Best training treats for puppies 2026: Test winner

Puppies learn fastest with the right training treat in your pocket: small enough for ten repetitions in a row, soft enough for milk teeth, and interesting enough to overcome any distraction. In 2026, there's a significantly wider selection than just a few years ago, but not every treat is suitable for training.

Why this is important

Training success with puppies depends less on the command than on the timing of the reward – and that timing only works if the treat is swallowed quickly. Large chew items like bully sticks or beef tendons are unsuitable for training because the puppy chews for too long and interrupts the exercise.

At the same time, many small rewards per training session quickly add up to unnecessary calories. The article Training treats and obesity in puppies This explains why piece size is more important than taste. That's precisely why this ranking isn't based on the lowest price, but rather on piece size, calories, and digestibility.

Best all-rounder 2026: Meatlies Kangaroo. Best choice for frequent feedings: Freeze-dried Chicken Hearts. Best option for food allergies: Meatlies Horse. If you only want to buy one product, Meatlies Kangaroo is the right choice – if you are training puppies with sensitive stomachs or allergies, you should specifically jump down to the appropriate category.

What makes the best training treats for puppies?

• Bite size: Pieces that can be swallowed in under three seconds without interrupting the training flow.
• Calories per piece: important when performing ten or more repetitions per exercise
• Ingredients list: Ideally, a single protein without additives, especially for puppies with sensitive digestion.
• Consistency: Soft enough for baby teeth, but not sticky or crumbly.
• Odor intensity: A strong personal odor increases motivation against distraction.
• Compatibility: gentle on the still immature puppy stomach

At a glance: Training treats for puppies 2026

1. Meatlies Kangaroo: best training treat for basic obedience

Meatlies Kangaroo is freeze-dried meat made from a single protein source, with no grains or additives. The pieces are small enough for quick rewards and are easy to break into smaller portions, making them the standard treat for sit, stay, and recall.

Meatlies Känguru Pro:

• Single protein, ideal for food intolerances
• Freeze-dried, therefore retains its shape for a long time without refrigeration
• Grain-free and without artificial additives
• A strong personal odor increases motivation.

Meatlies Känguru Contra:

• Some pieces are still too big for very small puppy mouths.
• Kangaroo is less commonly used as a meat source than beef or chicken.

Best for: Puppies undergoing basic training with no known allergies. Verdict: Buy.

2. Freeze-dried chicken hearts for BARF: best choice for many repetitions

Freeze-dried chicken hearts are naturally small and can be swallowed in seconds without interrupting the flow of training. Because individual pieces weigh very little, they are particularly suitable for long training sessions with many rewards per minute.

Chicken Hearts Pro:

• Very small portion size, ideal for frequent rewards
• Single protein without additives
• Freeze-dried, therefore practical for the gym bag

Chicken hearts Contra:

• Intense smell that bothers some owners when portioning.
• Less suitable as a sole chew snack, more intended as a training reward

Best for: Puppies undergoing intensive training with many short repetitions. Verdict: Buy.

3. Meatlies Horse: best option for food allergies

Horse meat is considered a novel protein, meaning dogs are generally less likely to have eaten it before – this reduces the risk of an allergic reaction during training. Meatlies horse meat offers this advantage in freeze-dried, small-sized pieces.

Meatlies Horse Pro:

• Novel protein, well-suited for use in cases of existing food allergies
• Single protein without any other additives
• Small, easily divisible pieces

Meatlies Pferd Contra:

• Some puppies need a short adjustment period to the unfamiliar taste.
• Less common in stores than chicken or beef

Best for: Puppies with known or suspected food allergies. Verdict: Buy.

4. Strips of chicken: the best training treat for on the go

The chicken strips come in a handy form that can be easily broken into smaller pieces with one hand during walks. This is a clear practical advantage over loose, crumbly treats for training sessions outside the home.

Strips of Chicken Pro:

• Easy to portion on the go
• Single protein chicken, well tolerated by most puppies
• Robust structure, won't break in the pocket

Strips of Chicken Contra:

• Individual strips are larger than simple training snacks and must be cut into smaller pieces.
• Very small breeds require post-processing.

Best for: Training during walks or at the dog club. Verdict: Buy.

5. Feedlies Venison with Potato: Best choice for sensitive puppy stomachs

Feedlies Venison with Potato combines a lean meat source with an easily digestible carbohydrate supplement. This makes the recipe a gentler option for puppies who are sensitive to single-protein treats.

Feedlies Hirsch Pro:

• Potatoes support gentler digestion.
• Well suited for puppies during food transitions.
• grain free

Feedlies Hirsch Contra:

• Not a pure single protein, therefore less suitable for strict elimination diets.
• Slightly lower meat content than in the Meatlies products.

Best for: Puppies with sensitive stomachs or in the process of changing their food. Verdict: Hold – good as a supplement, not as the only training treat.

6. Small sprats: best option for coat health and Omega-3

Small sprats are dried fish that, in addition to their training benefits, provide natural fatty acids. For puppies without a fish allergy, this is a useful addition to their training treat rotation.

Sprats small Pro:

• Natural Omega-3 fatty acids
• Small size, good for quick workouts
• A change from meat treats

Small sprats Contra:

• A distinct fishy smell that not every puppy will accept immediately.
• Not intended as the main treat for daily training

Best for: Occasional variety and grooming on the side. Verdict: Hold – as a supplement on a rotating basis, not as a standard training treat in 2026.

This is how it was evaluated

The ranking is based on the six criteria mentioned above: bite size, calories per piece, ingredient list, consistency, smell, and tolerability. Products with a single protein source and small piece size were preferred over mixed recipes and larger chewable items because they do not interrupt the actual training process.

Which training treat should you choose?

For the standard case without known allergies, it remains Meatlie's Kangaroo: The Right Choice 2026Single protein, freeze-dried, ready to use. Those planning many repetitions per training session should switch to freeze-dried chicken hearts, as the calorie count per piece is significantly lower. For those with a confirmed food allergy, Meatlies horse is the obvious alternative.

Masterfeed's meat treats generally contain a high percentage of meat, up to 90%, which is a particularly good argument for single-protein products for puppies with sensitive digestion. If you're unsure, it's best to start with a small amount of Meatlies Kangaroo and observe your puppy's reaction during the first week of training.

FAQ

One more thing

Most training mistakes with puppies don't stem from the wrong command, but from a treat that's too big: if the puppy chews longer than the trainer can think, the exercise is already over. Small, freeze-dried single-protein pieces like Meatlies Kangaroo solve precisely this problem, without you having to grind the treat yourself.

Related guides

• Is a bully stick suitable for puppies?
• Beef tendons for dogs with sensitive teeth