What Makes a Good Training Treat? The Complete Guide to Choosing Rewards That Help Your Dog Learn Faster

If you've ever wondered why your dog listens perfectly in the kitchen but completely ignores you at the park, the answer often isn't your training — it's your reward.

The treats you use during training can have a huge impact on how quickly your dog learns, how motivated they stay and how enjoyable each training session becomes. Yet many dog owners unknowingly use treats that are too large, too dry, too boring or simply not rewarding enough for the situation.

The best training treats aren't necessarily the most expensive. They're the ones your dog loves, can eat quickly and are healthy enough to use regularly without contributing unnecessary calories.

If you're looking for suitable rewards, explore our collection of Soft & Small Training Treats, specially chosen for positive reinforcement training, puppy classes and everyday rewards.

Whether you're teaching a puppy to sit, working on loose lead walking or practising an emergency recall, choosing the right reward can make training smoother, faster and more successful.

In this guide, you'll learn exactly what makes an effective training treat, how to choose the right reward for different situations and the common mistakes that can slow your dog's progress.

If you're looking for a complete overview of reward-based training, positive reinforcement and how to build lifelong good behaviour, start with our Ultimate Guide to Training & Reward Treats for Dogs before returning to this article.

Why Choosing the Right Training Treat Matters

Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective and widely recommended ways to teach dogs new behaviours. The principle is simple: when your dog performs the behaviour you want and immediately receives something they value, they're more likely to repeat that behaviour in the future.

The reward itself, however, is only part of the equation.

For training to be effective, your dog must be motivated enough to work for the reward, and the reward needs to be delivered quickly enough that your dog connects it with the behaviour they just performed.

Imagine asking your dog to "sit". They sit immediately, but the reward is a large crunchy biscuit that takes twenty seconds to chew. During that time your dog has already stood up, looked around the room and started thinking about something else. The training moment has passed.

Now imagine rewarding the same behaviour with a tiny, soft piece of duck or liver. Your dog swallows it almost instantly, looks back at you and is ready for the next repetition within seconds.

That difference may seem small, but over dozens of repetitions it can dramatically affect how quickly your dog learns.

Good training treats help to:

• Keep your dog's attention for longer.
• Increase motivation during training sessions.
• Allow more repetitions without overfeeding.
• Reduce frustration for both dog and owner.
• Build stronger positive associations with learning.

In other words, the right treat doesn't just reward your dog — it helps create better training opportunities.

The Seven Qualities of a Great Training Treat

Walk into any pet shop and you'll find hundreds of different dog treats, all claiming to be healthy, delicious or perfect for training. But great training treats usually share the same core characteristics.

1. They're Small

One of the biggest mistakes owners make is using treats that are far too large.

During a short five-minute session, you might reward your dog 20, 30 or even 50 times. Large treats quickly add unnecessary calories and fill your dog up before training is finished.

A good rule of thumb is to keep training treats around the size of a pea for medium-sized dogs. Larger dogs can have slightly bigger rewards, while toy breeds often need pieces no larger than a grain of sweetcorn.

Remember, your dog isn't counting the size of each reward — they're counting how often they earn one.

2. They're Soft

Soft treats are generally better than hard biscuits because they're much quicker to eat.

The faster your dog finishes the reward, the sooner they're ready to focus on the next exercise.

This creates a smoother rhythm during training, especially when you're teaching new behaviours or working on rapid repetitions.

Soft meat treats, natural pâté cut into cubes and small air-dried meat pieces are all excellent choices. Our Soft & Small Training Treats Collection includes rewards that are quick to eat, easy to portion and perfect for keeping training sessions flowing.

3. They Smell Amazing

Humans choose food mainly by taste. Dogs choose food primarily by smell.

A strong meaty aroma instantly grabs your dog's attention, even in distracting environments. This is one reason why natural treats made from liver, fish, duck or venison are often far more motivating than heavily processed biscuits.

