Best Dog Treats for Training: A Practical Guide for Real-Life Walks and Recall

We can't really blame our dogs for being food-driven, because us humans are exactly the same. Tempt us with a good coffee or something sweet and most of us would do just about anything for it, so it makes sense that our dogs work the same way.

Food is one of the strongest tools we have for getting them to do what we're asking, whether that's coming straight back on a busy walk or resisting the urge to inspect every picnic blanket in the park. And while getting your dog to sprint back to you past squirrels and other dogs might work a couple of times without decent training treats in your pocket, it won’t take long for them to work out there's more fun in ignoring you when nothing's waiting for them at the end of it.

So whether you're topping up the treat tin for a dog who's already pretty solid on recall, or you're starting from scratch with a puppy who hasn't quite grasped the basics yet, this guide runs through the best dog treats for training and how to use them.

Something you'll learn pretty quickly as a pup parent is that positive reinforcement is your best friend when it comes to dog training. This means rewarding a behaviour you like so your dog wants to do it again.

One of the best ways to make this work, especially in the middle of a training session, is by reaching for high-value dog treats. Researchers studying this found that dogs ran noticeably faster towards a piece of sausage than they did towards a piece of typical dry dog food, even when there was more kibble on offer, which tells you quality beats quantity almost every time. And can we blame them?

When we talk about a high-value treat, we mean something with a strong smell, a soft texture and a taste your dog isn't already getting from their usual food, since that combination is what pulls their attention away from everything else going on around them. The strong smell helps especially when you're up against real competition like a woodland trail thick with rabbit scent or a busy city park full of other dogs and dropped chips. It’s exactly why the best dog treats for training rarely look anything like a plain dry biscuit or low-smell food, since neither one stands a chance once other temptations are involved.

Next time you're standing in a pet shop or scrolling through options online, here's a quick checklist worth keeping in mind when you're picking out the best dog treats for training.

• Size: Aim for something around the size of a pea, or roughly a 1p coin at the largest. Keeping treats small means you can reward dozens of times in a single session without filling your dog up before you've even started, and if you've got a smaller breed, it helps to pick a treat that breaks apart easily so you can make the pieces even tinier.
  
  
• Texture: Soft treats are quicker for your dog to chew and swallow which keeps the pace of a training session moving instead of stalling out every time they stop to crunch through something. Crunchy treats still have their place, particularly for dental health, but when you need fast rewards on repeat, something soft and slightly moist works best.
  
  
• Smell: A dog's strongest sense by far is their nose, so the stronger a treat smells, the more inclined they'll be to work for it, especially when there's plenty else going on around them to compete with.
  
  
• Ingredients: Look out for natural ingredients with clearly named meats like chicken, salmon, beef or liver, along with minimal additives and no artificial colours. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or itchy skin, a grain-free recipe is also worth considering.
  
  
• Practicalities: A good training treat shouldn't leave your pockets greasy, melt into a mess in your hands or start going off after a couple of days in the cupboard. A dog treat bag makes carrying softer treats far easier too, allowing you to keep your hands free but still in reach.
  
  
• Life stage: Puppies need softer treats since their teeth and stomachs are still developing while adult dogs can usually handle richer and crunchier options. And for older dogs, you might want something lower in calories and easy to chew, especially if their teeth aren't what they used to be.

With that checklist in mind, it's time to look at some real options, the treats that hit every one of these points and hold up once you're out on a walk with distractions everywhere. Below is a running list of the best dog treats for training, covering everything from soft, meaty pieces for high-stakes recall to simpler everyday options for topping up good behaviour at home.

There's a good chance you've already got some excellent training treats sitting in your fridge right now, since plenty of everyday foods can be used for rewarding pups just as well as anything bought specially for the job.

• Cooked meat: Tiny pieces of plain cooked chicken, beef or turkey work brilliantly, as long as you steer clear of heavy seasoning, onion and garlic, which aren't safe for dogs.
• Hotdog sausages: Soft, non-crumbly and irresistible to most dogs, hot dog sausages are perfect for puppy training. A single sausage diced into 30 to 40 pieces gives you enough for a full recall session.
• Cheese: A lot of dogs love cheese, but it does come with a lot of calories attached, so low-lactose, lower-fat varieties cut into tiny cubes are the best choice.
• Other options: Seafood sticks, small bits of corned beef and homemade liver cake, which is easy to batch-bake at home, all work great too, but these carry more salt and fat than most other options, so save them for special occasions or breakthrough training moments.
• A caution on hot days: Meat-based treats spoil quickly once the weather warms up, so keep them in a sealed container and bin anything that starts to smell off after a few hours out on a walk. The last thing you need is a pup with a poorly tummy.

Some dogs do need grain free or limited-ingredient treats, particularly if they've got itchy skin, loose stools or a diagnosed grain intolerance and it’s amazing how the right treat can noticeably improve both their comfort and how focused they are during training. That said, UK veterinary nutritionists have found that grain allergies are far less common than most owners assume, with only around 0.2% of dogs affected by a food allergy of any kind, so it's not something to worry about unless for good reason.

On a UK label, natural treats generally mean named meats, no artificial colours or preservatives, and as few fillers as possible. Ingredients like this are easier for a dog to digest while single-ingredient treats help even more for dogs with sensitive stomachs, since there's only one ingredient that could possibly cause a reaction.

What to look for in natural dog treats:

• Single-protein dried meat cubes, such as pure chicken, salmon, venison or liver
• Fish skin bites, which are low in fat and full of aroma
• Soft grain-free training bites made with natural ingredients and no grain at all
• Air-dried meat strips that tear apart easily into smaller pieces

Puppies, adolescents and adult dogs all get plenty out of treats during training, though what works best for each stage looks quite different.

