Looking for something cheaper than Guru?
Guru is a small-batch treat and chew brand, and it sits at the higher end of what dog treats cost. Here's how to find something that suits a tighter budget without cutting corners on quality, particularly if you're feeding more than one dog or training heavily most days.
What Guru is, and why it costs what it does
Guru makes dog treats and chew toys built around simple, clearly labelled ingredients and smaller production runs rather than mass-market volume, which is generally why the range sits toward the premium end of the treat aisle rather than the budget end. That is a genuine positioning choice, not a reflection of every other treat being lower quality.
If Guru's price point does not suit your budget, particularly if you have more than one dog or go through treats quickly during training, there are plenty of ways to keep treat time going without spending at that level.
Finding a more affordable treat that still does the job
For everyday training treats, a value multi-pack works just as well as a premium single treat for most purposes — the goal in training is a small, quick, repeatable reward, not a special-occasion snack, so a simple biscuit or soft training treat bought in bulk often works out considerably cheaper per session.
For chews and longer-lasting treats, natural options such as tripe sticks or basic dental chews tend to cost less per item than a small-batch chew while still giving a dog something worthwhile to work through, and buying a larger pack rather than single items usually lowers the cost per treat further.
What to check regardless of price
Whatever budget you are working to, check the ingredients list for anything your dog is known to react to, and match the treat size to your dog — a chew sized for a large breed is a choking risk handed to a small dog, whatever it costs.
Calories add up in treats more than most owners expect, particularly during focused training sessions, so keeping an eye on portion and frequency matters more to your dog's overall health than which brand is on the packet.
From this brand
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Interactive Activity Ball Dog Toy with Cover
A bouncy activity ball in a tough zip-on cover that keeps dogs chasing, nudging and herding for hours.
From£23.99
Self-Moving Chew-Resistant Dog Ball
A USB-C rechargeable ball that moves on its own to keep dogs busy and active. Tough E-TPU construction stands up to chewing during supervised play, and the splash-resistant build suits indoor or outdoor use.
£15.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs with Pump
A large inflatable herding ball with pump that taps into your dog's chase instinct.
From£19.99
Remote-Controlled Jumping Ball Dog Toy
A self-rolling, light-up ball that jumps and rolls to keep dogs entertained. A paw-shaped remote sets three activity gears, so both small and large dogs can chase and play. Rechargeable and tough against chewing.
From£19.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs
A large inflatable ball too big for a dog to pick up, with a bite-resistant double-layer shell that slow-deflates if punctured, for high-drive chasing and nudging.
£23.99
Inflatable Herding Ball with Handles for Dogs
A large, tough inflatable herding ball that taps into your dog's natural chase-and-nudge instinct. Reinforced bite-resistant fabric and grab handles make it great for active outdoor play with medium and large breeds.
£29.99
Durables Toy Crocodile
The crocodile from Red Dingo's Durables line: solid hardware, hard-wearing materials and a five-year manufacturer guarantee, which is rare enough to be the reason to buy.
£20.49
Tuffy Junior Zoo Hippo
A junior-sized Tuffy hippo built in bonded layers with webbed, multi-row stitched seams, light enough for smaller dogs and puppies, that floats and is machine washable.
£18.99
No-Stuffing Crinkle Plush Dog Toy
A cuddly stuffing-free plush lion with built-in crinkle and dual squeakers to keep small and medium dogs entertained. Less mess if chewed open, and the soft body is machine washable for easy cleaning.
£10.99
Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw
Meet the Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw — one of the toughest dog toys we stock. Tuffy build their toys in multiple bonded layers with several rows of stitching and protective webbing on the seams, so they stand up to serious chewers far better than an ordinary plush. They float, and they’re machine washable (air dry).
£13.99
Chase Buddy Boredom Busting Dog Toy
A sturdy chase toy for dogs left alone for short spells, redirecting the energy that turns into barking, pacing and chewed skirting boards into active play.
£23.99
Foam Popcorn Ring Dog Tug Toy
A lightweight, springy ring tug toy made from soft ETPU popcorn foam. It floats, bounces and is easy to throw and catch, making it ideal for fetch, tug-of-war and active outdoor play.
From£7.99
Common questions
- Is Guru a premium dog treat brand?
- Yes, Guru generally sits toward the higher end of the treat market, built around smaller production runs and simple, clearly labelled ingredients rather than mass-market pricing. That positioning is why it typically costs more than a standard supermarket treat.
- What's a cheaper alternative for everyday training treats?
- A value multi-pack of simple biscuits or soft training treats usually works out considerably cheaper per session than a premium single treat, and does the job just as well for the small, frequent rewards training relies on.
- Are cheaper dog treats lower quality?
- Not necessarily. Price often reflects production scale, packaging and branding as much as ingredient quality, so it is worth checking the ingredients list on any treat, budget or premium, rather than assuming price alone tells you how good it is.
- How can I make treats last longer without overspending?
- Break larger treats into smaller pieces for training rather than using a whole treat per reward, buy in larger multi-packs where the per-treat cost is lower, and reserve pricier treats for occasions where a bigger reward genuinely makes sense.
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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.