Best Dog Training Treats in Australia 2025 — Small, Smelly & Effective
The best training treat is the one your dog goes crazy for. Here's what actually motivates dogs and which Australian products are worth buying.
Good training treats are small (pea-sized), soft (swallowed in one bite), and smelly — not crunchy biscuits
Dogs have a motivation hierarchy: kibble at the bottom, then commercial treats, then real meat at the top — use higher value for harder skills
Training treats count toward daily calories — track them and reduce kibble on heavy training days
- 🔴Pea-sized or smaller — swallowed instantly
- 🤚Soft texture — not crunchy biscuits
- 👃Strong smell = highest dog motivation
- 🔢Count treat calories — they add up fast
- 🔄Rotate 2–3 brands to maintain value
A training treat is a tool, not a snack. When you're teaching a new command, the treat is what makes your dog think "I want to nail this." Use the wrong treat — a stale biscuit, a kibble piece, anything boring — and your dog's attention goes elsewhere. Here's what actually works.
for a good training treat: small enough to swallow instantly, soft, and distinctly smelly
of daily calories is the maximum all treats combined should represent — monitor this
different treat brands to rotate — prevents dogs adapting and losing motivation for any single treat
The 4 Criteria for a Great Training Treat
| Criterion | Why it matters | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Small (pea-sized) | Training is fast — your dog eats, refocuses, next rep. Large treats break the rhythm | Biscuits, whole treats, anything that takes more than 1 second to eat |
| Soft texture | Swallowed immediately — no chewing delay, no crunching noise in training class | Hard kibble, crunchy biscuits, anything that crumbles |
| Strong smell | Smell is motivation for dogs — liver, fish, cheese trigger highest drive | Plain kibble, unflavoured treats, anything that doesn't smell interesting |
| Low calorie | You'll give dozens per session — low-cal treats let you reward frequently without weight gain | High-fat or high-calorie treats that limit how many you can give |
The Dog Motivation Hierarchy — Match Treat Value to Task Difficulty
Best Training Treats Available in Australia
Zuke's Mini Naturals (Chicken or Salmon)
The professional trainer's standard in Australia. Pea-sized, soft, and aromatic. Chicken flavour is accepted by virtually every dog. Salmon version is higher value for more demanding dogs. Low-calorie per treat — you can give many per session.
Black Dog Training Treats
Australian-made in chicken, beef, and liver flavours. Soft, properly sized, and no artificial colours. The best local alternative to Zuke's — supports Australian manufacturing and available at most Petbarn stores.
VitaPet Training Jerkies
Soft jerky strips you tear into pea-sized pieces. Smelly and motivating — higher value than standard commercial treats. Good for owners who want to adjust treat size themselves. Budget-friendly option available at every Petbarn.
VetIQ Minties Training Treats
Ultra-low calorie training treats — good for overweight dogs or high-volume training sessions where you're giving many treats. Small enough to not need cutting. Best for puppy training where you're rewarding every 30 seconds.
Doggone Good Training Treat Pouch
Keeps treats accessible and hands-free during training. Multiple compartments let you carry different value treats simultaneously. Waterproof lining for soft treats. Makes training sessions significantly more efficient.
Which Treats for Which Situations
Tracking Treat Calories — The Most Overlooked Step
Training treats are the most common hidden cause of dog obesity in Australia
A dog needing 1,000 cal/day who eats 50 training treats of 10 cal each gets 500 extra calories — a 50% increase. On training days, reduce kibble portions to compensate. Treats should never exceed 10% of total daily calories.