Training treats are small rewards you hand over fast, so the size of each treat, its texture and how many come in a bag matter more than anything on the front of the pack. We compared seven training treats on Amazon Australia by what each listing says, how many treats are in the bag and how many ratings stand behind it.
The Wellness Soft Puppy Bites lead on ratings by a wide margin. The rest of the page covers dogs of all ages, bulk bags, kangaroo, single ingredient and a 1 kg reward, then how to choose between them.
Best dog training treats overall: Wellness Soft Puppy Bites
Best dog training treats overall: the Wellness Soft Puppy Bites, because they are mini soft chewy treats made with two kinds of fresh meat and no artificial flavours or colours, with by far the most ratings of any treat here.
The listing describes mini chewy puppy treats that are grain free and soft, made with 2 kinds of fresh meat plus added vitamins, and with whole fruits and veggies including blueberries and sweet potatoes. It says there are no meat byproducts, artificial colours or flavours. The title gives a Lamb and Salmon bag of about 85 g, and the listing calls them bite sized soft treats for rewarding during training sessions. It holds 4.6 stars from nearly 36,000 ratings, the most of any treat on this page.
It suits puppy training, and anyone who wants the treat with the longest record of buyer ratings. The honest catch: the listing words them as puppy treats, so adult dogs may do better on the all age picks below, and the bag is only about 85 g.
Best for dogs of all ages: Cloud Star Tricky Trainers
Best for dogs of all ages: the Cloud Star Tricky Trainers, because the listing gives 3 calories a treat, 360 soft chewy treats a pouch, and no artificial flavours or colours and no wheat or corn.
The Liver Flavor pouch is about 397 g. The listing says the treats are made with real chicken liver, are high protein and chewy, and will not dry out, crumble or leave a greasy residue on your hands. It describes them as ideal for small, medium and large breeds and for dogs of all ages, and says professional trainers use and recommend them. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 6,100 ratings.
It suits anyone training more than one dog, or long sessions where a bag of tiny treats gets used up quickly. The honest catch: it is a big pouch, so the upfront cost is well above the small bags here, and it comes in liver flavour only.
Best low calorie bulk: Pet Botanics Training Rewards
Best low calorie bulk: the Pet Botanics Training Rewards, because the listing gives 500 treats a bag at only 3 calories each, on a pork liver base with no BHA, BHT, corn, soy or artificial flavours or colours.
The Chicken bag is about 567 g. The listing describes a natural pork liver base, called highly palatable, and a botanical blend it names BotaniFits, listing blueberries, cranberries, carrots, tomatoes, rosemary, chamomile, dandelion, yucca, green tea and peppermint. It holds 4.7 stars from more than 1,500 ratings, the highest rating among the treats with over a thousand ratings.
It suits households that get through treats every day, and trainers who want a long session without running out. The honest catch: it has the most treats of any bag here and the highest total price.
Best value: SavourLife Australian Chicken Training Treats
Best value: the SavourLife Australian Chicken Training Treats, because the listing words them as bite size meaty chunks for training and rewarding, enriched with vitamins and minerals, in a 165 g bag at the lowest price here.
The listing describes delicious, bite size, meaty chunks that suit training and rewarding, and says they are great to have on hand when you are walking, playing or having fun. The title calls them high protein. It holds 4.7 stars from 158 ratings.
It suits anyone trying treat training for the first time without spending much. The honest catch: the listing is short and does not give a calorie count per treat, and 158 ratings is a thin count next to the big names here.
Best kangaroo: SavourLife Australian Kangaroo Training Treats
Best kangaroo: the SavourLife Australian Kangaroo Training Treats, because the listing words them as bite size meaty chunks for training and rewarding in a kangaroo flavour.
It is the same 165 g format as the chicken bag, and the listing uses the same words: bite size meaty chunks, enriched with vitamins and minerals, high protein in the title. It holds 4.7 stars from 182 ratings.
It suits owners who want a change from chicken flavours. The honest catch: the 182 ratings are shared with the multipack listing, and the listing is short.
Best single ingredient: K9 Natural Lamb Lung Treats
Best single ingredient: the K9 Natural Lamb Lung Treats, because the listing words them as 100% real meat, low calorie, no crumble bites with easy portion control for training sessions in a resealable pouch.
The listing describes freeze dried, grain free, single ingredient treats made with 100% real meat and no fillers, and calls them high value dog training treats. The title gives a 50 g bag and says NZ made. It holds 4.6 stars from 350 ratings.
It suits a dog that needs a strong reward for harder training, and owners who like a short ingredient list. The honest catch: a 50 g bag is small, so it costs more per gram than the other picks, and the listing says packaging and formulation are being updated, so you may receive either version.
Best bulk reward: BLACKDOG Yoghurt Drops
Best bulk reward: the BLACKDOG Yoghurt Drops, because they come in a 1 kg bag with Australia as the country of origin on the listing.
