Treats are more than just something to keep a pup happy between meals. Giving man's best friend a soft dog treat can help them engage with training faster, stay focused longer, and respond more reliably to commands. Proper motivation is fundamental for teaching any dog any trick.
The best soft dog treats balance palatability, safety, digestibility, and training value.
While some aren't an option because they contain wheat gluten and cheap fillers, others are often too large or too hard for your dog to chew, or even too calorie-dense to use effectively across repetitive training sessions.
Below is a list of the best soft dog treats in 2026, ranked by safety, quality, and overall training and health benefits.
We did some research so dog parents can make informed decisions before buying their dog's next favorite treat.
Jump to:
- 1. Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats
- 2. Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Bites
- 3. Blue Buffalo BLUE Bits
- 4. Wellness Soft WellBites
- 5. Zuke's Mini Naturals
- 6. Old Mother Hubbard Soft & Chewy Treats
- 7. Merrick Power Bites
- Treats to Avoid
- How to Choose the Right Soft Dog Treat
- Why Soft Dog Treats Work Better for Training
- Dental Treats vs. Soft Training Treats
- The Best Soft Dog Treats Support Health and Training Together
1. Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats
Pupford Freeze Dried Training Treats are the best soft dog treats to feed your pup because they prioritize ingredient quality, food safety, and a positive-reinforcement philosophy into one tasty morsel.
Their freeze-dried treats are single-protein and minimally processed, designed to deliver a high-value reward while providing important nutrients without unnecessary fillers or by-products.
Why Dogs Love Them
- Real chicken and other single protein sources as the first ingredient
- Soft texture that appeals to most dogs, including those with dental issues
- Small size perfect for training puppies and teething puppies without overfeeding
- Strong natural flavor with no artificial additives, high palatability even for picky eaters
Best For
- Dog training and obedience training
- Senior dogs who struggle with hard treats or chewy treats that are too dense
- Dogs with food allergies or food sensitivities
- Pet parents seeking wholesome, nutritious treats
- Small dogs and small breeds that need smaller pieces per reward
2. Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Bites
Vital Essentials offers single-protein freeze-dried bites that function as high-value treats without unnecessary fillers or by-products, a good option for dogs with strict dietary needs or other concerns around ingredient quality.
Why Dogs Love Them
- Intense natural flavor from single protein sources like chicken and beef
- Grain-free and minimally processed with no artificial additives
- Lightweight and easy to carry for any training session
Best For
- Dogs with allergies or serious health concerns around diet
- Pet parents who prioritize nutritious, clean feeding
- High-value reward scenarios requiring maximum motivation
- Dogs who need freeze-dried options due to food sensitivities or an upset stomach
3. Blue Buffalo BLUE Bits
Blue Buffalo BLUE Bits are soft, chewy treats that deliver a high-value reward during training while keeping ingredients transparent and nutritious, with no cheap fillers or by-products, and packed with important nutrients and vitamins to support immune function and healthy digestion.
Why Dogs Love Them
- Soft, moist, chewy texture most dogs love
- Real chicken is the first ingredient
- Easy to break into smaller pieces for puppies, teething puppies, or small breeds
Best For
- High-value treats during distraction-heavy training sessions
- Dogs that love chicken-based flavors
- Picky eaters who reject hard treats or crunchy regular treats
- Positive reinforcement reward during play and obedience training
4. Wellness Soft WellBites
Wellness Soft WellBites are soft dog treats made from high-quality proteins and natural ingredients, offering specific health benefits alongside strong training value, including supporting healthy digestion and gentle care for dogs with dental issues.
Why Dogs Love Them
- Rich flavor from real chicken and beef
- Soft texture that's gentle on teeth and gums — great for dogs with dental issues or concerns around the dog's breath
- No wheat gluten or artificial additives
- Contains pumpkin to support healthy digestion and soothe an upset stomach
Best For
- Senior dogs with dental issues or weakened teeth
- Dogs transitioning away from hard treats
- Dog parents focused on healthy digestion and a clean diet
- Pets with food sensitivities or sensitive tummies who need single protein options
5. Zuke's Mini Naturals
Zuke's Mini Naturals are a staple soft chewy treat for training sessions, offering a chewy texture that most dogs find irresistible and a small size that makes repetitive rewarding easy without contributing to weight gain.
Why Dogs Love Them
- Soft chewy consistency that's fast to eat during training
- Chicken and beef flavor options with no wheat gluten or by-products
- Low-calorie formula that keeps regular treats from becoming a health concern over time
Best For
- Training sessions requiring high-repetition rewards
- Dogs with sensitive tummy or a history of upset stomach
- Pet parents who want a widely available option across so many brands and retail locations
- Puppies and adult dogs in active dog training programs
6. Old Mother Hubbard Soft & Chewy Treats
Old Mother Hubbard offers an affordable, reliable soft chew that many dogs enjoy for everyday rewards and good behavior reinforcement, a practical good option for dog parents on a budget.
Why Dogs Love Them
- Soft chewy texture with classic flavor profiles most dogs recognize
- Peanut butter and other familiar flavors keep picky eaters interested
- Easy to find across so many brands and retail locations
Best For
- Everyday good behavior rewards
- Budget-conscious dog parents and pet parents
- Dogs who eat without fuss
- Light training and casual enrichment
7. Merrick Power Bites
Merrick Power Bites are grain-free, high-quality protein soft treats designed for dogs that need a more substantial, high-value reward during demanding training sessions or obedience training.
