Best Dog Treats Reviewed & Rated for Quality

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Greenies
Test Winner: Greenies
Amazon Link
Let’s be real honest for a second. Some of us may need an intervention when it comes to buying things to spoil our good boys with. But it’s just so hard not to want to spoil that precious chunk of love! After all, they are our best friends.

Lucky for you, we’ve made this ten best List full of dog treats for puppies and treats for dogs that are not only good for Fido, but affordable as well.

We’ve included safe dog treats from some of the biggest dog treats brands including jerky dog treats, training treats, and even treats that will double as your dog’s toothbrush.

So whether your goal is simply to spoil your little pupper, or you would like to use these treats to train your next hunting dog, there’s a treat on this list for you at a price you can really get behind.

Standout Picks

Greenies Dog Dental Chews
We kickstart our list with one of the leaders in the dog treat industry: Greenies. Not only will your dog love the taste of these treats, but you will love what they do to your dog’s breath! These babies are textured to clean all the way down to the gum and work to keep your dog’s breath fresh.
Amazon Link
$36.49
Zuke's Mini Naturals
The Zuke's Mini Naturals are perfect for positive dog training. These little bite-sized snackos are made from quality ingredients that feature meat as their star. At just 3 calories per treat, you can feel good about training your dog with these without having to worry about your fluffball packing on the pounds in the process.
Amazon Link
$16.98
Best Bully Sticks
The Best Bully Sticks are one of the more premium items on our list and they are worth shelling out a few extra bucks for. These are made from 100% all natural beef and because they are all natural, they are super easy for your pup to digest. These also serve to promote dental health, so using is a win-win.
Amazon Link
$32.99
Milk-Bone Flavor Snacks
The Milk-Bone Flavor Snacks are a nice and quick way to work on training your dog. They have just 5 calories per treat and are loaded with minerals and vitamins to give your pup all she needs to live her best life. Plus, they can even help with dental help by working to eliminate tartar build up.
Amazon Link
Virbac Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews
The Virbac Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews are a specialized treat that is aimed specifically at getting plaque and tartar off of your dog’s teeth so that they can have clean and fresh breath, no matter what kinds of things they get into eating. Plus, they come in different sizes for different sized dogs for tailored treatment.
Amazon Link
Wellness Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats
The Wellness Natural Grain Frees are the ideal treat for hunting dog training your puppy with. They are the perfect size for your pint-sized pup and can be used for daily training sessions or just to show your little guy some extra love. They are made using quality ingredients that you can feel good about and are super tasty to boot.
Amazon Link
PEDIGREE Dentastix Dental
Here we have another great option for treating your dog while also cleaning their teeth. With their special X design that really gets into the mouth’s nooks and crannies, you can feel good about your dog’s dental health as you spoil them. And you’ll be able to get these in different sizes as well.
Amazon Link
$26.15
EcoKind Pet Himalayan Gold Yak Chews
This is the closest to an organic dog treat on this list. They are made from an ancient recipe from the Himalayas and use all-natural ingredients. Your dog will love these and will get hours of chew time out of each stick. And because they are easy to digest, they are ideal for most doggies.
Amazon Link
$64.95
Good 'N' Fun Triple Flavor Kabob
The Good 'N' Fun Triple Flavor Kabob snacks for your dog are seriously like puppy gourmet. Not only will your dog die for these uniquely shaped and flavored treats, but they will also be able to enjoy them for a longer period of time as they will not be swallowing them in one giant gulp. If you really want to treat your pup, this is the way to go.
Amazon Link
Smartsticks Dog Chew
The Smartsticks are a tasty way for your pup to upkeep their dental health. We all know how much dogs love peanut butter and as they don’t feel weird about combining the peanut butter flavor with chicken, they find these treats to be really delicious. They are nice and easy to digest as well.
Amazon Link
$7.22

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Effectiveness

When we consider a product’s effectiveness, we look at how well it does what it says it’s going to do. If a product is meant to clean your dog’s teeth, we assess whether or not it actually does this. If a product is meant for a reward, we assess whether or not it is, indeed, an incentivizing reward. And, of course, we always love a product that can be effectively used for more than one purpose.

