Bitz Dog Treat fed to your dog, you’ll feel rewarded also by looking at your dog enjoying it.
PROS
- Does not stain
- Crunchy
- Low calories
CONS
- Not really made for training
- Does not look appetizing
- Poor quality
Old Mother Hubbard Crunchy Classic Natural Dog Treats
Quick Summary
Rated by: Debbie
Also from Old Mother Hubbard is the Crunchy Classic Natural Dog Treats. With three best-selling flavors, this classic dog treat will surely win your dog’s heart.
Whether you’re dog-training or just plain treating your dog, the Crunchy Classic Dog Treats are a healthy and tasty snack for your dog. Made with natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives, this dog training treat is proudly created only in North America.
The Old Mother Hubbard Crunchy Classic Natural Dog Treat is a healthy reward, which is slowly oven-baked to keep the natural flavors that your dog loves.
Each treat is shaped like a bone, which your dogs will greatly adore. Skilfully crafted to satisfy your dog’s cravings, your dog wouldn’t notice the vegetables, fruits, and proteins incorporated in every treat.
PROS
- Safe ingredients
- Good flavors
- Safe for sensitive stomachs
CONS
- Treats might attract bugs easily
- Has an unpleasant smell
- Might be pricey for a small pack
Zuke’s Mini Naturals Moist Miniature Treats (Peanut Butter Recipe)
Quick Summary
Rated by: Debbie
Next in line is the Zuke’s Mini Naturals Moist Miniature Treats. Just like any other treat from Zuke, the Mini Naturals Moist Miniature Treats also contain less than 3 calories per treat.
Made with peanut butter flavor, your dog will surely be Zuke’s number one fan.
Guaranteed safe for every dog with or without dietary limitations, these treats are made without corn, wheat, and soy.
Using only the best ingredients, the Zuke’s Mini Naturals Moist Miniature Treats are your perfect training companion. Your training will be completed in a flash, and you won’t even notice it.
PROS
- Bite-sized
- Low calories
- Lasts quite a while
CONS
- Can harden and dry out quickly if exposed to open air
- Expensive
- Product packaging and advertising might be misleading
PLATO Dog Treats – Natural Duck Real Strips
Quick Summary
Rated by: Debbie
Serving your dogs with treats have never been this healthy with PLATO Dog Treats. This healthy snack does not contain any added sugar, artificial preservatives and colors, and by-products.
If you’re looking for the best dog training treats that are both healthy and tasty, the Natural Duck Real Strips falls into that category.
Made with all-natural ingredients, Plato uses the best protein on the market with treats having 90% pure meat.
You won’t also think twice about this treat since Plato is known to have all their ingredients raised and made in the USA.
The PLATO Dog Treats are a good source of iron and gives your dog a number of health benefits. These include having good digestion, healthy skin and coat, and good circulation. Also made for the sensitive Fido, each treat is slow-roasted using their own facility that is engineered to be safe for dogs with health and food issues.
Every session is made easy and manageable with PLATO Dog Treats. Treat them with love and tasty delights they deserve.
PROS
- Healthy
- All-natural
- Chewy
CONS
- Strong scent
- Low shelf life
- Dries and hardens easily
PLATO Dog Treats – Natural Salmon
Quick Summary
Rated by: Debbie
Perfect for every training, the PLATO Dog Treats are made healthy and delicious. Just like any treat from PLATO, the Natural Salmon variation is also made with 90% pure meat.
Made without any preservatives or artificial flavors, food coloring, and sugar, your dog can munch on these goodies safely.
More than being a delicious treat, PLATO Dog Treats are also a way of giving your dog proper diet because it promotes brain activity since it is an excellent source of Omega 3, 6, and other fatty acids. Each treat is soy, wheat, and corn-free.
Specially made for dogs with sensitive appetite, the PLATO Dog treats are slowly roasted to perfection using their own and safe facilities in the USA.
PROS
- Has a scent that is attractive to dogs
- Keeps them busy
- Worth the price
CONS
- Has a strong scent that might not be pleasing to humans
- Strips crumble easily
- Short shelf life
Factors To Consider When Buying Dog Training Treats
After a hard day’s work, your dog certainly deserves being treated with the best dog training treats. The best dog training treats are not something you buy out of an impulse. You wouldn’t want to treat your best friend with just a mediocre treat, would you?
To make sure your Fido gets only the best dog training treats, here are some of the factors that should be ticked off before actually buying the treat.
