10 Healthy-ish Treats Your Dog Won’t Hate

Whether you want to spoil your dog with healthy snacks or make treats a part of their daily feeding menu, you should always pay attention when selecting branded dog treats.

Just like human food, quality matters. Some treats are better suited to certain breeds, and some dogs can be picky with their nibbles. Therefore, choosing the best dog treat is no easy task.

Lucky for you, we’ve combed through some popular dog treats on the market today, and found ten we think your soulful sidekick will go crazy for.

Remember: always consult with a veterinarian before changing your dog's diet.

1. Ziwi Peak Good Rewards Training Treats

For an ideal training treat, Ziwi is a great option. Ziwi treats are made of 96% meat, organ, and bone and are available in beef, lamb, and venison flavors. They can be given as a training reward for puppies or as a healthy snack for seniors.

Grain-free and free from carbohydrates and fillers, and with a caloric value of less than 4.7 kCal per piece, they’re a low-calorie tasty treat that even picky eaters will like.

2. True Chews Jerky Cuts

We love these premium jerky cuts made with real chicken - and we think your pup will, too! This treat is fit for medium and large breeds as they're slightly bigger in size and would be hard for smaller dogs to chew. True Chews Jerky Cuts are made with 100% natural ingredients and do not have corn, wheat, soy, or other artificial flavors and preservatives. Plus, when it comes to jerky treats, USA-sourced protein is safest.

3. Greenies Original Dental Treats

Support your dog’s oral health with this tasty dental treat. Made with wheat gluten, wheat flour, natural poultry flavor, gelatin, glycerin, and a lot of vitamins, Greenies are a good snack for ensuring health and pleasure at the same time.

Greenies have been the subject of past controversy. In fact, we wrote an article about why you might want to avoid purchasing them. However, Greenies has changed their formula to be more digestion-friendly. They come in different sizes and packages for all breeds, so make sure you get a sizing that’s correct for your dog - and when in doubt, break it up into smaller pieces to make digestion easier.

One Greenies dental chew daily is enough to reduce tartar and bad breath.

4. Stewart Freeze Dried Dog Treats

Does your dog have allergies, food sensitivities, or a sensitive stomach? If so, this treat might be just what you’re looking for. 

Stewart is packed with protein, 100% meat, and natural flavoring. There are various flavors you can pick from, such as beef liver, chicken breast, salmon, and chicken liver. Grain-free, gluten-free, and perfect for supporting strong muscles and eyesight. We love that they offer single-ingredient options, which makes it easier to shop for an allergy-prone pup.

5. Best Bully Sticks Treats

Go for this dog treat if your puppy is teething. Made from 100% free-range grass-fed beef, Best Bully Sticks are free from hormones, unhealthy chemicals, and rawhide. In addition, this delicious treat promotes dental and digestive health and strengthens joints and bones. 

With Best Bully Sticks, your dog will stay entertained all day!

6. PureBites Mini Trainers Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Treats

PureBites is a single-ingredient snack made from beef liver. 

With its simple ingredient list, PureBites is ideal for dogs struggling with weight and allergy issues but who still deserve a little reward. Give this treat a shot, and your pup will love it!

7. Kong Peanut Butter Easy Treat

If your pup turns up their nose at meat-flavored treats, you can try this tasty alternative. Kong Peanut Butter Easy Treat is a creamy snack dispensing canister perfect for training and rewarding your pup.

Made in the USA, this fat-free recipe is produced with milk, soybean oil, peanut butter flavor, and natural preservatives. It comes with a nozzle that reduces messy eating and is an easy, convenient way to give your dog a reward for good behavior. Pair with a Kong toy to keep them busy while you work from home.

8. Blue-9 Inspire Dog Training Treats

Let your pup enjoy a wholesome snack as you train them. Blue-9 treats are made from coconut oil, tapioca starch, and chicken liver, among other things. The bite-size chunks are mess-free and can be enjoyed by breeds of all shapes and sizes.

Professional trainers like Nicole Ellis can vouch for Blue-9. If you're looking for something that's not greasy or crumbly, you should probably add this to your shopping list.

9. Milk-Bone Soft and Chewy Dog Treats

If you're looking for affordable, classic treats that many dogs love, Milk-Bone is your best bet! Milk-Bone is a long-standing brand that has been making tasty dog snacks since 1908. 

These treats are available in beef and chicken flavors and can be tolerated by all breed sizes. While there was some controversy surrounding the brand due to a circulating Facebook video years ago, vets have been quick to debunk these claims. Just like any treat, they should be fed in moderation.

10. Pupford Freeze-Dried Training Treats

Pupford treats are a great chew you can use during training sessions with your dog. They are small, low calorie, and most dogs love the taste.

This treat comes in several tantalizing flavors like chicken, beef liver, sweet potato, banana, blueberry, salmon, and rabbit. Give one to your pet and enjoy the sight of your pup wagging their tail in satisfaction.

There You Have It

With the suggested brands we’ve covered, you can rest assured that you're feeding your dog a treat they will love and that is good for them at the same time.

Elina Agnati is the founder of the animal information site WhatAnimalsEat.com. A resource for anyone trying to figure out what they should feed their pet or local wildlife.