If your dog loses focus outdoors, our High-Value Dog Treats Collection includes naturally aromatic rewards made with proteins such as duck, rabbit, venison and fish that many dogs find irresistible.

If your dog struggles to concentrate outdoors, upgrading to a smellier reward is often one of the quickest ways to improve focus.

4. They're Easy to Eat

Training rewards shouldn't interrupt the training itself.

If your dog has to stop and chew for several seconds every time they're rewarded, you'll lose momentum.

The ideal training treat can be swallowed in one or two seconds, allowing your dog to return their attention to you almost immediately.

5. They're Healthy Enough for Regular Use

Unlike occasional treats, training rewards may be given dozens of times in a single day.

That's why it's worth choosing options made with simple, high-quality ingredients.

Look for treats that are:

• High in meat content
• Naturally rich in protein
• Free from unnecessary fillers
• Free from artificial colours and flavours
• Easy to digest

Keeping rewards small and adjusting your dog's daily food intake on heavy training days can also help maintain a healthy weight.

If you prefer feeding minimally processed rewards, browse our Natural Dog Treats Collection, where every treat is selected for its simple ingredients and natural goodness.

6. They're Convenient to Carry

Whether you're heading to puppy class, practising recall in the park or rewarding calm behaviour on a walk, training treats need to be easy to carry.

Choose treats that fit comfortably in a treat pouch or pocket, don't crumble excessively and won't leave greasy residue on your hands.

Convenience may not sound exciting, but it makes it much more likely that you'll reward your dog consistently whenever they make a good choice.

7. Your Dog Thinks They're Worth Working For

Perhaps the most important quality of all is this: your dog has to genuinely love the reward.

Every dog is different. One Labrador may happily work for pieces of kibble, while another dog ignores everything except fresh chicken.

Some dogs adore fish, while others become far more excited by rabbit or duck.

Rather than assuming every treat is equal, spend time discovering which proteins and textures your dog values most. Those favourite treats become incredibly powerful tools when you're teaching difficult behaviours or training around distractions.

The PetBuddy Training Treat Scorecard

Not every treat labelled as a "training treat" is actually ideal for training.

Some are too large, others are too hard, and many contain unnecessary fillers or artificial ingredients. Instead of relying on marketing claims, use our simple scorecard to judge whether a treat is likely to help your dog learn effectively.

For each question below, give the treat one point for every "Yes" answer.

Why Smell Matters More Than Flavour

Many people assume dogs choose treats based on taste in the same way we do.

In reality, your dog's sense of smell is their superpower.

Dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors, compared to around 5–6 million in humans. Their sense of smell is estimated to be thousands of times more sensitive than ours, which means aroma plays a much bigger role in how rewarding a treat feels.

That's why a tiny piece of liver or dried fish can often be far more motivating than a much larger biscuit.

When you're training in a quiet living room, almost any tasty reward may work. But as distractions increase — whether that's other dogs, exciting smells or squirrels in the park — you'll usually need a treat with a stronger scent to compete for your dog's attention.

Some of the highest-value training rewards include:

• Liver
• Duck
• Rabbit
• Venison
• Beef
• Fish, such as salmon or sprats

These protein-rich treats tend to have a naturally stronger aroma, making them especially useful for recall training or introducing new behaviours.

Soft vs Crunchy Training Treats

One of the most common questions dog owners ask is whether soft treats are better than crunchy biscuits.

In most cases, the answer is yes.

Soft treats are generally the better choice because they keep your training sessions flowing. Your dog can swallow them quickly, refocus on you and be ready for the next repetition within seconds.

Crunchy biscuits have their place, but they often interrupt training because your dog has to stop and chew. Those few extra seconds might not seem important, but they reduce the number of successful repetitions you can fit into a session.

Here's a quick comparison:

That doesn't mean crunchy treats are "bad" — they're simply better suited to rewarding your dog once training has finished, rather than during the learning process itself.

