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Best Puppy Training Treats 2024
Written by Aurus Sy
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 08/16/2023, edited: 03/12/2024
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Rewarding your puppy with treats is one of the easiest and most effective ways to train them. But what kind of puppy training treats should you look for?
Experts recommend treats that are soft, small, and stinky. When teaching your little one new behaviors, it’s important to keep them motivated and focused. Smelly treats are more enticing to the canine palate, and soft and small treats can be eaten quickly, allowing your pup to get more repetitions and practice in each session. If your puppy spends too much time eating their treats, you might lose momentum and ultimately their interest.
That being said, some puppies may prefer crunchy treats, and your pooch can get tired of the same old treat. If necessary, try changing up the types of treats you use.
Here are our recommendations for the best puppy training treats, including those personally used by pet parents on the Wag! team!
Overview
Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats
Made with only 6 ingredients or less and containing less than 2 kcal per treat, these healthy training treats are excellent for keeping your puppy focused, even during lengthy sessions.
Freeze-dried to maintain nutritional benefits, these treats are about the size of a pea and can be broken in half, making them suitable for small puppy mouths.
Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats are personally used and recommended by Megan Crowley, Wag!’s Growth Marketing Specialist. They come in several flavors you can mix and match so your little one will never get bored!
Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats flavors:
- Beef Liver
- Shrimp
- Chicken
- Rabbit
- Mango
- Blueberry
- Sweet Potato
- Salmon
- Surf and Turf
- Turkey and Veggies
- Duck and Veggies
Pupford Freeze-Dried Chicken Training Treats
Why Wag! loves Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats
- Made with simple, natural ingredients
- Comes in a variety of flavors
- Non-greasy
- Sourced and made in the USA
Considerations & concerns
- Not high-value enough for some dogs
- A little pricey
What pet parents say about Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats
“I switched from using regular kibble to these Pupford freeze-dried dog treats when doing our daily training routine. I love that they are small, do not have a strong smell and are not oily. My small pup goes crazy for them and considers them a high value reward. They are also low calorie and are made with healthy ingredients and real beef liver. I can’t wait to try other varieties.”
“This is my second time ordering these for my new puppy. These have come in handy while trying to leash train and housebreak our new boy! These give him an extra tasty reward that helped him learn FAST! We are a little over a week in with our training and he has made a SIGNIFICANT improvement! We’re almost 100% there and I don’t think we could have accomplished this feat as fast as we are without Pupford!”
“My pup adores these treats. I love that they're already small in size so I don't have to cut them up. These are mess-free and low-odor, so I just throw them in my belt bag for outings and have not had any issues. Quite expensive compared to other single ingredient, freeze dried beef treats, but since they're so high reward for my pup, I cave and get them.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Pupford LLC.
Maxbone Treats
Oven-baked in small batches, these heart-shaped treats are made with high-quality, human-grade ingredients that are good for your puppy.
All three flavors contain chia seed for omega-3 and omega-6, and each low-calorie treat has a crunchy texture that many dogs like.
Maxbone Treats are not only healthy but also tasty; according to some reviews, even picky eaters love them. Depending on your pup’s size, you may need to break these treats up first.
Maxbone Treats flavors:
- Peanut Butter and Jelly
- Turkey
- Coconut Honey
Maxbone PB & Jelly Treats
Why Wag! loves Maxbone Treats
- Made with natural, organic ingredients
- Wheat, corn, and soy-free
- Doesn’t contain artificial preservatives
- Sourced and made in the USA
Considerations & concerns
- Limited choice of flavors
- On the pricey side
What pet parents say about Maxbone Treats
“I love that it has only 4 ingredients and my puppy loves them! I have been curious to try them myself.”
“My puppy LOVES these treats! We've been using these as his ‘special’ treats to help crate and potty train him. He gets so excited when he sees us open the bag and gobbles them up so fast. My husband actually tried them as well and thought they were pretty good...(lol) I'm happy they're made with good, simple, and clean ingredients that are all healthy and tasty for my pup! The only downside is that they're too big for our puppy normally so we cut them into smaller pieces and that means crumbs everywhere!”
“My dogs are not food motivated, so [it makes it] harder to [train]. But this treat is the only one they like and focus on training sessions.”
Read more reviews on Maxbone.
Product image sourced from the Maxbone website. Copyright maxbone.
Jinx Tiny Treats
Slow-smoked with a soft and chewy texture, Jinx Tiny Treats are great for keeping your pup motivated.
They contain real chicken or beef as the first ingredient for protein, plus banana and sweet potato for a bit of sweetness and healthy digestion.
The tiny size of these star-shaped treats make them perfect for training—they’re easy to handle and can be given repeatedly without interrupting your training or piling on the calories.
