The best dog training treats have three things in common — experts break them down

NBC News

5 days ago

As someone who recently adopted a new puppy, I can say with certainty that dog training can feel like a Herculean feat. Teaching my pet to sit, stay, go potty outside and sleep in her crate took patience, determination and a ton of treats. But not every dog treat makes a great training tool — you need to use something your pup is excited to work for so they stay focused, engaged and ready to learn, says Daris Cooper, the national dog training manager at Petco. (Ed's note: The inclusion of products sold by Petco in this article was made independently of Cooper.)
To help you pick the best dog training treats, I talked to experts about what to consider while shopping. Using their guidance, I rounded up some of the top options, most of which come recommended by NBC Select dog parents. Experts also explain how to incorporate treats into training, and how to avoid the number one training mistake they see pet parents make.
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How I picked the best dog training treats
'Typically in training, we want to use a treat that hits the three S's: small, soft and stinky,' says Jamie Popper, the head dog trainer at Woof. Below, learn why that's what you should look for while shopping for dog training treats, plus other factors to keep in mind.
Small size: 'During reward-based training, you want to get several repetitions of the behavior in a short amount of time,' says Popper. 'Using a small treat allows the dog to quickly consume it and move on to the next repetition.'
Soft texture: A soft texture also makes treats easy for dogs to quickly consume, says Popper. You can break them up into small pieces if needed, too.
Strong scent: The 'stinkier' the treat, the more motivating and appetizing it is for your dog, says Popper. If you can smell the treat, it's sure to get your dog's attention.
Low-calorie: While training, it's important to frequently reward your dog without overdoing it, says Cooper. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's total daily calories, so be sure to choose a low-calorie option. The nutrition label on the back of treats' packaging provides information about calories per serving.
Ingredients: Prioritize buying treats made from simple, high-quality ingredients, says Cooper. If you can pronounce all the ingredients on the nutrition label, it's a good sign, says Popper. Whether you're feeding your pet treats from a bag or dog-safe human foods, avoid anything that's seasoned, fatty, high in sodium or toxic to dogs, including onions, garlic, grapes and artificial sweeteners like xylitol.
Variety: Over time, dogs can get bored of snacking on the same treat. 'Variety is the spice of life, so mixing up your reinforcers can be really helpful throughout the training process,' says Cooper. Over time, you'll figure out what your dog 'likes' versus 'loves' — as you do so, Cooper suggests saving extra special treats they love for big wins and lighter, slightly less exciting treats they like for everyday training practice.
The best dog training treats
To recommend the best dog training treats, I curated a list of options that align with expert guidance, are suitable for pets of all ages and come in resealable bags, which help make sure they stay fresh for as long as possible. I've used many of the treats below with my dogs, and some come recommended by NBC Select dog parents.
These oven-baked, soft and chewy treats are specifically made to use while training, and they've been a go-to for me over the years. I put them in a pouch that attaches to my 6-month old puppy Mabel's leash to reward her on walks, and I keep a bag at home to practice basic commands like sit, stay and leave it. Since the bite-sized treats come in multiple flavors, all of which have a strong scent, I've always been able to find one my pet likes and alternate between a few types to keep things interesting. In addition to the duck and blueberry flavor, you can buy beef and cheddar, chicken and pumpkin, peanut butter and bacon, and peanut butter and carob treats.
Any time I've brought my dog to a trainer, they've used these treats during sessions. They're only made from one ingredient, freeze-dried beef liver, so they're safe for most pets with sensitive stomachs and allergies, according to the brand. The treats aren't uniform in size — there's small, medium and large pieces inside the bag, so I usually break them up as I give them to my dog. They're on the crunchy side, but still easy for pets to eat quickly. In addition to using beef liver treats for training, I hide them inside puzzle toys and snuffle mats to keep my dog occupied.
Since these soft and chewy treats are so tiny, they're best for small dogs. NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio fed them to her dog Bella as a puppy and still uses them seven years later — Bella weighs about 20 pounds full-grown, but when Godio brought her home she was less than 10 pounds. The treats are made with aromatic ingredients to attract pets, like rosemary, blueberries, dandelion and cranberries, and you can buy them in four flavors: bacon, beef, chicken and duck and bacon. Each bag comes with hundreds of treats, so it lasts a very long time, says Godio.
I grew up raising dogs like labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and German shepherds, who, even as puppies, were big. During training sessions, they were more motivated by larger treats compared to bite-sized ones, so my family often bought options like these beef tenders and broke strips up into a few pieces. The tenders have a soft texture and a strong smell that my dogs detect the minute I open the bag. In addition to beef tenders, these treats are available in chicken and duck options.
Best for picky eaters
When I brought my puppy home, she wasn't food motivated whatsoever, which made training difficult. I tried a handful of treats to entice her, but she often sniffed them and walked away. My local pet store recommended I try freeze-dried rabbit treats — since rabbit isn't a protein that's often in kibble, dogs usually find it more exciting to snack on. I bought Holi's rabbit treats and they worked like magic. They have a scent that my dog is drawn to, are soft yet crunchy and have a small cube shape.
Best meaty
My puppy loves Honest Kitchen's Goat's Milk N' Cookies, but they aren't great for training because they have a hard, crunchy texture and can be challenging to break into small pieces. Since she's a fan of the brand, I bought these Meaty Littles treats, which were an instant hit during training sessions. The bite-sized, disc-shaped pieces are chewy and tender, plus they have a strong scent. You can buy them in two flavors: beef and salmon, and chicken and shrimp.
