Choosing the right dog training treats can make all the difference to how effective your training is. Not all treats are created equal — and not all behaviours deserve the same “pay packet”. 🎯
Every dog is an individual. What your dog finds rewarding might be totally different to the next dog. (Mine would absolutely be chocolate… but I don’t recommend that for the dogs. 😅)
Why choosing the right dog training treats matters
In dog training, reinforcement simply means anything that makes a behaviour more likely to happen again. We can reinforce our dogs with:
- Food (kibble, treats, cheese, meat, etc.)
- Toys and games
- Opportunities to sniff, run or explore
- Access to people, dogs, cuddles and attention
We’re reinforcing our dogs all the time, often without realising. That can work brilliantly for us — or against us — depending on what the dog is getting “paid” for.
When you start choosing the right dog training treats for each behaviour, instead of using the same thing for everything, training becomes clearer, fairer and far more effective.
The 50p, £10 and £1000 dog treat “pay scale”
I like to think about dog training treats in terms of money. Different behaviours earn different wages, depending on how hard they are for the dog in that moment.
For an easy behaviour like a simple “sit” in the kitchen with no distractions, a tiny bit of kibble might be enough. That’s your “50p treat”.
But if I ask Bear to “come” away from a field full of distractions — dogs, people, picnics, and of course fox poo — 50p kibble isn’t going to cut it. 🦊💩
To Bear, fox poo is like £100, maybe even £1000. If I only offer 50p kibble, it’s completely understandable that he’ll choose the higher-value option. We’d all do the same!
This is the heart of choosing the right dog training treats — matching the value of the food reward to how hard the dog’s job is in that moment.
What I use: 50p, £10 and £1000 treats
Over the years, I’ve watched what really “floats” Bear’s boat and sorted treats into three simple categories:
So, in simple terms:
- 50p “Kibble” treats – easy behaviours, low distraction, mostly at home.
- £10 “Training Treats” – everyday training, trickier environments, slightly harder tasks.
- £1000 “Recall Treats” – coming away from big distractions or anything your dog finds genuinely difficult.
And no, I don’t expect you to spend £1000 on recall treats — the money is just a metaphor (a client did ask once!).
Healthy ingredients for the best dog training treats
As tempting as it is to grab the brightest bag on the supermarket shelf, many cheap treats are heavily processed and packed with fillers, sugars and colourings. I generally avoid brands like Bakers, Pedigree and Wag for this reason.
Instead, I look for treats that are:
- High in animal protein
- Low in unnecessary fillers and sugars
- Soft enough to break into tiny pieces
- Smelly (in a good way) so your dog can find them exciting even outdoors
I’ve hand-selected some of my favourite options and divided them into Training Treats and Recall Treats in the HPDT shop. Always reduce your dog’s normal meals if you’ve used a lot of treats, so their overall intake stays balanced and they maintain a healthy weight.
If you’re unsure about your dog’s body condition, here’s a helpful independent guide from the PDSA: PDSA Body Condition Score Chart
You can also read more in Dog Food and Is Your Dog the Optimum Weight?.
Putting it all together in real life
So next time you find yourself getting frustrated that your dog isn’t listening, pause and ask:
“Is this behaviour actually hard for my dog right now?”
“Am I paying them fairly for the job I’m asking them to do?”
Choose the right value treat for the right job, and you’ll see your dog respond more willingly, more often, and with far less stress on both sides.
I’d love to hear what your dog’s “£1000 treat” is — feel free to let me know in the comments. 🐾
For loads more step-by-step training support, check out my Rapid Recall Online Course and other HPDT Online Courses.
FAQs: Choosing the right dog training treats
What are the best dog training treats for recall?
For recall, you’ll usually need your “£1000” level reward — something your dog absolutely loves and doesn’t get for free at other times. That might be freshly cooked meat, smelly fish-based treats or a special soft training treat from the HPDT Training & Recall Treats range. The harder the environment, the higher the value your dog will need.
Can I just use my dog’s kibble for training?
Yes — kibble can be great for easy behaviours in low-distraction environments (your “50p” jobs). For more challenging training, especially outdoors or around distractions, most dogs will need higher value treats on top of their normal food to stay motivated.
How often should I use high value treats?
Use your top-value treats strategically for the hardest jobs: recall, working around triggers, vet and grooming handling, or brand new, difficult skills. Over time, as your dog becomes more confident and fluent, you can gradually blend in more medium-value treats, while still occasionally “jackpotting” with the really good stuff.
Won’t training treats make my dog overweight?
They don’t have to. Keep treats small, choose high-quality options, and reduce your dog’s normal meals to balance their daily intake. Regularly check their body condition and speak to your vet if you’re unsure — and you can use guides like Is Your Dog the Optimum Weight? to help.
Related Articles:
