10 Best Puppy Training Treats of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks
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Training treats can be great rewards for positive reinforcement training, but many brands claim to be the best.
While some treats may be tasty to your dog, they could be filled with low-quality ingredients. It’s important to check each product carefully before you decide.
To help you out, we did the hard work of researching and finding the best training treats available on the market. Here are the product reviews, along with a buyer’s guide so you know what factors to consider.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Old Mother Hubbard Dog Treats |
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Best Value
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Wellness Grain-Free Puppy Treats |
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Premium Choice
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Blue Buffalo Soft-Moist Dog Treats |
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Pet Botanics Training Treats |
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Check Price | |
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats |
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The 10 Best Puppy Training Treats
1. Old Mother Hubbard Dog Treats — Best Overall
If you’re looking for the best puppy training treats, Old Mother Hubbard Dog Treats are healthy and tasty additions to your pup’s diet. Old Mother Hubbard treats are bite-sized biscuits that are great for training your new puppy. This brand is made with all-natural ingredients fortified with vitamins and minerals essential for your dog. Old Mother Hubbard treats have little to no smell, so you won’t have stinky hands after training sessions.
The only issue is that this brand is made with wheat, so it’s not suitable for dogs with wheat allergies. Otherwise, we find Old Mother Hubbard Dog Treats to be the best overall puppy training treats.
- Small size perfect for training
- All-natural ingredients
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals
- Little to no smell
- Contains wheat
2. Wellness Grain-Free Puppy Treats — Best Value
Wellness Grain-Free Puppy Treats are high-quality training treats with a blend of real lamb and salmon, as well as other fresh fruits and vegetables. These treats are soft and easy to chew, so you don’t have to worry about your new puppy struggling to eat them. The strong flavor is popular with most dogs, and it doesn’t have a strong smell.
These biscuits don’t have any fillers like corn, wheat, or soy, but it does contain a preservative, and that’s why it’s not in the number-one spot. However, Wellness Puppy Training treats have a lot of health benefits that make them very popular. If you’re looking for value, these are the best puppy training treats for the money.
- Made with real lamb and salmon
- Easy-to-chew soft shape
- Strong flavor without smell
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Contains a preservative
3. Blue Buffalo Soft-Moist Dog Treats — Premium Choice
If you’re looking for premium puppy training dog treats, Blue Buffalo Soft-Moist Dog Treats are made with high-quality, all-natural ingredients. These soft and moist treats have vitamins and minerals, with no artificial colors or flavors that could be bad for your puppy’s health. This brand also comes in convenient little bites for quick and easy training treats.
The flavor of Blue Buffalo treats may be a bit rich for some puppies, so they may not be suitable for your puppy. Another issue is that this brand does have a strong smell, and it will transfer onto your fingers. Blue Buffalo is also on the expensive side of puppy treats, which kept it out of our top spots. If you don’t mind the smell and are looking for premium brand treats, Blue Buffalo Dog Treats are a great option.
- Made with high-quality ingredients
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Convenient training size treats
- Rich flavor can upset stomach
- Strong smell
- On the expensive side
4. Pet Botanics 78304 Training Treats
Pet Botanics 78304 Training Treats are made from real meat and vitamins, with no artificial ingredients or fillers, making for quick and convenient treats for your puppy. But the smell is strong and slightly unpleasant.
The bite-sized treats are great for training and are easy to chew for smaller dogs and puppies. However, some picky dogs don’t like this brand, so we recommend trying other brands if your puppy is fussy. Also, Pet Botanics contains botanical ingredients that can lead to indigestion, so they’re not suitable for dogs or puppies with sensitive stomachs.
- Made with real meat and supplements
- Small training-size treats
- Easy to chew for smaller puppies
- Strong, unpleasant smell
- Picky dogs may refuse them
- Botanical ingredients may cause indigestion
5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats are soft-style training treats for puppies and dogs with no ingredients like preservatives or byproducts. Blue Buffalo uses a recipe free of corn, soy, and wheat, so they’ll work for dogs with food allergies. These training treats have a soft texture that is easy for small dogs and puppies to chew.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Treats are on the expensive side compared to other treats, so they may not be the best value for you. These treats also have a certain flavor that may not be suitable for picky eaters, so don’t be surprised if your puppy doesn’t love them. The main issue is that Blue Buffalo Wilderness contains liquid smoke, a flavoring with controversial data over its safety. We recommend trying other treats first.
- No by-products or preservatives
- Free of corn, soy, and wheat
- Soft texture for easier eating
- Expensive compared to other treats
- Not suitable for picky eaters
- Contains liquid smoke
6. Hill’s 1879 Dog Training Treats
Hill’s 1879 Dog Training Treats are small training treats made with real chicken, which is the first ingredient. These treats are low-calorie treats for longer training sessions, and they’re bite-sized for convenience.
Unfortunately, Hill’s Dog Training Treats are harder to chew than other brand treats, so they’re not the best option for small dogs and puppies. Hill’s also contains wheat products, as well as other questionable ingredients like smoke flavor. Lastly, the portion is really small compared to other brands, so this option will become expensive for bigger puppies.