When I'm leash training Mabel, I keep one of these stick treats in my pocket and break off small pieces for her as we walk. She wasn't always confident on walks and would often stop halfway down the block, so frequently rewarding her with these treats encourages her to keep going, and reinforces behaviors like walking by my side and not chewing on the leash. The stick treats look and feel similar to the beef jerky sticks that humans eat, and they were easy for Mabel to bite into, even with her tiny baby teeth. You can buy them in flavors like lamb, salmon, beef, chicken and bacon.
What human foods are safe to give dogs as treats?
You don't have to solely rely on pre-packaged treats for training. Experimenting with dog-safe human foods, like the ones experts recommend below, is also an option. Picky eaters may respond better to dog-safe human foods, and they're a great way to mix things up during training sessions, says Cooper. Talk to your vet if you have questions, especially if your dog has allergies or food sensitivities.
How to use treats while training your dog
'Treats are one of the most powerful tools in your training toolkit,' says Cooper. 'They can help to motivate your dog, reinforce behaviors you want to see continue and make learning fun.' However, you have to use them strategically. Below, experts share some do's and don'ts to keep in mind while incorporating treats into training sessions.
Don't use treats as a bribe: 'Treats should be used as a reward after the behavior has occurred,' says Popper. 'A common mistake pet owners make is using treats as a bribe.' For example, many pet owners shake a treat bag if their dog refuses to come inside from the yard, signaling that they'll get a reward. But dogs pick up on that pattern and may not come unless you prove you have a treat first, says Popper.
Timing is everything: 'Reward the behavior you're looking for the moment it happens so your dog clearly connects the action with the reward,' says Cooper. If you wait too long, they're unlikely to make the association.
Don't just rely on treats: 'One common misstep I see is relying too heavily on treats without pairing them with verbal praise or other rewards like play or affection,' says Cooper. 'The ultimate goal is for your dog to respond because they want to connect with you, not just because food is involved.'
Make your dog work for treats: 'When pet parents hand out treats randomly or without asking for a behavior in return, their dog can get confused or start expecting rewards without doing the work,' says Cooper. Give treats out purposefully so your dog understands that they have to earn them by doing something else first, like sitting, staying or waiting.
Frequently asked questions
Are dog training treats different from standard treats?
While training your dog, it's important to use high value treats, meaning those that cause your pet to get excited about training. Your dog determines what they consider high value — use the three S's (small, soft and stinky) as a baseline, but try a few options and see what they respond best to. That said, you can use anything as a training treat, be it pre-packaged bites or cheese cubes. 'If you've found a treat your dog loves, it's approved by your vet and it fits within the 10% daily calorie guideline for treats, it's likely to be a solid go-to reward for training throughout their life,' says Cooper.
If possible, however, avoid biscuit and cookie treats for training sessions. 'They take longer to consume and can sometimes leave behind distracting crumbs,' says Popper.
What are the benefits of training your dog with treats?
Using treats to train your dog is one of the most effective ways to teach them new or complex behaviors, says Cooper. Most dogs are instinctually food-motivated, so when you use treats to reward good behavior, they become more likely to repeat the action. Rewarding your dog for good behavior, rather than punishing them for bad behavior, is the basis of positive reinforcement-based training.
'It helps create clear communication, build a stronger bond and encourages focus and engagement,' says Popper. 'Training dogs to do what we want — rather than simply managing or punishing undesirable behaviors — creates an active and willing companion.'
How many treats can dogs have during training?
As a rule of thumb, treats should make up no more than 10% of your pet's total daily calories, says Cooper. Consult your vet about specific recommendations for your dog based on their age, breed, activity level and overall health status.
If you're worried about giving your dog too many treats during training, you have two options:
Make mealtime a training opportunity: Save training sessions for breakfast, lunch or dinner and use your dog's kibble as their reward. Kibble with fish as the main protein source usually meets the small and stinky criteria, and any air-dried or freeze-dried food also tends to be enticing, says Popper.
Cut portion sizes during meals: On training-heavy days, decrease your dog's dinner portion to prevent overfeeding them, says Popper.
How long should you use training treats for?
'Training treats are a must-have for every stage of your dog's life,' says Cooper. 'Even once your dog masters basic cues, ongoing training helps reinforce desired behaviors and keeps them mentally and physically stimulated.' So long as they're compatible with their diet, you can usually use the same training treats for your dog from puppy age to adulthood. But as pets age, you can incorporate treats with added benefits into training sessions, like those made with ingredients to target hip and joint support or anxiety, says Popper.
Additionally, once your dog reliably understands a cue and the paired behavior, you can gradually mix in other reinforcers, like toys, praise and play, says Cooper. That way, they're still being rewarded for their good behavior, but you're not giving them as many treats a day.
Can you train your dogs without treats?
Yes, you can train your dog without treats, and sometimes, you have to. Some dogs aren't food-motivated and may respond better to rewards like verbal praise, pets, toys or play. 'Your pup will decide if the treat, toy or verbal and/or physical praise is reinforcing — not you,' says Cooper. 'The key is to find what excites your dog and use that to make training fun and rewarding.'
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Why trust NBC Select?
I'm a reporter at NBC Select (and a dog owner) who has written about pet products since 2020, including outdoor dog beds, cat toys, flea treatments and dog sunscreen. To write this article, I interviewed two experts about how to shop for dog training treats. Using their guidance, I rounded up the best options, including those recommended by NBC Select staff.