Treats are one of the most important training tools you have — and the market is full of products that are either too large, too high-calorie, or not compelling enough to actually work. Here's what's worth buying.
Training Treats: Small, Soft, High-Value
The ideal training treat is small (pea-sized or smaller), soft (consumed in one bite without crumbling), aromatic enough to compete with environmental distractions, and low enough in calories that you can use 30–50 per session without overfeeding. Most commercial treats fail at least two of these criteria.
Zuke's Mini Naturals
The most consistently recommended training treat among professional dog trainers. Pea-sized, soft, around 3 calories each, and genuinely aromatic. Available in chicken, salmon, peanut butter, and rabbit formulations. The small size means you can train for 20–30 minutes without going over the day's treat allotment for most dogs. No corn, wheat, or soy — cleaner ingredient list than most mass-market treats.
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Minnows / Chicken Hearts
For high-distraction environments or dogs who are unmotivated by standard treats, single-ingredient freeze-dried proteins are the step up. Minnows and chicken hearts are intensely aromatic, single-ingredient, and can be broken into tiny pieces. The kind of treat you save for the hardest asks — recall in a dog park, working around other dogs, vet procedures. Use sparingly given cost and calorie density.
Long-Lasting Chews
Chewing is a natural stress-relief behavior for dogs. Long-lasting chews serve as mental enrichment, keep dogs occupied during calm periods, and can reduce anxiety-related behaviors. Choosing the right chew depends on your dog's chew intensity and any health considerations.
Bully Sticks (6-inch, thick)
Single-ingredient, highly digestible, and lasts 15–45 minutes depending on the dog's chew style. Bully sticks are made from bull pizzle — high in protein, no artificial additives, fully digestible (unlike rawhide, which can cause GI blockage). The main downside is caloric density — a 6-inch bully stick is roughly 90 calories, which needs to be factored into daily intake. Odor-free versions exist if the smell bothers you. Buy thick for power chewers; standard for moderate chewers.
Himalayan Yak Cheese Chews
Made from yak and cow milk hardened with lime juice and salt. Extremely long-lasting — heavy chewers may take 1–2 weeks to finish a large chew. Hard enough that they slow down even aggressive chewers without the risk of tooth fracture you get from antlers or femur bones. When the chew gets too small to chew safely, microwave the stub for 45 seconds — it puffs into a crunchy bite-size snack. Relatively low calorie compared to other chews. Not suitable for dogs with dairy sensitivities.
Beef Cheek Rolls / Collagen Chews
If you want something with the format of rawhide but actually digestible, beef cheek rolls and collagen chews are the answer. Made from beef skin (rather than chemically processed rawhide), they soften as the dog chews without creating the gel-like mass that can cause GI blockages. Lasts 20–40 minutes for most dogs. Collagen chews additionally provide joint-supporting collagen protein. Either option is a meaningful upgrade over traditional rawhide.
Healthy Everyday Treats
For dogs who get treats throughout the day as rewards or bonding gestures — not just during training sessions — calorie management matters. These options are lower-calorie and can be given more liberally.
- Baby carrots — roughly 4 calories each, crunchy, most dogs love them. The best treat that costs almost nothing.
- Blueberries — antioxidant-rich, low calorie, small enough to use as training treats for small breeds.
- Apple slices (no core or seeds) — vitamin C and fiber. Remove seeds — they contain trace cyanide.
- Plain cooked chicken breast — the highest-value treat available at the lowest cost. Boil a batch, cube it small, refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Watermelon (seedless, no rind) — high water content, low calorie, most dogs are obsessed with it.
What to Avoid
- Rawhide — chemically processed, not digestible, can cause GI obstruction. Better options exist.
- Treats with xylitol — especially peanut butter-based treats. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Always check the ingredient list.
- Treats larger than a pea for training purposes — large treats interrupt training momentum and add too many calories per session.
- Treats that make up more than 10% of daily calories — treat calories count. Reduce meal portions proportionally on heavy treat days.
- Artificial colors, propylene glycol, BHA/BHT — preservatives with concerning safety profiles. Unnecessary in quality treats.
- Weight-bearing bones (femurs, knuckle bones) — high fracture risk for teeth, especially in power chewers. Stick to softer chews.