The Best Healthy Soft Dog Treats to Reinforce Good Behavior
While some dogs prefer hard, crunchy treats, others fall head-over-paws for soft treats with a chewy texture. Needless to say, pooches adore treats and can do anything for them. Soft treats, in particular, are of great interest to pet parents who dedicate a considerable amount of time to their canine's behavioral training and dental health.
The biggest perk of using soft dog treats is the versatility they bring to the table. You can use them as motivators to foster good behavior in your dog, regulators to help with weight management, supplements to build immunity, or as aids for dental hygiene. The uses are endless, but so are the varieties. Soft dog treats come in all shapes and forms, from freeze-dried and bite-sized to soft dog chews and gummies. The million-dollar question is which dog treats are actually worth the investment. Well, you need not worry; we have ranked and reviewed the top healthy soft dog treats in 2024.
Buying Guide: Choosing a Great Healthy Soft Dog Treat
Pups are always looking for treats even if they are full. They like to be rewarded for their good behavior such as getting their nails trimmed without making a fuss, taking a bath, listening to your command, etc. However, with frequent treating comes a myriad of problems including dental hygiene, weight management, and gut health. In order to avoid any such problems, we have created a buying guide for you to purchase the healthiest treats:
What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing Dog Treats?
Health history of dogs
Make sure to keep your dog’s medical history in mind before you order a treat for it to munch on. If your pup has a medical history and suffers from any disease, it is a good idea to visit the vet to discuss your pet’s dietary reservations before getting him a chewy treat.
Age
Dog treats are normally categorized by age and breed. They have different nutritious values and therefore, your pup’s age is an important factor in deciding which treat to buy. Your dog’s age will also determine the size, shape, hardness, and texture of the treat you buy for it.
Calorie count
You definitely do not want your dog to become overweight so make sure that you check the number of calories and fat percentage of the treats you choose for your dog. Treats should never be the reason for your pup to experience health problems.
Which Things to Look Out for in Dog Treats?
Chemical humectants
Chemical humectants including propylene glycol are often used in dog chews to prevent them from going stale or drying (or going bad in general) and to keep it moist, soft, fresh, and chewy. Most commonly, they are used to prevent discoloration in meat products. However, chemical humectants can greatly disrupt dogs’ digestive systems and cause the formation of intestinal lesions along with blockage.
Synthetic chemical sweeteners
The majority of dog food manufacturers use chemical sweeteners such as sorbitol to improve the taste of dog treats and make them more delectable for dogs. However, synthetic chemical sweeteners can cause a whole lot of issues for your dog’s health including allergies, anxiety, obesity, and tooth decay. Plus, synthetic sweeteners are meant to develop dependence and they may cause your dog to start rejecting the healthier options at hand.
The texture of the treat
Some dogs like chewy and soft treats while other dogs prefer hard and crunchy ones. Hard, firm, and crunchy treats will help your dog maintain oral health by getting rid of plaque and tartar. On the other hand, chewy treats will make your pup chew for a long time, causing tooth scraping. Moreover, these will also keep them busy long enough for you to finish your tasks and domestic chores. If you have a senior dog, it is better to buy softer and easy-to-chew treats to make it easy for its aging teeth to chew.
What Are Some Important Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Healthy Soft Dog Treats?
Improve wellbeing
Soft dog treats, unlike hard treats that are made of reconstituted leftovers, contain natural ingredients that are easy to chew for pups. This ensures smooth digestion and gives your pet a healthy stomach.
Better dental health
Oral health is extremely important in dogs as they cannot take care of their teeth on their own. Hard dog treats exert pressure on their teeth, while soft treats are easy to chew and better for dogs’ teeth.
Help in the formation of red blood cells
Dogs need their daily dose of minerals and vitamins to stay active all day long. Soft dog treats provide them with that, and also help in the production of red blood cells.
Enhance metabolism
Just like soft dog treats are easier to chew, they are also easy on the digestive system. The harder a treat is, the less water it has, and so soft treats are more hydrating for dogs. This makes it easier for their bodies to digest the treats and maintain healthy stool.
Top Healthy Soft Dog Treats Reviewed in Detail
Rachael Ray Healthy Soft Dog Treats
– Best OverallRachael Ray’s healthy soft dog treats are made with a grain-free recipe and contain real ingredients including beef, chicken, and bacon that pet parents can confidently feed their pooches. These tasty meatball morsels are 50% Beef, 50% Chicken, and 100% healthy. If you are looking for a treat that is not just tasty and colorful but also offers essential nutrients to help support lean muscle mass & healthy organs and keeps your pup energized throughout the day, then these yummy soft treats are the perfect solution for you.
Even your smaller pups can break and gulp these soft dog treats easily without hurting their teeth or gums. You can make the mealtime fun and loaded with deliciousness as these treats have real meat chunks. These are safely sourced and cooked with a grain-free recipe, and are ideal for dogs under one year of age or less than 10 lbs.