• For puppies: A new puppy is more or less in school all day, with house training, learning their name, recall foundations and socialisation all needing constant reinforcement. Soft, tiny treats that swallow quickly suit this stage best, and it helps to check the pack for an age guide, since some treats are only suitable from 8 weeks and others not until a few months later. Keep the ingredients simple so they’re gentle on a young stomach and low in fat, since there will likely be many repetitions throughout the day.
  
  
• For adult dogs: Small and strong-smelling treats work well with adult pups, especially when you're proofing a behaviour under heavy distraction. Adult dogs can generally handle richer flavours, and it can help to bring out something super-high-value like hotdog sausages or liver dog treats for the harder recalls. Mixing up the flavours and textures you use also keeps things interesting, so your dog doesn't get bored of the same reward every time.
  
  
• For seniors: Softer treats that are gentle on teeth and joints usually work best. Lower-calorie options can also help if your dog’s activity levels have dropped but they still enjoy learning something new.

Wondering whether you're giving too many dog treats during training is one of the most common worries owners have. But thankfully, training doesn't have to make your dog overweight as long as you manage the portions sensibly.

It’s generally recommended to keep treats to no more than 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake, with the rest coming from their normal meals. Since training sessions can involve dozens of repetitions in one go, it helps to reach for something low in calories so you don't blow through that budget in a single session.

Tips to stay on track:

• Save your higher-value treats for the harder tasks and use part of your dog's normal dry food ration for the easy stuff like sits and downs
• Pre-weigh out the day's treats into a small pot at the start of the day, so you can see exactly how many you've got left as the day goes on.
• Cut the next meal down by roughly half the calories you've used in treats, so the day balances out overall.
• Choosing lower-calorie treats helps keep overfeeding in check during longer sessions or scent work, where your dog might be getting through a lot of rewards in one go.
• If your dog has pancreatitis, diabetes or any strict dietary needs, check with your vet before introducing anything rich like cheese or hot dog sausage.

A treat on its own doesn't teach a dog anything, but timing, placement and variety turn it into an actual training tool, and each one changes how quickly a behaviour sticks.

• Timing: Your dog needs to feel the reward land within a second or two of getting it right. If there's any gap between the behaviour and the treat arriving, a clicker or a simple marker word said in the same upbeat tone every time tells your dog exactly which action just earned the reward. Get the timing right and your dog learns faster and will eventually keep offering the behaviour to you.
  
  
• Placement: Where the treat lands changes what your dog learns. Feeding at your left leg builds a strong heel position, dropping it on the floor between your feet teaches your dog that settling calmly gets rewarded, and tossing it behind you turns recall into something fast and full of momentum. Save your highest-value treats for the situations that ask the most of your dog, whether that's a recall past a squirrel or a stay near another dog, so the reward always matches the size of the ask.
  
  
• Mixing values: Everyday dry food covers easy repetitions indoors, medium-value natural treats suit garden work, and high-value options like hot dog sausage or cheese earn their place for the hardest outdoor recalls.
  
  
• Avoid bribing: Reward needs to come after the behaviour, not before it so waving a treat in front of your dog's nose to lure them into position works for teaching something brand new, but it shouldn't become the default way you ask for a behaviour they already know.

A busy woodland car park, a National Trust path with sheep grazing just beyond the fence, a coastal trail with seabirds overhead… these are exactly the situations your training needs to hold up in.

• Before you leave home: Pre-chop your high-value treats before you head off, especially if you’re using things like hot dog sausage or soft meat bites. It can help to mix them in with your everyday natural treats in your dog treat bag too, so everything's ready the moment your dog spots a rabbit, instead of you fumbling around trying to sort treats with one hand.
• Managing excitable breeds: Border collies, whippets and spaniels often carry enormous drive, and the way to handle that is channelling it into short, focused training sessions with carefully chosen treats instead of one long, exhausting outing.
• Be courteous of others: Keep an eye on other walkers and avoid scattering food near other dogs without asking first as you never know what their dietary requirements might be.

Most problems dog owners have with training treats aren’t usually down to the treat themselves, but how they’re handled and given out.

• Treats too big or dry: Large, crunchy treats slow down how quickly you can reward your dog, and that time lag costs you motivation so break big treats into smaller pieces, or swap to a softer option your dog can eat in one bite.
• Not interesting enough: If your dog sniffs a treat and then walks off, it isn't high-value enough for that environment. Try a few different flavours until you land on the one your dog really loves.
• Over-rewarding without adjusting meals: Treats add up fast if you don't cut back the main meal to match, and that shows up as weight gain and an upset stomach. Weigh your portions, pick lighter recipes where you can, and reduce the next meal to balance it out.
• Stopping treats too soon outdoors: A dog that only seems to listen at home usually had the treats pulled too early in places full of distractions. Keep paying generously in the hard situations, and only start easing off once you've had months of consistent success.
• No variety: The same treat on every walk dulls your dog's interest fast so rotate flavours and textures and keep a treat pouch on you every time you're out so you can build in plenty of easy wins as you go.

Training treats aren't about bribing your dog into behaving but about giving them a real reason to choose you over every squirrel, sausage roll and bin bag along the way. And once you've got the right treat in your pocket alongside good timing and a bit of variety, recall stops being a battle and starts being something your dog wants to do.

Whether you're just starting out with a puppy who hasn't worked out what a treat pouch is for yet, or you're fine-tuning recall with a dog who already knows the drill, the treats you choose and how you use them make all the difference between success and failure.

Have a look through our range of dog training treats and find the ones that suit your dog's size, sensitivities and taste, then pop a few in your pocket before your next walk and put everything in this guide into practice!

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