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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
There are a lot of reasons pet parents may need to feed their dogs grain-free treats. Luckily, whether your vet has recommended a diet free of grains or your pup has a picky palate and prefers extra meaty flavor, many choices are available to meet different needs and purposes.
What good grain-free options will have in common is limited and quality ingredients, with whole meat or a natural protein listed first on the label.
To help you in your search for a great treat, we compiled a list of our top picks, with snacks ranging from crunchy to soft and single-ingredient to high-protein.
Best Soft: Merrick Power Bites Real Beef Recipe Treats
These grain-free soft treats pack a lot of flavor with real Texas beef as the first ingredient. The natural smoke flavor adds an enticing aroma and taste for picky pups. Fruits and veggies, like potatoes, apples, and carrots, provide fiber, while flaxseed offers essential omega fatty acids. For other protein options, these treats also come in chicken and salmon. There are also more novel flavors like rabbit and turducken if your dog has an allergy to common proteins.
At 5.4 calories, these soft treats are in a fun star shape that’s easy to break apart, making them an excellent low-calorie choice for training or smaller dogs.
Nutritional Content:
- 5.4 kcal/treat
- Protein: 16.1%
- Fat: 4.4%
- Fiber: 5.9%
Best Crunchy: Old Mother Hubbard Classic P-Nuttier ‘N Nanners Grain-Free Mini Biscuits
Crunchy and packed with peanut butter and banana, these bone-shaped mini dog biscuits are slow-baked without grains or artificial preservatives. The flaxseed offers anti-inflammatory properties, while green tea, spearmint, and rosemary extract add a fresh taste.
If your doggo isn’t a fan of peanut butter and banana, these treats are also available in turkey and sweet potato (All the Fixins) and pumpkin and carrot (Pick of the Patch) flavors.
Nutritional Content:
- 10 kcal/piece
- Protein: 12.4%
- Fat: 11.2%
- Fiber: 3.9%
Best for Training: American Journey Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Soft & Chewy Training Bits
With real meat as the first ingredient and no artificial preservatives or animal byproducts, these soft and chewy treats come in three different flavors to delight your pup: chicken, salmon, and beef. Along with protein, each variety is made with sweet potatoes, flaxseed, and salmon oil.
Their small size and low-calorie count (2 kcal per treat) make them an excellent training reward for dogs of all sizes. While the recipe is grain-free, the treats are made in a facility that processes grain-inclusive foods, so there’s a potential for trace amounts of grains to be found in them.
Nutritional Content:
- 2 kcal/treat
- Protein: 25.7%
- Fat: 7.1%
- Fiber: 5.7%
Best High-Protein Biscuits: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail High Protein Grain-Free Dog Treats
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats are free of grains (including corn and wheat), soy, artificial flavors, and preservatives. Containing nearly 34% protein from turkey meat and chicken meal, these biscuits are high in protein while also offering a satisfying crunch.
Flaxseed provides omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, while calcium ascorbate contains vitamin C, which can aid in joint health. At 41 calories per treat, they’re much more calorically dense than standard dog biscuits and many of the treats on our list. However, they may be a great option for working dogs needing a high-value (and high-calorie) reward to help maintain their muscle mass.
Nutritional Content:
- 41 kcal/biscuit
- Protein: 33.7%
- Fat: 18.8%
- Fiber: 3.9%
Best Single Ingredient: Stewart Freeze Dried Dog Treats
Single-ingredient dog treats are ideal if your dog has an identified allergy. They also tend to be pretty high-value for many dogs when the primary ingredient is meat.
These freeze-dried bites contain only chicken breast as their one ingredient. Stewart also offers other single-protein flavors like beef liver and salmon if your pup can’t handle chicken. At nearly 78% protein, these freeze-dried treats have the highest protein on our list.
Nutritional Content:
- 4 kcal/treat
- Protein: 77.9%
- Fat: 3.2%
- Fiber: 1.1%
Best for Digestibility: Portland Pet Food Company Pumpkin Biscuit Dog Treats
Not only does pumpkin have potential digestion benefits for pups, but many canines go wild for the flavor. These gourmet gluten and grain-free treats are made with a mix of garbanzo bean flour, pumpkin, and peanut butter with a touch of sweetness from the molasses and cinnamon. Made in the USA, they’re suitable for all breeds, though you may need to split them in half for puppies and smaller breeds.
These treats have limited ingredients and are dairy-free, a bonus for pups with dairy allergies. They’re twice-baked, creating a light yet crunchy texture. If pumpkin isn’t your pup’s jam, there are also bacon and gingerbread flavors.
Nutritional Content:
- 12 kcal/biscuit
- Protein: 10.6%
- Fat: 14.9%
- Fiber: 6.4%
Best Dental Treat: WHIMZEES by Wellness Brushzees Dental Chews
If you’re looking for a dental treat that helps reduce plaque buildup and freshen your dog’s breath, Whimzee’s Dental Treats are free of grains, gluten, preservatives, and animal byproducts. The rigid “toothbrush” design makes it easy for dogs to hold with their paws, and the deep grooves help get between smaller spaces among your canine’s teeth. Reviewers especially like that the harder consistency makes for a longer-lasting treat.
As with many dental chews, these Whimizee toothbrush treats are high in calories and may take up or exceed the recommended 10% of your dog’s caloric intake. But as a special treat and supplement to your dog’s toothbrushing routine, they should be just fine.
Nutritional Content (Medium Size):
- 89 kcal/treat
- Protein: 1.1%
- Fat: 2.3%
- Fiber: 15.9%
Best High Value: Waggin’ Train Chicken Jerky Tenders
High-value treats are handy for training, especially when teaching your dog something new or working through behavioral challenges. Jerky treats often serve as an excellent, high-value option, and this one is grain-free and made with only two ingredients: chicken breast and vegetable glycerin.
Low in fat and high in protein, whole-muscle chicken breast provides natural vitamins and minerals like vitamins B6, B12, iron, and zinc. At 45 calories per piece, the treats are higher in calories than any other on the list. However, they’re also easy to break into smaller pieces for portion control.
Nutritional Content:
- 45 kcal/piece
- Protein: 77.4%
- Fat: 1.2%
- Fiber: 1.2%
Best Spreadable Treat: Café Nära Peanut Butter
Spreadable treats are extremely versatile. Stuff them into a puzzle toy and freeze them for a long-lasting treat to keep your pup busy and occupied in stressful situations or simply when you need a break. Add them to your dog’s meal as a topper, or use them to hide meds without your pup ever detecting them.
These squeezable peanut butter pouches by Café Nära take it one step further, letting you take them with you on the go. Plus, they’re free of grain, added sugar, and artificial flavors!
Nutritional Content:
- 9.9 kcal/tube
- Protein: 46.7%
- Fat: 33.3%
- Fiber: 6.7%
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized grain-free treats with limited ingredients, quality food, and high reviews. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
