10 Best Training Treats For Puppies

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Single protein, limited ingredient treats minimize risk of tummy issues. Natural treats without additives are gentlest for developing puppy bodies. Low calorie options prevent overfeeding and obesity. And hypoallergenic treats accommodate sensitivities. With careful selection, you can provide the perfect treats to aid puppy owners in positively reinforcing wanted behaviors and fueling their pup’s training success. From chewy minis to meaty tenders to frozen licks, there are many tasty and nutritious options to gift puppy parents to aide with their important work. The right treats make training more rewarding for precious puppies.

Top 10 Best Training Treats For Puppies that you can give as gifts to dog lovers

Puppies require positive reinforcement and tasty incentives during training to support their learning. Giving the gift of healthy, nutritious treats is a thoughtful way to equip puppy owners with training tools. When selecting treats to gift puppy owners, focus on types that are bite-sized, soft, single-ingredient, low calorie, allergen-friendly and made with natural ingredients. Tiny tender treats are easiest for small mouths and jaws to manage.

Single protein, limited ingredient treats minimize risk of tummy issues. Natural treats without additives are gentlest for developing puppy bodies. Low calorie options prevent overfeeding and obesity. And hypoallergenic treats accommodate sensitivities. With careful selection, you can provide the perfect treats to aid puppy owners in positively reinforcing wanted behaviors and fueling their pup’s training success. From chewy minis to meaty tenders to frozen licks, there are many tasty and nutritious options to gift puppy parents to aide with their important work. The right treats make training more rewarding for precious puppies.

Top 10 Best Training Treats For Puppies that you can give as gifts to dog lovers

  1. Pupford Freeze Dried Dog Training Treats

    Pupford Freeze Dried Dog Training Treats are a popular choice for pet parents looking for a healthy, low calorie treat option. These 100% natural treats are made in the USA using premium proteins like chicken, duck or salmon that are gently freeze dried to lock in flavor and nutrition.

    Pros

    • Low calorie at only 3 calories per treat
    • Vet approved with no artificial ingredients
    • Made in the USA with premium proteins like chicken
    • Freeze dried to preserve nutrients and flavor
    • Irresistible taste dogs love
    • Easy to break into small pieces for training
    • Convenient resealable bag to maintain freshness

    Cons

    • More expensive than some other training treats
    • Need to be stored in airtight container once opened
    • May cause stomach upset in dogs with sensitive digestion
    • Only come in a few protein options

    Summary

    Overall, Pupford Freeze Dried Dog Training Treats are a healthy and delicious option for rewarding good behavior and reinforcing training. Their low calorie count makes them ideal for dogs on a diet or weight management program. While pricier than some alternatives, their premium ingredients and freeze dried process results in a treat dogs go crazy for. As long as your dog tolerates them well, these nutritious USA-made treats are a smart choice for training. The resealable bag keeps them fresh too.

  2. Stewart Freeze Dried Dog Treats are single ingredient raw meat treats made in the USA. Available in beef liver, salmon, chicken liver and chicken breast, these minimally processed treats aim to provide a nutritious training reward.

    Pros

    • Single ingredient raw meat with no additives
    • Grain-free and gluten-free
    • Freeze drying process preserves nutrients
    • Convenient resealable tub storage
    • Range of protein options including novel proteins
    • Can break into small pieces for training
    • Very palatable and high-value for most dogs
    • Made in the USA with USA-raised ingredients

    Cons

    • Expensive compared to traditional dog treats
    • Freeze dried texture very hard for some dogs
    • High calorie for a training treat
    • Contain bone fragments in chicken varieties
    • Strong odor may be unpleasant for humans
    • Oiliness can cause storage tub to leak
    • Short shelf life after opening

    Summary

    Stewart’s freeze dried meat treats provide minimal processing and no additives for a nutritious one-ingredient training reward. The variety of single protein options, including novel protein like salmon, accommodate many dogs’ dietary needs. Their very palatable meaty flavor makes them high-value for training. However, the expense, high calorie content, and extremely hard texture may deter some buyers for regular training use. Care is also required to avoid bone fragments in the chicken recipes. Overall, Stewart’s freeze dried treats offer a shelf-stable raw diet-friendly training option, but require consideration of your individual dog’s needs and sensitivities. Checking with your veterinarian is recommended when introducing.

