Best Puppy Treats UK 2026: Healthy Rewards for Training and Bonding

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The best puppy treats in the UK are small, soft, low-calorie morsels made with simple, natural ingredients that a young dog can eat safely and digest easily. They should be no larger than a pea for most breeds, contain no artificial colours or preservatives, and make up no more than 10% of your puppy's daily calorie intake. That is the short answer. If you want to know which specific products are worth your money in 2026, and which ingredients to avoid entirely, read on.

Treats are not just a nice extra. Used well, they are one of the most powerful tools you have during those critical early weeks of training and bonding. Mabel the Cockapoo, for instance, would perform absolutely no sits, no stays, and no recall whatsoever until the right treat came along. Then, suddenly, she was a genius. The treat matters enormously. This guide will help you find the right ones for your pup.

Whether you are working on recall training rewards, practising loose-lead walking, or simply building trust with a nervous new arrival, the treat in your pocket can make or break the session. We have done the research so you do not have to.

What Makes a Good Puppy Treat?

A good puppy treat is one that is safe, appropriately sized, genuinely appealing to your dog, and nutritionally responsible. Puppies have smaller mouths, more sensitive digestive systems, and different nutritional needs compared to adult dogs, which means not every treat marketed at dogs is suitable for puppies.

According to Loyal & Loved, the five key factors to look for are size, texture, ingredients, calorie density, and smell. Each one plays a role in how useful and safe the treat will be during training.

Size and texture

Training treats should be tiny, ideally pea-sized or smaller. Large treats slow down training sessions because your puppy has to chew and swallow before you can reward the next behaviour. Soft treats are generally preferable to hard biscuits for young puppies, particularly those still developing their adult teeth. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) advises that treats given frequently during training sessions should be as small as practically possible to avoid overfeeding.

Ingredients to look for

Look for a named, single protein source as the first ingredient, such as chicken, turkey, salmon, or lamb. Short ingredient lists are a positive sign. Avoid treats with a long list of additives, fillers, or by-products listed vaguely as "meat derivatives." According to the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA), all pet treats sold in the UK must comply with the same feed legislation as complete pet foods, so a PFMA member badge on packaging is a useful quality indicator.

Calorie density

Low-calorie treats are essential for puppies in active training. Some commercial treats contain 10 to 15 kcal each, which sounds trivial until you consider that a 12-week-old Cockapoo might only need 400 kcal per day in total. A treat rewarding every correct behaviour in a 20-minute session could quickly account for a significant portion of their daily intake.

Palatability

A treat your puppy is mildly interested in is not as useful as one they find genuinely exciting. Higher-value treats, typically those with a stronger smell such as meat-based or fish-based options, are more effective for difficult tasks like recall or socialisation in distracting environments. As Loyal & Loved explains, saving your puppy's absolute favourite treat for the hardest tasks gives you a training advantage that no amount of technique can fully replace.

How Many Treats Can a Puppy Have Per Day?

Treats should make up no more than 10% of your puppy's total daily calorie intake. This is the widely accepted guideline recommended by the BVA and reinforced by most veterinary nutritionists in the UK. The remaining 90% of calories should come from a nutritionally complete puppy food. For advice on getting that balance right, see our guide to feeding your puppy a balanced diet.

In practical terms, this means the number of treats per day varies significantly by breed and age. A 10-week-old Chihuahua needing roughly 200 kcal daily can have far fewer treats than a 16-week-old Labrador needing 900 kcal or more. Always check the calorie content on the treat packaging and track how much you are giving across a full day, not just per session.

On particularly treat-heavy training days, reduce your puppy's main meal portions accordingly. Many professional trainers also use a portion of the puppy's regular kibble as training rewards, which effectively keeps calorie intake within normal limits while still reinforcing behaviours consistently.

Best Soft Training Treats for Puppies

Soft training treats are the most effective option for puppies because they can be eaten quickly, do not require prolonged chewing, and tend to have a stronger smell than hard biscuits. Here are the options Loyal & Loved found most worthy of recommendation in the UK in 2026.

Barking Heads Puppy Days Treats

Made with free-range chicken as the primary protein, these soft treats from Barking Heads are specifically formulated for puppies. They are grain-free, small enough to use without breaking, and have a strong meaty smell that most puppies respond to enthusiastically. A 100g pack typically costs around £4.50 to £5.50 and is widely available online and in independent pet shops. The ingredient list is reassuringly short, with no artificial colours or flavours. The only mild downside is that the pack size is relatively small for households doing intensive daily training, so you may get through them quickly.

AATU Puppy Training Treats

AATU produces a range of single-protein treats that are well-suited to puppies with sensitivities or owners wanting to know exactly what is in the bag. Their free-run chicken treats are 80% meat, with no grain, no potato, and no artificial anything. At around £5 to £6 for 100g, they are a step up in price but the quality reflects that. Loyal & Loved found that puppies with sensitive stomachs generally tolerate AATU treats very well, likely due to the minimal ingredient approach.

