Treats are much more than a tasty reward. When chosen well, they can become one of the most effective tools for training, enrichment, and strengthening your relationship with your dog.

High-value treats capture your dog’s attention and make it easier to reinforce good behaviour, build positive associations, and keep training sessions engaging. They are especially useful during puppyhood, when your dog is learning the basics, or when helping a newly adopted dog settle into a new home.

Not all commercial treats are created equal, though. Many are packed with unnecessary fillers, artificial flavours, colours, preservatives, and excess calories that can quickly add up. The healthiest options tend to have simple, recognisable ingredients, a named animal protein where appropriate, and a nutritional profile that fits into your dog’s overall balanced diet.

With that in mind, here are five store-bought dog treats worth considering.

For everyday training, Zuke’s Mini Naturals are one of our top picks. They meet many of the criteria we look for in a healthy, high-quality commercial dog treat while being practical enough for frequent rewards.

The first ingredient is a named animal protein, and each treat contains just 2 calories. Their soft, bite-sized texture makes them particularly useful when you’re rewarding your dog repeatedly during a training session. They are small enough that you can keep the rewards coming without quickly adding a significant number of calories to your dog’s daily intake.

After reading customer reviews, I also found that many dogs, including picky eaters and rescue dogs, find these treats highly appealing. That level of motivation is a real advantage when you’re teaching new behaviours or working in distracting environments.

While they are not as minimally processed as single-ingredient freeze-dried treats, they offer a good balance of quality, convenience, palatability, and portion control for everyday positive reinforcement.

Pros

• Named animal protein is the first ingredient.
• Only 2 calories per treat.
• Soft and easy to chew.
• Easy to break into smaller pieces.
• Highly palatable for many dogs.

Cons

• More processed than single-ingredient treats.
• Can dry out if the bag isn’t sealed properly.
• May stick to the teeth of some small breeds.

For young puppies, Wellness Soft Puppy Bites are a good option because they combine quality ingredients with a texture that’s easy for little mouths to manage.

The lamb and salmon recipe is grain-free and contains no corn, soy, or artificial ingredients. It also includes DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid associated with healthy brain development, making the recipe particularly suited to growing puppies.

I especially like these treats for training because they’re soft, easy to tear into smaller pieces, and don’t crumble everywhere. That makes them practical when you’re working through lots of repetitions during puppy training.

Reviews also suggest that puppies find them highly motivating, with owners using them for everything from learning basic commands to potty training.

As with any puppy treat, though, they should be given in moderation. Puppies have small bodies and relatively small calorie requirements, so even highly nutritious treats can add up quickly.

Pros

• Made with lamb and salmon.
• Includes DHA to support healthy brain development.
• Grain-free, with no corn, soy, or artificial ingredients.
• Soft texture is ideal for puppy teeth.
• Easy to tear into smaller pieces.

Cons

• Calorie information isn’t as prominently listed.
• They are quite tempting, so portion control is important.

If your dog enjoys a crunchy biscuit, Fruitables Baked Pumpkin & Banana Dog Treats are a solid everyday option.

Pumpkin is the first ingredient, and the treats contain no wheat, corn, soy, or artificial flavours. This fits The HomeGardens approach of looking for treats made with simple, recognisable ingredients rather than relying on unnecessary additives.

At around 8 calories per treat, they can be worked into daily rewards without contributing too many calories, provided portions are kept under control. The crunchy biscuits can also be broken into smaller pieces, making them useful for occasional training rewards.

They won’t suit every dog, though. Some picky eaters are more motivated by meaty treats, while dogs that prefer soft textures may simply have little interest in a crunchy biscuit.

Pros

• Made with fruit and vegetable ingredients.
• No wheat, corn, soy, or artificial flavours.
• Relatively low in calories.
• Suitable for everyday rewards.
• Can be broken into smaller pieces.

Cons

• The flavour may not appeal to picky dogs.
• Crunchy texture may not suit every dog.
• Can be tricky to break into very small pieces.
• Larger dogs may need more than one treat.

ORAVET Dental Chews are worth considering when you want a treat that serves a specific purpose beyond simply rewarding your dog. They are designed to support dental health, making them more of a functional chew than an everyday training treat.

Many reviewers report improvements in their dogs’ teeth, tartar, and breath, and some say their veterinarians recommended the chews. That makes them an appealing option for owners looking to add another layer of dental care to their dog’s routine.

However, there is an important distinction here. ORAVET chews should not be judged by the same criteria as a small training treat. Their primary purpose is dental care, rather than providing frequent low-calorie rewards.

There also isn’t enough nutritional information available from customer reviews alone to properly assess their calories, protein, and fat against all of our healthy-treat criteria.

They can support your dog’s dental routine, but they don’t replace regular tooth brushing or professional dental care. Some dogs may also struggle with the texture, swallow them too quickly, or experience mild digestive changes.

Pros

• Supports dental health.
• May help improve bad breath.
• Appealing to many dogs.
• Some veterinarians recommend them.

Cons

• More expensive than regular treats.
• Texture may not suit every dog.
• Some dogs may swallow them too quickly.
• Not suitable as a frequent training reward.

If you need a treat your dog will really work for, Posh Pets Free Range Beef Nibbles are a strong choice. My Luna and Taner certainly cannot resist them.

These treats are made with 100% free-range beef, contain no artificial colourants or flavourants, and are locally made. For me, the simple ingredient profile is one of their biggest strengths.

You get a clearly named animal protein rather than vague meat ingredients, and no obvious unnecessary fillers are competing for attention. The strong meaty flavour also makes them particularly useful when you need extra motivation.

I reach for these when working on recall, new behaviours, or training in distracting environments where an ordinary biscuit may not be exciting enough.

The main drawback is the lack of readily available information about their calorie, protein, fat, and fibre content. That makes it harder to assess their complete nutritional profile against our full healthy-treat criteria.

For that reason, I use them as a high-value reward rather than an everyday snack. They are a treat I bring out when I really want Luna and Taner to focus.

Pros

• Made with 100% free-range beef.
• No artificial colourants or flavourants.
• Single, clearly named animal protein.
• Strong meaty appeal.
• Excellent for high-value training.
• Locally made.

Cons

• Limited readily available nutritional information.
• Intended for adult dogs.
• Best used selectively rather than as an everyday treat.
• Supervise your dog when treating and provide fresh water.

How to Choose the Healthiest Dog Treats

There isn’t one perfect dog treat for every situation. The best choice depends on what you’re asking the treat to do.

For repetitive training, I like Zuke’s Mini Naturals because their small size and low calorie count make frequent rewards easier. For puppies, Wellness Soft Puppy Bites offer a soft texture and ingredients suited to growing dogs. If your dog prefers a crunchy reward, Fruitables Pumpkin & Banana provide a simple everyday option. ORAVET stands apart as a functional dental chew, while Posh Pets Free Range Beef Nibbles are my pick when I need something with enough appeal to really motivate my dogs.

Most importantly, don’t judge a treat by its marketing alone. Check the ingredient list, consider the nutritional value, look at the calories, and think about how the treat fits into your dog’s overall diet. A treat can be made with quality ingredients and still be unsuitable if you’re giving too many of them.

Treats should complement your dog’s meals, not replace them. Keep portions sensible, break larger treats into smaller pieces when possible, and save the highest-value options for situations where you really need your dog’s attention.

Ultimately, a healthy treat is one that your dog enjoys, supports the purpose you’re using it for, and fits comfortably within their daily nutritional needs. That way, you can reward good behaviour without compromising the bigger picture: keeping your dog healthy, happy, and well-nourished.