This listing is the shortest on the page. It gives the product type as pet supplies, a package quantity of one and the country of origin as Australia, with no description of ingredients or treat size. It holds 4.7 stars from 487 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants a large bag of one familiar reward. The honest catch: the listing gives no ingredient or calorie detail, so check the pack before you buy.
How to choose dog training treats
Soft chewy or freeze dried
The Wellness and Cloud Star listings both describe soft, chewy treats, and Cloud Star adds that they will not dry out, crumble or leave a greasy residue. The K9 Natural listing describes freeze dried bites that do not crumble. The SavourLife listings call their treats meaty chunks. Pick the texture that fits a treat pouch you can reach into quickly.
Count the treats, not the bag weight
Training uses dozens of treats in one session, so the count matters more than the weight. Only two listings give one: Cloud Star at 360 treats and Pet Botanics at 500, both at 3 calories each. The Wellness bag is about 85 g, the SavourLife bags are 165 g, the K9 Natural bag is 50 g and the BLACKDOG bag is 1 kg, with no treat counts.
Puppies or all ages
The Wellness listing is worded for puppies, with mini treats made for training. The Cloud Star listing says it suits dogs of all ages, and its pouch is for small, medium and large breeds. The other listings do not say either way, so the all age claim is a point to the Cloud Star pouch.
Flavour and ingredients
Flavours here run from chicken liver and pork liver base to kangaroo, lamb lung, and yoghurt drops. The K9 Natural listing describes single ingredient treats. Wellness, Cloud Star and Pet Botanics each say no artificial flavours or colours. Read the listing for anything your dog avoids before you buy, because the SavourLife and BLACKDOG listings give little detail.
How many ratings sit behind each pick
Wellness has nearly 36,000 ratings and Cloud Star more than 6,100, so those scores are well tested. Pet Botanics has more than 1,500. The SavourLife, K9 Natural and BLACKDOG picks have between 158 and 487 ratings: promising scores, but a smaller base.
Rewards beyond treats
Some dogs work for a toy as well as a treat, and our dog toys guide compares options. A sound cue pairs with a treat reward, and our dog whistle guide covers the choices. For the daily bowl, see our dog food guide.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best dog treats for training in Australia?
For most dogs we pick the Wellness Soft Puppy Bites: mini soft chewy treats with two kinds of fresh meat, and the most ratings here. For dogs of all ages the Cloud Star Tricky Trainers give 360 treats a pouch, and the SavourLife Australian Chicken treats are the lowest priced bag.
What treats do professional dog trainers use?
The Cloud Star Tricky Trainers listing says professional trainers use and recommend them, and it gives 3 calories a treat and 360 treats a pouch. We cannot check what any trainer uses, so that is the listing's claim. The Pet Botanics Training Rewards are the other small, low calorie option, with 500 treats a bag.
What are the best treats for training puppies in Australia?
The Wellness Soft Puppy Bites are our pick for puppies: the listing describes mini chewy puppy treats made with two kinds of fresh meat, in a bag of about 85 g. For a bigger supply, the SavourLife Australian Chicken treats come in a 165 g bag, though their listing does not mention puppies.
What are some high end dog treats for training?
The K9 Natural Lamb Lung treats are the closest to a high end reward here: the listing describes 100% real meat, a single ingredient, freeze dried bites that do not crumble. The listing's own wording calls them high value dog training treats. The catch is the 50 g bag.
How many calories are in dog training treats?
It varies by listing. The Cloud Star Tricky Trainers and Pet Botanics Training Rewards both say 3 calories a treat, with 360 and 500 treats a bag. The SavourLife and BLACKDOG listings give no calorie count, so check the pack before you buy.
What are the best natural dog treats in Australia?
For a single ingredient reward, the K9 Natural Lamb Lung treats are 100% real meat per the listing. The Wellness Soft Puppy Bites say no meat byproducts and no artificial colours or flavours, and the BLACKDOG Yoghurt Drops list Australia as the country of origin.
Are SavourLife dog training treats worth it?
The SavourLife chicken and kangaroo treats are the low priced way in: the listings describe bite size meaty chunks for training and rewarding, in a 165 g bag, and both hold 4.7 stars. The catch is thin evidence: only 158 and 182 ratings, and no calorie count in either listing.
What is the 3 3 3 rule for dog training?
The 3 3 3 rule is a popular guide to how a newly adopted dog settles in: about 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn the routine and 3 months to feel at home. It is not about treats, but a pouch of small treats such as the Cloud Star Tricky Trainers suits a daily routine.
Which dog training treats are Australian made?
Three picks here point to Australia on their listings. The SavourLife Australian Chicken and Australian Kangaroo training treats name Australian meat in their titles, and the BLACKDOG Yoghurt Drops list Australia as the country of origin. The Wellness, Cloud Star and Pet Botanics listings do not name Australia, and the K9 Natural treats say NZ made.
