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What Makes a Good Training Treat
A training treat needs to be three things: small, soft, and irresistible. Small because you'll go through dozens per session and don't want to overfeed. Soft because your dog needs to chew and swallow fast so they can refocus on you. Irresistible because you're competing with every distraction in the environment.
During my five years as a vet tech at a mixed-practice clinic in Portland, I worked alongside certified trainers daily. The number one mistake owners made with training treats was size. They'd bring full-size biscuits to a training class. Their dog would spend 30 seconds chewing each reward, breaking focus every single time. A training treat should be pea-sized. That's it.
I've tested over 600 dog products since 2019 (yes, I keep a spreadsheet). Here are the training treats that actually work.
My Top 5 Picks
1. Zuke's Mini Naturals (Best Overall)
Zuke's Mini Naturals are the training treat that professional trainers reach for. They're tiny (about the size of a blueberry), soft enough to eat instantly, and made with real chicken as the first ingredient. No wheat, corn, or soy. Only 3 calories per treat.
Why they won: I've used Zuke's with both of my dogs since 2020. My 2-year-old Australian shepherd, Maple, is incredibly food-motivated, and Zuke's keeps her locked in during agility drills. The soft texture means zero chewing delay. The resealable bag fits in a jacket pocket. At 3 calories each, I can use 40-50 per session without worrying about weight gain.
Best for: All training scenarios. The default recommendation.
2. Wellness Soft Puppy Bites (Best for Puppies)
These are specifically formulated for puppy teeth and stomachs. They're softer than adult treats, smaller, and use DHA for brain development. Lamb and salmon recipe.
Why I picked them: Puppy training requires higher frequency rewards. You need tiny, soft treats that a 10-week-old can handle. When I help socialize puppies at the Multnomah County Animal Shelter, these are what I bring. They break apart easily for even smaller pieces.
Best for: Puppies under 1 year, especially during socialization windows.
3. Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Minnows (Best High-Value Treat)
When you need to compete with a squirrel or recall your dog from across a park, you need a high-value treat. Freeze-dried minnows are single-ingredient, protein-rich, and smell strongly enough to cut through any distraction.
Why I picked them: High-value treats are your emergency currency. They're what you pull out when the regular stuff won't cut it. My 9-year-old lab/pit mix, Benny, will abandon chasing a rabbit for a minnow. The honest downside is they smell like fish. Your pockets will smell like fish. But they work when nothing else does.
Best for: Recall training, high-distraction environments, and dogs who are picky about treats.
4. Stewart Pro-Treat Freeze-Dried Liver (Best Freeze-Dried)
Single-ingredient freeze-dried beef liver. You can break these into any size you need. They're lightweight, don't leave grease in your pockets, and have an intense smell that dogs go crazy for.
Why I picked them: Liver is the gold standard of high-value training treats among professional trainers. Stewart's version is easy to break into pea-sized pieces. One bag lasts weeks because you use so little per session. Store them in an airtight container and they'll last for months.
Best for: Advanced training, counter-conditioning, and reactive dog work.
5. Fruitables Skinny Minis (Best Low-Calorie)
At under 3 calories per treat, Fruitables Skinny Minis are designed for dogs on a diet who still need positive reinforcement. They use pumpkin and berry as the base, which keeps the calorie count low without sacrificing flavor.
Why I picked them: Benny is on a weight management plan (his vet wants him at 65 pounds, and we're working on it). Regular training treats add up fast when you're doing daily sessions. The Skinny Minis let me train without sabotaging his diet. They're also grain-free, which matters for dogs with sensitivities.
Best for: Overweight dogs, dogs on restricted diets, and high-frequency training.
Training Treat Tips
Want the full training setup? Our Dog Training Toolkit pairs treats with clickers, treat pouches, and training guides.
Looking for breed-specific training treat picks? See our best training treats for Golden Retrievers.
- Use a treat pouch. Fumbling in your pocket breaks the timing of your reward. A treat pouch on your hip gives you instant access.
- Vary your rewards. Rotate between 2-3 types of treats to prevent boredom. Use higher-value treats for harder behaviors.
- Size matters. Cut treats to pea-size or smaller. Your dog doesn't care about portion size. They care about frequency of reward.
- Account for treat calories. Reduce regular meal portions on heavy training days. A common rule is that treats should make up no more than 10% of daily calories.
- Soft beats crunchy. Crunchy treats create chewing time that breaks focus. Soft treats get eaten in one second flat.
Try our free tool: Food Calculator -- adjust your dog's meal portions based on training treat intake.
DIY High-Value Training Treats
You don't always need to buy commercial treats. Here are my go-to homemade options:
- Boiled chicken breast -- Cut into tiny cubes. The classic high-value treat that almost every dog loves.
- String cheese -- Tear into small pieces. High motivation, easy to carry.
- Blueberries -- Low calorie, no prep required. Not all dogs love them, but the ones who do will work hard for them.
- Cooked sweet potato -- Cut into small cubes. Nutrient-dense and most dogs love the flavor.
The Bottom Line
Zuke's Mini Naturals are the training treats I recommend to everyone. They're the right size, the right texture, and the right price. For high-value situations, add freeze-dried liver or minnows to your rotation. If your dog is watching their weight, switch to Fruitables Skinny Minis for daily sessions.
Related Reading
- Leash Training Tips -- Put those treats to work on walks
- How to Socialize a Puppy -- Treats are your most powerful socialization tool
- Stop Your Dog From Jumping -- Practical training with treat-based rewards