Best dog treats for puppies
The best treats for a puppy are small enough for a young mouth, soft enough for milk teeth still coming through, and low enough in calories that treat time does not undo their proper feeding. Size, texture and portion matter more here than any single ingredient, which is why a treat marketed for adult dogs is not automatically the right one for a puppy.
Why a puppy needs a different treat to an adult dog
A puppy's mouth is smaller and, for much of the first six months, is losing baby teeth and growing adult ones underneath. A treat that is fine for a fully grown dog to gnaw at can be too hard or too large for a puppy to manage safely, and a training session that hands out ten adult-sized biscuits adds up to a lot of extra food for a small body.
Puppies are also growing fast, and their complete puppy food is already balanced for that growth. Treats sit on top of it rather than replacing any part of it, so the ones that work best for training are small, soft, and low enough in calories that a busy session does not tip a puppy's daily intake off balance.
What to look for on the label
Size is the first thing to check. A treat that can be broken into pea-sized pieces for training goes much further than one meant to be eaten whole, and it lets you reward little and often without overdoing the calories.
Texture matters almost as much. Soft or semi-moist treats are easier on a puppy's gums and teething mouth than a hard biscuit or a tough natural chew, which are better saved for later once the adult teeth are through. A treat labelled specifically for puppies has usually been sized and softened with this in mind, which is worth more than chasing a particular ingredient on the bag.
Check what a treat is actually for. A training treat and a long-lasting chew do different jobs — one is about quick, repeatable rewards, the other about occupying a puppy for longer — and a young puppy is better served by having both available rather than one standing in for the other.
How to use treats without overdoing it
Treats are extra food, and it is easy to lose track of how many go out during a training session or a long walk. Breaking treats into smaller pieces, and using a portion of your puppy's normal kibble allowance as training rewards where the food suits it, both help keep the day's total sensible.
If you are ever unsure how much treat allowance is right for your particular puppy, that is a conversation for your vet or puppy class rather than a fixed number on a website, since it depends on the puppy's size, breed and how much they are already eating.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pedigree Tasty Minis Puppy Treats Chewy Cubes with Chicken
Soft chewy puppy training treats with 13% chicken and added calcium, 125g
£2.25
Wagg Puppy Treats
Puppy Treats in a 120G pack, with 23.2% protein and 7% fat and full label detail
£1.49
Forthglade Complete Puppy Chicken with Liver Grain Free — 18 x 395g Trays
Sold as a case: 18 x 395g trays. A complete grain-free wet food for puppies, built on 71% chicken and 4% chicken liver
£35.89
Bakers Puppy Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables
Bakers Puppy Chicken & Vegetables dry dog food, 12.5kg, complete food for puppies from 6 weeks to 24 months
£39.15
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Puppy/Junior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey and potato kibble for puppies and junior dogs, evenly balanced recipe
£12.75
Burns Puppy Junior Original Chicken Rice
A complete puppy and junior food with dried chicken 31% and controlled fat at 15%
From£14.99
Lily's Kitchen Puppy Chicken Recipe — 6 x 400g Tins
Sold as a case: 6 x 400g tins. Complete 400G wet puppy chicken recipe with 67% fresh chicken
£22.79
Pooch & Mutt Puppy Bite Size Beef Jerky
Bite-size beef jerky training treats for puppies, scaled by dog size
£3.99
Whimzees Puppy
Softer dental chews for puppies over three months old, grain free and gluten free
£7.99
Burns Grain Free Puppy Duck Potato
Grain-free duck and potato puppy food with a prebiotic, for starting a new litter on a novel protein
From£16.49
Common questions
- What age can puppies start having treats?
- Most puppies can have treats once they are fully weaned onto solid puppy food, which is typically from around eight weeks. Start with something soft and offered in very small pieces, and introduce anything new gradually to see how your puppy gets on with it.
- Are dental chews suitable for puppies?
- Some are made specifically for puppies with softer textures for a teething mouth, but a chew designed for an adult dog's stronger jaw can be too hard for a young puppy. Check the packaging is aimed at puppies before offering one, and always supervise a puppy with any chew.
- How many treats can I give my puppy a day?
- Enough to be useful for training without making up a large share of their daily food. A common approach is to use a small portion of their normal food allowance as treats and keep bought treats to occasional extras, but your vet or puppy class can advise what suits your particular puppy's size and breed.
- Can puppies choke on treats?
- Yes, a treat that is too large or too hard for a puppy's mouth is a genuine choking risk, and puppies are often enthusiastic rather than careful eaters. Choose treats sized for a small mouth, break larger ones down, and always supervise a puppy while they are eating anything new.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.