Best Treats for Small Dogs

For small dogs, "sized right" beats "smaller version of a big dog treat." A treat built for a 70-pound dog, just shrunk down, is still the wrong shape and the wrong calorie load for an 8-pound one. Everything here was actually designed small — the Bits line, our Shorties, and Wonder Nugget mini tubes — and made in small batches at our kitchen on Boston Fish Pier.

How we chose these

  • Designed small from the start, not a full-size treat cut into pieces
  • Calorie-appropriate for dogs who don't need a big dog's daily treat budget
  • Easy to fit in a small mouth without a wrestling match
  • A mix of textures — crunchy Bits, crunchy Shorties, and soft mini tubes

The picks

The Bits line — Green Monstah, Salmon Says, Lucky Duck, Chicken Littles, and Clam Chowda — is crunchy, slowly dehydrated, and sized for training and small mouths alike. Cod Skins Shorties and Salmon Skins Shorties give you the same fish treat in a shorter cut. And our Wonder Nuggets Mini Tubes (Peanut Butter, Turkey & Cranberry, Sweet Potato & Beef, Whitefish & Kelp) are the soft, on-the-go option — small enough for a pocket, sized right for a small dog. The Training Bits 3-Pack is the easiest way to try three flavors at once.

Small dog treat FAQ

Do small dogs need smaller treats, or just fewer of them?

Both, really. A treat sized for a Great Dane doesn't get more appropriate just because you give a Chihuahua one bite of it — the whole piece matters, not just the portion.

Are bite-sized treats good for training small dogs?

Very — our Bits line was originally built with training in mind, so it doubles as an everyday treat for small breeds without any resizing needed.

What's the difference between the Bits line and the Mini Tubes?

Texture, mostly — Bits are crunchy, Mini Tubes carry our softer Wonder Nuggets recipe in a smaller size. Both are sized for small dogs and easy to carry.

Small dog, big appetite for something that actually fits. Made at our kitchen on Boston Fish Pier, no resizing required. You are what you treat.

See also: Best Training Treats for Puppies · Best Soft Treats for Senior Dogs