Training a puppy takes patience, consistency and — most importantly — treats. Positive reinforcement is the fastest, most effective way to help your puppy learn cues like “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” and the right treats can make all the difference.
Here’s what a real trainer recommends when choosing the best training treats for your growing pup.
How to Choose the Best Training Treats for Your Puppy
The ideal training treats check all the right boxes:
- Good ingredients
- Small size
- Soft texture
And the secret to keeping your puppy motivated? A trail mix of treats — a blend of low-, medium- and high-value rewards.
Low-value treats can be something simple like pieces of kibble, while high-value treats are the irresistible “jackpot” snacks your pup can’t ignore. Mixing them in one pouch keeps the smell enticing and makes every grab exciting.
Try this treat pouch from Amazon
It’s important to mix those treats together in one bag (if you don’t want your pocket to smell like puppy snacks), but you should also have a few pieces of your puppy’s favorite treats — the ones she would do absolutely anything for — in a separate compartment.
In a different compartment, keep the ultimate kryptonite for the really tricky situations in training, or for when the puppy is quite tired, but you want … to get that one last successful behavior out of them.
Check out this multi-pocket treat bag from Amazon
You can follow this setup:
- Main pocket: a mix of kibble + regular treats
- Side pocket: a few extra-special favorites
- Emergency pocket: “kryptonite” treats for tough training moments or a tired puppy
What Ingredients Should Puppy Training Treats Have?
Since you’ll be using lots of treats during training sessions, choosing healthy options is key.
Look for:
- Natural ingredients
- Low sodium
- Minimal additives
- Freeze-dried or human-grade options
- Low-calorie formulas
- A pleasantly pungent smell (yes — the stinkier, the better!)
Strong-smelling treats help your puppy stay focused and eager to work.
Best Size & Texture for Training Treats
For quick, effective rewards:
- Treats should be tiny, about the size of a fingernail
- Soft enough to chew quickly
- Dry enough to stay clean inside a treat pouch
Avoid wet treats when mixing different types together — they’ll crumble, smear and make a mess.
What to Avoid in Puppy Training Treats
Skip anything:
- Large
- Crunchy
- Hard
- Too chewy
- Too dry
These types of treats take too long to eat and interrupt the flow of training. If your pup fills up too fast, training becomes less effective.
Best Puppy Training Treats (Low-, Medium- & High-Value)
Low-Value Treats
• Orijen Puppy Dog Food
Premium kibble like Orijen works perfectly as a base “everyday” reward. Great for mixing into your treat pouch.
Medium-Value Treats
• Buddy Biscuits Training Bites
Soft, small and affordable — these chewy treats are excellent for frequent rewards. Puppies enjoy every flavor.
• Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Soft Training Treats
Similar to Buddy Biscuits but even softer. Enriched with DHA for cognitive development and loved by both pups and parents.
• Pet Botanics Training Rewards
A fan favorite on Amazon with over 14K five-star reviews. Packed with vitamins, low-calorie and perfect for rapid-fire training sessions.
High-Value Treats
• Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Single-Ingredient Treats
These single-ingredient freeze-dried snacks are irresistible to puppies. Use them sparingly — they’re your “wow” treat for tough behaviors or breakthrough moments.
With the right mix of treats, your puppy will stay motivated, focused and excited to learn — and mastering new cues will feel easy for both of you.
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