Lily's Kitchen Puppy Training Treats

Lily's Kitchen is a UK-based brand with Soil Association organic certification on several products. Their puppy training treats contain chicken and sweet potato, and each treat is roughly pea-sized straight from the bag. They retail at around £3.50 to £4.50 for 70g at most UK pet retailers including Pets at Home. These are a solid everyday option, though the calorie density is slightly higher than some alternatives, so be mindful on busy training days.

Forthglade Natural Training Treats

Forthglade is a Devon-based company producing treats from 100% natural ingredients. Their training treats are available in chicken, turkey, and salmon varieties and are genuinely tiny, making them ideal for small-breed puppies or particularly enthusiastic reward-heavy sessions. Prices sit at around £3 to £4 for 90g. These are one of the better value options on this list without compromising on quality.

Best Natural and Low-Calorie Puppy Treats

Natural, low-calorie treats are the best everyday reward for puppies because they allow you to train generously without overloading your puppy's daily calorie budget. The options below are all either single-ingredient foods or products with minimal processing.

Cooked plain chicken or turkey breast

This is, genuinely, one of the best training treats available, and it costs very little. Plain cooked chicken breast contains roughly 1 to 1.5 kcal per pea-sized piece, has no additives whatsoever, and most puppies go absolutely wild for it. Batch cook a chicken breast at the start of the week, dice it finely, and store it in the fridge for up to four days. The BVA confirms that plain cooked poultry (with no seasoning or bones) is safe for dogs of all ages.

Carrot pieces

Raw carrot is low in calories (approximately 0.4 kcal per gram), high in fibre, and most puppies enjoy the crunch. It is not high-value enough for recall or challenging tasks, but works well for easy commands or calm bonding moments. As Loyal & Loved explains, pairing a low-value treat like carrot with a high-value treat like chicken during the same session can help you manage calories while still maintaining motivation for harder behaviours.

Bella & Duke Freeze-Dried Treats

Bella & Duke produce a range of freeze-dried single-ingredient treats that are excellent for puppies. Freeze-drying (a method of preservation that removes moisture without heat, retaining most of the original nutritional content) means there are no preservatives needed and the smell is intensely concentrated, making them high-value for training. Options include liver, chicken heart, and fish. Prices are around £6 to £8 for 50g, which is premium territory, but a little goes a long way when you break them into small pieces.

Cucumber and apple slices

Both cucumber and apple (with seeds and core removed) are safe, low-calorie options for puppies. Apple contains natural sugars so should be given sparingly, but cucumber is almost entirely water and a handful of pieces adds negligible calories. These work well as calm, non-stimulating rewards rather than high-energy training treats.

Treats to Avoid: Ingredients That Could Harm Puppies

Some treats that are perfectly safe for adult dogs are dangerous for puppies, and others are harmful to dogs of any age. According to the Animal Poison Line (a UK veterinary helpline service), the following substances are among the most common causes of treat-related toxicity calls involving dogs in 2024 and 2025.

Xylitol (also listed as "birch sugar")

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in some peanut butters, low-sugar biscuits, and human "healthy" snacks. It is highly toxic to dogs and can cause life-threatening hypoglycaemia (dangerously low blood sugar) and liver failure. Always check the label of any human food you plan to offer your puppy. This is non-negotiable: even small amounts are dangerous.

Grapes, raisins, and sultanas

The toxic compound in grapes and their dried forms has not yet been definitively identified by researchers, but the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) confirms that even small quantities can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. Never use any product containing these as a treat, and be especially cautious with human biscuits or cakes that might contain them.

Chocolate and cocoa

Theobromine, a compound found in all chocolate, is toxic to dogs. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder are the most dangerous, but even milk chocolate in small quantities can cause vomiting, tremors, and heart arrhythmias in puppies. This is one of the most well-documented causes of emergency vet visits in the UK.

High-fat treats and chews

Treats with a very high fat content, such as rawhide chews, pigs' ears, and some dried meat products, can trigger pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in puppies, particularly small breeds. The Kennel Club advises caution with any high-fat treat for dogs under 12 months. Rawhide also carries a choking and intestinal blockage risk for young dogs.

Treats with excessive salt

Many human-grade snacks contain salt levels that are unsafe for puppies. Puppies' kidneys are still developing and cannot process excess sodium efficiently. Avoid any treat listing salt or sodium chloride high on the ingredient list.

Artificial colours and preservatives

While not acutely toxic in most cases, artificial colourings such as tartrazine and preservatives such as BHA and BHT have been associated with behavioural changes and long-term health concerns in some studies. There is no nutritional reason for these ingredients to be in a treat; their presence usually indicates lower quality manufacturing. Loyal & Loved found that sticking to treats without these additives is an easy way to reduce unnecessary risk.

Making Your Own Puppy Treats at Home

Making your own puppy treats at home is straightforward, affordable, and gives you complete control over what goes into them. It is particularly useful for puppies with known allergies or intolerances, or for owners who simply want to keep things as natural as possible.

