Sausage and pâté-style dog treats
Sausage-style and pâté treats are the soft end of the treat aisle — pastes and semi-moist rolls you can pinch off in tiny pieces, rather than something that needs a proper bite and a full set of teeth. They're popular for training because a dog gets the reward without stopping to chew, and for older dogs and puppies who find a hard biscuit harder work.
What makes this format useful
A soft treat breaks or pinches into small pieces without crumbling everywhere, which matters if you're rewarding fast and often during a training session. Dogs also swallow a soft treat faster than a hard one, so a session doesn't slow down every time they get one right.
It's also the easiest format for wrapping around a tablet a dog needs to take, since it moulds around the shape rather than needing to be split like a biscuit.
Who tends to reach for this aisle
Older dogs with fewer or worn teeth often get on better with something soft than a hard chew, and the same goes for very young puppies still working through teething. A soft treat lets both groups get the enjoyment of a treat without the effort a harder one demands.
It also suits dogs who are motivated by food but not especially interested in chewing — some dogs simply prefer something they can wolf down and move on from, particularly mid-walk or mid-training-session.
What to watch
Soft, meaty treats tend to be more calorie-dense than a plain biscuit for the same size piece, so a little goes further than it looks — this is exactly the aisle where breaking a treat into smaller pieces pays off, rather than handing over a whole one each time.
Check the ingredients if your dog has a known sensitivity, since some pâté-style treats include a wider range of flavourings than a simple biscuit does. Introduce a new one in a small amount first, the same as you would with any treat your dog hasn't had before.
In this section
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
Pedigree DentaStix Daily Large Dog Dental Treats
Daily Pedigree DentaStix dental chews portioned for large dogs
£2.29
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
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 Soft Bite Grain Free Good Gut Health Treats
Grain-free chicken dog treats with ginger, chicory root and MOS
£2.45
Forthglade Functional Soft Bite Treats - Plant Based Banana & Honey
Plant-based banana and honey soft dog treats for training rewards
£2.45
Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats
Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken or duck for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.
From£12.99
Bakers Bites Chicken Dog Treats
130G BAKERS Bites Chicken Dog Treats: complementary dog food or treat with composition and analysis made clear
£1.99
Bakers Sizzlers Bacon Dog Treats
315G BAKERS Sizzlers Bacon Dog Treats: complementary dog food or treat with composition and analysis made clear
£4.00
Advent & Treats Set
A dog advent calendar, Christmas chicken twisters and a highland cow plush to open on the day.
£14.49
Common questions
- Are soft dog treats good for training?
- Yes, they're a popular choice specifically for training because a dog can eat a small piece almost instantly, which keeps the session moving. Break or pinch off tiny pieces rather than using a full treat each time, so you can reward often without overdoing the calories.
- Can I use a pâté-style treat to give my dog a tablet?
- Many owners do, because the soft texture moulds around a tablet more easily than a hard biscuit. Check with your vet or the medicine's instructions first, since some tablets shouldn't be given with food, and always confirm your dog has swallowed it rather than assuming.
- Are soft treats suitable for older dogs?
- Often, yes — a soft treat is easier to manage for a dog with fewer teeth or sore gums than a hard biscuit or chew. If your older dog is struggling to eat treats they used to manage fine, or seems to be in discomfort, it's worth a dental check with your vet.
- Do sausage-style treats have more calories than biscuits?
- Generally yes, size for size, because they're more meat and moisture rich rather than mostly cereal. Break them into smaller pieces if you're giving several during a session, and factor them into your dog's day the same way you would any other treat.
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.