- Chicken is first ingredient
- Low-calorie treat
- Bite-sized for training
- Harder to chew than other brands
- Contains wheat and smoke flavor
- Small portion for the price
7. Zuke’s Puppy Naturals Dog Treats
Zuke’s Puppy Naturals Dog Treats are high-protein training treats made with salmon and potatoes. This brand uses all-natural ingredients, with no mysterious ingredients, fillers, or preservatives. Zuke’s Puppy Treats also contain vitamins A, C, and E for extra wellness support for your puppy.
Some dogs refuse to eat these treats, while the weird smell may also deter you away from buying them again. Also, Zuke’s Puppy Naturals have a hard texture, which can be difficult for your puppy to chew.
- High-protein treat
- No fillers or preservatives
- Made with vitamins A, C, and E
- Weird smell
- Harder texture than other brands
- Picky dogs may refuse them
8. Lil’ Bitz Smoked Beef Training Treats
Lil’ Bitz Smoked Beef Training Treats are little chewy training treats made with all-natural ingredients. While the quality is high and this brand is less expensive compared to most other treats, most dogs simply don’t like the flavor of these. Even dogs that do eat them don’t seem to be excited over them.
Lil’ Bitz Beef Treats also have a strong odor to them, and it will stay on your skin even after washing your hands. The texture of Lil’ Bitz is sticky and may be difficult for your puppy to chew.
- Beef is first ingredient
- Less expensive than some other treats
- All-natural ingredients
- Most dogs don’t like the flavor
- Strong odor that stays on hands
- Very sticky texture
9. Nulo Puppy Trainers Dog Treats
Nulo Puppy Trainers Dog Treats are small training treats made with all-natural salmon and minerals. They’re lower in calories compared to many other training treat brands, so they won’t cause excess weight gain in your puppy. Nulo Trainers Dog Treats are small in size, so they’re safe for puppies and small dogs.
The main issue with Nulo is that these treats have a bad smell that’s pretty strong. This brand is lacking in flavor, and some dogs do not like the taste of these at all. The texture is oddly dry and flaky, as if they’re old or stale. Nulo Puppy Treats are also expensive without the quality of premium brands.
- Lower in calories than many other brands
- Small bites for puppies and small dogs
- Strong smell
- Some dogs may not like the taste
- Dry and flaky texture
- On the expensive side
10. Buddy Biscuits Soft & Chewy Treats
Buddy Biscuits Soft & Chewy Treats are small chicken-flavored treats made with a soft texture that is safe for puppies and small dogs to chew and eat. This brand is a low-calorie brand of treat, so there’s no concern about weight gain from serving these while you train your pup.
However, there are a few concerns with Buddy Biscuits Training Treats that outweigh the benefits. One problem is that these treats contain preservatives, which are controversial food additives with unknown health effects. Another issue is that they’re made with oats and flour, which are not suitable for puppies with allergies. Finally, this brand has a strange taste and a very strong odor, which some dogs will turn down.
For better taste and high-quality ingredients, we recommend trying other puppy training treats first.
- Soft texture safe for puppies
- Low-calorie treats
- Made with oats and flour
- Contain preservatives
- Some dogs refused to eat
- Stronger odor than most brands
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Puppy Training Treats
There are important things to factor into your decision when buying the best puppy training treats. Your dog’s size, health, activity level, and diet are all things to take into consideration. Cost, flavor, and smell are other influencing factors.
- Need help choosing the right training gear? Best Dog Leashes for Training
What Makes a Good Training Treat?
A good training treat for puppies will have a good source of protein, a savory flavor your puppy will love, and high-quality ingredients. Avoid buying treats with filler ingredients, such as corn and soy. A good training treat will also be small and low in calories for longer training sessions, so look for treats that are less than five calories each.
- Related Read: Best Dog Treat Pouches for Training and Walks
Types of Training Treats
There are many types of training treats, with soft-bite, biscuit, and freeze-dried being the most popular types. Each has its own benefits, but it’s important to find one that fits your dog’s diet. Consider each type and brand, and always look out for any negative reactions.
- Additional Gear: Best Dog Clickers for Training
Conclusion
After careful research and reviews, we found Old Mother Hubbard Dog Treats to be the best overall puppy training treat. They’re all-natural and full of flavor, without the smell that most treats come with. For best value, Wellness Grain-Free Puppy Treats are high-quality without the premium price tag. They’re easy and soft for your puppy to chew too.
Hopefully, we have made shopping for puppy training treats an easier task for you. We looked for the best products on the market and gave our honest reviews of each. When in doubt, talk to your veterinarian about what will work best for your dog.
See also:
- American Bulldog Staffy (American Bulldog & Staffordshire Terrier Mix)
- Aussie-Flat (Australian Shepherd & Flat-Coated Retriever Mix)
Featured image credit: Nulo Puppy & Adult Freestyle Trainers Dog Treats, Amazon
