The 16 Best Healthy Dog Treats of 2026

Best Overall

Pet Botanics Training Rewards Flavor Dog Treats

$18

$16 at Amazon $16 at Chewy

$20

$17 at Petco

These soft, bite-sized treats have only 3 calories each. They’re the perfect size for small dogs or for training dogs of any size. With about 500 treats per bag, they’re also a great value. They come in several flavors, including beef, chicken, and salmon, but the primary protein in each comes directly from pork liver.

The treats are made in the United States without corn, artificial flavoring, soy, or preservatives. They have a roster of easy-to-identify ingredients, including potatoes and dried whole eggs, as well as a range of botanicals, including rosemary, green tea, chamomile, antioxidant fruits, and other herbs that are rich in vitamins.

Pet Botanics also makes an even smaller “mini” version, where the treats have just 1.5 calories apiece. Those are also available in several flavors, including chicken, bacon, beef, and grain-free salmon.

_{Treat Type: Soft | Calories per Treat: 3 | Size: 500 per package | Primary Ingredients: Pork liver, pea flour, potatoes, dried whole eggs}

Best Organic

Wet Noses Organic Crunchy Dog Treats

$13 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Petco

There are so many interesting flavors of Wet Noses dog treats. The organic crunchy bites come in more than a dozen tasty combinations, such as peanut butter and banana, carrot and sweet potato, and pumpkin and quinoa. The treats are all USDA-certified organic and are made without corn, soy, or wheat. They contain no preservatives or fillers and stress human-grade organic ingredients instead, such as peanut butter, pea flour, and sunflower kernels.

The treats are relatively large—a smidge bigger than a quarter—so they’re a good size for large dogs, but can also break into smaller, crunchier pieces for training or for smaller pets. The fruit and veggie flavor combinations make them smell good to both canine and human noses.

_{Treat Type: Crunchy | Calories per Treat: 18 | Size: 14 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Fruits and vegetables}

Best for Puppies

Wellness Soft Puppy Bites

$10

$10 at Amazon $10 at Chewy $10 at Petco

If you need puppy treats, consider this option from Wellness. Puppies just love these salmon and lamb soft treats. They are appropriately smelly to get a puppy’s wavering attention, and you can easily tear them into tiny pieces so you don’t overload your little one with treats. Each treat only has 6 calories, so when you rip the nickel-sized squares into even tinier pieces, they become really healthy choices.

The treats feature lamb and salmon as the main ingredients and have no artificial colors or flavors, and no meat by-products. Salmon is rich in DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help brain health. Other wholesome ingredients include carrots, blueberries, apples, and sweet potatoes. Ingredients are sourced globally, and the treats are made in the U.S. 

_{Treat Type: Soft | Calories per Treat: 6 | Size: 8 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Lamb, salmon, chickpeas, potatoes}

Best Dental

Virbac Tartar Control Dog Chews

$29 at Amazon $32 at Chewy

Made without any animal-based ingredients, these veggie dental chews have a distinctive Z-shape that makes it easier for dogs to hold onto the chew while they snack. The zigzag shape helps clean all the corners of your pup’s teeth. Virbac is a well-respected pharmaceutical company that has developed recommended products for animals, including toothpastes, toothbrushes, and oral rinses.

These dental chews come in four sizes, ranging from extra-small to large, and are for dogs from under 11 pounds to more than 66 pounds. They work to freshen your dog’s breath while reducing plaque and tartar. They contain a prebiotic to help with digestion, are accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), and have a short list of ingredients.

_{Treat Type: Chew | Calories per Treat: 75 (medium) | Size: 30 per package | Primary Ingredients: Corn starch, glycerin, soy protein isolate, rice flour}

Best Jerky

Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Gourmet Jerky Sticks

$20 at Amazon $20 at Chewy View on Target

These meaty soft jerky sticks from Rocco & Roxie are so intriguing for dogs, but they aren’t all that stinky for the humans who feed them. The company starts with American-raised chicken, beef, and turkey, then smokes them with hickory wood for 10 hours until they’re tender. Made in the U.S. by a small, family-run business, the treats contain no fillers or artificial flavors.

The sticks are each about 6 inches long, and they’re so easy to break into small pieces for training. Because they’re soft and tasty, they don’t make for a very long-lasting chew. The treats are made in small batches and come with a satisfaction guarantee. There’s a small 6-ounce bag if you want to try them out, but the main package weighs a pretty impressive 1 pound.

_{Treat Type: Soft jerky | Calories per Treat: 20 | Size: 6 ounces, 1 pound | Primary Ingredients: Chicken, beef, or turkey}

Best Fish

The Honest Kitchen Beams Ocean Chews

$19

$19 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Petco

Fish skins are long-lasting dog chews that are made from the outside of the fish. The high-protein treat is made from just one ingredient and is believed to be a healthier and more easily digestible alternative to rawhide. The Honest Kitchen offers two versions: a hearty wolffish and a thinner cod fish. Both come in two sizes: small 5.5-inch chews and large 8.5-inch chews. These are not a great idea for dogs that just gulp down any chew because pieces could get caught in their throat.

