Best Dog Treats in the UK: Healthy, Tasty, and Vet-Approved Picks for Every Pooch

Why choosing the right dog treats matters

Treats are more than a bit of tasty fluff you give your dog; they shape behaviour, support training, and can even boost your dog's health. Pick the wrong type and you could add empty calories or trigger allergies; pick wisely and you’ll reward good behaviour while supporting dental health, digestion, and shine in the coat. Think of treats as small investments in your dog's wellbeing — little snacks that pay big dividends over time.

Health benefits vs empty calories

Many treats marketed for dogs are essentially candy in fur disguise: high in simple carbs, low in nutrients, and packing calories that add up fast. The trick is to spot treats that deliver functional benefits — joint-support ingredients like glucosamine, natural proteins for muscle, or chews that clean teeth as your dog gnaws. Compare ingredient lists the way you would for your own snacks: short, recognisable names are usually better than a long chemical laundry list.

Types of dog treats to look for in the UK

Not all dog treats are created equal. The market breaks down into training treats, dental chews, long-lasting chews, functional treats (for joints, digestion, calmness), and natural single-ingredient snacks like dried meat. Depending on your goals — training a puppy, keeping a senior’s teeth clean, or rewarding a working dog — you’ll pick a different style.

Training treats: small and powerful

Training treats should be tiny, tasty, and highly motivating. Aim for pieces about the size of a fingernail or roughly 0.1 oz so you can reward often without overfeeding. Brands aimed at trainers or stores like Pets at Home and Jollyes stock low-calorie training bites, while supermarket ranges from Tesco and Sainsbury’s also include minis that work well in short, repetitive training sessions.

Dental chews and long-lasting treats

Dental chews serve dual purposes: they reward and help reduce tartar with mechanical action or active ingredients. If your dog loves a longer chew session, look for dental sticks or natural antler-style chews sold by Pets Corner, Amazon UK, and specialist brands like Greenies. Remember to pick a size suited to your dog's jaw to reduce choking risk — for instance, choose a 4–6 inch stick for a medium dog and a larger size for big breeds.

Top UK retailers for dog treats

The UK offers a range of retailers that balance selection, price, and convenience. Whether you prefer a big pet superstore, a high-street supermarket, or a boutique shop, you’ll find options suited to your budget and needs. Here’s a tour of where to shop and what each type of store tends to specialise in.

Pets at Home

Pets at Home is a go-to for many owners thanks to wide variety and accessible locations. They stock well-known brands like Harringtons, Burns, and Lily’s Kitchen, plus plenty of training-size treats and dental chews. If you want convenient click-and-collect or to compare brands in-store, Pets at Home is a practical starting point. They often carry vet-recommended therapeutic treats too, so it’s a good place for functional choices.

Pets Corner

Pets Corner leans toward premium and natural ranges while still keeping a helpful selection of everyday treats. Expect artisan-style snacks, single-protein jerky, and ethically sourced options. If you favour boutique brands or are searching for limited-ingredient chews for sensitive dogs, this is a solid stop. Staff tend to be knowledgeable and can guide you toward hypoallergenic or grain-free choices.

Jollyes

Jollyes offers a balance of price and selection with both mainstream and niche brands. They stock a variety of chews, dental treats, and training bits suitable for puppies and adults. If you want to try a few different brands without spending a fortune, Jollyes often has multi-buy deals and seasonal packs, making it easier to test what your dog prefers.

Amazon UK

Amazon UK is unbeatable for convenience and broad selection: everything from supermarket own-brand pouches to specialist rawhide-free dental chews can be delivered quickly. The challenge is sifting through hundreds of options — use customer reviews and ingredient filters to find top-rated, natural treats. Watch for sellers who specify origin and processing methods; single-ingredient dried products from reputable UK suppliers are often the safest bet online.

Supermarkets: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Ocado

Supermarkets are ideal for everyday treats and budget buys. Tesco and Sainsbury’s stock affordable packs and training treats, while Waitrose and Ocado tend to carry premium ranges and natural brands like Lily’s Kitchen. Supermarket treats are handy for last-minute rewards or for owners who want good value without visiting a specialist pet shop.

Independent and boutique sellers: JustFoodForDogs, Lily’s Kitchen and more

Boutique brands focus on higher-quality ingredients and clear sourcing. Lily’s Kitchen offers organic-style recipes and single-protein snacks, while JustFoodForDogs specialises in fresh, kitchen-made options and bespoke treats for dietary needs. These sellers are great if you want transparent ingredient lists and artisanal-style snacks that feel closer to homemade than factory-made.

How to read treat labels

Reading labels is everywhere from obvious to cryptic. Learn to spot real meat near the top of the ingredient list, watch out for vague terms like “meat derivatives,” and note preservatives and artificial colours. The fewer the ingredients, the easier it is to understand what you’re feeding your dog.