The Training Treat Pyramid

Not every behaviour deserves your very best reward.

One of the biggest mistakes owners make is using the same treat for everything. If your dog receives roast chicken for sitting in the kitchen, they have very little reason to work harder when you ask for a recall in a busy park.

Instead, think of training treats as a pyramid. The more difficult the task or the more distracting the environment, the more valuable the reward should become.

Saving these extra-special rewards for challenging situations helps maintain their value. Your dog quickly learns that responding in difficult environments leads to an exceptional reward, making them more likely to choose you over whatever distraction they're facing.

Want to learn why certain rewards are so much more motivating than others? Read our guide to Why High-Value Rewards Matter in Dog Training, where we explain how using the right reward at the right time can dramatically improve your dog's focus, recall and learning.

Matching Treats to Different Types of Training

Not all training is the same, so it makes sense that not all rewards should be either.

Using the right treat for the right situation can make learning faster, improve your dog's motivation and help you tackle more challenging behaviours with confidence.

Here's a simple guide to choosing the best reward for different types of training.

Remember, it's perfectly normal to increase the value of the reward as the difficulty of the task increases.

A dog who happily sits for a small training treat in your kitchen may need something much more exciting when you're asking them to come back from another dog in the park.

Choosing Training Treats for Puppies

Puppies learn incredibly quickly during their first year of life, which means they can earn hundreds of rewards every week.

Choosing suitable treats is therefore just as important as teaching the behaviour itself.

When buying treats for a puppy, look for rewards that are:

• Soft and easy to chew
• Small enough to swallow quickly
• Made with natural ingredients
• Easy to break into even smaller pieces
• Highly digestible

Puppies have tiny stomachs, so it's easy to accidentally feed too many calories during training.

Instead of giving larger treats, use very small pieces and remember to reduce your puppy's regular food slightly if you've had a particularly busy training day.

Natural meat treats and high-quality pâté cut into pea-sized cubes are excellent options because they're soft, highly rewarding and easy to portion. Our Puppy Training Treats Collection has been carefully selected to help young dogs learn while supporting healthy growth and development.

If you're introducing a young puppy to training for the first time, keep sessions short — just two or three minutes at a time — and finish while they're still enjoying themselves.

Training Treats for Dogs with Allergies or Sensitive Stomachs

Food sensitivities don't have to stop your dog enjoying training.

Many dogs with allergies can still benefit from positive reinforcement, provided you choose treats that suit their individual dietary needs.

If your dog has known food sensitivities, consider:

• Single-protein treats
• Hypoallergenic treats
• Novel proteins such as rabbit, venison, ostrich or goat
• Grain-free options if recommended by your vet
• Treats with short, simple ingredient lists

Introducing one new protein at a time also makes it much easier to identify any ingredients that don't agree with your dog.

If you're unsure whether your dog has a food sensitivity, our guide to The Ultimate Guide to Hypoallergenic Dog Treats explains how to choose suitable treats and recognise the signs of common food allergies.

Healthy Ingredients to Look For

Training sessions often involve dozens of rewards, so quality matters.

Rather than focusing solely on the number of calories, it's worth looking at what's actually inside the treat.

The healthiest training treats are usually made with simple, recognisable ingredients.

Look for:

• High meat content
• Clearly named proteins, such as beef, duck or rabbit
• Short ingredient lists
• Naturally high protein
• No artificial colours or flavours
• No added sugars
• Easily digestible ingredients

Be cautious of:

• Large amounts of cereals or fillers
• Artificial preservatives
• Unspecified "meat derivatives"
• Excessive salt or sugar
• Very high-fat treats if your dog is overweight or prone to pancreatitis

Remember, no single treat is perfect for every dog. The healthiest option is one that meets your dog's individual nutritional needs while keeping them motivated to learn.

Ten Common Training Treat Mistakes

Even experienced owners occasionally make mistakes when choosing rewards.

