7 Excellent Dog Treats for Rewards and Training

When my dog Harley practically jumped on a house guest and knocked her over, I knew I needed to make sure I did a better job on my training him. I’d done training before, but maybe with the right treats, I could fix his behaviour with some incentive.

The only question was: what makes a good, delicious, healthy one?  There are so many out there in the market so I’ve done my research to share with you today.

What Makes The Perfect Treat?

Find out which is my favourite and #1 recommended treat amongst all!

This is certainly not an easy question to answer when you’re standing at the store looking at a huge shelf of chews and wondering which one you should buy. You’re probably even more confused! There are some factors that you should consider to help you choose.

Your ultimate choice shouldn’t be too high in calories. Good chews can be healthy, like carrots even.

They shouldn’t be too hard to bite either. If you can’t break it, it’ll hurt your pup’s teeth.

For training, a small size is preferred so that your dog doesn’t get distracted, and so that they’ll fit in your pocket easily.

7 Best Dog Treats Comparison Table

Brand	My Notes	My Rating	Suits:
	Great to use with medication	All canines
	Natural ingredients. Great for teeth cleaning.	All canines
	Chicken as a 1st ingredient! Has antioxidants.	All canines
	Rich in calcium. Made in the USA.	All canines
	Cleans teeth very well	Large canines
	Real ingredients. 100% bacon	Better for adult canines
	100% natural free-range grass-fed beef. No additives, hormones or chemicals. The premium good stuff for your pet!	All canines

Yeah, I spent so much time running around reading labels and picking out the proper snack for dogs. Lucky for you then, I’ve already done all the work for you!

These seven brands are more reputable and if you need some guidance on where to start, you should consider these ones. Some of these are also great for training puppies.

Greenies Pill Pockets

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Pretty much all  owners understand how difficult it is to feed their dog medicine without giving them something unhealthy like peanut butter. Vets recommend this for giving medicine.

Medicine doesn’t have to be horrible though with these meant specifically for medicine. Just stick the pill in a pill pocket and set it out for your canine and you won’t need to worry about the treat or the medicine any longer.

Features:

• All the pills are small – the size of a small capsule.
• The pill itself masks the smell of any liquid medication so your pet won’t avoid it.
• Low calorie, healthy and delicious!

Pros:

• These pills are very easy to use: just fill it, pinch it closed, and give it to your pet.
• It’s a lot easier and quicker to give your pet their necessary medicine.
• Large pill pockets are malleable, meaning you can split them in half for small pills.

Keep In Mind:

• Some flavors, like peanut butter, are less malleable and easier for your pet to get around.
• A bit tricky to keep it fresh for as long as possible.

Most suited for:

A pill pocket like this is great for owners of sick dogs. Many pets need just a pill or two a day, but it seems like rocket science trying to administer them! For owners out there who know what I’m talking about, the pill pockets are perfect for you.

Greenies Dental Chews

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Are you one of those owners who have to grab the little red dog toothbrush to try and clean up your canine’s teeth? Well honestly all of us should be helping our dogs clean their teeth, but it doesn’t need to be as tough as holding their mouth open and scrubbing with a toothbrush. Dental chews are a great addition to the teeth cleaning routine. This is also one of the better natural brands I recommend.

Features:

• Fixes bad breath and cleans teeth to prevent plaque and tartar buildup.
• They’re made from soluble, natural ingredients that digest easy.
• There are added vitamins and minerals for complete nutritional value.

Pros:

• They’re made from natural delicious ingredients, so they’re healthy.
• They can be bought in singles if you want more freshness and the freedom to feed occasionally.
• Can be bought in smaller sizes.

Keep In Mind:

• Issues have been reported with expired products and problems keeping them fresh.
• They’re pretty large, and dogs that tend to swallow automatically may have an issue with them.
• It’s priced a little higher but you do get what you pay for.

Most suited for:

If you’re that owner with the toothbrush under the sink and spend much too long trying to clean up your dog, this is the choice for you.

Not only is it delicious and natural, but it’s easy too. It’ll help clean your dog’s teeth with little to no effort at all.

Zuke’s Mini Naturals

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So I told you about my dog training troubles, right? Well dental chews are great, but they won’t help me when I need my pet to listen.

That’s why I took a look at Zuke’s Mini Naturals, which are small, delicious, and so low calorie that I can give my pet one every time he listens without worrying about his health. If you want a top rated brand, this is one worth considering.

Features:

• They’re packed with antioxidants and are very healthy.
• They’re made in the US, and are fresh when received.
• There’s no wheat, corn, or soy.
• Chicken is the first ingredient.

Pros:

• Perfect for training thanks to having only 3.5 calories in each treat.
• They’re available in a variety of flavors.
• They’re of high quality and can be cut easily if you want something even smaller.

