What is the best dog training treat? Chicken, cheese, sausage and fish are often described as “high value”, but there is no single treat every dog will love. The value of a reward belongs to the individual dog.
Bear happily eats blueberries, wags his tail and licks his lips afterwards. Blue sniffs the same food, reluctantly takes it and then drops it on the kitchen floor. Same home, same blueberry, two completely different opinions.
That is why good dog training is not about finding what dogs like. It is about discovering what your dog likes.
Quick answer: what is the best dog training treat?
The best training treat is one your dog genuinely values, can eat safely and will work for in that particular situation. A food another dog finds irresistible may be uninteresting to yours.
Start with several tiny, dog-safe options and use the HPDT 5-Food Preference Test below. Let your dog’s choices guide you rather than relying on a universal “high-value treat” list.
In this guide
Why “high value” is different for every dog
Labels such as low, medium and high value can be useful when planning training, but they should describe your dog’s response, not our assumptions about the food.
Kibble may sit near the bottom of one dog’s list but be genuinely exciting to another. One dog may love fish, while another prefers chicken, cheese or even a blueberry. Blue made his opinion of blueberries very clear, while Bear could not quite believe food had been allowed to touch the floor.
Preferences are also not permanent. Familiarity, hunger, the environment, competing distractions and the dog’s emotional or physical state can all affect what they are willing to take.
If your dog turns down a treat another dog loves, it does not mean they are stubborn or that you are doing anything wrong. This is especially important when choosing the best treats for puppy training, because puppies can be easily distracted and their preferences may change as they grow.
Try the HPDT 5-Food Preference Test
This simple paired-choice exercise helps you identify which foods your dog currently prefers. It is not an exam and there is no correct result. The aim is to observe, record and become curious.
What you will need
Five different dog-safe foods
Tiny pieces of a similar size
A quiet, familiar space
A simple note on your phone or a piece of paper
A dog who is comfortable and interested in taking part
You might choose:
Your dog’s usual kibble
A fish cube
A small piece of cooked, unseasoned chicken
A tiny piece of cheese
A blueberry
You can swap any of these for another suitable option, such as a small piece of carrot or hot dog. Check that every food is safe and appropriate for your individual dog, particularly if they have allergies, intolerances, a sensitive stomach or a health condition.
Step 1: label your five foods
Call them A, B, C, D and E. Avoid deciding in advance which one should be “high value”. That is what your dog is going to help you discover.
Step 2: let your dog sample each food
Offer one tiny piece of each food separately before beginning. This confirms that your dog is willing to eat it and reduces the chance that the first choice is simply driven by novelty.
If your dog refuses one option, that is useful information. Remove it rather than repeatedly offering it or trying to persuade them.
Step 3: offer two foods at the same time
Place one food in each open hand. Hold both hands at the same height and distance from your dog, with enough space between them to make the choice clear.
Remain neutral. Avoid moving one hand closer, naming a food or encouraging your dog towards either option.
Step 4: record the first clear choice
Allow your dog to eat the food they select and give that option one point. Remove the unchosen food before preparing the next pairing.
Do not worry if your dog pauses to sniff both. Their first clear selection is what you record.
Step 5: swap sides
When you repeat a comparison, switch which hand holds each food. This helps reduce the influence of a left-side or right-side preference.
Step 6: compare the different pairings
You do not have to complete every comparison in one session. A few pairings can give you useful clues, while the full version provides a more reliable ranking.
With five foods, the full set of unique comparisons is:
A versus B
A versus C
A versus D
A versus E
B versus C
B versus D
B versus E
C versus D
C versus E
D versus E
For a more reliable picture, repeat each pairing with the foods swapped between your hands. Twenty tiny choices may be too much for some dogs in one go, so split the test into two short sessions if needed.
Step 7: add up the results
The foods selected most often are likely to sit higher in your dog’s current preference hierarchy. For example:
| Food | Times chosen | Current preference |
|---|---|---|
| Fish cube | 8 | Highest in this test |
| Cheese | 6 | Strong preference |
| Chicken | 4 | Moderate preference |
| Kibble | 2 | Lower preference |
| Blueberry | 0 | Not preferred today |
This is only an example. Your dog may rank kibble first and cheese last. That is the whole point of the exercise: your dog decides.
What the results do and do not tell you
The HPDT 5-Food Preference Test gives you a useful starting point for choosing training food. It tells you what your dog selected most often during that test, in that environment, on that day.
It does not prove that the winning food will be the best reward for every behaviour or in every location. A dog may eagerly choose cheese in the kitchen but be far more interested in sniffing when outside.
In learning theory, we only know that something has functioned as reinforcement when the behaviour becomes more likely in the future. Preference testing helps us choose promising rewards, but your dog’s future behaviour provides the final answer.
Useful clues to watch during the test
Alongside recording the first choice, notice:
How quickly your dog approaches each option
Whether they take it eagerly or hesitantly
Whether they chew, swallow or spit it out
Whether they immediately look for more
Whether they remain engaged after eating it
These observations are not a separate scoring system, but they add useful context. Blue taking a blueberry and immediately dropping it told me far more than simply noting that he had technically put it in his mouth.
Common mistakes when testing dog treats
Presenting one food closer than the other
Keep both hands level and equally accessible. Otherwise, you may be measuring convenience rather than preference.
Encouraging your dog towards your preferred answer
Stay neutral. Avoid looking pointedly at one hand, moving it, repeating a word or praising before your dog chooses.
Using pieces that are too large
Keep every piece tiny. The exercise involves several choices, and large pieces can quickly fill your dog up or upset their stomach. Remember that training treats still contribute to your dog’s daily food intake.
