Condition your canine with the best puppy training treats

Updated 25/10/23

Becoming a pet parent is one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do, and for anyone who’s done it before, we’re sure you’ll agree that there’s nothing quite like welcoming a puppy into their new home.

Once you’ve contained your excitement and shown your fluffball around, your next thought is probably something along the lines of puppy training. And it’s no small feat, we’ll grant you that. But, with a few tools, good practices, and a whole lot of patience, you and your pooch will get there. 

And before welcoming a pet sitter, we can imagine that training your pup in the basics will be at the top of your list. That’s why we’re here to help you with your positive reinforcement-based training journey with some of the best puppy training treats on the market. Helping your pup associate good behavior with yummy rewards, you’ll wonder what you ever did without them.

And of course it goes without saying that there are countless dog training treats on the market - some healthier than others and many with gleaming reviews from pet parents all over the world. So as you can imagine, narrowing it down was no easy task. As well as picking well-reviewed training treats for puppies, we’ve chosen each treat below to help show you what a decent, healthy reward looks like for your pooch. So whether you choose the treats we’ve picked or you go for something similar, we’re sure you’ll be on track to a happy, healthy, and well-trained pup. Treat pouches at the ready!

What are the benefits of using puppy training treats?

Puppy training treats go hand-in-hand with other rewards to help your pup associate good behavior with a good time. Most dogs are naturally eager to please - that and an upbeat energy is what draws us humans in! While dishing out treats certainly helps, they’re a great complement to verbal rewards. Your pup will bound with joy if they’re congratulated with a quick, high-pitched affirmation, a stroke, and maybe a treat. So, what will dog training treats help you with?

• Puppy potty training
• Learning your house rules and good manners
• Off-limits areas versus spots made just for your pup
• Learning the walkies ropes (here's how to train your dog to walk on a leash)
• Dog obedience training
• Crate training

… and more! It’s safe to say that with timely rewards and praise when doing the right thing, the possibilities are pretty endless when it comes to treat-based training. With a bit of consistency and patience, your new pup will soon fit into your pack like a paw-shaped glove.

Tips for using dog training treats

Positive reinforcement

Otherwise known as positive reinforcement-based training, incentivizing good behavior from your pup starts from day one. It may sound daunting, but it’s pretty simple. While the dog training itself can take a little patience from pet parents and the rest of your pack, the reward is the easy part. To condition your pup to act in the way you’d like them to, simply reward them with dog training treats so that they learn to associate the behavior with something tasty. And as even new pet parents will know by now, our canine companions are pretty food-obsessed, so in most circumstances, a food-based reward is the best way to go.

Timing is everything

Giving out puppy training treats needs to be timely and structured - give them out too often and they’ll completely lose their meaning. Be sure to dish out the treats and praise as soon as they’ve performed the right behaviors - you want your pup to associate the reward with the right thing! So, as soon as they’ve sat for you, congratulate them with high-pitched words of affirmation and give them a little fuss and a treat. Repeat this behavior and they’ll be eager to sit, stay, lay, and more.

Opt for healthy puppy training treats

If treat-based training is your thing, then your pooch is probably chowing down on a fair few per day. And while the odd ‘naughty’ treat probably won’t do your pup any harm, you’ll need to opt for healthier dog training treats if they’re eating a fair few throughout the day. Things to look out for include high salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients. For a safe rule of thumb, opt for treats with fewer ingredients, or those with a single ingredient whereby something yummy for your pup has been dehydrated or freeze-dried.

Check the feeding guidelines

The last thing you want to do is get yourself set up for reward-based training, only to realize the puppy treats for training you’ve bought aren’t right for your pup! Check the age range and the feeding guidelines on the packaging - these will give you an idea of whether your pup’s old enough and how many you can feed them per day.

If you’re using puppy treats for training consistently, monitoring how many you’re rewarding your pup is super important. While treats are a super handy tool for getting your pooch in line, they can easily rack up their energy intake if you’re not careful. So if the guidelines aren’t available, consider how much your pup’s eating at mealtimes and make up the surplus calories in nutritious dog treats.

The best puppy training treats

Hare of the Dog freeze-dried rabbit

If plain and simple is a bit of you, then these training treats for dogs from Hare of the Dog will be right up your street. Made completely from rabbit, you don’t need to worry about your new precious pup ingesting any nasties. And like lots of treats these days, these yummy morsels are freeze-dried for freshness.

Stewart freeze-dried wild salmon

If strong bones, muscles, and a healthy coat are at the top of your list (and we can imagine they are), then these puppy training treats from Stewart might do the trick. Simply freeze-dried chunks of pure salmon, they’re the perfect-sized treats for your pup in training.

Stewart freeze-dried beef liver

Natural dog treats are all the rage at the moment, and we can see why. With minimal ingredients, pet parents have more clarity and control over what their precious pup is eating (which makes it a whole lot easier if they have any allergies). These dog training treats from Stewart fit that mold perfectly, containing 100% pure beef liver.

Sojos simply lamb

These healthy dog training treats from Sojos contain all-natural ingredients, made with 100% freeze-dried lamb morsels. And if you’ve got a fussy pup on your hands, don’t sweat it. Sojos have some other meats in their arsenal including turkey and beef. They’re all freeze-dried for freshness and only contain the meat they claim on the packet.

Pet Botanics jerky bites

Jerky is one of those irresistible puppy training treats your new pooch will do almost anything for (just have a whiff and you might agree!). And like other jerky treats, these chicken bites from Pet Botanics are made with ingredients that are in there only to enhance your pup’s health.

Zuke’s puppy naturals

If you think your pup’s ready for something a little crunchier, these natural dog training treats from Zuke’s will help your training sessions no end. Made with a blend of salmon and chickpea, they’ve got minimal ingredients and they’re enhanced with vitamins and minerals that are great for your pup.

Purebites freeze-dried lamb liver

These tiny morsels are good training treats for puppies who thrive off treat-based training. Made with human-grade lamb (and only lamb), these bites of dried liver only contain 1 calorie each. They’re super small, so perfect for having on hand while on the go.

Pets at Home chicken paste

Not all of the best puppy training treats have to be crunchy. In fact, for pups with sore gums or wobbly teeth, they might pose a bit of a challenge. The solution? Well, it’s certainly not to simply stop your treat-based training altogether. Instead, opt for something soft, smooth, and equally nutritious like this chicken paste from Pets at Home or peanut butter if your pup prefers.

JR training treats

Made from 100% single-source protein, these morsels from JR are fab for pups with a preference for meat (which is all of them, by the way). Treats for training puppies with minimal ingredients are the safest way to go - you know exactly what they’re ingesting, and the nutritional information is much easier to follow.

Lily’s Kitchen chicken and salmon nibbles

Treats for dog training can be fun! These soft puppy bites with a chewy, flexible texture from Lily’s Kitchen are sure to get your pup sitting, staying, and laying on command. Made with a mix of chicken and salmon, they’re packed with health benefits and will sure smell good to your canine pal.

A beginner’s guide to puppy training

Now you’re armed with all the best puppy training treats, check out our guide to puppy training!