If you’re looking for the best puppy treats, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will review seven of the best puppy and best training treats on the market. We’ll cover features, ingredients, and pricing, as well as how to use these treats to train your pup. As dog owners, we try many products to find what we believe to be the best products for most dogs. Also, it’s always best to avoid human food with new puppies, and many can have sensitive stomachs (see also our guide to treating gas in dogs).
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about which puppy treats are best for your pup!
What are the best dog treats for puppies?
Here are my top picks for the best puppy treats for this year.
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites Lamb & Salmon Dog Treats
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites are our favorite (and our puppy’s favorite) puppy treat. They are soft, bite-sized morsels that are perfect for training (see also ‘How to Potty Train a Puppy Using Bells and Pee Pads‘). They are also grain-free and made with real meat – Lamb & Salmon – which are two of the most nutrient-dense foods you can give your pup.
Adult dogs also love these soft treats (although they are mini treats for adults other than small dogs), so they are a great option for the whole family.
Key Features:
- Soft, bite-sized morsels
- Grain-free
- Made with Lamb & Salmon
- Ingredients: Lamb, Salmon, Potato Flour, Glycerin, Gelatin, Salt, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Smoke Flavor, Lactic Acid.
- Price: $11.99 for a 14 oz bag (about $0.85/oz)
N-Bone Puppy Teething Sticks are great for relieving teething pain and sore gums. These healthy treats are also teething treats, and are also very easy to chew and won’t hurt a puppy’s mouth, which is important for puppies who are still getting used to their puppy teeth.
They are made with all-natural ingredients, including real meat and healthy vitamins, and they do not contain any wheat, corn, or soy (i.e. grain free treats). Big dogs love these pet treats as well, although these are designed as dental treats for puppies and young dogs.
Key Features:
- Relieves teething pain and sore gums for teething puppies
- Easy to chew
- All-natural ingredients
- No wheat, corn, or soy
- Crunchy treats
- Ingredients: Chicken, Rice Flour, Gelatin, Salt, Sorbic Acid (preservative), Vitamin E Supplement.
- Price: $11.39 for a 12 oz bag (about $0.95/oz)
Tailored Pet – Natural Soft & Chewy Puppy Treats
Tailored Pet Natural Soft & Chewy Puppy Treats are made with real beef and support brain development as well as healthy skin & coat.
These treats are also made with limited and high quality ingredients to avoid any potential allergies. These soft treats are both soft and chewy, which makes them perfect for puppies who are still teething.
Key Features:
- Supports brain development
- Healthy skin & coat
- Limited ingredients
- Soft & chewy
- Ingredients: Beef, Potato Flour, Glycerin, Gelatin, Salt, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Smoke Flavor.
- Price: $12.99 for a 16 oz bag (about $0.81/oz)
Pupford Freeze-Dried Training Treats for Puppies and Dogs
Pupford Freeze-Dried Training Treats are perfect for training because they are small, lightweight, and easy to carry.
They are also made with all-natural ingredients and do not contain any fillers or artificial preservatives. Our dogs also love the chicken and sweet potato flavor of these treats.
Key Features:
- Small & lightweight
- Easy to carry
- All-natural ingredients
- No fillers or artificial preservatives.
- Ingredients: Chicken Breast, Sweet Potato, Vegetable Glycerin.
- Price: $19.99 for a 12 oz bag (about $0.67/oz)
Pet Botanics Training Reward Chicken Treats for Puppies and Dogs
Pet Botanics Training Reward Chicken Treats are great because they are low calorie and high in protein.
They are also very versatile – you can break them into smaller pieces for training, or give your pup the whole treat as a reward.
Key Features:
- Low calorie
- High in protein
- Versatile
- Ingredients: Chicken, Glycerin, Gelatin, Salt, Phosphoric Acid, Sorbic Acid (preservative), Vitamin E Supplement.
- Price: $11.99 for a 12 oz bag (about $0.67/oz)
Zuke’s Puppy Naturals Puppy Treats Salmon & Chickpea
Zuke’s Puppy Naturals Puppy Treats are perfect for puppies who are just starting to train.
They are soft and easy to chew, but they also have a little bit of crunch to them.
They are made with all-natural and high quality ingredients, and do not contain any wheat, corn, or soy.
Key Features:
- Soft & easy to chew
- A little bit of crunch
- All-natural ingredients
- No wheat, corn, or soy
- No artificial colors or artificial flavors
- Ingredients: Chicken, Potato Flour, Glycerin, Gelatin, Salt, Phosphoric Acid, Sorbic Acid (preservative), Vitamin E Supplement.
- Price: $12.99 for a 16 oz bag (about $0.81/oz)
Bil-Jac Little Jacs Training Treats for Puppies
Bil-Jac Little Jacs Training Treats are perfect for puppies who are just starting to train. They are small, bite-sized treats that are easy to carry and easy to eat.
They are made with real chicken and do not contain any fillers or artificial preservatives.
Key Features:
- Small & bite-sized
- Easy to carry
- Easy to eat
- Real chicken
- No fillers or artificial preservatives
- Ingredients: Chicken, Potato Flour, Glycerin, Gelatin, Salt, Phosphoric Acid, Sorbic Acid (preservative), Vitamin E Supplement.
- Price: $13.99 for a 16 oz bag (about $0.87/oz)
How to Train Your Puppy with Treats
Now that you know what the best treats for puppies are, let’s talk about how to use them to train your puppy (see also our 7 puppy training tips for new dog owners)! Training with positive reinforcement is one of the most effective ways to train your pup.
When you give your puppy a treat after they perform a desired good behavior, they will learn that the behavior is something that you want them to do.
Treats can also be used to teach your puppy new tricks or commands.
For example, if you want to teach your puppy to sit, hold a treat in front of their nose and say the command “sit.” Once they sit, give them the treat and praise them enthusiastically.
You can also use treats to help your puppy feel more comfortable in new situations. For example, if you’re taking your pup on a car ride (see also our favorite tips for traveling with a dog) for the first time, bring along some of their favorite treats and give them one every few minutes during the drive.
This will help them associate the car ride with something positive (getting a tasty treat) and make the experience less stressful for them.
Happy training pet parents!