Puppy treats should be soft, small, easy to digest, and not contain unhealthy fillers. Here you will learn about the 19 best treats for puppies.
Compared to regular treats, they essentially differ in the following two properties:
- Size: They are smaller so that they do not provide too many calories but at the same time not too small that they can be swallowed without chewing.
- Consistency: Puppy treats are softer so that they are gentle on the teeth that are not yet fully developed, but at the same time they are not too soft so that they help with the natural change of teeth.
In addition, puppies' stomachs are more easily irritable. It therefore makes sense to avoid potential allergens (grains, dairy products, soy, etc.) as well as unnecessary additives.
Treats should never make up more than 10% of daily calories for both puppies and adult dogs.
Here is an overview of the four best treats for puppies:
- Test winner: Duck and apple snacks from Amazon
- Lots of protein: Chicken Bitties from Amazon
- Completely natural: Kangaroo Chewies from Amazon
- Grain-free: tube liver sausage from Amazon
Then let's now take a deeper look.
>> Our top recommendations
Treats with lots of protein
For adult dogs, protein should make up around 20-25% of the diet. For puppies, however, between 25-30% is recommended. [1] Protein-rich treats are therefore ideal for growing dogs.
#1 Air-dried meat
All that is needed to air dry meat is salt and a lot of time. Over time, a large part of the moisture is lost, meaning that the meat lasts significantly longer.
However, pure dried meat is usually too hard for puppies as a treat. For this reason, we recommend a softer mixture with vegetables.
Our recommendation: Chicken Bitties from Amazon.
Whether you choose Pumpkin Tomato Chicken or Pineapple Kiwi Duck, these little treats are ideal for young puppies.
What we think is great about it:
- 80% meat (the rest consists of vegetables and minerals)
- Grain-free & sugar-free
- Without additives
This also explains the full 5 stars on Amazon.
ProteinFatMoisture36.5%10%25%
#2 Freeze-dried meat
The special thing about freeze-drying is the fact that it doesn't require any ingredients. Instead, the meat is subjected to vacuum temperatures
The result? The meat lasts for up to 2 years and retains its structure and much of its aroma. It is therefore the gentlest (and most expensive) type of preservation.
In a direct comparison, freeze-dried treats therefore contain more vitamins than all alternatives: pickling, smoking, sugaring, air drying, etc.
Our recommendation: Freeze Dried Duck Apple Snacks from Amazon.
Although these treats are soft enough for puppies, they are a bit crumbly due to the shock drying process. We therefore recommend using them at home. By the way, our dog Alex loves his duck snacks!
What we think is great about it:
- Almost 90% duck breast + 10% apple
- Without sugar and grains
- Without colorings and preservatives
It couldn't be healthier. Around 2,500 positive reviews from Amazon confirm our opinion. In addition, shipping is free from the 11th pack (550g).
ProteinFatMoisture75%7%12%
Low-fat treats
At 9.3 kcal per gram, fat has more than twice as many calories as protein (4.1 kcal / g) and carbohydrates (4.1 kcal / g). The following alternatives are therefore also suitable as dietary treats for overweight puppies.
#3 Rice cakes
To make rice cakes, only puffed rice is heated under pressure. The effect is essentially the same as popcorn.
To use rice cakes as treats for puppies, I recommend breaking one cake into around 6 pieces. Alternatively, you can also use quinoa or corn waffles.
Since all of these varieties are so-called “pseudo-grains,” they by definition do not contain gluten. They are also 100% natural and very low in calories.
The following nutritional values refer to a single rice cake (7g):
CaloriesProteinFatCarbohydrates27 kcal0.5 g0.2 g5.7 g
#4 Natural popcorn
Cinema popcorn usually contains large amounts of sugar, salt and fat. This is poison for puppies. But you can also make them yourself without these ingredients.
To do this, put 2 tablespoons of corn kernels in a glass bowl and place it in the microwave. Then seal it with a plate so that a small gap remains on one side.
This allows the resulting water vapor to soften so that they pop more evenly. Stop the microwave if it takes longer than 5 seconds between pops.
Et voilà, the perfect treats for puppies are ready. By the way, our dog “Alex” is already waiting eagerly in front of the microwave while we fuck – a real fan.
You can now find natural corn kernels in every major supermarket chain. When buying, however, you should make sure that the pack is made from 100% corn.
It is made from grains, but it is gluten-free, low in calories, completely natural and very low in fat. By the way, two tablespoons (20 g) make a heaped bowl of muesli with the following nutritional values:
CaloriesProteinFatCarbohydrates75 kcal2.2 g0.8 g14.6 g
Grain-free treats
Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not carnivores, but rather omnivores. They therefore also contain genes for digesting grain. [2] However, grain-free treats should be used for puppies with gluten intolerance.