  3. Blue Buffalo BLUE Bits Training Treats are moist, meaty bits made with real chicken as the first ingredient. Formulated for adult dogs, these soft chewy treats aim to provide a tasty, nutritious training reward.

    Pros

    • Real deboned chicken is first ingredient
    • Contains no chicken or poultry by-product meals
    • No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
    • Grain-free with no corn, wheat or soy
    • Small, bite-sized pieces for training
    • Soft, tender texture easy to chew
    • Moist so can be broken into smaller bits
    • Highly palatable for most dogs

    Cons

    • Contains some controversial ingredients like carrageenan
    • Relatively high calorie for a training treat
    • Strong smell bothers some pet owners
    • Spoils quickly after opening package
    • Some varieties contain egg, dairy and other allergens
    • Made in Thailand, not USA

    Summary

    Blue Buffalo BLUE Bits are a moist, meaty training treat made with real chicken and wholesome ingredients. The soft texture and bite-sized pieces make them easy to chew and digest for adult dogs. Dogs love the palatable flavor. However, the high calorie content, occasional controversial ingredients, and short shelf life may deter some buyers for regular training use. Checking the recipe for individual dog allergies is also advised. Overall, BLUE Bits offer a quality moist training option with appealing meaty taste, but require considering your dog’s unique nutritional needs. Consulting your veterinarian before use is recommended.

  4. Blue Buffalo BLUE Bits Salmon Recipe Training Treats are moist, meaty bits made with real salmon as the first ingredient. Formulated for adult dogs, these soft chewy treats provide a tasty training reward.

    Pros

    • Real salmon is the first ingredient
    • Contains no poultry by-product meals
    • No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
    • Grain-free with no corn, wheat or soy
    • Bite-sized pieces perfect for training
    • Soft, tender texture easy to chew
    • Moist so can be broken into smaller bits
    • Novel protein good for dogs with allergies

    Cons

    • Contains some controversial ingredients like carrageenan
    • High in calories for a training treat
    • Strong fishy smell unappealing to some owners
    • Spoils quickly after opening package
    • Not compatible for dogs requiring red meat diets
    • Made in Thailand, not USA

    Summary

    Blue Buffalo BLUE Bits Salmon are a moist, meaty training treat made with real salmon as the first ingredient. The soft texture and bite-sized pieces make them easy to chew and digest for adult dogs. The novel salmon protein is good for dogs with chicken allergies. However, the high calorie content, occasional controversial ingredients, and short shelf life may deter some buyers for regular training use. The fishy odor may also be unappealing. Overall, BLUE Bits Salmon offer a quality moist training option with appealing taste for some dogs, but require considering your dog’s unique nutritional needs. Consulting your veterinarian before use is recommended.

  5. Merrick Power Bites Real Beef treats are soft, chewy training treats made with real deboned beef as the first ingredient. Grain-free with no gluten ingredients, this highly palatable treat aims to provide a nutritious meat-based training reward.

    Pros

    • Real deboned beef is first ingredient
    • Grain-free recipe with no gluten ingredients
    • No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
    • Easy to chew soft cube shape for training
    • Small bite-sized pieces perfect for small dogs
    • Suitable for dogs with chicken or poultry allergies
    • High value treat for most dogs
    • Made in the USA

    Cons

    • Relatively high in calories for a training treat
    • Strong beef smell unappealing to some owners
    • Oiliness can cause greasy residue on hands
    • Not compatible for dogs requiring poultry-free diets
    • Short shelf life after opening package
    • Contains small amounts of chickpeas and peas

    Summary

    Merrick Power Bites Real Beef treats offer a highly palatable soft and chewy meat-based training option. Made with real beef as the first ingredient, they are grain-free with no gluten ingredients. The bite-sized cubes are easy to chew for most dogs. However, the calorie content may be high for regular training use. The strong beef odor and oily residue may also deter some owners. They are not suitable for dogs requiring poultry-free diets either. Overall, Merrick Power Bites provide a tasty beef-based training treat, but require consideration of your dog’s nutritional needs and sensitivities. Checking with your veterinarian is advised before use.