Ingredients to welcome and those to avoid

Welcome ingredients include named meats (chicken, beef, lamb), whole vegetables (carrot, pumpkin), fish, oats, and beneficial supplements (omega oils, glucosamine). Avoid long lists of unnamed animal by-products, artificial sweeteners like xylitol (dangerous for dogs), and excessive salt or sugar. If your dog has a known sensitivity, single-protein or single-ingredient treats from specialist sellers are safest.

Understanding calorie counts and portion sizes

Calories add up quickly. If a treat packs 15 to 25 kcal per piece, giving 10 in a day could add nearly 1/4 lb in weekly surplus for a small dog, so limit portions accordingly. Use a kitchen scale or eyeball small, 0.1–0.2 oz treats for training and reserve larger, 1–2 oz chews for special sessions. For dogs on restricted diets, switch to low-calorie vegetable-based snacks or tiny sequenced training pieces to keep energy intake in check.

Choosing treats for special dietary needs

Some dogs need grain-free, low-fat, or hypoallergenic treats due to allergies, pancreatitis history, or sensitivities. Many UK retailers now offer ranges targeted at these needs — think single-protein jerky, sweet potato chews, or limited-ingredient baked bites.

Grain-free and hypoallergenic options

Grain-free treats swap cereals for tubers or legumes and often use one main protein source. Brands at Pets Corner and specialist online shops frequently label products “limited ingredients” or “grain-free.” If your dog has a suspected allergy, run a brief elimination test: give only a single-protein treat for two weeks and watch for improvements before reintroducing other types.

Low-calorie and weight-management treats

For dogs on a diet, look for treats under 5 kcal per piece or buy training treats explicitly marked as low-calorie. Supermarkets and specialist retailers both carry veggie-based or air-dried mini treats that let you reward frequently without breaking calorie budgets. Combine treats with praise and attention to make rewards feel bigger than their caloric impact.

Budget-friendly options without sacrificing quality

Quality doesn’t have to break the bank. Many stores like Tesco and ASDA offer own-brand treats that use decent ingredients at lower prices, and buying in bulk from Amazon or wholesaler sections of pet shops can bring down per-treat cost significantly.

Store-brand treats vs premium brands

Store brands often produce perfectly acceptable treats — simple dried chicken strips or dental sticks — that match premium options in performance for a fraction of the price. Premium brands usually offer more specialised formulas or human-grade sourcing, which can be worth the extra cost for dogs with specific needs. Test both: buy small packs from a few ranges and note which treats motivate your dog and sit well with their digestion.

Buying in bulk and batch-frozen treats

Buying a 1 lb bag of training treats can be cheaper per piece, but only if you can store them properly. Many owners divide bulk buys into small jars or freeze portions to preserve freshness. For home-made treats, baking a large batch and freezing individual portions saves money and keeps snacks on hand when you need them most.

Tips for training and rewarding your dog

Treats are powerful tools for teaching good behaviour, but technique matters. Short, consistent sessions win over long, sporadic ones. And remember: a treat plus a word of praise builds a memory more effectively than either alone.

Timing, size, and frequency

Reward immediately — within a second if possible — so your dog links action to treat. Use tiny pieces during high-frequency training and save larger chews for milestone rewards. For a 30-minute training block, aim for pieces around 0.1 oz and no more than a handful to keep calories in check. Always end on a success to reinforce confidence and motivation.

Creative homemade treat ideas

Homemade treats let you control ingredients. A simple recipe: mix 8 oz of pumpkin purée, 1 cup of oat flour, and a beaten egg into a dough, roll, and bake until firm. Cut into tiny training-size pieces before freezing. Another quick idea is thin-sliced 1 oz pieces of dried chicken breast — oven-dried at low heat — for a high-protein, single-ingredient snack that most dogs adore.

Safety and storage of dog treats

Keep treats fresh and safe just like you would your own food. Proper storage prevents spoilage and reduces the risk of your dog picking up something that could upset their stomach. Treats with fats can go rancid, so pay attention to smell and texture over time.

Recognizing spoilage and keeping treats fresh

If a treat smells off, feels overly sticky, or shows mould, toss it. Store air-dried meats in a cool, dry cupboard and refrigerate wet or soft treats once opened. Use airtight containers and keep high-fat chews in the fridge if you live somewhere warm to preserve quality and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Choking hazards and supervision

Always choose a size and texture suited to your dog. Break large chews into manageable 1–2 oz pieces for smaller breeds, and never leave puppies or unsupervised dogs with very hard chews that might splinter. Treats designed to be gnawed slowly reduce boredom but still require supervision, especially with enthusiastic chewers.

Choosing the right dog treats in the UK is about matching purpose with the right product. Whether you shop at big chains like Pets at Home, browse boutique ranges at Pets Corner, snap up bargains from supermarkets, or search the immense selection on Amazon UK, focus on natural ingredients, appropriate sizes, and the treat’s functional benefits. Mix training mini-bites for learning with occasional dental chews for oral care and wholesome single-ingredient snacks for everyday rewards. With thoughtful choices, treats become more than a bribe — they become a tool that improves behaviour, health, and your bond with your dog.