The Ultimate Guide to Training & Reward Treats for Dogs (UK)

Whether you're teaching your puppy to sit, perfecting a reliable recall or rewarding good manners around the house, the treats you choose can make a huge difference to your dog's success.

The best training treats are more than just tasty snacks – they're a powerful communication tool that helps your dog understand exactly which behaviours you want to encourage. Choosing the right size, texture and ingredients can speed up learning, maintain motivation and support your dog's overall health.

In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know about training and reward treats, including how to choose the best options for puppies and adult dogs, how many treats to give, and what to look for if your dog has allergies or a sensitive stomach.

What Are Training Treats?

Training treats are small rewards given immediately after a dog performs a desired behaviour. Unlike everyday snacks or long-lasting chews, they're designed to be eaten quickly so your dog can stay focused on learning.

Because dogs repeat behaviours that lead to positive outcomes, rewarding good choices with food is one of the most effective ways to reinforce training.

Good training treats should be:

• Small and easy to eat in seconds.

• Highly motivating and appealing.

• Convenient to carry in a pocket or treat pouch.

• Suitable for frequent rewards without excessive calories.

• Made from quality ingredients that support your dog's wellbeing.

Why Reward-Based Training Works

Reward-based training uses positive reinforcement to encourage behaviours you'd like to see more often. When your dog sits, comes when called or walks nicely on the lead and receives something they value, they're more likely to repeat that behaviour in the future.

Benefits include:

• Faster learning.

• Increased confidence.

• A stronger bond between dog and owner.

• Reduced frustration during training.

• Better long-term reliability.

Rather than punishing mistakes, reward-based methods focus on reinforcing success, making training enjoyable for both you and your dog.

What Makes a Great Training Treat?

Not all dog treats are ideal for training. The best options share several important characteristics.

Small Size

Tiny treats allow you to reward frequently without overfeeding. For many dogs, a pea-sized piece is enough to reinforce behaviour.

Soft Texture

Soft treats can be swallowed quickly, allowing training sessions to continue without interruption.

High Value

Dogs work harder for rewards they genuinely love. Meat-based treats with a strong aroma are often especially motivating.

Natural Ingredients

Look for treats with simple ingredient lists and high meat content, avoiding unnecessary artificial colours, flavours and preservatives where possible.

Low Calories

Training often involves multiple repetitions, so choosing lower-calorie rewards helps maintain a healthy weight.

Not sure which type of reward treat is right for your dog? Use the comparison table below to quickly see which options work best for puppies, recall training, sensitive stomachs and everyday rewards.

High-Value vs Everyday Rewards

Different situations call for different rewards.

Everyday Rewards

For practising known behaviours at home with minimal distractions, standard kibble or simple treats may be sufficient.

High-Value Rewards

When teaching difficult skills or working in distracting environments, extra-special treats can dramatically improve engagement.

Using a high-value reward during recall training helps reinforce reliable responses, even in distracting outdoor environments.

High-value treats are particularly useful for:

• Recall training.

• Puppy socialisation classes.

• Busy parks.

• Learning new commands.

• Behaviour modification.

• Grooming and veterinary handling practice.

Best Ingredients to Look For

Choosing nutritious ingredients supports both training success and your dog's health.

Excellent options include:

• Chicken.

• Turkey.

• Duck.

• Rabbit.

• Lamb.

• Venison.

• Beef.

• Fish.

• Ostrich.

• Goat.

Many owners also prefer single-protein treats, especially when monitoring food sensitivities or following elimination diets.

Natural treats with clearly identifiable ingredients often provide a simple and wholesome reward.

Should Training Treats Be Grain-Free?

Not necessarily.

While grain-free treats can be helpful for some dogs with specific dietary requirements, grains themselves are not inherently harmful for most healthy dogs.

What's generally more important is:

• High-quality ingredients.

• Good digestibility.

• Appropriate calorie content.

• A protein source your dog tolerates well.

Dogs with suspected food sensitivities may benefit more from limited-ingredient or novel-protein treats than from avoiding grains alone.

Why Treat Size Matters

Many owners accidentally overfeed by offering treats that are far larger than necessary.

Remember:

• Dogs don't count treats—they value receiving them.

• Multiple tiny rewards are usually more effective than one large biscuit.

• Breaking treats into smaller pieces can extend training sessions while reducing calories.