Fortunately, they're easy to fix.

1. Using treats that are too large

Your dog doesn't need a whole biscuit every time they sit.

Tiny rewards allow many more repetitions without overfeeding.

2. Using crunchy biscuits during training

Crunchy treats slow down the pace of learning because your dog spends longer chewing instead of concentrating.

3. Using low-value treats outdoors

If your dog ignores you at the park, the problem may not be stubbornness — it may simply be that the reward isn't exciting enough.

4. Waiting too long to reward

Ideally, your dog should receive the treat within one or two seconds of performing the correct behaviour.

5. Always using the same treat

Variety helps maintain motivation.

Rotating proteins such as duck, rabbit, fish and beef can keep rewards exciting.

6. Overfeeding during training

Training treats still count towards your dog's daily calorie intake.

Keep rewards tiny and reduce meal portions slightly when necessary.

7. Training after a large meal

A full dog is often less motivated to work for food.

Many owners find training before mealtimes leads to better focus.

8. Expecting one treat to work everywhere

A biscuit that works perfectly in your kitchen may be completely ignored in a busy park.

Increase reward value as distractions increase.

9. Forgetting verbal praise

Food is powerful, but pairing treats with calm praise helps strengthen the positive association and can gradually reduce your reliance on food rewards over time.

10. Buying treats based on marketing alone

Ignore the packaging.

Instead, look at the ingredients, size, texture and smell to decide whether a treat is truly suitable for training.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should a training treat be?

For most dogs, around the size of a pea is ideal. Small rewards allow lots of repetitions without adding unnecessary calories.

Are soft treats better than biscuits?

Usually, yes. Soft treats are quicker to eat, making training sessions smoother and allowing your dog to stay focused on learning.

Can I use my dog's normal kibble for training?

Absolutely. Kibble works well for practising behaviours your dog already knows in low-distraction environments. For more challenging situations, you'll usually need a higher-value reward.

What are high-value training treats?

High-value treats are rewards your dog finds especially exciting, such as liver, fish, rabbit, duck or fresh chicken. They're best reserved for recall, introducing new behaviours or training in distracting environments.

For particularly challenging training situations, many owners use highly palatable rewards such as our Arden Grange Paste, which can also be used during grooming, nail trimming or vet visits.

How many training treats can I give my dog each day?

There's no fixed number.

Instead, keep each reward tiny and adjust your dog's daily food allowance if you're using lots of treats during training.

Are natural treats healthier?

Many natural treats contain fewer ingredients and less processing than heavily manufactured alternatives, making them an excellent choice for regular training.

Can puppies have training treats?

Yes. Choose soft, highly digestible treats designed for puppies or cut suitable natural treats into very small pieces.

Should I use different treats indoors and outdoors?

Often, yes.

Outdoor environments are much more distracting, so using higher-value rewards can dramatically improve your dog's focus.

Can training treats make my dog overweight?

Only if too many calories are fed overall.

Keeping treats small and balancing them with your dog's daily food intake helps maintain a healthy weight.

How do I stop my dog becoming dependent on treats?

Once your dog understands a behaviour reliably, begin varying your rewards. Sometimes use food, sometimes praise, sometimes a favourite toy or game. This keeps your dog motivated while gradually reducing reliance on food alone.

Final Thoughts

The best training treats aren't simply the tastiest — they're the ones that help your dog learn quickly, stay motivated and enjoy every training session.

By choosing rewards that are small, soft, natural and appropriate for the situation, you'll make training more effective while supporting your dog's long-term health.

Every dog is different, so don't be afraid to experiment with different proteins, textures and reward values until you discover what truly motivates your dog.

If you're ready to take your training even further, explore our Ultimate Guide to Training & Reward Treats for Dogs, where you'll learn how to use positive reinforcement, reward timing and motivation to build lasting behaviours and a stronger bond with your dog.