Keep In Mind:

• They can dry out. A tip is to store them with wet paper towels.
• If you have a puppy, you might want to look further into the ingredients. Some pups don’t seem to take very well to this.

Most suited for:

Dog trainers, or even new owners, would be the most suited for this. It’s healthy and is also easy to chew and small.

Milk-Bone Maro Snacks

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Pretty much everyone has heard of the Milk Bone brand. It’s a popular brand of course, and for good reason. Not only are they delicious, but they have real benefits for your dog’s health. Bones and teeth get stronger, and your pet will be wagging his tail for one!

Features:

• Wholesome and delicious, with real bone marrow.
• They’re rich in calcium for strong teeth and bones.
• Produced in the US and guaranteed fresh for you.

Pros:

• They’re made for both small sized and large sized breeds.
• They work very well for cleaning the teeth, as well as strengthening them.
• When stored, they last for a while and are still fresh.

Keep In Mind:

• A little rich, so it’s not recommended to give them out every day.
• Made in New York but some ingredients are produced in China.
• Some dogs need them crushed in order to chew them at all.

Most suited for:

Great for dogs with teeth cleaning needs. But they’re also great rewards when your pet does something great!

While it’s not recommended to give them out every day, they’re so high-quality that your pet will know for sure that they’ve done well when they munch on one of these.

Pedigree Dentastix

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Teeth cleaning are a popular selling point, huh? It’s no wonder considering how difficult it is for us to scrub our dog’s mouths clean. Instead of for your puppy though, these will help your adult canine chow down and clean their mouth with their unique shape. Everyone can recognize the signature “X” shape, but there’s a good reason for it!

Features:

• Triple action: cleans teeth, freshens breath, and reduces plaque and tartar buildup.
• The X shape design is meant for cleaning.
• Specifically designed for larger adult breeds

Pros:

• This is a less expensive brand compared to some others.
• Cleans teeth easily, even if your pet eats them a little quick.
• They’re made from chicken and multiple healthy ingredients.

Keep In Mind:

• It’s a little easier for dogs to choke on these if they just try and gobble them down.
• They’re meant to be chewed over time and your pet needs to be supervised when eating.

Most suited for:

Great for larger adult breeds. If you’re trying to clean your little guy’s teeth, then it would be good to look into one of my earlier recommendations. Regardless, adult dogs love this.

It’ll help clean their teeth to make your job easier.

Benebone Bacon

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Humans love bacon, so it makes sense that dogs would love it too! Bacon is delicious after all, and with these chews, your pet will be occupied for hours. The curved shape is perfect for chewing and biting, and since they’re chew toys, they’ll help your dog’s teeth get stronger at the same time.

Features:

Designed in the shape of a wishbone to help your dog chew.

• Deep groves allow your pup to get a good bite.
• Real ingredients are used, and 100% bacon.
• Made in the US.

<p”>Pros:

• It’s a toy, so it will last for a while and continue to be delicious.
• It smells wonderful to your pet, but will not smell up your home.
• There won’t be any residue left on your carpet after they’re done chewing on it.

Keep In Mind:

• Little pieces can be broken off, so you need to supervise your pet when it’s eating.

Most suited for:

Great for any breed really. But usually better for adult dogs who are less likely to break off pieces than puppies.

It’s great for owners who want to give their pet one that can last a while too. In the end, all canines can benefit, but it might not be good for training since it can’t be eaten.

Supreme Bully Sticks

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The stick form of the treat has gotten pretty popular thanks to its help with teeth-cleaning. Well, the Supreme Bully Sticks are no exception, and will not only clean your canine’s teeth, but provide a natural and healthy snack too. With different sizes made for different breeds, there should be a size even for your smallest pup.

Features:

• It’s made of 100% natural, free-range, grass-fed beef.
• Completely digestible and high in protein.
• Tartar and plague will be scraped away thanks to the stick.
• There are no additives, hormones, or chemicals.

Pros:

• Despite the fact that they smell, they do not stain the carpet or leave any lingering smell.
• They’re very thick sticks, so you’re getting what you pay for.
• It takes a while for your pet to chew through.

Keep In Mind:

• Not odor free (I didn’t find the odor to be too strong anyway)
• Your pet should always be supervised when eating, even though it’s harder for them to break it to pieces.

Most suited for:

Works great for teeth cleaning. They work well, last a long time, and are perfect for all breeds thanks to their variable sizes. Large breeds might chew them up a little faster, although they still work great for all dogs!

It’s tough finding decent treats for our dogs. I just want my guy to be healthy and happy, and even treats can be bad for him if I get the wrong kind. So after looking at density, deliciousness, and size, I’ve given you my top seven picks. A treat can be delicious, fun and healthy all at the same time.