  6. Zuke’s Mini Naturals Chicken Recipe training treats are bite-sized soft treats featuring real chicken as the first ingredient. This limited ingredient treat aims to provide a tasty, protein-packed training reward.

    Pros

    • Real chicken is the first ingredient
    • Contains nutrient-rich cherries and turmeric
    • Small, pea-sized cubes for easy training use
    • Soft, tender texture easy to chew
    • Limited ingredients good for sensitive dogs
    • Free of wheat, corn, soy, by-products
    • Baked not fried
    • Made in the USA

    Cons

    • Contains trace amounts of chickpeas and yeast
    • Moderately high in calories for small treat size
    • Strong chicken aroma unappealing to some humans
    • Not compatible for dogs requiring red meat diets
    • Oiliness creates residue on hands
    • Short shelf life after opening bag

    Summary

    Zuke’s Mini Naturals Chicken treats offer a tasty, protein-focused training treat made with real chicken. The bite-sized soft cubes are easy to reward with. However, the calorie content and potential for allergies make them less ideal for dogs with weight or food sensitivities. They also contain small amounts of chickpeas and yeast. The chicken scent may also deter some humans. They aren’t suitable for dogs requiring poultry-free diets either. Overall, they provide a quality limited ingredient training option, but require checking your dog’s unique nutritional needs. Consulting a veterinarian before use is recommended.

  7. Zuke’s Mini Naturals Peanut Butter dog treats are bite-sized soft training treats made with real peanut butter and whole ground oats. This limited ingredient treat aims to deliver nutritious whole food energy in a training-friendly size.

    Pros

    • Real peanut butter is first ingredient
    • Whole ground oats provide natural carbs
    • Small, pea sized cubes for training
    • Soft, tender texture easy to chew
    • Limited ingredients good for sensitive dogs
    • Free of corn, wheat, soy, by-products
    • Baked not fried
    • Made in the USA

    Cons

    • Contain 2% chickpeas and yeast
    • Moderate calorie count for small treat
    • Strong peanut butter aroma unappealing to some
    • Oiliness creates residue on hands
    • Not compatible for dogs with peanut allergies
    • Short shelf life after opening bag

    Summary

    Zuke’s Mini Naturals Peanut Butter treats offer a highly palatable peanut butter flavored soft training treat. Real peanut butter and oats provide natural energy and appeal. The small cubes are perfect for training most dogs. However, the calorie content, oily residue, and peanut ingredient make them less ideal for dogs with weight or peanut sensitivities. They also contain small amounts of chickpeas and yeast. Overall, they offer a tasty limited ingredient training option, but require checking your dog’s individual nutritional needs and allergies. Consulting your veterinarian before use is recommended.

  8. Zesty Paws Training Treats are functional treats for dogs and puppies formulated with fish oil for cognitive, joint, immune and skin health. Designed in bitesized pieces, these grain-free bacon-flavored treats aim to be a nutritious training reward.

    Pros

    • Added fish oil for omega fatty acids
    • Includes glucosamine, chondroitin and turmeric
    • Grain-free with functional superfoods
    • No corn, wheat, soy, by-products
    • Small, bite-sized pieces for training
    • Baked treats have crunch dogs enjoy
    • High value bacon flavor
    • Made in the USA

    Cons

    • Fairly high calorie for a small training treat
    • Contains egg and may cause allergies
    • Strong bacon scent unappealing to some humans
    • Some reports of crumbling
    • Relatively expensive
    • Short shelf life after opening bag

    Summary

    Zesty Paws functional treats provide joint supporting fish oil and other supplements in a tasty baked training treat. The convenient bite-size makes them easy to use for rewarding dogs. However, the high calorie content and potential for allergies make them less ideal for dogs with weight or food sensitivities. The strong aroma may also deter some humans. They are on the pricier side as well. Overall, they offer a supplement-enhanced training treat, but require checking your dog’s unique nutritional needs. Consulting a veterinarian before use is recommended.

