A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
RD.COM Pets & Animals Dogs
By Amy Shojai, CABC
Updated: Jun. 04, 2024
Unhealthy dog treats cause health problems and may even shorten your dog’s life. These healthy dog treats come recommended by top experts to help pups live happier, longer lives.
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All dog owners agree that the ecstatic tail wags prompted by treats are a treat unto ourselves. Healthy dog treats offer positive ways to love our pets, whether for training, rewarding good behavior, or just because your pup looks so darn cute. That’s why we found the best dog treats on the market, from our biggest dog breeds to the smallest.
Pet care professionals also recognize that the wrong treats result in unbalanced nutrition. Your dog may love bacon, but overweight dogs live up to two fewer years than lean canines. They also suffer more from health challenges, including arthritis, diabetes and pancreatitis.
As a certified animal behavior consultant, I’ve spoken to other dog experts and thousands of dog lovers over the years. I contacted 50 of my dog expert colleagues to ask what treats they considered the best. While many make their own natural dog food and homemade dog treats (more on that below), commercial treat options are great if you know what to look for and what to avoid.
While not common, dogs can develop food sensitivities or allergies to ingredients like chicken, beef or corn and suffer itchy skin or digestive upset. That’s why it’s important to give them only the best, highest-quality treats and pay attention to the effects of any new diet. With that in mind, I rounded up the top eight healthiest dog treats below.
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Freshpet Dog Joy is a fresh dog treat for adult dogs that uses fresh whole meat and vegetable ingredients without the preservatives. Store the treats in the refrigerator, but don’t worry about stinking up your fridge thanks to the resealable bag. They have a fresh aroma and come in different forms and flavors, each with peas, carrots and other fresh ingredients. Divide the treats—shaped a bit like Vienna sausages or bacon strips—into several bite-size pieces for small dogs, or serve them whole for bigger pups.
Freshpet gets rave reviews from many of the pet experts I spoke to, including certified dog behavior consultant Greta Kaplan of Fuzzy Logic Dog Training, and veterinarian Dr. Lore Haug of Texas Veterinary Behavior Services. I used the Freshpet Dog Joy treats to train my German Shepherd, Magic. He’d nearly do backflips for this healthy dog treat—and yours would, too. (Here are some dog tricks you can teach your pup for extra treat opportunities.)
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Similar to these recommended dog foods, many dog professionals suggest fresh or even raw ingredients for treats. I like Instinct Raw Boost Freeze-Dried Food Topper as a safe commercial option with raw, whole ingredients.
Promoted as a dog food topper to supplement your pup’s regular food, the freeze-dried morsels contain raw meat, fruit and vegetables. They’re the perfect size for healthy dog training treats. The recommended serving size is one-eighth of a cup, which lasts for 56 training sessions. We used these as treats for Bravo-Dawg, a 120-pound Bullmastiff, and he relished each tiny morsel—and the attention that came with it.
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Judging by kitty behavior, people often think fish appeals more to felines, but dogs like it just as well. These Zesty Paws Salmon Bites provide a fishy flavor and crunch with no added ingredients. Animal nutritionist and educator Cat Lane of The Possible Canine usually makes her own healthy dog treats, but also recommends store bought treats.
Made with human-grade ingredients in a kitchen, products like Zesty Paws are known for wholesome nutrition for companion animals. These salmon bites are made of Alaskan salmon oil, Omega-3 fatty acids, biotin and DHAgold. They’re are a good choice for pets with food sensitivities to other ingredients like chicken or beef. Curious to learn more? Check out our full review of these trending salmon bites.
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Many little dogs weigh far less than my thirty-pound Shadow-Pup. Despite tiny jaws, they have guard dog attitudes and deserve yummy treats that are safe. However, they can’t manage the large size of big dog treats (and might even choke!), and large morsels also have too many calories for their diets.
That’s where PureBites Mini Trainers come in. Instead of having to cut down bigger morsels for your toy poodle, Yorkshire terrier or new puppy, PureBites Mini Trainers are specifically sized for small dog breeds. The raw, single-source ingredient cubes are freeze-dried and come in several flavors.
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These healthy, single-sourced rabbit treats offer another unique protein source in treat-size morsels. Alix Mitchell, a professional dog trainer, veterinary technician and podcaster at Fetch For Me, Human, recommends Vital Essentials dog treats.
The Freeze-Dried Rabbit Bites Dog Treats include no added fruits or veggies, just the rabbit meat, organs and ground bone, all sourced in the U.S. The kibble-shaped treats are about thumb-size or smaller. Vital Essentials also offers different meaty treats, from beef to fish, to satisfy the pickiest canine. Here are the best probiotic dog foods for an extra health boost.
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My Shadow-Pup demands one of these Barkworthies Beef Trachea treats every day. The beef trachea, dehydrated for easy handling and natural preservation, offers a satisfying chew. It ranges between six and eight inches long, varies in width and looks a bit like the cardboard inside a roll of paper towels.
