The Best Puppy Treats: Our Top 8 Picks Reviewed

Yes, some puppy treats have nutritional value.

However, it is not much. Puppy treats are tiny and most often designed for training purposes and mental stimulation. Puppies should be getting nearly all their nutrition through puppy food, so any nutrition a treat may offer will most likely be surplus.

Puppy treats have several benefits. Let’s take a look at each:

From human-grade, gluten-free, meaty treats to peanut butter-flavored, crunchy treats – the pet market offers a range of treats for puppies. To help you find the right treats for your puppy, we reviewed some of the best-selling options.

Get it on Amazon      Get it on The Honest Kitchen

Summary: These Harvest Mini Bars by The Honest Kitchen are our top pick as the best puppy treat option. They are made with human-grade and selected ingredients that are carefully mixed into tender and tasty snack bites. The flavor is loved by dogs, and the soft texture makes them suitable for puppies. The main ingredient in the recipe is ranch-raised beef. The treats come in two flavor options and are approved by picky eaters. 

Flavor Options: Beef, Carrots & Apples; Chicken, Apples & Blueberries 

Price: $10.99/4 oz 

Ingredient Analysis: The ingredients in this recipe include beef, oats, carrots, apples, coconut glycerin, celery juice, beef bone broth, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, mixed tocopherols (a natural preservative), and thyme. Overall, this is an excellent ingredient list. 

Review: Dog owners love these healthy puppy treats and give them 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon. They say the treats are nutritious, and their puppies are excited when rewarded. They also rave that The Honest Kitchen is the best dog food brand they have used. 

Summary: PetLab Co. Salmon Bites are a savory and healthy treat for your pups. Made with real salmon, this formula contains a good amount of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and maintain your pup’s healthy and lustrous coat. These delectable treats are solely manufactured in the USA and are formulated using high-quality ingredients sourced from the US and prime locations across the world.

Best for: Dogs of all life stages

Flavor Options: Salmon; Turkey; Beef Jerkey; Wild-Caught Salmon

Price: $13.44/3 oz 

Ingredient Analysis: These treats are made with real salmon, a good source of protein, B vitamins, potassium, and selenium—all of these are essential for boosting your puppy’s energy, reducing inflammation, and promoting DNA synthesis and repair. In addition, this formula also contains organic coconut, a potent ingredient that helps fight fungi and bacteria, eliminate odor, and maintain a healthy coat for your pup. 

Review: With 4.4 out of 5-star ratings on Amazon, this product has garnered great feedback from most customers. Satisfied pet owners stated that this is their preferred healthy snack for their puppies, and this helped so much with their pups’ skin and coat health.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: These grain-free puppy treats are made with two different types of meat plus added vitamins specifically formulated for puppies. It helps support brain development with DHA and contains superfoods for antioxidants and vitamins. The high-quality ingredients are thoughtfully made into a simple and natural formula that contains no meat by-products or artificial colors, or preservatives. These are bite-sized to be great training tools and to teach your dog a reward system at an early age.

Flavor Options: Lamb & Salmon; Chicken & Carrots

Price: $1.17/oz

Ingredient Analysis: Lamb and salmon are the first two ingredients in this formula and provide this treat with high-quality protein. Chickpeas and ground potatoes are included for fiber, while blueberries, flaxseed, and apples supply this treat with vitamins and necessary fats. Mixed tocopherols are used as a preservative, and overall, this is a good ingredients list for a puppy treat.

Review: Dog owners of puppies and small dogs enjoy these puppy treats. They say their dogs love it and have eaten it for years without a problem. Critical reviews often noted the presence of odd material in the treats. One reviewer said it was glass, another said it was uncooked rice, but both agreed it should not have been in the food, to begin with.

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Summary: Things like real beef and real chicken are the first ingredient in these puppy training treats. They are rich in DHA for healthy brain development and are the perfect size for training. They only use wholesome ingredients and never use anything like poultry by-products or artificial colors. The soft, semi-moist texture is easy on the teeth and gums, safe to swallow, and easy to digest. It is available in a small handful of flavors as well as a variety pack to keep puppies happy and engaged.

Flavor Options: Beef; Chicken; Salmon; Turkey; Chicken & Beef; Beef, Salmon, Turkey, & Chicken

Price: $0.86/oz

Ingredient Analysis: The first ingredient is real chicken and provides this treat with a high protein foundation. Oatmeal and brown rice help to supply carbs and fiber, while pea protein and flaxseed add protein, fiber, and omega-6 fatty acids. An unspecified natural flavor is added, which is potentially concerning as there is no way to know where this flavor comes from.

Review: Most buyers were happy with these puppy treats. Their puppy did well on it, and owners of small breed adult dogs said their dog loved the treats. Critical reviews were sporadic. Some said they found foreign material inside the bag, others said they had received expired treats in the mail, and others said their dogs would not eat it.

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Summary: Rich in DHA for brain and eye development, these dog chews are great for dental health as well. The act of chewing on these bone-shaped treats helps to keep gums strong and healthy while also removing tartar and plaque from teeth. They are made in the USA in a petite size for puppies to be able to wrap their jaws around. They are sold in a three-pack of different flavors to keep puppies from becoming bored with their treats.

