The best treats for a Golden Retriever
A Golden Retriever's treats need to work hard in training without undoing the breed's tendency to gain weight. This is a food-motivated breed by reputation, which makes it easy to build a great recall or a solid heel — and just as easy to end up overtreating a dog already prone to carrying extra weight, which puts added strain on joints already at higher risk of problems in later life.
Why training volume matters here
Golden Retrievers respond well to frequent, small rewards during training, which means the treats used for this purpose need to be genuinely low-calorie per piece rather than a standard-sized biscuit repeated dozens of times in a session. A high-value but calorie-dense treat used sparingly for the hardest moments, alongside a much smaller, lower-calorie treat for routine repetition, keeps a training session productive without the calorie count climbing fast.
Soft training treats that can be broken into smaller pieces let you stretch a single treat further across more repetitions, which matters for a breed this eager to work for food.
Managing weight without losing the reward
Golden Retrievers are one of the breeds most commonly reported as overweight, and joint conditions such as hip dysplasia, which the breed is already predisposed to, are made worse by carrying extra weight. Rather than cutting treats out, many owners find it easier to use part of the dog's normal daily food allowance as training rewards, effectively treating without adding calories on top of a full meal.
Weighing out a portion of kibble each morning to use through the day for training, rather than treats bought separately, is a straightforward way to keep this under control for a breed this motivated by food.
What to look for on the label
A lower-fat or weight-management treat range is worth considering for an adult Golden Retriever, particularly one who is already carrying a bit of extra weight or is less active than they were as a younger dog. Check the calorie content per treat rather than assuming a smaller-looking treat is automatically lower in calories, since ingredients and density vary a lot between brands.
Freeze-dried single-ingredient treats, such as plain liver or fish pieces, are another option worth a look, since they tend to be lower in calories for their size than a baked biscuit and can be broken down further for a puppy or a dog on a stricter training schedule. Rotating between a couple of lower-calorie options also keeps a highly food-motivated dog like a Golden Retriever interested through a longer training session.
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 Daily Large Dog Dental Treats
Daily Pedigree DentaStix dental chews portioned for large dogs
£2.29
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
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 are Golden Retrievers so treat-motivated?
- It comes down to a combination of temperament and breeding for a job — retrieving work traditionally rewarded with food and praise. In practice it makes the breed easy to train, but it also means owners need to watch total treat intake more carefully than they might with a less food-driven breed.
- What treats are lowest in calories for a Golden Retriever?
- Look for treats specifically labelled low-fat or for weight management, or use small pieces of plain cooked chicken or a portion of the dog's normal kibble as training rewards. Freeze-dried single-ingredient treats also tend to be lower in calories than baked biscuits of a similar size.
- Is it true Golden Retrievers are prone to being overweight?
- Yes, the breed is commonly reported as carrying extra weight, and because Golden Retrievers are also prone to joint conditions like hip dysplasia, extra weight adds strain where the breed can least afford it. Keeping treats controlled matters more for this breed than for some others.
- Can I use my Golden Retriever's normal food as training treats?
- Yes, and many owners find it the easiest way to train a food-motivated dog without adding extra calories. Simply set aside part of the day's kibble allowance in the morning and use it through the day for rewards instead of treats bought separately.
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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.