- Made from farm-raised beef
- Contains no artificial flavors
- Contains no meat by-products
- Not ideal for dogs with no teeth or under three weeks of age
Hill’s Healthy Soft Dog Treats
– All Natural IngredientsDog parents would be hard-pressed to find a better and softer treat for their dog than Hill’s grain-free soft-baked treat. With hundreds and thousands of positive reviews pouring in from all over the world, this product is a clear favorite of most pet parents. These healthy soft dog treats are your best pick if you do not like to feed your pet anything even slightly artificial. Made from real beef and sweet potatoes, these savory dog treats contain zero traces of soy, wheat, corn, and artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Hill’s dog treats will provide your pet with the right amount of protein to help maintain muscle mass. Moreover, these contain veggies like sweet potatoes & carrots, and chicken fat that your canine will surely love.
- Delicious and grain-free
- Contains trusted, all-natural ingredients
- Helps maintain muscle mass
- Recommended for adult dogs only
Buddy Biscuits Healthy Soft Dog Treats
– For All Life StagesWith real, healthy, all-American meat listed as its main ingredient, Buddy biscuits’ grain-free dog treats offer a delicious flavor profile for your furry friend’s growth. These versatile treats are palatable and chewy which makes them the best fit for older dogs. However, these are also an amazing choice for pups with deciduous teeth or dogs who prefer soft-textured food. They only have 10 calories per treat, so you can use them as snacks or training treats when you want to give your dog kudos for doing a good job.
Apart from the delicious flavor, these healthy soft dog treats have roasted chicken for extra deliciousness. The best thing is that these treats don’t contain any traces of corn, soy, preservatives, artificial flavors, or any other fillers that can be harmful for your dog’s health.
- Ideal for all dog breeds
- No artificial flavors and colors
- Suitable for all life stages
- As these treats are low in calories, you might have to add something else to your pup’s meal
Wellness Healthy Soft Dog Treats
– Affordable ChoiceIt is impossible to balk at a yummy canine treat that lists whole fruits and vegetables like superfoods including sweet potatoes and blueberries as its natural ingredients. This product contains two different types of fresh meat for your pup to savor. With a texture that dogs will enjoy, these delectable treats are great for snacking, your everyday go-to treating, and training. And that’s not it, these yummy snacks also boost antioxidants to improve your pup’s overall health.
Who wouldn’t want their pet to eat healthy soft dog treats made with high-quality, all-natural ingredients with a wide array of nutritional benefits; no meat by-products, or preservatives? From small adorable puppies to strong senior dogs, these treats will become your ultimate choice whenever you want something for your canines to snack on. As these treats will keep your dog happy and satisfied, you both will have plenty of time to cuddle and play.
- Easily torn into smaller pieces
- High nutrition value
- Suitable for all breed sizes
- No meat by-products or preservatives
- Made for intermittent feeding only
Milo’s Kitchen Healthy Soft Dog Treats
– Best Value for MoneyThese healthy soft dog treats are made with real meat and all-natural ingredients such as real beef and chicken that are actually good for your pup and bring a homemade vibe that pets adore. Apart from the meaty deliciousness, these treats have textured vegetable protein so your furry friend does not miss out on the goodness of veggies. When feeding these snacks to smaller dogs, make sure to break them into smaller pieces to let them enjoy every bite.
Their ultra-soft and chewy texture satisfies dogs’ urge to chew for a long time. Free of meat by-products and artificial flavors, these mouthwatering treats have a distinct and authentic meatball taste that your dog will surely love. Furthermore, these treats are packed with protein and don’t contain artificial flavors or preservatives, which is a huge plus point.
- Free from allergens and additives
- Made from filler-free chicken and beef
- Soft texture makes them easier to break
- Cannot substitute a meal
People Also Asked
A: Their name is quite self-explanatory. Soft dog treats are soft in texture and are pretty sweet in taste most of the time. They are easy to chew and do not require a lot of exertion from the jaw of the puppy. So, the answer to this is that yes, soft dog treats are safe for dogs' health and they do not cause any known harm.
A: The answer to this depends on the goal. Both treats have their own significance. While hard treats can be classified as means of delayed gratification, soft treats are means of immediate gratification. So, you can give your dog a hard treat when you need your dog to stay busy while you do your work or you can treat your pup to a soft treat as a quick reward when you want your pup to feel a little extra love.
A: Vets obviously prefer for dogs to have natural treats instead of packaged treats. Some amazing foods that you can give to your dog as a way to treat, or you can look for such foods as ingredients when buying dog treats are bananas, green beans, peas, peanut butter without the xylitol, sugar snap peas, apples, carrots, oat-based cereals, pears, etc.
A: Should you add blueberries to your pet's treats? Absolutely, blueberries are awesome and dogs can eat them. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and phytochemicals.