What makes a dog treat 'good quality'?

A clear, named protein, a sensible ingredient list, and a calorie count that suits how often you plan to give it are the practical things worth checking. Price and branding are not reliable indicators of quality on their own.

Are natural chews better than biscuit-style treats?

They do different jobs rather than one being straightforwardly better. A natural chew is built to last and occupy a dog, while a biscuit-style treat is usually meant to be eaten quickly as an instant reward, so the right choice depends on what you need it for.

How many treats can I give my dog a day?

Treats should stay a small fraction of a dog's daily food rather than a significant addition on top of full meals. If you are treating often, reducing their main meal slightly helps avoid piling on extra calories over time.

Are training treats different from regular treats?

Training treats are usually made small and soft so a dog can eat one quickly and get back to the task, rather than stopping to chew. A larger or chewier treat works against you in a training session even if it is otherwise a good quality product.

Do more expensive treats mean better quality?

Not reliably. Packaging and branding add to the price of a treat as much as the ingredients sometimes do, so it is worth reading the ingredient list on a cheaper option before assuming a pricier bag is automatically the better choice for your dog.

Best rated dog treats

The treats owners rate most highly tend to share a few practical things in common rather than one single winning ingredient: a clear, named protein rather than a vague filler, a size that suits the job the treat is being used for, and a calorie count low enough to give often without displacing a proper meal.

What to check on the label

A named protein — chicken, salmon, liver — near the top of the ingredients list is a reasonable proxy for quality on a treat, in the same way it is on a main food. Vague terms further down the list are not automatically a problem, but a treat built around one clear ingredient is easier to judge if your dog has a known sensitivity.

Calorie content matters more than most owners check for. A treat handed out generously through a training session adds up quickly, and a lower-calorie option lets you reward more often without the extras eating into your dog's daily food allowance.

Different treats do different jobs

Training treats work best small, soft and quick to eat, so a dog can take one and refocus on you within a second or two rather than stopping to chew. A natural chew, by contrast, is meant to last — it is doing a different job, keeping a dog occupied rather than rewarding an instant response.

Dental chews sit in their own category again, shaped and textured to work against a dog's teeth as they chew rather than purely to reward. Matching the type of treat to what you actually want it to do matters more than chasing one 'best' product across every use case.

Moderation, whatever the treat

Treats of any kind, however well-rated, should stay a small part of a dog's daily food rather than a regular addition on top of full meals. If you are treating heavily during training or a chew-heavy day, it is worth trimming their main meal slightly to account for it.

The best treat for your dog is ultimately the one they enjoy, that suits the job you are using it for, and that fits sensibly into their overall diet — which is a more useful test than any single rating.

Pedigree DentaStix Light daily dental chews for medium and large dogs

£2.35

Browse all of Dogs →

Common questions

What makes a dog treat 'good quality'?: A clear, named protein, a sensible ingredient list, and a calorie count that suits how often you plan to give it are the practical things worth checking. Price and branding are not reliable indicators of quality on their own.
Are natural chews better than biscuit-style treats?: They do different jobs rather than one being straightforwardly better. A natural chew is built to last and occupy a dog, while a biscuit-style treat is usually meant to be eaten quickly as an instant reward, so the right choice depends on what you need it for.
How many treats can I give my dog a day?: Treats should stay a small fraction of a dog's daily food rather than a significant addition on top of full meals. If you are treating often, reducing their main meal slightly helps avoid piling on extra calories over time.
Are training treats different from regular treats?: Training treats are usually made small and soft so a dog can eat one quickly and get back to the task, rather than stopping to chew. A larger or chewier treat works against you in a training session even if it is otherwise a good quality product.
Do more expensive treats mean better quality?: Not reliably. Packaging and branding add to the price of a treat as much as the ingredients sometimes do, so it is worth reading the ingredient list on a cheaper option before assuming a pricier bag is automatically the better choice for your dog.

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.