For most exercises, consistency and timing matter far more than portion size.

Soft vs Crunchy vs Freeze-Dried

Soft Treats

Ideal for obedience training because they're quick to eat and minimise interruptions.

Crunchy Treats

Useful as occasional rewards but may slow training if dogs stop to chew.

Freeze-Dried Treats

Often highly palatable and made from simple ingredients, making them excellent high-value rewards.

Jerky-Style Treats

Can work well if broken into tiny pieces and used sparingly during sessions.

The best choice depends on your dog's preferences, but rapid consumption generally leads to smoother, more effective training.

How Many Training Treats Can You Give?

Training often requires dozens of repetitions, so moderation is important.

To avoid unwanted weight gain:

• Use very small rewards.

• Reduce meal portions slightly on intensive training days if appropriate.

• Mix food rewards with praise and toys where suitable.

• Keep an eye on your dog's body condition.

If your dog is prone to weight gain, choosing naturally lean rewards can help maintain balance.

The Best Training Treats for Puppies

Young puppies have different nutritional and developmental needs.

Look for treats that are:

• Soft and easy to chew.

• Small enough for tiny mouths.

• Highly digestible.

• Made with natural ingredients.

• Suitable for frequent rewarding.

Puppy training treats can play a vital role in toilet training, socialisation, recall and teaching household manners during the first few months of life.

Training Dogs with Food Allergies or Sensitive Stomachs

If your dog experiences digestive upset or suspected food sensitivities, choosing appropriate rewards becomes even more important.

Many owners find success with:

• Single-protein treats.

• Novel proteins such as rabbit, venison or ostrich.

• Limited-ingredient recipes.

• Simple meat-based rewards without unnecessary additives.

Introducing one protein at a time can make it easier to identify potential triggers if problems arise.

Using High-Value Rewards for Recall Training

Recall is one of the most important behaviours a dog can learn.

When practising your recall cue:

• Reward immediately every time your dog returns.

• Use especially exciting treats in distracting environments.

• Reserve your very best rewards for successful recalls.

• Gradually increase difficulty as reliability improves.

Many trainers recommend keeping a special treat that your dog receives only for coming back when called.

Clicker Training and Reward Timing

Whether you use a clicker or a marker word such as "Yes!", timing is critical.

The sequence should be:

1. Dog performs the behaviour.

2. Marker signal is given.

3. Treat follows immediately.

The marker tells your dog exactly which action earned the reward, helping them learn more quickly and accurately.

Common Mistakes Owners Make

Avoid these frequent training errors:

• Giving treats that are too large.

• Waiting too long before rewarding.

• Choosing rewards the dog doesn't find motivating.

• Overfeeding during long sessions.

• Accidentally rewarding unwanted behaviours.

• Ending sessions only when mistakes occur instead of finishing on success.

Short, positive sessions with consistent rewards are usually the most effective.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best dog training treats?

The best training treats are small, highly motivating, easy to eat quickly and made from quality ingredients. Natural meat-based options are popular because many dogs find them especially rewarding.

Are soft treats better than crunchy treats?

For most training situations, yes. Soft treats allow dogs to swallow quickly and remain focused on learning rather than chewing.

Can puppies have training treats?

Yes, provided they're appropriate for the puppy's age and size. Soft, digestible treats are often ideal for early training.

Are grain-free training treats healthier?

Not necessarily. Grain-free isn't automatically better for every dog. Ingredient quality and suitability for your individual dog are generally more important.

Can I use my dog's kibble for training?

Many dogs respond well to kibble when distractions are low. For more challenging situations, higher-value treats may improve motivation and reliability.

How many treats should I use in one session?

There's no fixed number. Focus on keeping treats tiny, monitoring your dog's overall calorie intake and adjusting meal portions if necessary.

Final Thoughts

Training and reward treats are one of the simplest yet most effective tools for building positive behaviours and strengthening your relationship with your dog.

If you're ready to choose rewards for your dog, explore our range of natural dog training treats, including soft, high-value and puppy-friendly options.

Choosing small, natural, high-quality rewards and using them consistently can make learning more enjoyable while supporting your dog's health. Whether you're working on recall, puppy basics or advanced obedience, matching the reward to the task can make all the difference.

With patience, consistency and the right motivation, every training session becomes an opportunity to build trust, confidence and lifelong good habits.