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Dehydrated dog treats are all the rage, and we can see why. While it can be an investment in time and money (initially) to dehydrate your own dog treats and chews, it can also come with a lot of benefits. For instance, it’s a great way to provide high-value treats for picky pups. It also gives you more transparency and control over what you’re feeding your dog, which is ideal for pets who have to follow a limited-ingredient diet.
Plus, after the initial startup cost, it can help you save quite a bit on treats, especially if you buy meat and produce that’s marked down and nearing expiry—which is also a fantastic way to help reduce food waste! Some of our favorite dog trainers and experts are pros at dehydrating their own dog treats.
But a lot of the dehydrators on the market seem pretty similar, so how do you know which one to choose for making dog treats? To help, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite dog treat dehydrators, taking into consideration a variety of needs, features, and sizes to help you narrow down your options.
Just starting out? Skip to our tips section about what to look for in a dehydrator for treat-making.
Best for Beginners: Nesco Snackmaster Dog Treat Dehydrator
A bit intimidated to start dehydrating your own treats? This beginner-friendly model has an easy-to-use design with five round dishwasher-friendly trays and a dial with preset temperatures. Just plug it in and go!
Reviewers like how well it stacks together and that it can expand up to 12 trays as you build your dehydrating confidence. A capped lid keeps the fan up top in the center, making it a smart choice for messier dog treats and chews that tend to drip down.
This model isn’t without its faults, though. Some reviewers have reported that the hole in the middle of the trays eats away at drying space. It also doesn’t have a timer and isn’t as customizable as other options on the market. But as a simple model for first-time users, this dehydrator rates high with 4.6 stars out of 13,000 reviews.
Key Features:
- Adjustable thermostat (95-160º F)
- Wattage: 600 watts
- Size: 13.75 x 22.13 x 13.87 inches
- Extras include mesh inserts and fruit roll screens
Best Value for Dog Treats: Hamilton Beach Digital Dehydrator (Verified Review)
If you’d like a few more features than a plug-and-go model, Hamilton Beach offers a popular mid-range dehydrator. Added perks like a digital timer and automatic shutoff are great for busy pet parents on the go. It’s also medium in size, making it a good choice for kitchens that don’t have a ton of counter space.
As we found in our testing, a few quirks include that the airflow isn’t as even as some other dehydrators, meaning the bottom dries quicker than the top. Still, we found it easy to use and surprisingly easy to clean (ideal for messy, marinated jerky treats). A bonus—the five stackable trays and lid are dishwasher safe!
Key Features:
- Size: 10.5 x 13 x 11 inches
- Power: 500 watts
- Adjustable digital thermostat (100-160º F)
- Includes one mesh sheet and one solid sheet
Best Splurge: Magic Mill Dehydrator for Jerky & Dog Treats
When you’re ready to take your dog treats to the next level, this Magic Mill dehydrator is a high-performing model with lots of extra features—like a function that keeps your chews and jerkies warm for up to 24 hours after the drying process.
Ranking high across the board, reviewers say they love how evenly and consistently food dries on all 10 stainless steel racks—thanks to the fan mounted in the back. The see-through doors also let you monitor your dog treats without having to open them and let any heat out.
It does require you to run it for 30 minutes before the first use. And while it is affordable for a high-end dehydrator, it is a bit of a splurge. But extra perks like a hanging rack, two silicone gloves, a mesh sheet, and two non-stick trays help make up for the higher price.
Key Features:
- Size: 18 x 14 x 17 inches
- Power: 600 watts
- Includes overheating protection
- Built with food-grade, BPA-free material
Best for Big Batches: LEM Big Bite Professional Dehydrator
For pet parents who have multiple dogs or want to dry high volumes of treats and chews in one go, this professional-grade machine offers tons of drying space with 10 chrome-plated trays that span over 16 square feet. The door comes completely off, making it easy to load big batches at once. The drying fan is also in the back for more uniform drying across all racks.
Since it’s larger than most other dehydrators on the market, it is quite heavy and takes up a lot of kitchen space. It’s also on the pricier side and requires manual assembly. You can, however, opt for the model without the digital control panel to bring the cost down.
Key Features:
- Weight: 34.7 pounds
- Size: 18.25 x 17 x 17.25 inches
- Power: 770-watt “whisper quiet” fan
Most Compact: NutriChef Electric Countertop Dehydrator
Small but mighty, this dehydrator is a smart pick for pet parents who have limited counter space. Measuring 11 x 9 x 7 inches, it’s smaller than most other dehydrators on the market but still packs a punch with 350 watts of drying power. Mimicking high-end options, this mini dehydrator has a fan in the back with four food-grade stainless steel trays in front—creating 360-degree airflow to dry treats evenly. The sleek design also makes it a stylish gadget to add to your kitchen repertoire.
While some reviewers have noted that it is quite small (comparing it to the size of a toaster oven), pet parents with tinier pups or those who need the occasional high-value treat might find this compact dehydrator a good fit.
Key Features:
- Auto on/off switch
- Temperature control (95-158º F)
- Adjustable time control
- Dishwasher-safe trays
Quietest: Samson “Silent” Dehydrator for Dog Treats
This Samson dehydrator is great for households looking for a quieter operation—think pet parents who work from home or noise-reactive dogs. Some reviewers have noted that it’s so quiet that they’ve had to check to make sure it’s even on.
A user-friendly design offers a digital control panel on top with eight heat settings (95-158º F) and a timer that works in 30-minute increments. Six stainless steel trays give the dehydrator more sturdiness, while horizontal airflow makes for even drying. The downside, however, is that the metal trays have been reported to be harder to clean, especially since they’re not dishwasher-friendly.
Key Features:
- Power: 400 watts
- Size: 13.5 x 12 x 17.5 inches
- Non-stick drip bottom tray
What Should You Look For in a Dog Treat Dehydrator?
The model you choose will depend a lot on your and your dog’s needs. But here are a few key elements of dog treat dehydrators that we’ve zeroed in on:
- Heating—Avoid cheaper models that use a lightbulb for heat. You’ll want a quality dehydrator with a fan that won’t burn out. If you know you’re going to be making a lot of jerky treats, opt for models that can reach up to 160º (F). That way you can still follow USDA safety standards without the extra step of pretreating or post-treating in the oven.
- Airflow—Look for models that provide plenty of space between trays so they’re not restricting airflow. More budget and mid-range options tend to have the fan at the bottom or top, which means you’ll likely have to rotate trays to ensure even drying. Higher-end dehydrators often have fans in the back for more consistent drying, but they also come at a higher price.
- Size—Dog treat dehydrators vary in size and shape—ranging from toaster-oven size to mini-fridge size. How big you want your model to be will depend on your counter and storage space, as well as your specific needs and household—are you dehydrating treats for multiple dogs or just one picky toy pup?
- Ease of Use—Most dehydrators are pretty simple to use, but some have more bells and whistles than others. It all just really depends on your preferences. Popular features include temperature control, timers, dishwasher-friendly racks, and tray accessories.
How We Chose Our Dog Treat Dehydrators
The dehydrators featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with canine behavioral experts and regular dog-treat dehydrators. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pups, who are never stingy with their feedback.