Materials

When considering materials, we are really talking about the ingredients that each product is made out of. We value products that are made from all natural ingredients. We also like those that are free of soy, wheat, and corn. And of course, we try to feature products that have no artificial colors or flavors so that your dog can get all the good stuff and none of the bad.

Taste

It’s our goal to feature products that dogs actually like to eat. The products on this list are tasty and enticing and we especially love those that come in multiple different flavor options.

Use

In terms of use, we look at what the product can be used for. All of these products can be used for tasty treats, but some are intended to be used for rewarding behavior during training sessions and some are intended to be used to help maintain your dog’s dental hygiene. The more uses the better for us.

Value

As for value, we try to ensure that even though some packages may cost less than other packages, we let you know how many units you’ll be getting per purchase and how that breaks down per unit so that you can get the best bang for your buck.

10 Best Dog Treats

1. Greenies

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$36.49
Greenies Dog Dental Chews
Amazon Link

We kickstart our list with one of the leaders in the dog treat industry: Greenies. Not only will your dog love the taste of these treats, but you will love what they do to your dog’s breath! These babies are textured to clean all the way down to the gum and work to keep your dog’s breath fresh.

Give Daily
Greenies are a wonderful product that both you and your dog will both enjoy. These are meant to be given once a day (not twice a day). They are textured in a way that helps to clean your dog’s teeth all the way down to their gums.

Not only do these clean your dog’s teeth, but they also greatly help in improving your dog’s breath and make sure those gums stay nice and healthy. We give this product major points in the Effectiveness and Use categories as they are tasty and functional.

This product does come in different sizes based on the size of your dog. You will want to pay attention to this as the treats will not have the desired cleaning effect if you give tiny ones to your big dog.

Loaded with Vitamins
These are a product that you can really feel good about giving to your pet. They are loaded with nutrients that your dog needs and they are proudly made in the USA so you can depend on their quality.

These treats contain a balanced recipe of natural ingredients that include protein, fats, and fiber. They are also loaded with vitamins and minerals that your pup needs to maintain a healthy body like calcium, phosphorus, and niacin.

And to top it all off, all of these ingredients are proven to be easy to digest so that your pet can absorb all of that nutritious goodness.

We score this product high in the Materials (Ingredients) category because of the quality of the ingredients that go into the treat. These treats are also super tasty so they score well in this category too.

Cost and Value
This item rings up in the middle of our price range and we love their value because you get a whopping 130 treats with your purchase. That means you’ll get over 4 months worth of tooth brushings for your dog with this pack. Now that’s something you can smile about.

Amazon Link
$36.49

2. Zuke's Mini Naturals

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$16.98
Zuke's Mini Naturals
Amazon Link

The Zuke's Mini Naturals are perfect for positive dog training. These little bite-sized snackos are made from quality ingredients that feature meat as their star. At just 3 calories per treat, you can feel good about training your dog with these without having to worry about your fluffball packing on the pounds in the process.

Multiple Flavor Options
The Zuke's Mini Naturals come in multiple different flavor options so that your dog can explore his culinary preferences. These come in chicken, duck, rabbit, pork, and salmon flavors, and you can also pick these up in peanut butter and oats flavors as well. Dogs absolutely love these so we score them highly in the Taste category.

As we mentioned before, these are great for training your dog because they are small and only contain 3 calories per treat. That means you can dole out a handful at a time during training sessions without having to worry about your dog packing on weight. We give out major points for Effectiveness and Use here.

No Artificial Colors or Flavors
Zuke's are made in the United States and are comprised of high-quality ingredients. They contain absolutely no artificial colors or flavorings, which we love. They are also free of wheat, soy, and corn which are common allergens for dogs and which add little to no nutritional value (as they are ofter just used as fillers). For this, we score them well in the Materials (Ingredients) category.