Jinx Tiny Treats flavors:
- Beef
- Chicken
Jinx Tiny Treats Beef & Banana
Why Wag! loves Jinx Tiny Treats
- Doesn’t contain additives, fillers, or artificial ingredients
- “Gives bark” to dogs in need
- Comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Made in the USA
Considerations & concerns
- Limited choice of flavors
- May be too small for larger dogs who could do better with bigger Jinx treats
What pet parents say about Jinx Tiny Treats
“We use these as a high reward training treat for our GSP puppy. They are a great size for training and he loves the smell of them. Particularly good for getting him moving when distracted by playing ‘find it.’”
“I have two treat obsessed dogs, and they both love these treats. I love the tiny star shape. They're small enough to fit in treat dispensing toys, or to use for training. Would definitely buy again.”
“I worked with a dog trainer to help my dog with her leash reactivity. Part of our training entails using treats throughout her daily walks- this can mean lots of treats so it’s important for us to use a training treat so as to not give her excess calories. Previously we were using freeze dried training treats from another brand, but she seems to get even more excited for these. I think [it’s] because it has a softer texture and these have a stronger meat smell. My dog is blind so this last one is just for me: I like the cute little star shape!”
Read more reviews on Jinx.
Product image sourced from the Jinx website. Copyright Jinx, Inc.
Wet Noses Training Treats
These star-shaped treats don’t just look cute; they also don’t crumble!
Crafted with help from positive reinforcement dog trainers, Wet Noses Training Treats are made with organic and human-grade ingredients such as house-ground peanut butter, sweet potato, molasses, cinnamon, and ginger.
Aside from helping train your pup, these treats boost their skin, nails, and immune system too. Each treat is no bigger than a pencil eraser, making them perfect for puppies, toy breeds, and dogs with sensitive teeth.
Wet Noses Training Treats flavors:
- Sweet Potato
- Peanut Butter
Wet Noses Sweet Potato Training Treats
Why Wag! loves Wet Noses Training Treats
- No-crumble recipe
- Corn, wheat, and soy-free
- Packed in-house
- Sourced and made in the USA
Considerations & concerns
- Limited choice of flavors
- Some dogs won’t eat it
What pet parents say about Wet Noses Training Treats
“I do physical therapy/conditioning exercises with my dog, and I've found these treats to be the best low value, low calorie rewards for our purposes or for extended training sessions. My dog likes them enough to work for them, but doesn't love them so much that they don't make him over-aroused like some smelly or meat based treats do. They are tiny and low calorie with simple ingredients, so they are perfect for long sessions where you are asking your dog for lots of behaviors.”
“Our dog with allergies is doing much better (i.e. less itchy) on these than her previous treats, thank goodness! They are TINY. I wish each one was twice the size, even for our 15lb dog. But still worth it. We did transfer to a sealable container as the bag they come in isn't meant for storing.”
“We are stuck on these in both flavors for my 6 pound Pom. We housebroke her with treats and so she does receive a treat whenever she goes pee or poo outside. It works well because Poms are difficult to housebreak. I love these and so does my Pom, Livvie. Since they are so tiny, there is no danger of her getting fat from [treats] and also because they are organic and do not contain any [undesirable] ingredients.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Wet Noses Inc.
Wellness Puppy Bites
Made specially for growing puppies, these grain-free treats from Wellness are a natural source of DHA which aid in brain development.
They also contain healthy ingredients and added vitamins to support your little one, such as lamb, salmon, chicken, carrot, blueberries, broccoli, cranberries, apple, sweet potato, vitamin A, and vitamin E.
Wellness Puppy Bites come in two textures: soft or crunchy. Stick to one if your pup has a preference, or switch it up regularly for variety!
Wag! Content Editor Kim Rain's Golden Retriever loves these treats! "My pup devoured these obviously tasty and smelly soft treats which were pawfect for his little mouth! They made training easy. Now, this grown puppy loves the older Rewarding Life line just as much!"
Wellness Puppy Bites flavors:
- Soft Puppy Bites Lamb & Salmon
- Crunchy Puppy Bites Chicken & Carrots
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites
Why Wag! Loves Wellness Puppy Bites
- Specially formulated for dogs under 1 year
- Corn, wheat, and dairy-free
- Doesn’t contain meat by-products or artificial ingredients
- Made in the USA
Considerations & concerns
- Limited choice of flavors
- May cause tummy issues in some dogs
What pet parents say about Wellness Puppy Bites
“I have 2 Maltese pups and they absolutely loved these. They go crazy for them as soon as [they] hear the baggie jingle. I also have a senior Pomeranian [whose] teeth are [starting] to go. These treats are soft enough for him to enjoy, and not have to worry about him hurting himself.”
“Our 5 month old puppy loves these treats. We were having a hard time potty training him but since using these as a reward, we were rewarded in just 2 weeks!!!”
“My 9mo puppy loves these. Easy to break into smaller sizes since it’s soft and she loves them more than the other treats we have now. Only issue is they get hard if you leave the bag open but that’s more of a me problem ha.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Wellness Pet, LLC.
FAQ
What treats should I use for puppy training?
When can puppies have training treats?