Top 15 Popular Dog Treats: Best Picks for Every Dog
Not all dog treats are created equal. The pet treat aisle contains everything from high-quality single-ingredient chews to sugar-laden biscuits with ingredient lists that read like a chemistry textbook. The most popular treats earn their reputation through a combination of ingredient quality, palatability across a wide range of dogs, practical size for training, and value at scale. This guide covers the 15 treats consistently recommended by trainers, veterinarians, and experienced dog owners, organized by type so you can find the right category for your dog’s needs and your routine.
For training, use small soft treats such as Zuke’s Mini Naturals or Wellness Soft WellBites. For dental health, Greenies are the most vet-endorsed chew. For a high-value reward that works on even picky dogs, freeze-dried liver or salmon is the gold standard. For everyday snacking without overloading calories, single-ingredient dehydrated treats like dried sweet potato or beef jerky strips are the cleanest option. Treats should never exceed 10 percent of your dog’s daily caloric intake regardless of which type you choose.
At a Glance
How We Evaluated These Treats
The 15 treats on this list were selected based on four criteria applied consistently across every category:
- Ingredient quality: The first two or three ingredients should be recognizable whole foods. Artificial colors, sweeteners (especially xylitol), and synthetic preservatives like BHA and BHT are disqualifying.
- Palatability across dog types: A treat only works if the dog wants it. Treats in this list are broadly appealing to dogs across different sizes, ages, and food motivation levels.
- Practical use case fit: Training treats must be small and fast to eat. Dental chews must be sized for the dog’s bite strength. Long-lasting chews must not splinter. Each treat is evaluated within its intended use case.
- Value: Some premium freeze-dried options cost more per treat, but the cost per training session matters more than cost per bag. A treat you use 20 at a time must be reasonably priced to use consistently.
Top Picks by Category
Zuke’s Mini Naturals
The most widely recommended soft training treat among professional trainers and behaviorists. Pea-sized at roughly 3 calories each. Soft enough for puppies and senior dogs. Available in chicken, duck, rabbit, salmon, and peanut butter flavors. First ingredient is real meat or fish. No corn, wheat, or artificial ingredients. At 3 calories per treat, you can use 15 to 20 in a single training session without exceeding the 10 percent daily calorie budget for most medium-sized dogs.
Greenies Original Dental Treats
The most clinically studied dental chew brand on the market. Carries the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal, which requires demonstrated reduction of plaque or tartar in controlled trials. The chewy texture requires the dog to work through the treat, creating mechanical abrasion across the tooth surface. Sized by dog weight from Teenie through Large. Most effective when given daily. Do not substitute for professional dental cleanings but meaningfully reduce tartar buildup between cleanings.
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Liver
Single ingredient: beef liver. Nothing else. The freeze-drying process preserves the natural aroma and protein profile that makes liver irresistible to most dogs, including dogs that are normally low-motivation or picky eaters. Breaks apart easily for smaller pieces. Works effectively in high-distraction training situations where standard soft treats lose their appeal. Shelf-stable without refrigeration. Slightly crumbly texture, so a treat pouch with a clasp is recommended to prevent pocket mess.
Stewart Pro-Treat Freeze-Dried Liver
Available in beef liver, chicken liver, and salmon varieties. Single ingredient in each flavor, making it ideal for dogs on elimination diets or with known protein allergies. The freeze-dried format has no fillers, binders, or preservatives, so there are no hidden ingredient surprises. Widely used by veterinary nutritionists as a safe treat option during dietary trials when novel or limited protein diets are being evaluated. Easy to break into any size needed for training.
Himalayan Yak Chew
Made from yak and cow milk hardened through a traditional Himalayan process. One of the longest-lasting natural chews available: a medium-sized chew can occupy an aggressive chewer for 30 minutes to several hours. Very low odor compared to bully sticks. No artificial additives. When the chew gets down to a small nub, microwaving it for 30 to 45 seconds causes it to puff into a crunchy cheese snack. Not suitable for dogs with dairy allergies. Monitor closely as with any hard chew to prevent choking on the nub.
Milk-Bone Original Biscuits
The most recognized biscuit treat brand in the United States, with consistent acceptance across virtually all dogs including finicky eaters. Fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals. Hard crunchy texture helps with mild tartar removal. At around 40 calories per medium biscuit, best used as a single daily treat rather than a training treat. Available everywhere. The ingredient list includes artificial preservatives, which are a tradeoff at the price point, but the brand remains the most widely used everyday biscuit option for healthy adult dogs.