Cost and Value
These ring up at the bottom of our price range and we love their value because they are the perfect way to help train your pup while still giving them a nutritious treat that won’t cause them to gain weight.

Amazon Link
$16.98

3. Best Bully Sticks

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$32.99
Best Bully Sticks
Amazon Link

The Best Bully Sticks are one of the more premium items on our list and they are worth shelling out a few extra bucks for. These are made from 100% all natural beef and because they are all natural, they are super easy for your pup to digest. These also serve to promote dental health, so using is a win-win.

100% All Natural Beef
The Best Bully Sticks are made from 100% all-natural beef. The beef has no added hormones and the cows are all free-range and grass-fed. They are also free of other additives and chemicals so you can truly feel good about feeding them to your pet. They won’t splinter and they are easy to digest as a great alternative to feeding your dog rawhide.

For these reasons, we score this product high in the Materials (Ingredients) category. These are also great for promoting great dental hygiene in your dog so we score them well in the Effectiveness and Use category.

And while you may not love the natural smell of these treats, your dog will go nuts for them and their tastiness so they get a generous score in this category as well.

Comes in Two Sizes
They in two different sizes so that you can get the best fit for your pup. These are a bit hard to snap in half, so if you have a smaller dog, go with the half stick sizes instead of the full stick sizes.

Cost and Value
The Best Bully Sticks ring up at the top of our price range but we love their value because you really get what you pay for here. Your dog deserves the best, and they get that here with 100% all-natural beef.

Amazon Link
$32.99

4. Milk-Bone Flavor Snacks

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Milk-Bone Flavor Snacks
Amazon Link

The Milk-Bone Flavor Snacks are a nice and quick way to work on training your dog. They have just 5 calories per treat and are loaded with minerals and vitamins to give your pup all she needs to live her best life. Plus, they can even help with dental help by working to eliminate tartar build up.

Can Help Clean Teeth
These are nice and textured so that your pup can work on cleaning their teeth while they enjoy a healthy treat. This crunchy cleaning style works to eliminate built-up tartar and will also work to freshen your dog’s breath as well. We give points for Effectiveness and Use here.

12 Minerals and Vitamins
These are not just a tasty treat (they come in chicken, beef, and bacon flavors), but they are a nutritious one as well.

They are loaded with 12 minerals and vitamins that your dog needs to live a healthy life. They will get a good dose of calcium, biotin, folic acid, as well as vitamins E, D, B12, and A. Plus, each treat has just 5 calories so you can treat more than one at a time.

We give points in the Taste and Materials (Ingredients) category for these reasons.

We also love that these are made in the United States and meet the standards of the Food and Drug Administration, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, and the US Department of Agriculture.

Cost and Value
The Milk-Bone Flavor Snacks ring up at the very bottom of our price range and we love their value because they deliver crunchy goodness that is still comprised of quality ingredients at a fraction of the cost of other treats on the market.

Amazon Link

5. Virbac Enzymatic Chews

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Virbac Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews
Amazon Link

The Virbac Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews are a specialized treat that is aimed specifically at getting plaque and tartar off of your dog’s teeth so that they can have clean and fresh breath, no matter what kinds of things they get into eating. Plus, they come in different sizes for different sized dogs for tailored treatment.

Different Sizes
The Virbac Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews come in 4 different sizes so that you can get the just-right size for your dog and so that you can enjoy the best results.

These come available in small size for dogs under 11 pounds, medium for dogs between 11 pounds and 25 pounds, large for dogs between 25 pounds and 50 pounds, and extra large for dogs who are over 50 pounds.

Paying attention to sizing is important. If you give your big dog the small chews, they will not get the same cleaning effect. And likewise, if you give your tiny dog the bi dog chews, they will not be able to get them in their mouths.

We give points for Use and Effectiveness here as they are great at really getting those teeth nice and clean.

Special Enzyme Formula
The chews use a special enzyme formula to effectively clean your dog’s teeth. While some brand simply work on texture for cleaning, this product includes added components to fight against plaque and tartar build-up.

