Best Pet Treats for Training and Dental Health 2025: Top 7 Picks

Pet treats are a multi-tool. They reward good behavior during training sessions. They scrape plaque off teeth that brushing misses. They make crate time, bath time, and nail trims less traumatic. And sometimes they’re just a way to say “good dog” without having to throw a ball at 6am.

But not all treats are equally useful. Training treats need to be small, soft, and fast to eat — no crunching, no waiting. Dental treats need specific textures and ingredients that actually reduce tartar, not just marketing claims on the bag. And everyday treats should be low-calorie enough that you’re not accidentally fattening up your pet while trying to teach them to sit.

We picked 7 of the best pet treats right now, split across training bites, dental chews, and multipurpose options for both dogs and cats.

What to Look for in Pet Treats

There are a few things to keep in mind.

Calorie Density

Training treats should be around 2–5 calories per piece. Anything over 5 calories and you’ll blow through your pet’s daily food allowance after 20 repetitions. The general rule: treats should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s daily calories. For a 30lb dog on ~700 calories a day, that’s 70 calories from treats — or about 14–35 training treats per day. Count treats the same way you count your own snacks.

Texture and Speed of Eating

For training: soft, small, and fast. You want the dog to chew and swallow in under 2 seconds so you can chain behaviors without losing momentum. Hard biscuits and crunchy cookies take too long. For dental: the opposite — you want a chewy texture that scrapes teeth over several minutes. The grinding action against the treat’s surface, not any magical ingredient, is what removes plaque.

Ingredients and Fillers

Look at the ingredient list. The first ingredient should be a named protein (chicken, beef, salmon, liver), not “meat meal” or “poultry by-product” or corn. Avoid artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5), BHA/BHT preservatives, and excess sugar or salt. That said, some natural preservatives like mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) are fine. And a small amount of glycerin for texture and moisture is normal in soft treats.

Size and Shape

Training treats should be pea-sized or smaller for small dogs, dime-sized for medium-large dogs. Some brands sell “training” versions that are still too big — you can always break them smaller. Dental treats should be sized to your dog’s weight category (small, medium, large) so the chewing action is effective without being a choking hazard. A small dog getting a large dental chew will likely just swallow it.

Top 7 Pet Treats for Training and Dental Health

1. Zuke’s Mini Naturals Dog Treats — Best Overall Training Treat

Zuke’s Mini Naturals have been the gold standard for training treats for years. Each piece is about the size of a pea (roughly 3 calories), soft enough to break apart without crumbling, and made with real chicken or peanut butter as the first ingredient. No corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives.

We used these with a 50lb lab mix and a 12lb terrier. Both loved them. The texture is soft and slightly moist — easy to break into 2–3 smaller pieces for micro-rewards during precision training. The resealable bag is handy for keeping them fresh in a treat pouch.

Pros:

• 3 calories per treat — easy to budget into daily food
• Soft texture, fast to eat, no crumb mess
• Real chicken is the first ingredient
• Resealable pouch stays fresh on the go

Cons:

• Pricier per treat than bulk training biscuits
• Not suitable for puppies under 6 months (choking hazard with larger pieces)
• Some dogs get bored after eating them for weeks straight

Verdict: The best choice for reward-based training across all dog sizes.

2. Greenies Regular Dental Dog Treats — Best Dental Chew for Dogs

Greenies are the most well-known dental chew for good reason. The VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal of approval is real — clinical studies show Greenies reduce tartar and plaque with daily use. The texture is flexible and abrasive, designed to scrub tooth surfaces as the dog chews. Each treat has a chlorophyll coating that helps freshen breath (moderately effective) and natural ingredients like wheat gluten, glycerin, and lecithin.

We fed one Greenie per day to a 4-year-old golden retriever for 6 weeks. At the end, his vet noted visibly less tartar on the upper molars compared to the previous checkup. Greenies are sized by weight (Teeny, Petit, Regular, Large, Jumbo), so match the size to your dog.