The Full Top 15 List
Zuke’s Mini Naturals
The best all-around soft training treat. Pea-sized, 3 calories, real meat first ingredient. Used by professional trainers more than any other commercial soft treat. Available in 9 flavors including rabbit, duck, and wild berry for dogs with chicken and beef sensitivities.
Greenies Original Dental Treats
VOHC-certified dental chew with the most supporting clinical data of any commercially available dental treat. Daily use reduces tartar accumulation between professional cleanings. Size by weight for appropriate chewing mechanics.
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Liver
Single-ingredient freeze-dried liver. The highest value treat for training in distracting environments. Works on dogs who ignore standard soft treats. Breaks into any size needed. No refrigeration.
Wellness Soft WellBites
Premium soft treat with limited ingredients and no artificial preservatives. Slightly larger than Zuke’s Minis but still suitable for training when broken in half. Made with real deboned chicken or turkey, sweet potato, and apple. Grain-free option available. A good choice for owners who want a training treat at a slightly lower price point than freeze-dried options.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats
Grain-free soft treats made with real chicken, beef, or salmon as the first ingredient. Crunchy exterior with a soft center, which gives them a texture many dogs find highly appealing. Higher calorie than Zuke’s at around 8 to 12 calories per treat, so portion accordingly. Popular for reward training where a slightly larger treat is appropriate for the behavior being reinforced.
Stewart Pro-Treat Freeze-Dried Liver
The most widely trusted single-ingredient freeze-dried option for dogs on elimination diets. Available in beef, chicken, and salmon liver. Used by veterinary nutritionists during food allergy trials because there are no hidden ingredients to confound results. Smaller pieces than Vital Essentials, making it more economical for high-repetition training sessions.
Himalayan Yak Chew (Churpi)
Traditional Himalayan hard cheese chew made from yak and cow milk. One of the longest-lasting natural chews for medium to heavy chewers. Very low odor compared to bully sticks. The nub puffs in the microwave into a crunchy bonus snack. Not suitable for dogs with dairy sensitivities or very aggressive chewers who can bite through it too quickly.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Dish Natural Dog Treats
Crunchy biscuits with real chicken or beef as the first ingredient, made with whole grain flour and without artificial colors or flavors. A solid mid-range crunchy biscuit that outperforms Milk-Bone on ingredient quality while maintaining very broad palatability. At around 20 calories per small biscuit, usable for training in moderate quantities or as an everyday reward treat.
Plato Small Bites Duck Strips
Soft dried duck strips with a short, clean ingredient list. Duck is a single protein source, making these a reasonable option for dogs with common poultry allergies if they can tolerate duck specifically. The strip format can be torn into small pieces for training or fed whole as a reward treat. High in protein and low in fat relative to many soft treats. Shelf-stable without refrigeration.
Benny Bully’s Freeze-Dried Beef Liver Treats
Canadian-made single-ingredient freeze-dried beef liver. Competitive with Stewart and Vital Essentials in quality. Slightly different texture: firm and dry rather than crumbly. Very high palatability across all dog sizes and types. A consistent favorite in the Canadian market and increasingly available in the United States. The pouch format works well for treat pouches used during outdoor training.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dental Chewz
A VOHC-certified dental chew from a brand with strong veterinary clinical relationships. The rawhide-free formula is digestible and less likely to cause gastrointestinal obstruction than traditional compressed rawhide. Carries endorsement from the Purina Institute’s veterinary research program. A solid alternative to Greenies for dogs that do not tolerate the Greenies texture or react to their ingredients.
Redbarn Naturals Bully Stick
Bully sticks (dried bull pizzle) are one of the most popular natural chews in the United States. Redbarn is among the most consistently quality-controlled brands in the category. Fully digestible unlike rawhide. High in protein and low in fat. Single ingredient. The main drawbacks are odor (significant) and caloric density (a 6-inch bully stick runs 70 to 100 calories). Monitor size and remove when it becomes a choking hazard stub.
Natural Balance L.I.T. Limited Ingredient Treats
Formulated specifically for dogs with food sensitivities. Two to four ingredients per treat, with a single named protein and a single named carbohydrate. Available in sweet potato and chicken, sweet potato and bison, and similar limited combinations. Soft and small enough for training. The brand’s limited ingredient philosophy extends to treats consistently, making these a reliable complement to Natural Balance’s limited ingredient diets.