The enzyme system targets plaque and tartar build-up while still being a super tasty treat that your dog will enjoy. They are flavored like chicken, so your dog won’t be able to get enough of them. Because of this, we give them good points in Materials and Taste.

For the best results, use these daily with your favorite pupper.

Cost and Value
The Virbac Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews ring up at the bottom of our price range and we like their value because you get 30 specialized chews for a low price. While this pack will only last you a month (as opposed to the Greenies at over 4 months) it is still a good investment as they are super effective.

Amazon Link

6. Wellness Natural Grain Free

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Wellness Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats
Amazon Link

The Wellness Natural Grain Frees are the ideal treat for hunting dog training your puppy with. They are the perfect size for your pint-sized pup and can be used for daily training sessions or just to show your little guy some extra love. They are made using quality ingredients that you can feel good about and are super tasty to boot.

Small for a Pup
These are designed specifically with your tiny puppy in mind. While some other treats may be too large for your pup to chow down on, these are the perfect size and texture for them to enjoy.

Because they are perfect and bite-sized, and also because they are nutritious, it is just fine to use these with your dog every day. Whether you are teaching new tricks or working with them in their overall obedience, you can feel good about the effectiveness of this product. We score it well in the Use and Effectiveness category.

Premium and All Natural Composition
They are made from premium and all-natural ingredients. They are flavored to taste like lamb and salmon so your pup will literally beg for more. We score them highly in the Taste category for this.

We love that these treats contain no soy or corn and that they are also free from artificial colors and flavorings so your do is getting just the best. Plus, they are made right here in the USA, so that’s even more quality you can rely on.

We score them well in Materials for this.

Cost and Value
The Wellness Natural Grain Frees ring up at the bottom of our price range and we like their value because they are specialized just for puppies. It is worth noting that while the package itself is inexpensive, you get far less per package than with other products on our list.

Amazon Link

7. PEDIGREE Dentastix Dental

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$26.15
PEDIGREE Dentastix Dental
Amazon Link

Here we have another great option for treating your dog while also cleaning their teeth. With their special X design that really gets into the mouth’s nooks and crannies, you can feel good about your dog’s dental health as you spoil them. And you’ll be able to get these in different sizes as well.

Unique X Design
The PEDIGREE Dentastix are a great way to keep your dog’s breath fresh and their teeth clean. You can use these on a daily basis for the best results and your pets will start to come running for their morning toothbrushing sessions.

These have a special X shape which is clinically proven to et into more nooks and crannies of the mouth for even better cleaning power.

This product will work in three ways to clean your dog’s mouth. It cleans with texture, helps to prevent the build-up of tartar and plaque, and also works to freshen their breath. Because of this, we score this product well in the Use and Effectiveness category.

Nice Chicken Flavor
The PEDIGREE Dentastix do have a nice chicken flavor that dogs like so we give them decent points in the Taste category. However, they do include preservatives, wheat, and artificial flavorings which we are not crazy about, so we dock points for Materials here.

Cost and Value
These ring up at the bottom of our price range and we like their value because you get 32 sticks which is more than a month’s worth of cleaning at a low price. This is still not quite at the buying value of Greenies, but they are closer than the Virbac enzyme treats above.

Amazon Link
$26.15

8. EcoKind Yak Chews

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$64.95
EcoKind Pet Himalayan Gold Yak Chews
Amazon Link

This is the closest to an organic dog treat on this list. They are made from an ancient recipe from the Himalayas and use all-natural ingredients. Your dog will love these and will get hours of chew time out of each stick. And because they are easy to digest, they are ideal for most doggies.

Hours of Chewing
The EcoKind Pet Himalayan Gold Yak Chews provides hours of chewing for each stick so you will really feel good about getting your money’s worth. While some treats can be wolfed down in a single bite, your pup will be able to take these back with him to his crate and enjoy for hours on end. For this, we give a high score in the Use and Effectiveness category.