Flavor Options: Roast Beef, Turkey, Apple, & Bacon; Turkey & Sweet Potato; Lamb & Apple

Price: $4.42

Ingredient Analysis: Wheat starch is the first ingredient in these dog treats. This, along with pea protein and powdered cellulose, help to give this treat the high fiber content it has while also providing texture. Dried meat like dried turkey, chicken, and beef are included for flavor and a bit of protein, but it is far down the list and may not contribute much at all to the nutrient profile of these treats.

Review: Most of the 12,000+ reviews touted these puppy treats for being just what people were looking for. Owners of small dogs were also happy to see their pets enjoy these bones, and owners of multiple small dogs were happy that these come in a pack of three. While most reviews praised this treat for being of high quality, the most common complaint was that it gave their dogs diarrhea. The word “explosive” was used numerous times in describing the act.

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Summary: Small and bone shaped, these crunchy dog biscuits are formulated with puppies and small dogs in mind. The texture helps to reduce tartar buildup on teeth and freshen breath as well as encourage blood circulation to the gums. They contain 12 vitamins and minerals for healthy growth and only five calories. You can feed your puppy multiple daily treats and keep training exercises going longer and more frequently. Each tub contains three different flavors to keep dogs engaged while training and looking forward to their next treat.

Flavor Options: Beef Flavor; Chicken Flavor; Bacon Flavor 

Price: $0.32/oz

Ingredient Analysis: Ground whole wheat flour is the first ingredient and gives this product its texture and some of its taste. Meat and bone meal provide minerals and protein, although it is not specified from what animal the meat and bones come from. Micronutrients like calcium and zinc are included to boost the nutrient profile of these treats.

Review: Only 2% of total reviews on Amazon were one or 2-star ratings. Most consumers were happy with these puppy treats and said they were great training tools for their pups. They were pleased it came in a large tub, so it lasted them a long time as well. Negative reviews were unhappy to find foreign material and pests in their treats or said these made their dogs sick.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: These dog training treats contain only 1 1/2 calories per treat. They are made with real meat as the first ingredient and contain no BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin. They are made in the USA to attract, focus, and reward your dog. They come in approximately 200 to a bag for long-term training and are available in one flavor.

Flavor Options: Bacon 

Price: $1.20/oz

Ingredient Analysis: Pork liver is the first ingredient and gives this treat a great source of taste and protein. Pea flour and potatoes provide starchy carbohydrates and fiber, while cane sugar adds taste. Bacon is added but is further down the list, and an unnamed natural flavor and caramel coloring is used to finish the taste and look of these treats.

Review: Dog owners are mostly happy with these treats. Many consumers say their dog “will do anything” for these puppy treats and most others say their dog loves them as training tools. The two biggest complaints about these treats were that they were dusty inside the bag and their dogs didn’t like them.

Get it on Amazon        Get it on Chewy

Summary: These highly palatable teething sticks are made with no artificial colors or preservatives. Its pliable texture is safe for a puppy’s new teeth and helps to soothe sore gums. It is made with calcium for strong bones and teeth and uses real chicken as the main ingredient. These dental dog treats freshen breath, reduce tartar buildup, and offer growing dogs the calcium they need to be strong and healthy.

Flavor Options: Real Chicken Recipe 

Price: $1.14/oz

Ingredient Analysis: Rice flour is the first ingredient and offers carbohydrates and fiber to this formula. Natural chicken flavor and chicken are used to provide the taste and high-quality protein, while citric acid is used as a preservative.

Review: Reviews on this product were a bit mixed. Most buyers had dogs who loved these puppy treats and said these were great at keeping their teething puppies occupied. Negative reviews made up nearly 10% of total reviews, however. The most common complaint being this treat was a choking hazard, and saying it was so small, they were concerned about giving it to their 2-pound puppy.

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Summary: The crunchy mini biscuits make a great training tool and are made with wholesome ingredients. All-natural ingredients like chicken, apples, oatmeal, and carrots provide the bulk of the nutrients in these treats. It is made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. It is only available in one flavor and contains no artificial preservatives.

Flavor Options: Chicken

Price: $0.26/oz

Ingredient Analysis: Whole wheat flour and oatmeal are the first two ingredients and give this food a good foundation of fiber and carbohydrates. Chicken and chicken fat provide most protein and crude fat content, while ground flaxseed makes these treats rich in omega-6 fatty acids. Micronutrients are heavily supplemented to make these treats more nutritious than many others on the market.

Review: The two most common expressions of satisfaction come from people who use these puppy treats for training purposes and those who own small dogs. They were happy their dogs were excited to receive them and said they still looked forward to getting them after years of use. Complaints mainly stated their dogs threw up after eating these and said they would not recommend people buy these treats for their dogs.

When shopping for puppy treats, there are several factors to consider:

The biggest difference between dog treats and puppy treats is in their texture and size.

Puppy treats are largely the same nutritionally as dog treats, but they tend to be softer and smaller for a new puppy’s teeth to chew and easily swallow.

Puppies can start receiving treats around 8 weeks of age.

It is generally recommended to keep treat intake under 10% of a dog’s total caloric intake for one day. Overfeeding treats can lead to digestive issues, tooth problems, and excessive weight gain in a puppy.