The Best Dog Treats in 2022

And there you have it – 15 delicious and nutritious treats that are sure to please even the pickiest of pooches. Still not sure which ones to get for your furry friend? Not to worry because our buying guide contains everything you need to know on dog treats, including how to pick the right ones for your pup, how to use them effectively in training, and more!

There are plenty of features that separate good-quality treats from their low-quality counterparts. Look out for some of the things below to help you to make the right choice.

• Quality Proteins

Dogs should have plenty of protein in their diet, and while healthy dog treats are supposed to form a supplementary part of their eating, it is still a good idea to make sure that they are protein-rich. Another thing to look out for is the source of the protein. Animal-based protein sources are always going to be best, so look out for real meat and organs. Puppy treats should be especially packed with protein, as growing dogs need more of this important macronutrient to properly develop. The same goes for senior dogs unless your veterinarian has advised you otherwise due to a pre-existing health condition.

Check out our guide on High Protein Dog Food.

• Nutritional Content

The healthiest dog treats offer many nutritional benefits, so it is important that you choose the right ones. We have already mentioned the benefits of high protein content, but carbohydrates and fats should be minimized. Extra vitamins and minerals can play a big role in making sure that your dog stays in good health. Look out for so-called superfoods or antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Whole grains are often good if your dog doesn’t suffer from any kind of sensitivities, while healthy fats such as fish oil can also provide supplementary nutritional content.

• Calorie Content

On average, pet treats should constitute no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Most of the time, the calorie content of each individual treat is listed on the packaging, so you can add this to your calculations of how much to give them. If you feel the need to reduce the amount of regular food that you are serving, you can adjust the ratios accordingly.

• Artificial Additives

Dog biscuits are a long-lasting food that needs preservatives to maintain their long shelf life. However, you don’t want your dog’s food to contain harmful ingredients. For example, some dog food contains natural preservatives rather than artificial ingredients such as BHA and BHT, which some studies have shown to be harmful for some dogs. You should also try to look for products that contain no artificial colors or flavors if your pup is of sensitive health.

• Allergies

If your dog suffers from any allergies, you don’t want to risk giving them any food that is going to cause flare-ups. Many owners are looking for food that is grain and gluten-free these days, but this is not necessary unless you know for a fact that your pup is sensitive or allergic to grains. If you are not sure whether your dog is allergic to certain ingredients or not, limited ingredient food is best as this will give you a better indication of what is causing the issue. Consult with your vet to get more advice regarding your dog’s nutrition.

• What the Treat is Intended for

The reasons why you want to give your dog treats should impact your decision-making process. For example, if you are looking for something to be used in obedience or behavioral training, small and flavorsome treats are highly recommended. If the treats are not tasty enough, your pup may not associate the good behavior with something pleasurable, so the positive reinforcement will not have the desired impact.

Alternatively, you could be looking for healthy dog treats made from organic ingredients, which are more beneficial to your dog's health. Perhaps your pet needs more of a particular vitamin or nutrient in their diet, and healthy dog treats can provide this. For instance, if your older pooch could use some help in the joint health department, it's better to focus on ingredients like omega fatty acids and glucosamine instead of taste alone.

Take a look at our article on Vegan Dog Treats.

Another reason why you may want to give your pup a dog treat is to improve their oral health. Some good dog treats are specially designed to reduce tartar and plaque build-up, while others lower the risk of gum disease. The act of chewing on crunchy treats is something that has been shown to be beneficial, so take your time to choose a treat that your dog can really get their teeth stuck into.

• Treat Size

The next point to consider is the size of the dog treat. A puppy will obviously need a smaller treat than a full-sized dog or a senior. Likewise, larger breeds of dog will also need something a little bigger than smaller pooches, otherwise, they could end up swallowing the treat without having the opportunity to enjoy it. Some manufacturers give you some guidance on what size dog their treats are suitable for, and this is information that is always worth taking into account.

• Treat Texture

The texture of the dog treat should also play a part in helping you to make your mind up. If you are buying puppy treats, you need to bear in mind that their teeth and jaws are not fully developed. As such, anything that is too hard and crunchy will not be beneficial. The best treats for puppies are generally softer, just as they are for senior dogs who are struggling with weak teeth. However, larger breeds with tougher jaws and stronger chewing habits tend to do better on crunchy treats, as do dogs in need of some oral health help.

Read here our article on Rawhide For Dogs.

• Production, Location, and Brand

Another point which is worth considering is where the product is manufactured. Bear in mind that treats made in the US are generally produced with stricter guidelines and a higher level of supervision compared to those in other countries. It is also a good idea to do some research into the brand and company background to see how trustworthy it is. Just as you look at what goes into your own food, the same should apply to the chow of your canine companion.

Looking to find out more on the benefits of dog treats? Read on!

• Invaluable Training Tool

For the purposes of training your dog, treats can prove to be a highly useful tool. The vast majority of dogs are very motivated by food, so you can use them to teach your pooch good behavior or to get them to perform some tricks. As mentioned earlier, the best motivational tools are those treats that your dog adores but doesn’t get very often. Regular treats can also work, but they may not provide quite the same level of incentive. Save the premium treats when your dog deserves a special reward and they are less likely to lose their appeal.

• Discourages Bad Behavior

Dogs have a natural instinct to chew, and if you don’t provide them with something to get their teeth stuck into, it is more than likely that your treasured possessions are going to bear the brunt of their attention! Give them some dog treats of the chewy or crunchy variety and they will bite on this instead, which is much better than seeing your new pair of shoes torn to shreds!