The dehydrated skins contain no other ingredients: no preservatives, by-products, or fillers. All ingredients are human-grade, and the chews are made in a human food facility. In addition to protein, the chews are packed with omegas for a healthy skin and coat. The chews are sourced from fish caught in the wild in Europe. As expected, they have a strong fishy smell.

_{Treat Type: Long-lasting chew | Calories per Treat: 24 (small codfish) | Size: 3.25 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Wolffish or cod fish skin}

Best Freeze-Dried

Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food

$38 at Amazon View on Openfarmpet.com View on Petfood.express

Although meant to be fed as a meal or sprinkled on dry dog food as an alluring topper, this premium freeze-dried dog food can also be used as a motivating and healthy treat. It comes in soft and crumbly pieces, which are easy to break into small bits or carry around in a treat pouch or pocket. The food is made of organic and responsibly sourced ingredients, including humanely raised meats and wild-caught salmon. The recipes are also packed with organic fruits and vegetables such as carrots, cranberries, and squash. 

The food is available in six proteins, ranging from beef and chicken to lamb and pork. There are no artificial flavors, preservatives, or additives. The food is relatively expensive (which is why it makes good sense as a treat versus a meal), but it comes in a durable pouch, so it’s very easy to re-seal and store.

_{Treat Type: Freeze-dried | Calories per Treat: Not listed | Size: 13.5 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Meat protein, wild-caught Pacific salmon, organic carrots, coconut oil}

Best Fortified Treats

Merrick Power Bites Dog Treats

$8

$8 at Amazon $8 at Chewy

$11

$8 at Petco

These bite-sized chewy treats from Merrick are billed as powerful because they are packed with added nutrients, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. They come in lots of flavors, including chicken, beef, and even turducken. Meat is the first ingredient in each flavor, followed by other antioxidant-packed substances such as carrots, apples, and blueberries. There’s no corn, wheat, or soy.

The treats are relatively small and have only 5 calories. If you’d like bigger, Merrick also offers Power Bites Big Bites in chicken and beef flavors. Those are a little bigger than the size of a dime. In addition to omegas, they are fortified with glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints, which can be particularly helpful for larger, active dogs.

_{Treat Type: Soft and chewy | Calories per Treat: 5 (beef) | Size: 6 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Deboned beef, peas, potatoes, molasses, flaxseed}

Best Topper

The Honest Kitchen Pour Overs

$34

$31 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Thehonestkitchen.com

This chunky mix of broth and meaty pieces can be poured over your dog’s dinner to make meals tastier. It's made of proteins such as chicken and turkey, along with broth and lots of fruits and vegetables. The Honest Kitchen says it was the first company to offer human-grade ingredients for pets, and these toppings certainly smell like they could be coming from a human dinner. There are no fillers, additives, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives.

You can pour them on as is or warm them up to make meals that much more tempting. Flavors include one-protein choices and proteins mixed with pumpkin to help with digestion. The boxes each contain at least two servings, and although they can be tough to open, they can be closed up and stored in the refrigerator after opening.

The Honest Kitchen also makes dry kibble, wet food, and other meal boosters, and everything is human-grade with limited ingredients.

_{Treat Type: Pourable stew | Calories per Treat: Varies (chicken stew: 107 per box) | Size: 5.5 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Proteins, carrots, butternut squash, tapioca}

Best for Picky Eaters

Hill's Science Diet Soft Savories Treats

$10

$9 at Amazon $9 at Chewy View on Petco

There’s a jar of these treats from Hill's at my vet’s office—and within many veterinarian establishments across the country—so that pups get one on their way out the door to reward them for visiting. I will dig through the jar to find the Hill’s Soft Savories to reward my dog for visiting. Hill’s Soft Savories are soft and chewy treats that most dogs enjoy. The Soft Savories come in three flavors, including the popular peanut butter and banana, along with chicken and yogurt and beef and cheddar.

They’re big—about the size of a quarter—and easy to break in halves or quarters if you don’t want to give the whole thing to your dog at one time. That’s probably a good idea because they have more calories per treat than other treats intended for training. The treats feature limited ingredients such as peanut butter, chicken, and potatoes, making it easy to avoid allergens. They smell really good to dogs and are typically tempting even to picky eaters. 

_{Treat Type: Soft | Calories per Treat: 27 | Size: 8 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Peanut butter, chicken, beef, potatoes (varies per recipe)}

Best for Large Dogs

Blue Buffalo Blue Bits

$7

$5 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Walmart

Bigger dogs want bigger treats as a sure sign of your love. These heart-shaped morsels from Blue Buffalo can be used as training treats, particularly for larger dogs, or they can be broken into two or three pieces for more petite pets. The bits come in four flavors—beef, chicken, salmon, and turkey—with no artificial preservatives or flavors. They have flaxseed, which is a source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and fish oil, which is a source of DHA. Those nutrients aid in skin and coat health, as well as healthy brain function.

The treats are relatively inexpensive and come in an easily resealable bag. They feature real meat protein as the first ingredient, and it’s usually paired with brown rice or oatmeal, depending on flavor.