#5 Pressed minced jerky
Normal jerky contains very little liquid due to the drying process. It is therefore usually too hard for puppies. Dry mince in pressed form, on the other hand, is ideal.
When purchasing it, it is important that it is dried meat for dogs. The versions made for humans often contain too much salt, sugar or even chili.
Our recommendation: Beef Ranchos from Amazon.
Due to their soft consistency, these treats are also ideal for puppies. To save calories, you can also cut them in half with kitchen scissors.
What we think is great about it:
- 95% meat content
- Without colorings or flavorings
- Completely grain-free
These treats enjoy almost a full 5 stars on Amazon. The same product is also available with lamb and chicken.
ProteinFatMoisture41%22%27%
#6 Harz cheese
Depending on the fat content, normal cheese has up to 410 kcal per 100 g. As regular treats, these calorie bombs lead to obesity relatively quickly.
However, there is one exception – the so-called “Harzer cheese”. With only 0.5 g of fat per 100 g, it is one of the lowest-fat and lowest-calorie cheeses in the world.
You can usually find it in every larger supermarket. Due to its soft consistency, it is also ideal as a treat for puppies.
However, you won't make any friends with this stinky cheese on the road. However, there is nothing wrong with it in the refrigerator with an airtight box. Here are the nutritional values per 100 g:
CaloriesProteinFatCarbohydrates113 kcal27 g0.5 g0 g
#7 Chewies
“Chewies” are treats that have a particularly soft and rubber-like consistency. They are therefore ideal for puppies.
In most cases this is achieved through chemical additives. But there are also healthy alternatives that achieve this consistency naturally.
Our recommendation: Kangaroo Chewies from Amazon.
The Chewies above have been bestsellers on Amazon for the past 2 years. And for good reason. Because they are full of vitamins and minerals.
What we think is great about it:
- > 51% kangaroo meat
- Only natural ingredients
- Without grains and without sugar
These Chewies are also hypoallergenic. They are therefore also suitable as a treat for very sensitive puppies. By the way, shipping is free when you order the XXL pack.
ProteinFatMoisture11%5%23%
Natural treats
All the vitamins and minerals that are essential for your puppy can be found in nature – completely free of unhealthy dyes, flavor enhancers, preservatives and other additives.
#8 Fresh fruit
I've never had a dog that didn't like fruit. However, many are very picky. So your job is to find out which fruit your puppy will accept as a treat.
For example, our dog Alex loves the following types of fruit:
- Watermelon
- Bananas
- mango
- Strawberries
But his favorites are definitely watermelon and bananas. Most other types of fruit usually go into the mouth, but then let it out after a short while.
Citrus fruits are feared by dogs. You should also avoid grapes, raisins and other dried fruits. The high sugar content often leads to diarrhea.
What is important here is that your puppy actually accepts this fruit as a treat. Specifically, this means: It should be a reward and motivation. Otherwise it defeats its purpose.
Type of fruit [100 g]CaloriesProteinFatCarbohydratesWatermelon30 kcal0.6 g0.2 g8 gBananas89 kcal1.1 g0.2 g20 gMango62 kcal0.6 g0.4 g12.5 gStrawberries33 kcal0.7 g0.3 g8 g
#9 Cooked fish & meat
The advocates of “Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding” (BARF) recommend a natural diet for puppies – and accordingly also raw food as treats.
Because this is most similar to the diet of wolves – the ancestors of dogs. However, studies on the topic are still ambiguous. [3, 4]
Raw meat and fish in particular often contain harmful bacteria and other pathogens that are not killed by stomach acid.
We therefore recommend playing it safe and only giving puppies cooked or baked meat as a treat. The following is particularly suitable for this:
- Shrimp
- Chicken and turkey breast
- Ground beef
- Salmon and pollock
Because of their size, cooked shrimp are ideal treats for puppies. You can often buy these in large quantities very cheaply at fish markets.
type of meat [100 g]CaloriesProteinFatShrimps85 kcal20 g1 gChicken breast165 kcal31 g3.6 gTurkey breast105 kcal24 g1 gMinced beef247 kcal20 g14 gPollock72 kcal17 g0.3 gSalmon196 kcal20 g13 g
#10 Baked vegetables
Raw foods are often relatively hard and difficult to digest. For puppies' sensitive stomachs, we recommend either boiling or baking vegetables.
Here, too, it is your job to find out which types of vegetables your puppy prefers as a treat. For example, our Alex likes the following:
- Carrot sticks
- Potato sticks
- Sweet potato sticks
- Pumpkin strips
He also eats carrots and red cabbage raw without any problems. My previous Labradors, on the other hand, were much more picky. You only want mushrooms and spinach leaves.
The only important thing here is that…