Training treats are great for all size pups. But recently, I was specifically asked if I could recommend (training) treats for small dog breeds or puppies.
Like teacup dog breeds, Brussels Griffons and Shih Tzus.
But here’s a caveat – they couldn’t be just any treats!
They would have to be small pieces, not pack a punch, be healthy and be useable for training sessions.
Plus they shouldn’t have any grains, fillers, or any artificial components on the ingredient list.
As quite a few of my dog walking and pet sitting clients were small dogs, I definitely have a few recommendations.
While my own pups are/were medium-large dogs who weigh(ed) 38, 50, 60 and 70 lbs as adults, two of them (Missy & Buzz) came into my life as tiny 8 week old puppies.
Plus, I got to thinking that many of the treats they eagerly perform tricks for are small in size as it is!
The ones that aren’t can easily be broken into tiny pieces because they’re freeze-dried or dehydrated.
Since I only use grain-free treats (& food) without any artificial add-ons, that requirement was met as well.
So YES!
I CAN recommend dog treats specifically for smaller breeds.
Also, I’m happy to say that you can often get great deals on dog treats for your smaller pooch – just make sure you go through a reputable retailer such as PetLab Co.
OK, now here’s what else you’ll find in this blog post:
- More freeze-dried & dehydrated dog treats that make fantastic training treats for all size dogs, including small pups
- The best chew treats for small dogs as well as the best raw meaty bones for small dogs
- How many treats can a small dog have?
- Can small dogs eat big treats?
Ready to find out more? Let’s jump right in!
Best Training Treats for Tiny Dogs
Vital Essentials: Minnows
The minnows are a single ingredient, USA sourced & made, freeze-dried fish treat (82 kcal/oz).
They’re sold in 1oz bags and you can easily break them into small pieces.
Fun fact: I first learned about them at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, FL back in 2016!
Vital Essentials: Bites
The bites used to be called “nibs” and are tiny pieces of USA sourced & made freeze-dried duck and beef.
The duck treats consist of duck and mixed tocopherols (preservative).
The beef treats consist of beef, beef liver and mixed tocopherols (preservative).
Side note: Tocopherols are a form of vitamin E and act as a natural preservative.
Raw Paws Pet Food: Green Tripe Dog Treats
The green tripe treats are a freeze-dried, single ingredient superfood treat made from USA raised, free range cows (155 kcal/oz).
Tripe is the stomach lining of ruminant animals such as cows, sheep, or goats and chock-full of nutrients and minerals.
Dogs go bonkers for it and it can also be a great incentive to get a picky dog to eat when it’s sprinkled on their regular dog food.
Tip: Save 15% with my affiliate code K9Savings! – Also works on anything else at Raw Paws.
Icelandic +: Herring Fish Treats
The herring dog treats are air-dried and wild caught sustainably in Iceland (125 kcal/oz).
…just as Vikings did in 900ad…
That’s how the brand likes to put it, ha!
They’re super rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which are great for a healthy skin and coat.
Ageless Paws: Bison Liver (formerly: Bison Bites)
These bison liver treats are freeze-dried, single ingredient dog treats (112 kcal/oz).
Liver is also known as one of Mother Nature’s multivitamins because it’s rich in a variety of nutrients such as copper and iron, and particularly Vitamin A.
Here’s more information on (raw) liver.
Nature’s Variety: Instinct Raw Boost Toppers
Nature’s Variety offers these freeze-dried raw boost mixers as food toppers, but they also work GREAT as training treats!
As you can see in the image below, they make great training treats for my treat pouch.
They’re available as beef, chicken and lamb and come in 6oz and 14oz packets (½ cup – 124 calories).
ZiwiPeak: Limited-Ingredient Dog Food
Any Ziwipeak dog food makes phenomenal training treats! Since it’s air-dried and soft, the individual pieces are easy to break up into smaller bites.
The food is available in:
- beef (278 kcal/scoop)
- chicken (284 kcal/scoop)
- lamb (281 kcal/scoop)
- mackerel & lamb (256 kcal/scoop)
- tripe & lamb (278 kcal/scoop)
- venison (264 kcal/scoop)
One downside is their price point, which is why they’re particularly good for small dog breeds and teacup dog breeds who don’t need as many!
I also like to mix them with other foods to make fillers for Kong dog toys or similar dog food puzzles. They’re also available in a smaller Kong puppy size.
For example, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, pumpkin purée, peanut butter, etc.