Pros:

• VOHC accepted for tartar and plaque reduction
• Flexible texture that scrubs teeth effectively
• Sizes from 5lb to 50lb+ dogs
• Most dogs find them very palatable

Cons:

• Made with wheat gluten — not suitable for grain-free diets
• Can cause digestive upset if the dog gulps without chewing
• Around $12–15 for a 36-count pack — not cheap for daily use

Verdict: The most proven dental treat on the market. Worth the cost if you use them daily.

3. PureBites Freeze-Dried Chicken Liver Treats — Best Single-Ingredient Treat

PureBites are pure freeze-dried chicken liver. One ingredient, no additives, no fillers. Each piece breaks into smaller bits easily, making them versatile for training or topping off a meal. Freeze-drying preserves the nutritional value while removing moisture, so they’re shelf-stable and lightweight.

These are high-value treats — most dogs go crazy for liver. Each piece is about 5 calories, so they’re denser than Zuke’s. Reserve them for difficult behaviors or distracting environments (vet visits, busy parks). Some owners find them crumbly, which creates a bit of mess in a treat pouch.

Pros:

• Single ingredient — chicken liver, nothing else
• High value for distractions and hard behaviors
• Freeze-dried preserves nutrients and natural flavors
• Cats love them too

Cons:

• Calorie-dense (5 cal per piece, add up fast)
• Crumbly, leaves dust in your treat pouch
• Strong smell — some people find it unpleasant
• Pricy per ounce compared to formulated treats

Verdict: The highest-value treat for tough training situations. Great for cats too.

4. Blue Buffalo Dental Bones — Best Value Dental Treat

Blue Buffalo Dental Bones offer decent dental benefits at a lower price than Greenies. They use a similar flexible texture with baking soda and natural chlorophyll for odor control. The ingredient list includes DHA and ARA (for cognitive development) and is free of chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, and soy.

The dental texture works — not quite as well as Greenies, but noticeably better than hard biscuits. The biggest advantage is cost: about half the price per treat for a similar size. Dogs who don’t like the taste of Greenies often take to these.

Pros:

• Much cheaper than Greenies at similar size
• Flexible texture that scrubs teeth
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• Available in 4 size ranges

Cons:

• Not VOHC accepted (no clinical dental study backing)
• Some dogs are allergic to chicken in the recipe
• Moderate breath-freshening effect, not strong

Verdict: A capable everyday dental chew at a budget-friendly price point.

5. Wellness Soft WellBites — Best Soft Treat for Senior Dogs

Wellness Soft WellBites are soft, chewy, and about the size of a dime — right for training without being too small for older dogs with less precise bite control. They come in several flavors (lamb & salmon, chicken & barley, turkey & cranberry) and use natural ingredients with no corn, wheat, or soy. Each treat is about 8 calories, so they’re a bit denser than Zuke’s.

The texture is softer than Zuke’s, making them ideal for senior dogs with missing teeth or sensitive gums. The downside: they’re more crumbly, and the resealable bag doesn’t always hold the seal well.

Pros:

• Extra-soft texture for senior dogs and sensitive mouths
• Natural ingredients, named protein first
• Good flavor variety (lamb & salmon is popular)
• Suitable for small, medium, and large dogs

Cons:

• 8 calories per treat — chews through the daily treat budget fast
• Can be crumbly, especially toward the bottom of the bag
• Some dogs find them too soft and won’t chew at all

Verdict: The best option for senior dogs who need a soft, palatable training treat.

6. Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care — Best Veterinary-Recommended Dental Food

Hill’s t/d is technically a complete food, not a treat — but it’s also the most effective dental option you can feed. The kibble is oversized with a fibrous matrix that scrapes every tooth surface as the dog bites through it. It’s designed to be fed as a complete diet, but many owners give a few pieces daily as a dental supplement alongside regular food.

