7 ideal dog treats for puppies
Bringing home a puppy means plenty of opportunities for dog treats! Whether it’s rewards, training or you’re still working out an appropriate amount to give your dog, puppy treats are a positive and beneficial part of their diet.
However, puppies have different needs to adult dogs, with smaller mouths, developing teeth and bodies. The good news is, there’s still plenty of choice for you and a huge selection of treats which are suitable for your puppy to eat, tasty and support your puppy’s overall health and wellbeing.
In this article:
- Can puppies eat treats?
- Why puppies need different treats to adult dogs
- Best treats for puppies
- Where to buy dog treats for puppies
- FAQs
Can puppies eat treats?
Yes, puppies can eat dog treats, but they should always be introduced at an appropriate age and fed in moderation. Dogs are typically classed as a puppy until they’re at least a year old, and some breeds until they are 2 years. That’s why understanding your dog’s feeding habits is important to feed them correctly:
- Aged 1-3 weeks: Newborns only require milk, and should nurse every few hours
- Aged 3-6 weeks: You can start to introduce a mix of wet or softened kibble as teeth start to grow and gradually add more solid food.
- Aged 6-8 weeks: Feed soft solid food, with less liquid added
- Aged 8 weeks and over: From 8 weeks, treats can be introduced slowly as part of a balanced diet, alongside fully solid foods
If you are unsure on exactly what to feed young puppies and newborns, please consult your vet.
Why puppies need different treats to adult dogs
From around 8 weeks, puppies begin to eat treats, and this is a key phase for training your dog and teaching them commands. However, treat consumption is very different to adult dogs, as it should be part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Frequent, smaller treats are ideal for puppies to reward good behaviour without overfeeding them. As treats should make up just 10% of a dog’s daily calorie intake, it’s important not to overfeed. However, puppies do burn a lot of energy whilst their bones and muscles are developing, so feeding slightly more treats and having a well-behaved dog can be beneficial and healthy.
Puppies also have much smaller mouths and throats than adult dogs. Feeding suitably sized treats is imperative to prevent choking. Avoid using hard chews until your dog’s adult teeth have grown in, and depending on your breed, use smaller treats for rewards and high value, larger treats only once or twice per day.
Best treats for puppies
The best treat for a puppy depends on what you want to achieve, what your dog enjoys and the size or breed of your puppy. A treat used during training will be different to a longer lasting chew used to stimulate your dog and keep them busy.
Our treats fulfil several purposes and all of them are 100% natural dog treats, ideal for all dogs, whilst providing easy digestion. Below, we’ve listed some of the treats we recommend for your puppy.
Training treats
Specifically made for puppies to eat from just 8 weeks old, these training treats are the perfect option for getting your dog started on solid, healthy and flavourful dog treats. Our training treats are available in 8 different flavours:
- Beef training treats
- Boar training treats
- Chicken training treats
- Duck training treats
- Lamb training treats
- Rabbit training treats
- Turkey training treats
- Venison training treats
In addition to being great for puppies as soon as they are on a solid diet, they are also high in protein and low fat treats. This supports with muscle development and overall health, whilst being ideal for weight management when feeding your dog frequently with treats to reward good behaviour and training.
You can choose which flavour your dog will like most or select our training treats variety pack, which gives you 1 50g pack of all 8 flavours to find what your dog loves most. These treats are also 100% meat, single ingredient and hypoallergenic.
Mini sausages
An easy alternative to our jumbo sausages, is the mini sausages! Also available in the same 5 flavours, they are available in 150g, 500g and 2kg pouches, allowing you to try a smaller portion of different flavours to see what your dog loves most.
Mini sausages are also ideal for dogs aged over 12 weeks and again, can be easily broken into smaller pieces to use as treats for puppies. The mini sausages are ideal as a high value reward without having to be broken up for smaller dogs, rewarding consistent good behaviour after training.
Food topper
Not every puppy wants to eat their food! Unfortunately, puppies can be very fussy and no matter what you try, it can seem impossible to get them to eat their actual food, alongside all the treats they love.