Fruitables Skinny Minis Soft and Chewy Treats
Very low calorie at around 3 to 4 calories per treat, with a unique fruit and vegetable base that makes them taste different from standard meat-based treats. The pumpkin and mango or watermelon and mint flavors are particularly useful for dogs who have become desensitized to meat treat smells in high-repetition training. Made without corn, wheat, or soy. A good rotation option when standard treats have lost their novelty value.
Merrick Power Bites Soft and Chewy Treats
Grain-free soft treats with a high real-meat content and clean ingredient list. Made in the United States from US-sourced ingredients. Available in beef, chicken, salmon, and lamb. At around 5 calories per treat, they work for training in moderate quantities. The slightly larger size than Zuke’s makes them better for intermittent rewarding during casual walks rather than rapid-fire training sessions, unless broken into halves.
Choosing the Right Treat for Your Situation
| Situation | Best Treat Type | Top Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy basic training (sit, down, stay) | Soft, small, low calorie | Zuke’s Mini Naturals |
| Advanced training, high distraction | Freeze-dried high value | Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Liver |
| Dog with food allergies | Single-ingredient, novel protein | Stewart Pro-Treat (salmon variety) |
| Daily dental maintenance | VOHC-certified dental chew | Greenies Original |
| Keeping a heavy chewer occupied | Long-lasting natural chew | Himalayan Yak Chew or Redbarn Bully Stick |
| Senior dog with reduced mobility | Soft, easy to eat | Wellness Soft WellBites |
| Dog losing interest in regular treats | Novel flavor or format | Fruitables Skinny Minis or Plato Duck Strips |
| Budget-conscious everyday reward | Crunchy biscuit | Milk-Bone or Rachael Ray Nutrish |
How to Calculate Treat Calories for Your Dog
The 10 percent rule is the baseline: treats should not exceed 10 percent of total daily caloric intake. Here is a practical approach to applying it:
- Find your dog’s daily caloric needs. Most dog food packaging shows a feeding guide with approximate calorie counts per cup. Your vet can give you a more precise target based on your dog’s current weight and body condition score.
- Multiply that daily calorie target by 0.10 to get your daily treat budget. A 50-pound moderately active dog eating around 900 calories per day has a treat budget of 90 calories.
- Check the calorie count on your treat packaging. If it is not listed, look up the brand online; most reputable brands publish calorie information. Zuke’s Mini Naturals run about 3 calories each, giving you 30 treats per day within budget. A medium Greenies dental treat runs around 54 calories, using more than half the daily budget in one chew.
- On heavy training days, reduce the dog’s main meal by roughly the number of treat calories consumed. Most dogs will not notice a 10 to 15 percent meal reduction.
Dogs can lose interest in treats they have received repeatedly in the same context. Professional trainers rotate treat flavors and types deliberately to maintain high food motivation. Keeping two or three different treats on hand and varying which one you use across training sessions prevents the dog from becoming habituated to the smell and taste. Freeze-dried liver tends to maintain its novelty longer than soft treats because the aroma is more intense, but even freeze-dried treats should be rotated if training intensity is high and duration is long.
Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Treats
- Xylitol: An artificial sweetener found in some peanut butter-flavored treats and human foods given as treats. Causes rapid, dangerous insulin release and potentially fatal liver failure in dogs. Always check peanut butter treats specifically, as some brands use xylitol as a sweetener.
- Propylene glycol: A moisture-retaining ingredient used in some soft and semi-moist treats. Prohibited in cat food but still permitted in dog treats. While not acutely toxic to dogs at typical treat quantities, it has known oxidative effects on red blood cells in cats and is considered unnecessary given cleaner alternatives.
- BHA and BHT: Synthetic antioxidant preservatives with ongoing regulatory review. Not banned in the United States but classified as possible carcinogens by some international health agencies. Natural preservatives like mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) and rosemary extract are effective alternatives.
- Artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2): Dogs do not distinguish colors the way humans do, so artificial colors serve no purpose for the dog. They exist to make treats look more appealing to the human buyer. No nutritional value and associated with behavioral sensitivity in some animals.
- Added sugars and corn syrup: Common in very cheap treats and jerky-style products. Contribute empty calories and can accelerate dental plaque accumulation, defeating the purpose of any dental benefit the treat might otherwise provide.