Real Dog Treat Box
Real dog has a huge variety of air-dried treats in their treat subscription boxes. There’s also the option to add dog chews.
Their selection varies from month to month, so it doesn’t get boring taste-wise!
You have the option to customize your boxes (only treats, treats + chews, only chews) and specify any food allergies your pup(s) may have.
Since the treats are all air-dried, they’re super easy to break into small pieces for small dogs.
I love that owner Ruby is a raw feeder herself, which is definitely reflected in the meat and fish choices the brand offers!
Tip: Check out what she had to say when I asked her and other raw feeders for beginner advice.
Bonus: What Are The Best Chew Treats for Small Dogs?
Bully Sticks!
Best Bully Sticks carries bully sticks in a variety of lengths and thicknesses, including smaller ones that work great for small dogs as well as for puppies.
Their thicknesses range from thin to standard, thick, jumbo and braided.
In case you don’t know what bully sticks are – they’re bull penises, aka bull pizzles, and dogs go crazy for them!
Best Bully Sticks only uses the ones from free-range, grass-fed beef.
While bully sticks don’t make good training treats given their size, they’re a great single-ingredient source of protein that’s highly digestible and great for dental health.
Bully sticks are an excellent dog chew for small dogs and puppies because they keep them entertained for a while and also massage the gums – that’s super important in teething puppies.
Their smallest option are thin 2-4″ Junior Bully Sticks, followed by thin 4″ bully sticks (49 kcal/treat).
Side note: If you’re looking into raw feeding your small dog or puppy, I highly recommend raw meaty bones!
They’re great for dental health, they exercise your pup’s jaws and are a great source of calcium and phosphorus.
The best raw meaty bones for your small dog or puppy are on the smaller side and include:
- Chicken wings/necks and feet
- Duck feet and wings/necks. You’ll have to cut the wings and necks in halves or thirds as they’re larger than their chicken counterparts.
Skip the Complicated Math – Use the Free Raw Dog Food Calculator
Get an instant ratio breakdown for muscle meat (including fish), bone, organs, and plant matter based on your dog’s weight and activity level. Works for adult dogs on BARF or PMR, and for puppies from 8 weeks to 12 months.
Try the Free CalculatorHow Many Treats Can a Small Dog Have?
Your small dog can have up to 10% of his or her daily caloric intake in treats.
You can also check the treat packaging for feeding advice, but it’s usually a bit on the higher side. From a business perspective, it makes sense – after all, treat suppliers want to make money, too.
Which is fair as we all have bills to pay!
But in order to avoid overfeeding your pup, it’s a good idea to take their feeding advice with a grain of salt and feed less than the suggested amount.
Alternatively, you can also reduce their food allowance come meal time.
Can Small Dogs Eat Big Treats?
It depends!
Technically speaking, they can.
However, treats can very quickly pack on the pounds, so it’s important to watch your small dog’s caloric intake.
Obviously, the easiest way to feed your small pup big treats is to break them up into smaller bites.
If you’re offering larger dog chews, you can take them away after they’ve chewed on them for a while.
For example, you could let them chew for 10-15 minutes and then put them up until the next day, then repeat.
Bully sticks are a prime example for this, especially larger ones!
Healthy Treats for Tiny Dogs & Puppies: Bottom Line
We were able to cover a variety of dog (training) treats suitable for dogs of all sizes with an emphasis on training treats for small dog breeds and puppies.
That’s because their dehydrated & freeze-dried texture makes it easy to break them into small pieces.
One exception to this are bully sticks, but they’re available in a variety of sizes, including 2-4″ Junior ones!
My pups Pepper, Wally, Missy & Buzz enjoy diversity in their treats and I like to keep them guessing what Mommy will hand out next.
That’s why I listed dog treats made of beef, bison, duck, chicken, lamb, venison, minnows and herring.
Do your (tiny) dogs or puppies have a favorite training treat? Let me know in the comment section below!
Related Reading
- How I Taught my Dog The Roll Over Trick
- How to Make Dehydrated Pork Dog Treats
- How to Feed Your Small Dog Raw Dog Food
- 20 Easy No Bake Valentine’s Day Dog Treats
- How to Make Doggie Popsicles With Handles
- How to Make Healthy Banana Tripe Dog Treat
- 5 Natural Antioxidants for Dogs that Boost The Immune System
Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.
She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.
As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.
Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.
In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.
Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.