And unlike some other treats on this list, these sticks do not smell like having a dead animal in your house, so you can feel good about letting your dog chew on them for hours.

Easy On Digestion
These chews are made from all-natural ingredients which makes them easier for more dogs to digest. That’s why we give a good score in the Materials category.

These treats are actually imported from Nepal. They are comprised of 100% milk from Nepalese yaks. They have no added chemicals or ingredients which includes no added preservatives either.

And you may be surprised to hear that these don’t contain any lactose or gluten either--despite being made of milk. The milk has actually been processed to remove lactose which can be bothersome to some dog’s stomachs.

On top of all of that, these are super delicious and your dog will not be able to get enough of them, so they score well in the Taste category too.

Cost and Value
These ring up in the middle of our price range and we like their value because they are super well made and because your dog will be able to enjoy them for a longer time than in just one bite.

Amazon Link
$64.95

9. Good 'N' Fun Triple Flavor Kabob

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Good 'N' Fun Triple Flavor Kabob
Amazon Link

The Good 'N' Fun Triple Flavor Kabob snacks for your dog are seriously like puppy gourmet. Not only will your dog die for these uniquely shaped and flavored treats, but they will also be able to enjoy them for a longer period of time as they will not be swallowing them in one giant gulp. If you really want to treat your pup, this is the way to go.

Made With 3 Different Meats
These are uniquely shaped and unlike any other on our list. It features a slim treat (of pork hide and beef hide) in the middle with three different pieces of meat wrapped around the slim treat. Your pup will enjoy the meaty flavors of chicken, duck, and liver and will constantly keep coming back for more, so we rank this well in the Taste category.

To top it off in the Materials (Ingredients) category, these are made from real cuts of meat so they are truly high in protein. But even so, it is important to remember that these are not meal replacements.

They can potentially help with tartar build up.

Enjoy for Longer
The Good 'N' Fun Triple Flavor Kabob is not just a bite-sized training treat like many of the other products on our list. This puppy (see what we did there) is meant to be enjoyed and savored for longer.

That being said, we do take some points away as this product can potentially break off into smaller pieces which can be dangerous if your dog eats them. Make sure you keep an eye on your dog as they eat their treats and always toss out small pieces to ensure that your dog doesn’t choke on them.

Cost and Value
This is one of the tastiest on our list. It rings up towards the bottom of our price range, but keep in mind that you will only be getting 18 treats per package, so they are a bit pricey per unit.

Amazon Link

10. Smartsticks

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$7.22
Smartsticks Dog Chew
Amazon Link

The Smartsticks are a tasty way for your pup to upkeep their dental health. We all know how much dogs love peanut butter and as they don’t feel weird about combining the peanut butter flavor with chicken, they find these treats to be really delicious. They are nice and easy to digest as well.

Peanut Buttery Goodness
This are flavored to taste like two of Fido’s favorite things: peanut butter and chicken. We score them well in the Taste category for this.

We like that Smartsticks uses vegetables and real meat when creating their products. Your dog will enjoy the benefits of carrots, peas, and sweet potatoes while getting the tasty flavoring of peanut butter and chicken. We score them well in the Materials (Ingredients) category for this.

No Rawhide
These do not have any rawhide. This is important as rawhide is known to cause some digestion issues for certain dogs. We like that this product is so easy for dogs to digest and that it won’t create an upset stomach in your pup.

We also like that these come in different flavors and sizes so that you can get the right fit for your dog.

Cost and Value
The Smartsticks ring up towards the bottom of our price range but you will only get 10 sticks per bag. That actually means that these are some of the most expensive on our list and can thus get pretty pricey if you are using them as a daily treat.

Amazon Link
$7.22

Sources

  1. Found Animals Contributing Writers, Dog Treats: Everything You Need to Know, Article
  2. Banfield Contributing Writers, Do I Need to Brush My Dog's Teeth?, Article
  3. Cesar's Way Contributing Writers, 7 Tips For Doggie Dental Care, Article