The smaller, the better.
Every time your dog does a good job, it’s an SOP to reward them after, right? But, how often does that happen? Surely, it happens quite a lot, which means more dog treats are offered.
When treating your dog after training, smaller dog treats are perfect. This is simply because you want to avoid getting your dog full early, as much as possible. This makes your dog gain weight or gets sick quickly.
Dog training won’t be as effective when they’re always stuffed. It’s important to give your dog just the right amount of treat to keep them wanting for more. Smaller training treats are essential in keeping them in shape and liven up for the training, without getting them exhausted easily or slowing down the training.
Easy to swallow.
Aside from it being small, the best dog training treats are those that are easy to swallow. This means getting soft, not crunchy, treats for your dog. Soft and small treats are easy to swallow, which means you don’t have to wait a while for them to finish chewing. It only slows down your training.
This is also the reason why trainers often avoid the common dog biscuits that are normally given to dogs, because these treats are crunchy, chewy, and needs time to finish eating. So, if you want a fast and safe training, go for soft and small dog training treats.
Healthy options
This one is a no-brainer. Each treats you feed to your dog should always give them benefits and good effects. It is important to be cautious of the ingredients used to create the dog treat. Dog treats that have all-natural ingredients and are approved by your local food administration are your best choices.
If your dog has a certain diet prescription, it is best to talk to your dog’s veterinarian first before buying certain dog treats. In addition, if you have been constantly feeding your dog with treats, be sure to adjust the serving of his dinner. It’s not healthy for your dogs to have that extra weight, especially when training. In addition, training treats should not consume most of the dog’s diet, it should only be a maximum of 10% of the dog’s diet.
Some people use Dog Yak Chews as a healthy alternative to dog treats.
Another important thing to note is to avoid giving your dogs some leftover. The leftover food that we saved for our dog does more harm than good, especially during training. This is due to the spices, salts, and so on that is added to our food.
The smell is important.
The worse it smells, the better. When you’re training your dog, especially when you get to the hard tricks, you want to grab their attention for a long time and smelly treats often attract them the most. To them, smelly dog treats equate to yummy dog treats.
Also, your dog treats should correlate to the level of your tricks. This means that, if your tricks get harder and harder as time passes, the dog treat should also be tastier (smellier). To have an even better result, save the smelliest dog treats when you get the hardest tricks. This will make them work harder and faster.
Experiment
Lastly, have fun with your treats. If you want to spice up the reward for your furry friend, then the best dog training treats are the ones that you know your dog will enjoy the most. To do this, you can mix and match low value treat with a high value.
It also depends on your dog’s performance. If he does really well, give them something that will give a distinct and delicious taste. However, if your dog just does not feel like training at all, mix their normal treat with something that will drive them to do better. A good old kibble does the job.
Just remember that your treats play a major role in training your dogs. If you need to mix and match the treats, then, do so.
Avoid preservatives and artificialness
In line with dog treats being healthy, as much as possible, avoid the ones that have preservatives, artificial colors, and chemical humectants. Part of looking at the ingredients is being cautious of what the dog treat is made of. The best dog training treats are the ones that don’t harm your dog and have no artificialness.
For the artificial preservatives and colors that are considered harmful to your dog, you can do a research for this or just ask your vet. You might be surprised to know that your go-to dog food has a certain ingredient that may harm your Fido.
Verdict
Hailed as the best dog training treats in 2024, the Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats is both healthy and delicious. With less than three calories per treat, you wouldn’t worry about your dog over-eating it. Known to be safely made in the U.S.A., these treats use the safest ingredients for your dog.
Best in keeping your dog energized whole training session, the Zuke’s Mini Natural Dog Treats has the perfect softness and grease-free. Although its price is not for those on a budget, these dog training treats will be worth the splurge.
Overall
Pieces of trainings are necessary exercises for your dog or puppy and it’s an ongoing process. Giving them the best dog training treats will boost their mood and motivate them more. There are lots of choices when it comes to buying training treats, so it’s important to know which one works best for you and your dog. Or you can also try DIY dog toys for easy and cheap solution for dog traning.
Picking the right training treat for your dog is crucial because it dictates your dog’s performance for the day. So, if you want a fast and smooth training, better choose your training treats well. Plus, it’s one way of letting your furry best friend know that his success is worthy of a yummy treat.
Last update on 2024-04-20 . Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.