Dogs adore chewing (hence the need for indestructible dog toys), but chewing bones may prove hazardous and break teeth, or can be unsanitary if raw. This offers a tooth-safe compromise that lasts longer than single treats. It’s best for moderate chewers—please supervise!—as large dogs may chew off larger pieces and risk choking. We usually cut the trachea into two or three pieces to last longer, and Shadow chews one up within about twenty minutes.
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ZIWI Peak products is another treat that comes highly recommended by my professional trainer friends. Manufactured in the U.S.A., many of the ingredients come from New Zealand, which is known for high-quality lamb meat sources. The ingredients are 96% free-range lamb, New Zealand green mussels and organic kelp (a seaweed superfood). Plus, the tripe included in the treats provides natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help with creaky joints. Make sure to try out these organic dog treats for your pooch as well.
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Dogs with a bit too much pudge can still have treats, which is good because those puppy dog eyes are hard to resist! Some dogs suffer from pancreatitis, too, aggravated by too much fat in the diet. With the Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Minnows, you can treat without worry. The minnows look like sardines, and eating them whole allows the dog to reap all their health benefits. They are also well beneath the standard fat content of many other treats, at 13%. Cats like them too, but your dog probably won’t want to share.
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Many pet experts have their own homemade dog treat recipes using whole, fresh ingredients. Recommendations include fresh veggies like carrots, sweet potato, zucchini and cucumber. Pet-safe fruits such as blueberries (my Shadow-Pup loves fresh orange and apple slices) are also a good option. Single-source ingredients like fish, chicken, venison or rabbit are recommended proteins, as well as organ meats like liver, lung and heart.
Dog trainers often dehydrate fresh foods for convenient-to-carry options, turning green beans into crunchy treats, for example. Single-ingredient meat or fruit baby food offers lick-worthy healthy dog treats you can freeze in tiny amounts for “pup-sicle” fun. Healthy people-food snacks can bring on lip-licking satisfaction for dogs, too. Check out these other DIY pet products you can make at home.
Dog experts recommend avoiding dog treats with high levels of fat (over 25%) or chemical preservatives. Labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of ingredients of a percentage by weight, with ingredients listed with the greatest amount at the top of the list. You might need a converter to understand the true percentage of fat. Experts prefer U.S.-produced treats since they usually have more safety oversight than those made overseas.
Look for single-source ingredients. For example, freeze-dried or dehydrated protein products have high dog approval with a lot of nutrition packed into tiny amounts. Dehydrated fruits and veggies also last a long time without many preservatives. Some of these treats also satisfy the dog’s urge to chew. Many experts and pet parents prefer human-grade ingredients or products produced under the same conditions as those for human consumption. Be on the lookout for these ingredients you never want in your pet’s food, too.
Veterinarians caution what’s best for your new puppy won’t be ideal for a senior canine. Even doggy athletes have special needs. Your dog’s ideal treat depends on his unique needs—and individual preferences. Ask your vet for some recommendations, especially if your pup has health challenges that impact what she should eat. And remember that even the best healthy dog treat is worthless if Fido won’t eat it.
I’m an award-winning pet journalist, certified animal behavior consultant, former veterinary technician and dog owner. I’ve written more than 4,000 articles and 35 books about pets, covering all things pet care from hygiene to food to toys. My writing has appeared in major national publications and pet brands, including Family Handyman, HuffPost, MarthaStewartLiving.com, Chewy.com and more.
For this article, I consulted eight dog experts:
As a longtime pet expert and dog owner, I know what makes a healthy dog treat. However, to find a wide range of treats for different sizes of dogs, situations and health concerns, I consulted some of the best pet experts I know. Once I had recommendations from dog trainers, a veterinarian, an animal nutritionist and more, I combed through the options, choosing the ones with low-fat, single-source ingredients lists that would meet various dogs’ needs.
There are thousands of healthy dog treats available to suit every dog. I chose my top healthy dog treats based on formulation and purpose, appeal for the dog, rankings and ratings, reviewers’ comments and experts’ recommendations.
The healthiest dog treats are those with whole, natural ingredients as opposed to synthetic and artificial ingredients. Organic treats are a good option. Talk with your dog’s veterinarian to see which treat is best for your furry friend.
Avoid treats with unnatural coloring or dyes, high fat, dairy, sugar or other artificial sweeteners. Rawhide bones are also a no-no for dogs, and some human snacks include grapes, nuts, chocolate and avocados.
Yes, it’s perfectly fine to reward your dog with treats daily. A good rule of thumb to monitor your pup’s treat intake is to ensure that treats don’t exceed more than 10% of the calories in their daily diet.
Homemade dog treats or dog food can be healthier for your dog, depending on the store-bought treats you compare them to. A benefit of making your own dog treats at home is that you can control the ingredients and skip the preservatives, fillers and chemicals you might find in mass-produced treats. However, doing this regularly requires extra time, money and knowledge that might not be sustainable for every pet owner.
Originally Published: February 04, 2022
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