_{Treat Type: Soft and chewy | Calories per Treat: 4 | Size: 4 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Beef, chicken, salmon, turkey, oatmeal, brown rice}

Best for Small Dogs

Old Mother Hubbard Mini Dog Biscuits

$7

$6 at Amazon View on Chewy $4 at Target

These tiny bone-shaped biscuits are a great size for smaller pups. They come in a bunch of flavors, including chicken pot pie, peanut butter, and veggie, or you can buy one of the assortments so your dog can have a smorgasbord of crunchy treats. Old Mother Hubbard treats are made from a recipe that dates back to 1926. 

The biscuits include a relatively short list of ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, oatmeal, and flaxseed. They include no artificial preservatives or meat byproducts. Crunchy treats help clean your dog’s teeth. These mini biscuits are small enough for mini pets, or they can be used as training treats for larger dogs. Old Mother Hubbard biscuits also come in larger sizes and as mini crunchy training treats.

_{Treat Type: Crunchy | Calories per Treat: 10 | Size: 1.25 pounds | Primary Ingredients: Protein, fruits, vegetables, whole wheat flour, ground barley}

Best Bully Stick

Natural Farm Odor-Free Standard Bully Sticks

$72 at Amazon View on Naturalfarmpet.com

Bully sticks are long-lasting chews made from the penis of a bull or steer—an ingredient known as "pizzle." Bully sticks can be high in fat, but they can satisfy a dog’s urge to chew, and that chewing action can help relieve anxiety and stress. Give them in moderation and supervise your pet when they chew.

These bully sticks from Natural Farm are 100 percent beef, made from grass-fed, free-range cattle in Brazil. They have no hormones, chemicals, or additives and are odor-free, so you won’t notice the smell when your dog is happily gnawing away. They are cleaned with water and air-dried.

The treats are available in standard sticks, in addition to interesting shapes such as rings, braids, bites, and springs. Depending on your dog’s size and how they chew, you can opt for standard, select, jumbo, pixie, or extra-thin sticks.

_{Treat Type: Bully stick | Calories per Treat: 88 (6-inch standard) | Size: 6 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Beef}

Best Training Treats

Fruitables Skinny Minis Soft Dog Treats

$5 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Petco

These little flower-shaped snacks are my go-to training treats. Fruitables Skinny Minis are about the size of a dime and only have 3 calories each. They come in seven flavors ranging from fruity (watermelon, pumpkin, and berry) to savory (grilled bison, apple bacon). They are aromatic, which makes them pretty enticing for most dogs. The treats have natural, whole ingredients, including pumpkin, chickpeas, and chicken.

The treats are soft, so they’re relatively easy to pull or slice apart. Because they must pack a good taste wallop, I find that I can cut one treat into about four pieces, and that’s enough motivation for my 26-pound, highly treat-motivated dog. If your dog is larger, you may want to feed the entire treat. Like any soft treat, it’s important to keep the bag sealed because they can dry out quickly.

_{Treat Type: Soft | Calories per Treat: 3 | Size: 5 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Pumpkin, chickpeas, peas, flaxseed, honey}

Best Small Batch

Bocce’s Bakery Soft & Chewy Treats

$8

$6 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Boccesbakery.com

Bocce’s Bakery has so many interesting flavors of treats, and they come in chewy or more traditional, crunchy forms. We particularly like these soft and chewy treats because they are made with just a few whole ingredients, and they are low in fat. There are several dozen flavors with new snacks appearing seasonally.

The B-shaped treats are made in small batches in the United States with locally sourced ingredients. There are no artificial preservatives or, really, any artificial anything. These treats are about 9 to 14 calories each, depending on the flavor. They are soft enough that they can be broken down into smaller tidbits. 

Pro tip: These treats fit perfectly inside a medium-sized classic Kong along with some peanut butter. That extra flavor can give your pup some extra motivation at treat time.

_{Treat Type: Soft and chewy | Calories per Treat: 9-14 | Size: 6 ounces | Primary Ingredients: Oat flour, peanut butter, rolled oats, blueberries (varies per recipe)}

Best Pumpkin Treat

Portland Pet Food Company Pumpkin Biscuits

$27 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Portlandpetfoodcompany.com

Why not treat your pup to baked goods made with organic pumpkin puree? These crunchy biscuits are made from clean, simple ingredients locally sourced in the Pacific Northwest, and they can be easily broken into smaller pieces for training purposes or for small dogs. The biscuits are formulated without preservatives, hormones, meat by-products, or rendered meats.

We love the resealable packaging to keep these natural treats fresh. These biscuits are great for puppies, thanks to their human-grade ingredients, and mature dogs or dogs with allergies and sensitive stomachs can tolerate these biscuits very well.

Note that the treats are crunchy, so the texture may not be good for dogs with dental issues, but can be ideal for dogs with strong teeth. They also may crumble when you break them into smaller pieces.

_{Treat Type: Crunchy biscuits | Calories per Treat: 12 | Size: 5 ounces per bag | Primary Ingredients: Organic pumpkin puree, garbanzo bean flour, natural peanut butter, molasses, cinnamon}