• Provides Mental Stimulation

As well as physical exercise, dogs also need mental stimulation. While dog toys are a good way of providing this, the right treats can also do the job as well. Chewy treats offer the highest level of engagement as your canine companion will take quite a while working their way through them.

• Wholesome Nutrition

As we talked about in the section above, the best dog treats provide wholesome nutrition to your furry friend. However, they need to feature good-quality ingredients. Check the packaging for what is included. The best dog treats use real meat as their main protein source rather than meat by-products and derivatives. Natural dog treats shouldn’t contain any artificial additives which can be harmful to your pup or problematic in their digestion. High-quality ingredients mean less chance of an upset stomach. Many low fat treats also contain additional nutrients and minerals which are beneficial in your dog’s all-round health.

• Improves Dental Health

Since dogs can’t look after their oral hygiene in the same way that humans can, it is especially important that you help them out in this department. The natural action of chewing can be beneficial in reducing tartar and plaque build-up, so it may be a good idea to opt for crunchy biscuits. Some treats are rich in minerals like calcium and phosphorous, which are particularly important in promoting strong teeth and good gums.

You may also like our guide on Dog Chews.

Dog treats can prove to be a highly beneficial tool when you are trying to train your dog and teach them good behavior or new tricks. If you have just brought a new dog to your home or you have never tried to train them before, check out this advice on how to get started.

• Choose the Right Treats

Some dog treats are bound to be better for training purposes than others. Generally, you want a small treat that is tasty and can be consumed quickly without filling your dog up. Dog training takes a lot of patience and many treats to reinforce the good behavior. You don’t want to risk your dog getting an upset stomach or causing them to gain weight because you have overfed them so don't look for high-calorie treats for training. If you have chosen some larger treats, you could divide them up into smaller pieces to offer them little by little rather than all at once.

The other point to bear in mind is that you should vary the treats that you provide. This way, your dog is less likely to get sick of eating the same thing over and over again. If you keep certain treats for special occasions, your pooch is more likely to follow your commands so that they can get their paws on them!

• Use Treats with a Small Puppy

The best time to use food treats is when you are first training your new puppy. They provide a clear incentive and help to reinforce good behavior from a young age. However, as we will talk more about it later, you shouldn’t rely on treats too much as your puppy can become over-reliant on them.

• Reward the Right Behavior

You need to be consistent with your treat-giving. Otherwise, you are going to end up rewarding your dog at the wrong times and causing confusion. Generally, you should only give the dog a treat after they have performed a trick, or they are calm and well-behaved. You don’t want to reward jumping around or other hyperactive activity. For example, if you are rewarding them for performing the ‘sit’ command, you should only give them a treat if they are still sitting down.

• Reward Small Progresses

Some people hold back on giving their dog a treat until they have performed an entire action, but it's better to reward your pupper's progress as they move toward their goal. It may take time to reinforce each step, and you can’t expect your dog to go too fast. Over time, your pooch should start to realize what the treat is connected to and will repeat the action. You can also use praise to reinforce good behavior.

• Don’t Use the Treat as a Bribe

You should be using the treat as a reward rather than a bribe. If you overdo it with treats, your dog may only perform a command if they know that a treat will be presented to them afterward. Ultimately, you should rely on treats less and less as your dog becomes better at training. You can encourage good behavior in other ways as well, which we will talk more about later.

• Remove Other Distractions

Sometimes, other distractions in the room stop your dog from learning as quickly as you would like them to. Try to find a place away from a window where there are fewer noises and things whizzing past. This way, your dog can concentrate on performing the action and is more likely to get a better understanding of why they are being rewarded with the treat.

• Avoid Overfeeding

If your dog is going through a particularly intense training session, it can be tempting to ‘over reward’ them by offering too many treats to reinforce good behavior. But if you do this, there is every chance that they are going to consume more calories than needed and start putting on weight. Just as obesity is unhealthy for humans, the same is true of dogs. The health complications can be extremely negative, so make sure that you monitor how many calories you offer to your canine companion on a regular basis.

Always bear in mind that dog treats should only make up around 10% of your pooch’s daily diet. Even though you may really want them to learn a certain trick, it is not worth compromising their health over. If you are training your dog a lot, you will need to reduce the portions which you are offering them at mealtimes accordingly.

• Phase Out Treats Over Time

Going back to what we talked about earlier, it is very common to become over-reliant on dog treats as a means of encouraging your dog to perform a certain action. You don’t want to reach the point when your dog will only perform a command with the promise of food at the end. Once your dog has started to master a new behavior, you can reduce the number of treats offered gradually over time. As a rule of thumb, when they respond to commands 90% of the time, this is when treats can be gradually phased out.

There are plenty of other rewards that you can start to phase-in. Petting and praise are the most common examples of positive reinforcement, and you can also go out for a walk with them at the end of the training session or play with their favorite toy. Varying the kind of rewards that you offer is a great way of ensuring that you don’t rely on food treats excessively.

Out of all different grain-free biscuits which we have discussed above, our number one pick has to be Blue Wilderness Denali Biscuits. Just like the other food from this brand, these treats are 100% grain-free, so will not upset your dog’s stomach if they have an allergy or aversion to grains. They're also made of finest of natural ingredients, in this case, an irresistible blend of wild salmon, halibut, and venison, which most dogs go wild for. The crunchy texture is not only satisfying but can also take care of plaque build-up and improve your pupper's dental health. Overall, one of the best dog treats at a very reasonable price!