Training your dog is a rewarding and fun experience, but it also requires some tools to help you motivate and reinforce your pup’s behavior. One of the most essential tools is a good dog treat that your dog will love and work for. But how do you choose the best dog treat for training? Here are some factors to consider:

• Size: The treat should be small enough to fit in your hand or pocket, and easy for your dog to eat quickly. You don’t want to waste time waiting for your dog to finish chewing a large or crunchy treat, or fill up their stomach too fast. A pea-sized treat is ideal for most dogs, and you can cut larger treats into smaller pieces if needed.
• Texture: The treat should be soft and moist, not hard and dry. Soft treats are more appealing and palatable for your dog, and they also tend to be smellier, which is a plus for training. Smelly treats can capture your dog’s attention and entice them to perform better, especially in distracting environments.
• Quality: The treat should be made of natural and wholesome ingredients, preferably with a high protein content and low filler content. You want to avoid artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or other additives that might harm your dog’s health or cause allergies. You also want to avoid treats that are too high in fat, sugar, or salt, as they can lead to obesity or other health issues.
• Variety: The treat should be something that your dog doesn’t get every day, and something that they really enjoy. You can rotate different types of treats to keep your dog interested and excited, or use different treats for different situations. For example, you can use kibble or low-value treats for easy tasks or familiar settings, and use meat or cheese or high-value treats for harder tasks or challenging settings.

Based on these criteria, we have selected the top 5 dog treats for training that you can find online or in stores. Here they are:

1. Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Tender Beef Recipe Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats

These treats are made with real beef as the first ingredient, along with wholesome grains, fruits, and vegetables. They are soft and moist, making them easy to chew and swallow. They are also free of corn, wheat, soy, or artificial ingredients. They come in a resealable bag that keeps them fresh and convenient to use. They have a strong beefy smell that dogs love.

Pros:

• High-quality ingredients
• Soft and moist texture
• Strong beefy smell
• Resealable bag

Cons:

• Some dogs might be allergic to beef or other ingredients
• Some dogs might not like the taste or texture

Price: $7.19 for a 9-oz bag from Chewy.com

2. Pet Botanics Mini Training Reward Bacon Flavor Dog Treats

These treats are made with pork liver as the first ingredient, along with brown rice, oats, barley, and other natural ingredients. They are low in calories (only 1.5 calories per treat), but high in flavor and aroma. They are small and soft, making them ideal for training. They are also free of corn, soy, BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin. They come in a variety of flavors, such as bacon, chicken, salmon, duck, and beef.

Pros:

• Low-calorie
• High-flavor and aroma
• Small and soft
• Variety of flavors

Cons:

• Some dogs might be allergic to pork liver or other ingredients
• Some dogs might not like the taste or texture

Price: $5.39 for a 4-oz bag from Chewy.com

3. Cloud Star Chewy Tricky Trainers Liver Flavor Dog Treats

These treats are made with chicken liver as the first ingredient, along with barley flour, maple syrup, glycerin, tapioca starch, and other natural ingredients. They are soft and chewy, making them easy to break into smaller pieces if needed. They are also free of corn, soy, dairy, artificial colors or flavors. They have a strong liver smell that dogs find irresistible.

Pros:

• High-quality ingredients
• Soft and chewy texture
• Strong liver smell
• Easy to break into smaller pieces

Cons:

• Some dogs might be allergic to chicken liver or other ingredients
• Some dogs might not like the taste or texture

Price: $13.99 for a 14-oz pouch from Amazon

4. Zuke’s Mini Naturals Salmon Dog Treats

These treats are made with salmon as the first ingredient, along with rice flour, barley flour,
carrots, apples, and other natural ingredients.
They are low in calories (only 3 calories per treat), but high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. They are small and soft, making them perfect for training. They are also free of corn, wheat, soy, or artificial colors or flavors. They come in a variety of flavors, such as chicken, duck, peanut butter, pork, and rabbit.

Pros:

• Low-calorie
• High in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants
• Small and soft
• Variety of flavors

Cons:

• Some dogs might be allergic to salmon or other ingredients
• Some dogs might not like the taste or texture

Price: $7.98 for a 16-oz bag from Petco.com

5. Bixbi Trainers Grain Free Dog Treats Chicken

These treats are made with chicken as the first ingredient, along with chickpea flour, maple syrup, vegetable glycerin, and other natural ingredients. They are grain-free and gluten-free, making them suitable for dogs with allergies or sensitivities. They are soft and moist, making them easy to eat and digest. They are also free of corn, soy, dairy, artificial preservatives or flavors. They have a mild chicken smell that dogs enjoy.

Pros:

• Grain-free and gluten-free
• High-quality ingredients
• Soft and moist texture
• Mild chicken smell

Cons:

• Some dogs might be allergic to chicken or other ingredients
• Some dogs might not like the taste or texture

Price: $5.58 for a 6-oz bag from Vitacost

Conclusion

Choosing the best dog treat for training can make a big difference in your dog’s learning and performance. You want to find a treat that your dog loves, but also one that is healthy, convenient, and affordable. The treats we have listed above are some of the best options available, but you can also experiment with different types of treats to see what works best for your dog. Remember to always use treats in moderation, and balance them with other forms of rewards, such as praise, toys, or play. Happy training!