The food topper we have available is:
By adding a sprinkle of this topper to your dog’s food, it can encourage feeding with a nutritional and 100% natural topping, that’s suitable for wet, dry or raw dog food. Food toppers also have a natural source of iron, B vitamins and protein, supporting with muscle development and overall health for every puppy.
Meat strips
Meat strips are another great choice for dogs and suitable for 12 weeks old. Our meat strips are high in protein and low in fat, whilst also being available in a range of proteins. Each treat is 100% natural and single ingredient. For puppies that have a sensitive stomach, this is a great solution, being hypoallergenic, free from grain, gluten, additives and preservatives for easy digestion.
Our meat strip flavours available include:
- Chicken meat strips
- Turkey meat strips
- Rabbit meat strips
- Venison meat strips
- Lamb meat strips
- Duck meat strips
- Beef meat strips
Whilst meat strips are suitable for all dog breeds, they are also easy to snap into smaller pieces, ideal for training sessions.
Mini filled bones
Mini filled bones are a long lasting chew designed for smaller dogs. We have a huge selection of air dried bones available, but larger bones can be difficult for puppies and smaller dogs to safely enjoy. These mini filled bones are suitable for dogs aged 4 months and older, so if your dog is still between 2-4 months, try to find some safer alternatives.
Them mini filled bones are made with 100% British beef marrow bones and stuffed with our 100% natural meat filling. For smaller dogs, this is the perfect choice to keep them occupied, support dental health and enjoy a low-fat treat that’s still packed with flavour.
All our bones are free from grain and gluten, ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs and digestive issues.
Fish cubes
Fish cubes are a nutritious treat, keeping your dog’s coat and skin healthy, whilst being rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low in fat. Fish cubes are suitable for dogs from just 3 months old and again, being small for most dogs, they’re ideal as a repetitive award.
Fish cubes are also great for dental health, energy levels and muscle development, whilst being 100% natural. Our air-dried treats are easy to digest, and fish cubes are no different. If you’re seeking an alternative to other proteins, fish is an excellent solution.
Jumbo sausages
Jumbo sausages are suitable for puppies from 12 weeks old. They are high in protein and easily break into smaller pieces which makes them a perfect choice for puppies. Our jumbo sausages are available in 5 flavours:
Each pouch contains 40 sausages, so for smaller dogs and puppies, this should last even longer. Sausages are air dried to retain fantastic flavour and their nutrition, making them a great choice as a high value reward.
Where to buy dog treats for puppies
You can order dog treats for puppies online with us! We offer free next day delivery on all orders over £34.99 before 2pm, and use only 100% natural, air dried dog treats to give your dog a healthy treat, without any bad ingredients or compromising on flavour. If you are unsure on what to feed your puppy or how to balance their diet, always consult your vet.
FAQs
How many treats should you give your puppy per day?
Before 8 weeks, your puppy should not be eating dog treats, as they slowly progress to a solid diet. Treats should then make up 10% of their daily calorie intake, although this may be slightly more as you train your puppy. During training, provide small, repetitive treats and try to limit high value, larger treats to 1-2 per day.
What treats can puppies eat?
All treats have different feeding guides. Most puppies can eat many treats form 8-12 weeks and older. However, always check the feeding guide and make sure your puppy’s size and breed is suitable for the treat you’ve selected.
Can puppies eat rawhide treats?
No, puppies cannot eat rawhide treats. Adult dogs should also not eat rawhide treats. This can pose serious risks such as choking, blockages and stomach irritation. For the best healthy dog treats, choose air dried and 100% natural ingredients.
Can puppies be given homemade treats?
Yes, puppies can absolutely be given homemade treats! Whilst they are still transitioning to a solid foods diet, homemade treats are a great reward as long as they are not fully solid and in small portions. Once they are 8 weeks and over, you can continue to use homemade treats that are unseasoned, and healthy such as some fruits and veg or plain pieces of meat.
Are calming treats safe for puppies?
Calming treats are safe for puppies but are usually introduced around the 4-month mark. At this point, puppies have their adult teeth and are usually stronger chews, making calming, long lasting treats much more suitable for them. If you are unsure, please consult your vet.