Treat Storage and Freshness
Soft treats should be stored in a sealed container in a cool, dry location. Once opened, the moisture that makes them soft begins to evaporate if the bag is not resealed tightly. Most soft treats remain at peak quality for 4 to 6 weeks after opening if stored in a sealed container. Refrigeration is not required but can extend freshness in humid climates.
Freeze-dried treats are shelf-stable and can be stored at room temperature in sealed packaging for up to 12 months unopened. Once opened, use within 4 to 6 weeks. Do not introduce moisture into a freeze-dried treat container, as moisture reactivation makes them sticky and can introduce bacterial growth.
Hard chews like yak chews and bully sticks should be stored in a cool dry place and used within their stated expiry. Bully sticks stored in humid conditions can develop surface mold. A faint meaty smell is normal; a sour or off smell indicates the chew has turned and should be discarded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many treats should a dog get per day?
Treats should make up no more than 10 percent of a dog’s total daily caloric intake. For a 20-pound dog eating around 600 calories per day, that means no more than 60 calories from treats. Most soft training treats run 3 to 5 calories each, giving you 12 to 20 treats within budget. Larger biscuits and chews can easily run 50 to 100 calories each. Track calories from treats alongside meal calories, especially if your dog is prone to weight gain. Reduce meal portions slightly on days when treat training is heavy.
What ingredients should I avoid in dog treats?
The most important ingredients to avoid are xylitol (an artificial sweetener that causes rapid insulin release and liver failure in dogs), propylene glycol (a moisture retainer with ongoing safety concerns), artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 have no nutritional value), and BHA and BHT (synthetic preservatives with ongoing regulatory review). Also watch for added sugar, corn syrup, and excessive salt. For dogs with sensitivities, check for common allergen proteins like chicken, beef, dairy, and wheat if you already know your dog reacts to them.
Are single-ingredient dog treats better than multi-ingredient treats?
For dogs with food sensitivities or allergies, single-ingredient treats such as freeze-dried beef liver, dried sweet potato, or salmon jerky are the gold standard because they eliminate guesswork when identifying trigger ingredients. For healthy dogs with no known sensitivities, multi-ingredient treats can be excellent as long as they use whole food ingredients and avoid artificial preservatives, colors, and sweeteners. The ingredient list length itself is less important than the quality of the ingredients and whether the first few items are recognizable whole foods.
What are the best treats for training a dog?
The best training treats are small (pea-sized or smaller), soft enough to eat in one second without chewing, high value enough to compete with distractions, and low calorie enough to use in high repetitions without overfeeding. Zuke’s Mini Naturals, Wellness Soft WellBites, and Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Minnows are consistently used by professional trainers. For very high-distraction environments, freeze-dried raw treats like freeze-dried chicken or beef liver tend to outperform standard soft treats in motivating dogs that are not highly food motivated in normal conditions.
Can dogs have too many treats?
Yes. Overfeeding treats causes weight gain, which is a primary driver of joint disease, diabetes, and shortened lifespan in dogs. It can also cause nutritional imbalance if treats displace a significant portion of a complete and balanced main diet. Additionally, dogs that receive treats without any behavioral basis can develop demand behaviors like persistent barking and pawing for treats. Treats are most valuable when paired with training, used in the right quantity, and factored into total daily caloric intake.
What is the difference between a treat and a chew?
Treats are generally consumed quickly and are used for training, rewarding, or snacking. Chews are designed to be worked on over an extended period, typically providing dental benefit, mental stimulation, and a prolonged chewing outlet. Common chews include bully sticks, yak chews, antlers, dental chews like Greenies, and raw bones. Chews typically have higher caloric density than soft treats per gram, require supervision to prevent swallowing large pieces, and are selected based on chew strength rather than caloric size.
Are freeze-dried treats good for dogs?
Freeze-dried treats are among the highest quality options available. The freeze-drying process removes moisture at very low temperatures without heat, which preserves the natural proteins, enzymes, and nutrients in the raw ingredients far better than baking or high-heat processing. Most freeze-dried treats have a single or very short ingredient list. The main drawbacks are higher cost compared to conventional treats and the fact that freeze-dried raw products from non-irradiated sources carry a small theoretical risk of bacterial contamination, which matters primarily for immunocompromised dogs or households with immunocompromised people.
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