Best treats for a Husky
A Siberian Husky's high energy and working sled-dog background mean treats need to balance two things — being genuinely rewarding enough to work as a training tool for an independent-minded breed, and not adding excess calories on top of a diet already suited to an active dog, since Huskies can put on weight surprisingly easily if their exercise drops below what they are used to.
Why training treats matter for this breed
Huskies are intelligent but famously independent, more prone than some breeds to deciding a recall or a command isn't worth their attention unless the reward genuinely competes with whatever has caught their interest — often a scent or a squirrel. A small, high-value, strongly scented treat, kept specifically for training rather than used as a general snack, tends to work better than a low-interest biscuit for holding their focus.
Breaking treats into very small pieces for training sessions means you can reward frequently without the calories building up as fast as a full-sized treat repeated many times over a session.
Watching the calories
Despite their working heritage, Huskies are prone to weight gain when exercise drops below what an active sled-type breed is built for, which happens easily in a pet home compared with a working environment. Treats are one of the easiest places for extra calories to sneak in unnoticed, since a few treats a day rarely feels like much but adds up over weeks.
Lower-calorie options such as freeze-dried single-ingredient meat treats, or vegetables like carrot in moderation, can provide a reward without the calorie density of a baked biscuit-style treat, and are worth having alongside a higher-value option kept specifically for training.
Coat and dental extras worth considering
Huskies have a thick double coat that sheds heavily during seasonal changes, and while no treat changes shedding directly, a treat with a named quality protein and added fatty acids supports general skin and coat condition alongside their main diet. Dental chews are also worth including in their routine given how much natural chewing behaviour a working-type breed like this tends to enjoy.
As with any treat, introduce a new one gradually and watch for any digestive upset, and keep treats to a sensible proportion of their overall daily calories rather than letting training rewards or general snacking add up unnoticed.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pedigree Schmackos Dog Treats Meat Variety
Meat-variety dog treat sticks, 20 per pack, under 30 kcal each, banded by dog weight
£2.75
Whimzees Toothbrush Daily Dental Dog Chew
A vegetarian daily dental chew for dogs, shaped like a toothbrush
From£0.69
Pedigree Dentastix Light Daily Dental Chews Dog
Pedigree DentaStix Light daily dental chews for medium and large dogs
£2.35
Dentalife Dental Oral Care Dog Chicken Chews
DENTALIFE chicken dental chews with medium-dog and large-dog variants
£1.65
Pedigree Rodeo Dog Treats with Chicken
Pedigree Rodeo chicken twists with weekly limits for dogs over the stated weight
£2.75
Pedigree Schmackos Dog Treats with Fish
Pedigree Schmackos fish-flavour strips with daily dog-size allowances
£2.75
Hatchwell Advent Calendar for Dogs
A carob advent calendar for dogs, breakable into 4 pieces, made in GB
£3.00
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Fresh Breath Treats 90g
Chicken soft dog treats with parsley and peppermint oil for fresh breath
£2.45
Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Joints & Bones Treats
Grain-free salmon dog treats with salmon oil, glucosamine and chondroitin
£2.45
Forthglade Dental Calming Sticks
Dental chew sticks for dogs with added calming botanicals for evening routines
£2.99
Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Good Gut Health Treats
Grain-free chicken dog treats with ginger, chicory root and MOS
£2.45
Common questions
- Why won't my Husky respond to normal treats during training?
- Huskies are intelligent but independent-minded, and a low-value treat often can't compete with a strong scent or distraction that has caught their attention. A small, high-value, strongly scented treat kept specifically for training tends to hold their focus better than a general everyday snack.
- Are Huskies prone to weight gain?
- Yes, more than their lean working appearance might suggest, particularly if their exercise level drops below what an active sled-type breed needs. Treats are an easy place for extra calories to build up unnoticed, so keeping portions and treat frequency in check matters for this breed.
- What treats are lowest in calories for a Husky?
- Freeze-dried single-ingredient meat treats and small amounts of vegetables like carrot tend to be lower in calories than baked biscuit-style treats, making them a sensible everyday option alongside a higher-value treat reserved for training.
- Do Huskies need dental chews?
- They can benefit from them like most breeds, particularly given how much natural chewing behaviour this working-type breed tends to display. Dental chews support oral hygiene alongside brushing and regular vet checks rather than replacing either.
Related
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.