10 Best Dog Treats of 2022

The Good Housekeeping Institute reviews pet products of all kinds, from cat toys to comfy dog beds for lounging around. Our experts scoured top-rated picks and reviews to ensure we only suggest the best (and healthiest) dog treats for our readers and their furry friends. When making our choices, we consider flavor, texture, dietary restrictions, purpose and more. We spoke to a veterinarian about which ingredients are best in treats and what to consider when picking the right ones for your pup to chow down on. We also spoke with a number of pet parents about which treats their furry friends love the most. These picks are made up of our product pros’ favorites and popular brands with rave reviews from real pet parents and vets.

✔️ Ingredients: Luckily, you don’t have to worry too much about whether or not the treats you pick are safe for your pet. “Most dog treats on the market are fine in regards to ingredients,” Dr. Conrad says. “There aren’t any ‘best ingredients’ per se but it more so depends on preference.” So if you or your pup are more interested in something with a shorter ingredient list, pet parents lean towards treats like dehydrated animal lung, liver or meat. “Since treats shouldn’t make up more than 10{95b18eb6fc4f42efd0d92738dfc3fb79fde21da267a711ecdf0381147c27bb86} of [your] dog’s diet, ingredients aren’t too much of a concern, especially if it’s a commercially-made treat,” she says, aside from your pet’s personal preference, of course!

✔️ Purpose: If you’re trying to find the right treat as a reward for training, look for something soft and small. “Dogs get excitable while training so a soft treat avoids any crumbs that may go down the wrong tube and cause them to cough,” Dr. Conrad says. “Small, smelly, super tasty treats will give the best results so make sure you choose a treat your dog really loves so they’ll work hard for their reward.” If you’re just looking for something that your dog can chew on for fun after a long day, larger, tougher treats are okay as well.

✔️ Health: It’s important to avoid ingredients that you know your dog is sensitive to, and make sure you only purchase treats that are the correct size for your dog breed. “Make sure treats are easy to chew and digest and not too big for your dog to avoid any choking hazards,” says Dr. Conrad. “Feed small amounts to avoid an upset stomach as too many treats can potentially cause GI upset.” In general, treats should only make up 10{95b18eb6fc4f42efd0d92738dfc3fb79fde21da267a711ecdf0381147c27bb86} of your pup’s daily diet, so don’t overfeed them.

One of the biggest dangers when it comes to treats is when pet parents decide to try their hand at homemade dog snacks. “There are a lot of toxic foods that can potentially cause issues for your dog,” Conrad warns. “Be mindful of looking up recipes online and double check ingredients to ensure you’re not making anything that could be a problem for your dog,” she says. “Also, avoid any ingredients that your dog may be sensitive or allergic to.” Those cute, trendy recipes you find online may not always be what’s healthiest for your pet. Overall, commercially made pet treats are unlikely to cause any harm to your pet unless it’s a personal sensitivity or allergy, but if you do decide to move forward with making your own treats, speak to your vet to ensure you aren’t using any toxic ingredients.

For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been providing expert reviews and advice on everything a pet parent needs, including dog treats. In her role as Parenting & Pets Reviews Analyst, Jamie Spain brings years of journalism experience to the GH Institute, having reviewed pet products for Good Housekeeping like indestructible dog toys and dog car seats, as well as BuzzFeed, while also previously working in the parenting and pets sphere at People. She spoke with Megan Conrad, MBBS, a veterinarian at Hello Ralphie and associate vet at WellHaven Pet Health.