Pinning down the best dog treats for your beloved pooch is dependent on a number of criteria. You’ll want to treat them to something they love eating, but keeping them a healthy and not filling them with too much sugar is the top priority. Some edible treats come recommended by vets, some suit dogs on special diets, while the best dental chews and treats are designed specifically to improve dogs’ oral hygiene.
Many owners use treats as a training tool to reward their dog for good behaviour. Although fresh meaty treats might be the natural option, raw chicken is not the most practical for taking out on walks, so it’s worth working out what sort of treats fit both your lifestyle and keep your dog happy and healthy.
There are a wide range of dog treats available, including puppy treats for training, calming dog treats, natural dog treats – and even Christmas dog treats. But don’t forget that treats are just that – and don’t equate to a balanced meal. A general rule is to ensure the treats do not add up to more than 10% of the dog’s total calorie intake.
Best dog treats for training and reward
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Soopa Pets Healthy Training Bites
Size: 50g
Flavours: Banana/peanut butter, coconut/chia seed, carrot/pumpkin, banana/pumpkin, watermelon/apple, strawberry dog-quiri, kale and apple, paw-na colada or cranberry/sweet potato
RRP: £3.20
These 100% natural, plant-based bites are grain-free, hypoallergenic and made from natural human-grade ingredients. The small bite-size pieces are excellent to use for training, and they come in a handy pillow pouch which fits into your pocket, ideal for on the go.
The ingredients are specifically chosen as “superfoods” to be beneficial for your dog’s health, such as chia seeds, with omega-3 to promote a healthy coat, or coconut, which is rich in fibre for good digestion.
Raw dog treats containing no additives, colourings, preservatives, sugar or grain. These 100% sprats treat have no other ingredients, so you know exactly what you’re feeding so you can avoid problems and reactions associated with unhealthy treats. The sprats are expertly dried using low temperatures to lock in vitamins, minerals and goodness along with enhancing aroma and giving a great taste that your pet will love.
The manufacturers are so confident that your dog will love this product, they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
A tasty, healthy range of dog treats with additional health benefits. There are several different products in the range, catering for a variety of palates and preferences. For instance, the Calming treats are specifically formulated to support the dog that needs to relax and stay calm, with a duck recipe including passionflower and chamomile for their calming qualities. The Mobility recipe contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate for joint support.
The Reward+ treats are grain-free and naturally hypoallergenic.
Formulated from cereals, vegetable origin derivatives, meat and animal derivatives and minerals, these treats are designed to provide the right amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals for your dog. They are rich in protein content for lean muscle development, and low in fat. Made from 100% natural ingredients, with no added sugar.
These treats have been developed with vets, and include active ingredients to help keep your dog’s oral hygiene in check with just the right amount of chew to help clean the gums.
Just one ingredient in this all-natural treat – pork. No grain, gluten, derivatives, additives or preservatives. Pig ears cut into strips mean dogs of all sizes can get stuck into chewing as a tasty treat – when a full ear might be too much. They work like dental chews for dogs, helping reduce plaque and tartar build-up. A great high-protein, natural alternative to rawhide.
Pigs ears are a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, giving the added benefit of maintaining the cartilage in your dog’s joints.
These treats – which come either as crunchy or soft, semi-moist snacks – appeal to those owners who seek out wild-origin meats, herbs and forest fruits to treat their dogs. They are marketed with tantalising flavours sounding worthy of a Michelin restaurant, such as wild boar with rosehips or quail enriched with oregano. They are designed with various health benefits, for example immunity, fast recovery, improved mood and healthy metabolism.
Dog owners use treats for different reasons, so we have tried to cater for all. Many people offer their dog treats as positive reinforcement training, so the edible rewards need to be bite-size. If you are administering several treats in a training session, you don’t want a large bone that the dog then needs to spend hours chomping and not learning his new skills. A better option is little treats that can be easily gobbled up, leaving the dog waiting for more.
We humans know that there can be too much of a good thing as far as treats go. Sugary and high-fat treats are not recommended as they will mess with your dog’s metabolism, be bad for his digestion and teeth and can affect behaviour. So we have chosen treats that use natural ingredients, while tasting great (because otherwise, it’s not a treat at all!).
Finally, we’ve selected a few treats that have other benefits besides, including joint support, dental hygiene, digestion, shiny coats or general overall health.
Why give dogs treats?
Many dogs are highly food motivated and respond well to positive reinforcement training, so a treat can be given to let your dog know that his behaviour is good or he has completed a command such as “sit” or “come”. This helps them to link the command with receiving a treat and should be only too happy to oblige.
Treats can also help strengthen the bond between the dog and handler, as they will be less distracted by all the other excitements in the big wide world and more focused on you.
Your dog should still predominantly eat his normal dog food, because treats can be high in calories and fat and should only be used sparingly. Your dog does not need to snack all day long. Most commercial packets will stipulate the recommended daily allowance.
What is the healthiest treat for dogs?
Natural foods are best, whether from a packet or your own kitchen. While it’s tempting to give your dog scraps of leftovers from the dinner table, food intended for human consumption is often laden with poisonous ingredients for dogs, such as onions and garlic.
Many trainers recommend plain meat, such as boiled chicken without any seasoning or oils. But however much your dog may love this, it’s not always practical or hygienic to carry around little titbits of meat, hence dried versions are appealing.
When buying commercial treats, make sure the ingredients are natural, with no fillers or additives, and then experiment to see what your dog enjoys – if you’re using them as a motivator they’ve got to be tasty! As a dog in training may be fed plenty of treats a day, a low-fat delicious morsel is ideal so that the dog is not over-eating, and keep them small in size.
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