Why Dogs Love Them
- Beef-forward flavor that dogs love
- Dense but soft bite that doesn't crumble into smaller pieces mid-session
- Transparent ingredient sourcing with no by-products or cheap fillers
Best For
- Power training and agility work
- Dogs who need a more filling treat to stay motivated
- Dogs who can't have grains due to food allergies
- Picky eaters who need extra incentive to engage
Treats to Avoid
Not all dogs thrive on the same treats, and some options on the market can actively work against your dog's health and training goals.
Treats with Artificial Additives
These offer no important nutrients and may contribute to health concerns in dogs with sensitivities.
Choose nutritious treats with a clean, recognisable ingredient list instead.
Wrong Treat Size for the Dog
A treat size that's too large for small dogs or teething puppies poses a choking risk and delays reward timing.
Always break treats into smaller pieces to keep sessions moving safely.
Treats Containing Wheat Gluten or By-Products
Many dogs with food allergies or food sensitivities react poorly to wheat gluten and unnamed by-products.
Always read the ingredient list carefully before choosing treats for a specific dog, and know when to stop giving a treat if health concerns arise.
Hard Treats During Training Sessions
Hard treats take too long to chew, interrupting training flow and slowing the feedback loop between behavior and reward.
Bully sticks and bones are great for enrichment, but are not suitable as regular treats during active sessions.
High-Calorie Treats Used in Volume
Low-calorie options are essential during repetitive training sessions. Dense, high-calorie regular treats add up fast and can become a long-term health concern for small breeds and senior dogs in particular.
How to Choose the Right Soft Dog Treat
Understanding what you're using treats for, how they'll affect your dog's health, and whether they support your training goals will help you choose treats with confidence.
Training vs. Enrichment
Training treats should be soft, small, and fast to eat. Soft chewy treats and freeze-dried options are ideal.
Enrichment options like bully sticks work better outside active training sessions.
Food Allergies and Sensitivities
Dogs with food allergies need single-protein, grain-free, or limited-ingredient options. Always consult your vet or veterinarian before introducing a new protein, and know when to stop giving a treat if digestive or immune reactions occur.
Life Stage
Senior dogs often need softer textures due to dental issues or weaker teeth. Teething puppies need very small treat sizes that won't overwhelm them before the session ends.
Picky Eaters
Some dogs just don't have a taste for anything you put in front of them. High-value options with strong natural flavor tend to work better for picky eaters who ignore lower-value regular treats. Think flavors like real chicken, beef, and sweet potato.
Digestive Health
Dogs with sensitive tummies or a history of upset stomach do best with single-protein, easily digestible options that support healthy digestion and are free from wheat, gluten, and cheap fillers.
Ingredients like pumpkin can be especially helpful for dogs that need extra digestive support.
Calorie and Weight Management
For adult dogs and small breeds on a restricted diet, low-calorie soft dog treats allow frequent rewarding without becoming a long-term health concern.
Why Soft Dog Treats Work Better for Training
Soft chewy treats are the standard in modern reward-based dog training for good reason.
Dogs eat them instantly, which keeps reward timing precise. Hard treats and crunchy regular treats interrupt focus and reduce the clarity of the behaviour-reward connection, especially during obedience training, where speed of feedback matters most.
For training and teething puppies, a soft texture is essential as those adorable teeth grow in.
The best training system pairs the right treat with the right moment:
- Immediate reward for the desired behavior
- Consistent high-value flavor that the dog reliably wants
- A small-sized treat that can be given dozens of times per session without health concerns
Soft dog treats make that possible. Bully sticks and hard treats simply cannot match that during active training sessions.
Dental Treats vs. Soft Training Treats
Dental treats are designed to reduce bad breath, address the dog's oral health concerns, and support oral health through mechanical or chemical action. They are not optimized for training.
Soft training treats prioritize fast consumption, high value reward, and palatability.
For dogs with dental issues, the soft texture is also much gentler on teeth and gums than hard treats or bully sticks.
For dogs who need both, rotating between chewy training treats and enriching dental chews gives the best outcome without sacrificing either goal.
Safety Tips for Dog Parents
- Always supervise new treats, especially with puppies and teething puppies
- Ask your vet or veterinarian before switching proteins for dogs with known allergies
- Break treats into smaller pieces to keep sessions safe for small dogs and small breeds
- Know when to stop giving a treat if digestive issues, allergies, or other health concerns arise
- Read every ingredient list to avoid wheat gluten, by-products, and artificial additives
- Choose treats with vitamins and important nutrients to make every reward count for your dog's overall health
The Best Soft Dog Treats Support Health and Training Together
The best soft dog treats do more than make a pup happy in the moment.
They reinforce good behaviour during training sessions. They support dogs with food sensitivities and health concerns.
They support healthy digestion with nutritious, clean ingredients, including vitamins, high-quality protein, and gut-supporting additions like pumpkin.
They align with a science-backed, positive reinforcement approach to building a lasting bond with your pet.
Not all dogs are the same, and not all treats serve the same purpose. For dog parents and pet parents seeking soft chewy treats that support their dog's health without cheap fillers or by-products, the picks above offer the most balanced and training-aligned options in 2026.
Choosing the right treat protects your dog's diet, keeps your specific dog motivated and healthy, and strengthens the bond built through humane, reward-based training.
Leave a Reply