Last updated: June 15, 2026 · 8-minute read
What Are the Best Treats for Puppies? The Short Answer
The best treats for puppies are single-ingredient, fully digestible options made from 100% real meat with no rawhide and no fillers or chemicals. Small, soft, protein-rich treats work best for training and teething, while harder natural chews like bully sticks support dental health and satisfy the urge to chew. At Bully Sticks Central, every chew is ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms, so you always know exactly what your puppy is eating.
Key takeaways
- Choose single-ingredient, 100% real meat treats over processed snacks loaded with fillers and artificial additives.
- Keep training treats small (pea-sized) and soft so a puppy can chew and swallow quickly between repetitions.
- For teething and longer chewing, pick fully digestible, no-rawhide chews sized to your puppy — never rawhide, which can splinter and cause blockages.
- Treats should make up no more than about 10% of your puppy's daily calories; the rest comes from a complete puppy diet.
- Always supervise chewing, choose the right size, and introduce new proteins one at a time to watch for sensitivities.
What Makes a Treat Safe and Healthy for a Puppy?
Puppies have developing digestive systems and different nutritional needs than adult dogs, so ingredient quality matters more than ever. The safest treats are single-ingredient and made from 100% real meat — no rawhide, no chemicals, no mystery ingredients. Look for treats that are fully digestible, free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, and sourced from farms you can actually trace. Every Bully Sticks Central chew is ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms and is 100% high-quality guaranteed.
Avoid anything with long ingredient lists, added sugars, or vague "meat by-product" labels. When in doubt, the shorter the ingredient list, the better — a treat that's simply one named protein is almost always the smarter choice for a growing puppy.
Which Treats Are Best for Training a Puppy?
Training works best with treats that are small, soft, and irresistibly tasty so your puppy stays motivated through many quick repetitions. Pea-sized pieces of 100% real meat let you reward often without overfeeding. Our regular beef tendons can be broken into small training-friendly pieces, and beef cheek rolls make a high-value reward for tougher commands.
For an in-depth approach to reward-based training, see our guide to good treats for training dogs. The key is consistency: reward immediately, keep sessions short, and rotate flavors to keep your puppy engaged.
What Are the Best Chews for a Teething Puppy?
Teething puppies need to chew, and the right chew soothes sore gums while keeping them busy and out of trouble. Choose fully digestible, no-rawhide options sized appropriately for a small mouth. Thinner, softer chews like beef trachea tubes and 10-inch tripe twist sticks are gentle starting points, while a 6-inch standard bully stick gives a satisfying, longer-lasting chew. Curious whether bully sticks are puppy-safe? Read can puppies have bully sticks.
Browse the full natural dog treats and chews collection to find the right size and texture for your puppy's stage.
How Do Puppy Treat Types Compare?
| Treat type | Best for | Texture | BSC pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef tendons | Training rewards, daily snack | Firm, breakable | Regular beef tendons |
| Trachea tubes | Teething, gentle chewing | Soft, crunchy | Beef trachea tubes |
| Bully sticks | Longer-lasting chew | Firm | 6-inch standard bully sticks |
| Cow ears | Thin, quick chew | Light, crispy | Cow ears for dogs |
| Cheek rolls | High-value reward | Dense, chewy | Beef cheek rolls |
How Much and How Often Should Puppies Get Treats?
A good rule of thumb is the 10% rule: treats should make up no more than about 10% of your puppy's total daily calories, with the rest coming from a complete, balanced puppy food. Use the serving guide below as a starting point and always adjust for your individual puppy's size, age, and activity level.
| Puppy weight | Training treats/day | Chew sessions/week | Supervised chew time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 lbs | 5–8 pea-sized | 2–3 | 10–15 min |
| 10–25 lbs | 8–12 pea-sized | 3–4 | 15–20 min |
| 25–50 lbs | 10–15 pea-sized | 3–5 | 20–30 min |
How Do You Make Homemade Puppy Treats?
If you'd like to make your own, this simple peanut butter and pumpkin recipe is soft, easy to digest, and great for young puppies. Use natural peanut butter with no xylitol, and plain pumpkin puree (not pie filling).
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup plain pumpkin puree, and 1/4 cup natural peanut butter until a dough forms.
- Roll the dough to about 1/4-inch thick and cut into small, pea-to-dime-sized pieces suitable for a puppy.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes until firm and lightly golden.
- Cool completely before serving, and store in an airtight container for up to one week (or freeze for longer).
Homemade treats are a fun supplement, but for everyday chewing and dental benefit, pair them with single-ingredient chews like a 12-inch monster bully stick for bigger puppies. Explore more options in our bully sticks collection.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best treat for a young puppy?
Small, soft, single-ingredient treats made from 100% real meat are ideal for young puppies. They're easy to chew, gentle on developing stomachs, and perfect for training rewards.
Are bully sticks safe for puppies?
Yes — bully sticks are single-ingredient, fully digestible, and contain no rawhide, making them a safe chew for puppies when properly sized and supervised. Choose a thickness appropriate for your puppy and always watch them chew.
At what age can puppies have treats?
Most puppies can have small, soft treats once they begin eating solid food, around 8 weeks. Introduce new treats one at a time and keep portions tiny.
How many treats can a puppy have per day?
Treats should make up no more than about 10% of your puppy's daily calories. For most puppies that's a handful of pea-sized training treats plus limited supervised chew time.
Why avoid rawhide for puppies?
Rawhide can swell, splinter, and cause choking or intestinal blockages, and it's often chemically processed. We never use rawhide — only single-ingredient, fully digestible chews.
What treats are best for teething puppies?
Softer, fully digestible chews like trachea tubes or thin bully sticks soothe sore gums while keeping puppies occupied. Always pick a size suited to your puppy's mouth.
Can I make puppy treats at home?
Yes. A simple recipe of whole wheat flour, plain pumpkin puree, and xylitol-free peanut butter makes soft, digestible treats. Pair homemade treats with single-ingredient chews for dental benefit.
Where do Bully Sticks Central treats come from?
All of our chews are ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms, made from 100% real meat, and 100% high-quality guaranteed.
Preston Smith is the co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. He started BSC because he couldn't find single-ingredient, fully digestible chews he trusted to give his own dogs — no rawhide, no chemicals, no mystery ingredients. He writes about dog nutrition, safe chews, and the practical side of feeding dogs well. Read more about Preston →
This post was last updated at June 19, 2026 19:04