Continuing after your dog loses interest
A short, enjoyable test is more useful than pushing through all the pairings. Pause and continue later if your dog wanders away, slows down or stops engaging.
Testing when your dog feels worried or unwell
If your dog normally enjoys food but suddenly refuses everything, I would be asking why rather than immediately searching for a tastier treat. Fear, overwhelm, pain, illness, nausea and other factors can reduce appetite or make eating difficult.
Read Why Won’t My Dog Take Treats? Five Common Causes for a fuller explanation.
Treating one result as permanent
Repeat the test occasionally. Dogs’ preferences can change, and variety can help maintain interest during training.
The best training reward may not be food
Positive reinforcement does not simply mean giving treats. “Positive” means adding something, while “reinforcement” means the behaviour becomes more likely in the future.
Depending on the dog and the situation, useful rewards may include:
A game of tug
Chasing or carrying a ball
Playing with a frisbee
Permission to stop and sniff
Moving forwards on a walk
Warm verbal praise
Gentle touch, when the dog genuinely enjoys it
Access to a person, place or activity
The intensity of the reward matters too. Excitable praise may energise one puppy but overwhelm or over-arouse another. Touch may soothe one dog, excite another or feel unpleasant to a sensitive dog.
The better question is not only “What does my dog like?” It is also “Is this reward suitable for the behaviour and emotional state I am trying to support?”
Training treats I keep in my own selection
I always carry a variety when working with dogs so I can adapt to the individual in front of me. Different smells, textures and proteins make it easier to discover what each dog values.
You can browse the full HPDT selection of dog training treats and recommended foods.
Options I have found useful with different dogs include:
JR Fresh Meat Training Treats for small, practical training pieces
Fish Skin Cubes and White Fish Cubes for dogs who enjoy fish
Pet Munchies Training Treats Pack for trying a convenient selection
Barker & Barker Training Treats for very small rewards during repeated practice
Thrive ProReward Training Treats for another texture and flavour option
JR Chicken Pâté or Natures Deli Paste when a soft reward is useful
The aim is not to buy every product or assume one will be universally motivating. A varied selection gives your dog options and helps you learn what works for them.
Toys can be powerful training rewards too
Some dogs would choose play over food. Others enjoy both, depending on the activity and environment.
The HPDT dog training toys and tuggies collection includes different materials and styles because dogs do not all enjoy the same type of play.
Dogs who enjoy soft, fluffy tug toys may prefer the WondaBaa Sheepskin Bungee Tug.
Dogs attracted to rabbit fur may enjoy the WondaBunny Rabbit Fur Bungee or a rabbit-skin squeaky bungee chaser.
Ball-focused dogs may prefer the ChuckIt! Ultra Ball or a pocket-sized ball toy.
Dogs who enjoy fetching and tugging may like a floating fetch-and-tug toy such as BOB.
Keep toys safe and appropriately sized for your dog. If your dog is highly excited by a toy, consider whether that level of arousal suits the exercise you are teaching.
How to use your dog’s preference hierarchy in training
You do not need to use the highest-ranked reward for every repetition. Think of your results as a flexible toolkit.
Use everyday food or a lower-ranked option for easy, familiar practice at home.
Try a more highly preferred food for a new behaviour or a more distracting setting.
Use play when your dog finds it motivating and the extra energy suits the task.
Use access to sniffing or movement as a real-life reward during walks.
Rotate rewards to maintain variety and learn more about your dog.
Avoid assuming that “better” always means richer, smellier or more exciting. For example, a very exciting reward can make settling harder for some dogs. Match the reward to both the individual dog and the outcome you want.
Need help finding what motivates your dog?
Choosing and delivering rewards is only one part of training. During my force-free puppy classes and one-to-one consultations, I help owners understand why behaviour is happening, identify what their individual dog values and build a realistic training plan for everyday life.
Explore HPDT dog training services in Essex and Hertfordshire, including puppy classes, dog training classes and individual support.
Browse the HPDT Shop for training treats, toys and equipment
Your dog decides
There is no single perfect training treat for every dog. Offer suitable choices, observe what your dog tells you and use that information to make training more rewarding for the individual in front of you.
FAQ
What is the best dog training treat?
The best training treat is one your dog safely enjoys and is motivated to work for in that situation. There is no universal answer, so test several options and observe your individual dog.
What are high-value dog treats?
High-value treats are foods an individual dog strongly prefers and that may be useful during more difficult training. Chicken, cheese, fish and meat treats are common examples, but their value depends on the dog.
How small should dog training treats be?
Training treats should usually be very small, particularly when you expect to reward several repetitions. Adjust the size for your dog and include treats within their daily food allowance.
Can I use normal dog food or kibble as training treats?
Yes. Many dogs will work happily for kibble, especially in a quiet setting or for familiar behaviours. The HPDT 5-Food Preference Test can help you see how your dog currently ranks it against other foods.
What if my dog will not take any treats?
Consider the context rather than immediately offering richer food. Your dog may be worried, overwhelmed, unwell, in pain or more interested in something else. A sudden appetite change should be discussed with your vet.
Can toys and sniffing be used as rewards?
Yes. Tug, balls, frisbees, sniffing, movement, praise and social interaction can all function as rewards when the individual dog values them and the behaviour becomes more likely in the future.
How often should I repeat the HPDT 5-Food Preference Test?
Repeat it whenever your dog’s preferences appear to change or when you want to refresh your training selection. Keep sessions short and avoid repeatedly testing so many foods that it affects your dog’s normal diet.
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