According to Loyal & Loved, the most important rule for homemade treats is to keep recipes simple. The more ingredients you add, the more potential there is for a reaction, and the harder it becomes to identify a problem if one arises.

Simple chicken and oat training bites

This is one of the most popular homemade puppy treat recipes among UK dog owners, and for good reason. Blend 200g of cooked, plain chicken breast with 100g of plain rolled oats and one egg. Spread the mixture thinly on a lined baking tray and bake at 180°C for 15 to 20 minutes until firm. Once cooled, cut or break into pea-sized pieces. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days, or freeze in portions for up to a month. The oats provide a small amount of fibre and help bind the treats without adding significant calories.

Sweet potato chews

Slice a raw sweet potato into thin rounds or strips, place on a baking tray, and bake at 150°C for two to three hours until fully dried out. These make excellent long-lasting chews that are low in fat, high in fibre, and contain beta-carotene. They are not ideal as rapid-fire training treats due to their size and chew time, but work well as a settling reward after a session.

Salmon paste treats

For high-value homemade treats, tinned salmon in spring water (drained thoroughly) mixed with plain wholegrain flour and a beaten egg makes a soft, intensely smelly treat paste that can be piped into small dots and baked. These are particularly effective for recall training rewards where you need maximum motivation. Cost per batch is typically under £2.

A note on ingredients to avoid in homemade recipes

Never add onion, garlic, chives, nutmeg, macadamia nuts, or any of the ingredients listed in the previous section. Stick to puppy-safe proteins and vegetables. If your puppy is on a prescription diet for any reason, consult your vet before introducing homemade treats.

Our Top Picks Available in the UK

Having covered the categories in detail, here is a consolidated summary of our top recommendations for the best puppy treats available in the UK in 2026. Each has been selected for ingredient quality, palatability, appropriate sizing, and value for money.

For a broader view of everything you will need in the early months, our puppy's first year essentials guide covers the full picture, from feeding schedules and vet visits to socialisation milestones and gear recommendations.

Our overall top pick: Barking Heads Puppy Days Treats

For most puppy owners doing regular training sessions, Barking Heads Puppy Days Treats represent the best balance of quality, palatability, appropriate sizing, and price. The free-range chicken formula is both appealing to puppies and transparent about sourcing, the treats are genuinely small enough to use without breaking, and the brand has a strong track record in the UK market. If your puppy has a chicken sensitivity, the AATU single-protein range is our recommended alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best puppy treats for training in the UK?

The best puppy treats for training in the UK are small, soft, meat-based treats with a strong smell and minimal ingredients. Our top recommendations include Barking Heads Puppy Days Treats, AATU Puppy Training Treats, and Forthglade Natural Training Treats. For high-value tasks such as recall, freeze-dried treats from Bella & Duke or small pieces of plain cooked chicken are particularly effective. All should be pea-sized or smaller and make up no more than 10% of your puppy's daily calorie intake.

How many treats can I give my puppy a day without causing harm?

The British Veterinary Association recommends that treats make up no more than 10% of a puppy's total daily calorie intake. In practice, this means between 15 and 90 kcal worth of treats depending on your puppy's size and age. For a small-breed puppy at 12 weeks, this might be as few as 10 to 15 pea-sized treats per day. Always check the calorie information on the packet and reduce main meals slightly on days with intensive training.

Are Barking Heads treats suitable for young puppies?

Yes. Barking Heads Puppy Days Treats are specifically formulated for puppies, with free-range chicken as the primary ingredient and no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. They are soft in texture, which makes them appropriate for puppies still developing their teeth, and small enough to use directly from the bag during training sessions. They are available from the Barking Heads website and most UK pet retailers.

Can puppies have human food as treats?

Some human foods are safe and genuinely useful as puppy treats. Plain cooked chicken or turkey, raw carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and small pieces of apple (seeds and core removed) are all safe options. However, many human foods are dangerous for puppies, including anything containing xylitol, chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion, or garlic. Always check before offering any human food, and never assume that something safe for people is safe for your puppy.

What ingredients should I avoid in puppy treats?

Avoid any puppy treat containing xylitol (birch sugar), chocolate or cocoa, grapes or raisins, onion or garlic, excessive salt, or artificial preservatives such as BHA and BHT. Rawhide chews and high-fat treats such as pigs' ears carry additional risks for puppies, including choking, blockages, and pancreatitis. Stick to treats with a short, recognisable ingredient list and a named protein source as the first item. When in doubt, the Animal Poison Line (01202 509000) offers 24-hour advice in the UK.

Are natural or freeze-dried puppy treats worth the higher price?

For everyday training, standard soft treats from quality brands such as Barking Heads or Forthglade offer excellent value and do not need to be replaced with freeze-dried alternatives. Freeze-dried treats from brands like Bella & Duke are genuinely worth the extra cost in specific situations, particularly for high-distraction training, recall work, or puppies who are difficult to motivate. Loyal & Loved found that most owners benefit from having two treat tiers: a lower-value everyday option and a high-value reserve for the most challenging training scenarios.