  9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats Wild Bits are soft, moist training treats featuring real chicken as the first ingredient. Formulated to be high in protein with no grains, these bite-sized bits aim to provide a meaty, natural training reward.

    Pros

    • Real deboned chicken is first ingredient
    • Protein-rich formula with no grains
    • Contains omega fatty acids
    • No corn, wheat, soy, by-products or artificial preservatives
    • Small, pea-sized bits perfect for training
    • Soft, chewy texture easy to digest
    • Easily breaks into smaller pieces
    • Highly palatable flavor for most dogs

    Cons

    • Contains some controversial ingredients like carrageenan
    • Relatively high in calories for a small training treat
    • Strong poultry smell unappealing to some owners
    • Not compatible for dogs requiring red meat diets
    • Made in Thailand, not USA
    • Short shelf life after opening package

    Summary

    Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats offer a tasty, protein-packed meaty training option with real chicken as the first ingredient. The soft texture and bite-sized pieces make them easy to chew and digest for adult dogs. However, the calorie content may be high for regular training use. Some ingredients like carrageenan are also controversial. The poultry odor and source from Thailand may deter some buyers as well. They aren’t suitable for dogs requiring red meat diets either. Overall, they provide a quality moist training treat, but require considering your dog’s unique nutritional preferences. Consulting your veterinarian before use is recommended.

  10. Pet Botanics Training Rewards are soft, chewy bacon-flavored treats in miniature size for rewarding dogs during training. With 500 treats per pouch, these bite-sized bits aim to deliver tasty motivation in a small calorie training treat.

    Pros

    • 500 mini cube-shaped treats per pouch
    • Small, pea-sized for easy training use
    • Soft, highly palatable texture
    • Bacon scent and flavor dogs love
    • Only 1.5 calories per treat
    • Wheat-free and corn-free recipe
    • Contains flaxseed for omega fatty acids
    • Made in the USA

    Cons

    • Contains soy, egg, and dairy ingredients
    • High in carbohydrates and sugar
    • Strong bacon aroma unappealing to some humans
    • Oiliness creates mess and residue
    • Pouch design allows treats to stale quickly
    • Contains controversial carrageenan

    Summary

    Pet Botanics mini training treats offer a tasty bacon-flavored chewy option with 500 small cube bites per bag. The tiny size and palatable bacon taste make them rewarding. However, the high carb and sugar content may be unhealthy for some dogs. They also contain common allergens and controversial carrageenan. The greasy residue and mess may deter some pet owners as well. They can also stale quickly after opening. Overall, they provide a convenient mini training treat but require considering your dog’s diet sensitivities. Checking with your veterinarian first is advised.

Tips for Choosing Best Training Treats For Puppies

Look for Soft, Bite-Sized Treats

Puppies have tiny mouths and tender teeth, so you’ll want treats that are petite, soft and easy to chew. Look for treats about the size of a pea or smaller so they won’t overwhelm your puppy’s mouth or pose a choking hazard. Soft, chewy treats are ideal, as very hard treats can damage young teeth and delicate jaws. Things like tiny training biscuits, soft jerky pieces, mini cheese nibbles or small meaty tenders make good options. Avoid extra hard, crunchy treats at this stage.

Focus on Single Ingredient Treats

Treats with just one ingredient like chicken, liver or cheese tend to be gentle on puppy tummies. At 8-12 weeks old, their digestive systems are still developing and may have trouble processing treats with multiple ingredients, artificial additives or fillers. Steer clear of treats with artificial colors/flavors, preservatives, by-products or corn and wheat. Sticking to single ingredient treats minimizes tummy upsets during this sensitive time.

Look for Limited Calorie Treats

Puppies need more calories for growth, but too many treats can lead to obesity down the road. Search for low calorie training treats under 3 calories each, and break treats into smaller pieces to further limit calories per reward. Things like dehydrated chicken, freeze-dried liver, and low-fat string cheese fit the bill. Track treats as part of your puppy’s daily diet and adjust food accordingly.

