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Training sessions with your dog are much better with the positive reinforcement method. It’s one of the best ways to encourage good behavior using puppy training treats. Besides, doesn’t it feel good to reward your pupper after training? Your hardworking dog deserves a treat for being a good boy, even more so after learning new tricks and commands.
How to Choose the Best Dog Training Treats
Picking dog treats can be as complex as choosing your dog’s food. It would help if you found the right dog training treats that will suit your pooch the best. And as responsible dog owners, you should know the factors to consider when picking the best treats for your dog.
Natural ingredients
Dog food or treats made with natural ingredients are always the best for your dog’s nutrition. These are usually the ones that include high-quality protein from real meat without added growth hormones or antibiotics. Of course, it should also not contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Do you want to know more about canine nutrition? Read this article about a working dog’s nutritional needs for optimal health and performance.
Low-calorie count
Obesity is a problem in most dogs, and overfeeding them with treats can contribute to it. If you want to prevent this, look for treats that are less in calories, ideally equal to or less than five calories per treat.
Small-size treats
Small treats are the best size to chew for dogs because they are easier to swallow. And small-sized treats won’t fill up your dog faster, instead will make them want it more, giving you a chance to increase your time for training. This also avoids choking hazards from big-sized treats.
Easy to carry
Dog training can be done anywhere, and it’s important that the dog treats you pick are portable and travel-friendly. It’s especially helpful if they are contained in a resealable pouch or bag, so you can take them anywhere.

Ingredients to Avoid When Picking Dog Treats
Now that you know what to look for when buying your dog’s treats, here is a list of things we avoided when picking out the best dog treats for training.
- Preservatives BHA BHT and Ethoxyquin
- Corn Syrup and Artificial Food Coloring
- Meat Meal
- Rendered Fat
- Melamine
- Nitrates/Nitrites
- Chocolate
- Avocados
- Dairy
- Sugar
- Caffeine
Always be on the lookout for these ingredients because they can be dangerous for your pooch, especially dogs with food allergies or sensitivities.
List of Best Dog Treats for Training to Reward Your Pooch
Acana Singles Grain-Free Dog Treats

Give your dog a happy appetite after training with ACANA Singles Grain-Free Dog Treats. With six limited ingredients, starting with Duck, Duck Liver, and Whole Pears, your pooch gets a delicious and protein-filled training treat. It only contains five calories per treat, and it’s grain-free!
These ACANA Singles Dog Treats are the perfect bite-size for any dog, suitable for small, medium, and large dogs. Join other fur parents in rewarding their dogs with this healthy snack. And if your fur baby doesn’t like the Duck & Pear flavor, there are a lot of flavors to choose from, like Beef & Pumpkin, Lamb & Apple, Pork & Squash, and more.
Pros:
- Made from quality animal ingredients
- Satisfies your dog’s natural, biological needs
- No gluten, potato, or tapioca
- Grain-free
- Great for training
Cons:
- Pricey
- Easily crushed



Full Moon Chicken Nuggets Healthy All-Natural Dog Treats


Your doggo will go crazy over this Full Moon Chicken Nuggets Healthy All-Natural Dog Treats. It’s the high-quality and all-natural treat your dog needs to get through its training. The #1 ingredient is chicken, raised in the USA!
These Full Moon Organic Training Treats are cooked carefully and made without fillers, by-products, glycerin, wheat, soy, corn, or artificial preservatives. It’s wholly formulated with only human-grade and healthy ingredients, all to satisfy your dog’s taste buds.
Pros:
- Human-grade and all-natural ingredients
- Great for training
- Suitable for all life stages
- Made in the USA
- No glycerin, grains, wheat, corn, or soy
Cons:
- Expensive
- The size may be too big for small dogs. Note: We recommend cutting it into small pieces first before feeding it to your small fur baby.

Cloud Star Chewy Tricky Trainers Training Treats for Dogs

Are you looking for a good dog training treat to reward your hardworking dog? Cloud Star Chewy Tricky Trainers Training Treats for Dogs is a must-have for every training session with your dog. The first ingredient is real chicken liver, a protein-rich flavor your furry friend will love.
These low-calorie treats are the professional’s choice, making them one of the best training treats to give your pooch. It has a soft, chewy texture and is very friendly to your dog’s gums and teeth. And the best part about these healthy training treats is it’s filled with wholesome ingredients and made without wheat, corn, dairy, or soy.
Pros:
- Official training treat of the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program
- Made in the USA
- Only three calories per treat
- Soft and chewy dog treats
- No corn, wheat, artificial colors, or flavors
Cons:
- Has a smell your dog may not like
- Not recommended for dogs with a poultry allergy



Wag Freeze-Dried Raw Single Ingredient Dog Treats

Make training dogs easier and more fulfilling with positive reinforcement using these Wag Freeze-Dried Raw Single Ingredient Dog Treats. It’s made from 100% real chicken breast to meet your dog’s protein needs.
Most importantly, it doesn’t contain grain, corn, wheat, soy, potato, egg, artificial flavors, or preservatives. It’s freeze-dried and packed in a resealable bag to make sure it’s still fresh and tasty as it arrives in your dog’s food bowl. Even picky eaters love a bite of this dog training treat.
Pros:
- Made with 100% real chicken breast
- Freeze-dried to maintain its freshness and flavor
- No added grain, corn, wheat, soy, potato, or egg
- Made in the USA
- Comes in a resealable bag
- Amazon Brand
Cons:
- Greasy
- Big sizes may not be suitable for small dogs


Wag Chicken Flavor Training Treats for Dogs

Train dogs effectively with these Wag Chicken Flavor Training Treats for Dogs. These treats are made in the USA using real American chicken as the first ingredient. Your pooch will be perfectly safe with these soft and chewy treats as they contain no corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, or flavors. Use it for training or encouraging positive behaviors to motivate your beloved fur baby.
Pros:
- Real American chicken is the #1 ingredient
- Made in the USA
- Chicken-flavored
- Chewy and soft treats
- Only three calories in each treat
- No added corn, soy, or wheat
- Amazon Brand
Cons:
- Short expiration date
- The size may be too big for small pups


Try to use a Carrot as a Treat
One of the best cheap treats is a carrot cut into small pieces for training or even a whole carrot to chew. Some dogs love them, and there are very few calories.


Final Thoughts
Be careful not to increase calorie uptake by giving too many treats – ensure treats make up less than 10% of your dogs diet.
Dog training requires dedication and hard work for both the fur parent and the fur baby. The best thing about training your pooch is to use it as a bonding moment and strengthen your relationship. And you can improve this further by rewarding your dog with their favorite training treats!
Carylle Gonzales
Growing up, I have always been fond of dogs. For me, nothing can replace the sheer joy of having a loyal furry companion around and being able to experience the unchanging love, affection, and compassion dogs have for the people around them.
Now, writing about dogs is my favorite part of the day as I learn more about what makes each dog unique and special. Hopefully, these articles can teach you to celebrate all the good things that come with being a good dog owner for you and your beloved dog.