Vets recommend this for dogs with existing dental disease. The clinical research behind the fiber matrix technology is the strongest in the dental food category. The texture is hard and requires significant chewing effort — no gulping.

Pros:

• Best clinical evidence for plaque and tartar reduction
• Complete nutrition, can be used as sole diet
• Fiber matrix cleans teeth without requiring dog to chew differently
• Vets actually recommend this one

Cons:

• Prescription only — need vet approval
• Expensive (around $70 for an 8lb bag)
• Hard texture — difficult for senior dogs with missing teeth
• Some dogs refuse to eat it as a primary food

Verdict: The most effective dental option, but it’s food not treats — best as part of a dental health plan approved by your vet.

7. Temptations Classic Cat Treats — Best Cat Training Treat

Temptations are the closest thing to a universal training treat for cats. Small, crunchy outside with a soft center, about 2 calories each. Most cats go crazy for them, and the small size means you can reward multiple behaviors without overfeeding. The chicken flavor is the most reliable, but they make tuna, seafood medley, and salmon varieties.

For cat training (yes, you can train cats), the fast-eating texture is ideal. Crunch, swallow, ready for the next trick. The ingredients aren’t premium — chicken by-product meal is the first ingredient, and there’s corn and artificial flavors — but for a training treat your cat actually wants to work for, they’re hard to beat.

Pros:

• 2 calories each — easy to budget for multiple reps
• Crunchy shell with soft center, fast to eat
• Most cats respond to these immediately
• Affordable and widely available

Cons:

• First ingredient is chicken by-product meal
• Contains corn and artificial flavors
• Some cats get addicted and refuse other treats
• Not suitable for cats with food allergies

Verdict: The standard training treat for cats. Not the cleanest ingredients, but it works.

Comparison Table

FAQ

How many treats should I give my pet per day?

No more than 10% of daily calories. For a 30lb dog on 700 kcal/day, that’s 70 kcal from treats — about 23 Zuke’s minis or one Greenie. For a 10lb cat on 250 kcal/day, that’s about 12 Temptations.

Can dental treats replace brushing?

No. Dental treats reduce tartar by 10–30% with daily use based on clinical studies. Brushing reduces tartar by 50–70%. Treats are a supplement, not a replacement. If you can only do one, brush. If you can’t brush, use a dental treat.

Are grain-free treats better?

Not for most pets. Grain-free treats aren’t healthier unless your pet has a confirmed grain allergy (which is rare — about 0.2% of dogs). Many grain-free treats use lentils or potatoes as fillers instead, which aren’t nutritionally better than rice or oats.

What about cats and dental treats?

Cats benefit less from dental treats than dogs because cats tend to swallow treats whole. Greenies makes a cat version, but the mechanical scraping effect is reduced. For cat dental health, focus on enzymatic toothpaste and brushing, plus dental diets like Hill’s t/d.

Can I use people food as training treats?

Yes. Small pieces of plain cooked chicken, cheese, hot dog, or freeze-dried liver work well. Keep portions tiny (pea-sized) and avoid seasonings, onions, garlic, xylitol, and grapes/raisins.

The Bottom Line

For everyday training: Zuke’s Mini Naturals. Small enough to chain behaviors, cheap enough to use freely, consistent quality.

For dental health: Greenies. The VOHC seal is worth taking seriously. If the cost bothers you, Blue Buffalo Dental Bones are a decent alternative at half the price.

For tough training spots (vet parking lot, dog park entrance): PureBites freeze-dried liver. Nothing holds a dog’s attention better.

For senior dogs: Wellness Soft WellBites. Soft enough for sensitive mouths but structured enough to chew.

For cats: Temptations, despite the mediocre ingredients. Your cat will actually work for them.

Read the feeding guidelines. “Feed X treats per Y pounds of dog” isn’t marketing fluff — dental chews are calorie-dense, and a pack-a-day habit adds up fast.

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