Consider Allergies

Some puppies may have food allergies or sensitivities. If your breed is prone to allergies or your puppy seems itchy or has tummy troubles, try a hypoallergenic treat made with novel proteins like duck, venison or rabbit. Limiting treats to one protein source your puppy has not had before can help identify allergens. Consult your vet if allergy issues persist.

Select Soft Texture for Toy Breeds

Tiny toy breed puppies have even smaller mouths and jaws than larger pups. For them, look for super small soft treats that are easy to nibble and chew. Things like tiny jerky bits, mini training biscuits, small cheese cubes, or pea-sized meat treats are ideal. The softer the texture, the better for these little guys. Avoid hard treats that could cause pain or damage.

Get Veterinarian Approval

It’s always smart to check with your veterinarian before giving your puppy any new treat, especially if they have known health conditions. Your vet can advise you on appropriate treat textures, sizes and ingredients for your unique puppy. They can also recommend avoiding specific ingredients your puppy may be sensitive or allergic to. Getting the OK from your vet ensures treats won’t interfere with any medications or dietary needs.

Select Natural Ingredients

Check the ingredient list and aim for treats made with real food ingredients you recognize. Things like real chicken, beef liver, cheese and peanut butter are ideal. Avoid treats with artificial preservatives, colors, flavors and sweeteners. These additives provide no nutritional value and may cause adverse reactions in some puppies. Reading the label helps you determine if treats are made from quality natural ingredients.

Avoid Fatty Meats Like Bacon

It can be tempting to give puppies fat-laden treats like bacon, sausage or hot dogs for high-value rewards. However, these are unhealthy options that can quickly lead to obesity and other issues like pancreatitis. Lean meats like baked chicken, venison and fish, or plant-based proteins like carrot and sweet potato make much healthier training treats for puppies.

Check Sugar Content

Many mass-produced pet treats contain lots of hidden sugar, which is unhealthy for puppies. Excess sugar can spike blood sugar, promote hyperactivity and weight gain, and possibly increase risk for diabetes later on. Check carb content on labels and select low-glycemic treats made without added sugars. Things like freeze-dried meats, veggie chews and air-popped popcorn make good low sugar options.

Rotate Treats for Variety

Continuously giving any one treat can encourage pickiness in puppies. Rotate between 3-5 different healthy treat options to provide taste and texture variety. Things like tiny cheese cubes one day, chicken pieces the next, and carrot coins after that keeps their interest and ensures a balanced diet. Just introduce new treats gradually in case of tummy upset or allergies.

Use Their Kibble or Wet Food

Your puppy’s regular kibble or wet food makes an easy training treat right at your fingertips. Use your puppy’s daily diet and simply deduct a few pieces of kibble or spoonfuls of wet food from their meal to use for training. This ensures treats are healthy, balanced and part of their diet. Plus, it teaches them to work for their regular food!

Try Frozen Treats

Frozen treats provide longer lasting chewing enjoyment to puppies while soothing sore gums from teething. Things like frozen mashed banana, apple slices, yogurt tubes, or Kongs stuffed with wet food or peanut butter make refreshing frozen rewards. The cold feels good on their mouths and keeps treats interesting. Just monitor carefully to avoid choking or aggressive chewing.

Make Your Own Treats

With guidance from your vet, you can also make healthy homemade puppy training treats with things like baked chicken, liver or sweet potatoes. Homemade allows you to control the quality of ingredients. However, follow recipes carefully to ensure proper nutritional balance. Check with your vet before introducing any homemade food items.

Summary

Choosing the right training treats for your puppy requires paying close attention to texture, size, ingredients and nutritional value. Softer one-ingredient treats in tiny sizes are ideal for puppies. Checking with your veterinarian ensures treats align with your puppy’s unique dietary needs and health conditions. Rotate several healthy low calorie natural treats to keep puppies engaged and avoid pickiness. Homemade treats are also an option when recipes are properly vetted. With thoughtful treat selection, you can reward your pup while setting them up for healthy lifelong habits.

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