Treats and chews
Should training treats be soft or crunchy?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Soft treats generally work better for active training, since they can be swallowed almost instantly and torn into small pieces easily, while crunchy treats take longer to chew and crumble unevenly when broken by hand. Crunchy treats still have a place for slower, calmer moments, such as rewarding settling on a mat, where a few extra seconds of chewing is not a downside.
Speed of delivery during fast paced sessions
During recall practice or a session with several quick repetitions, a soft treat that disappears in under a second keeps the dog's attention on you between reps, whereas a crunchy biscuit taking 5 to 10 seconds to finish can cause the dog's focus to drift toward sniffing or wandering before the next cue is given.
Practical handling differences
Soft treats tear cleanly into small, similarly sized pieces with your fingers, while crunchy treats often shatter unevenly when broken, leaving some pieces too large and others reduced to crumbs that are awkward to pick up quickly from a pocket or pouch during a session.
Where crunchy treats still fit well
For calmer training goals, such as rewarding a dog for lying quietly during a settle exercise or for chewing something appropriate instead of furniture, a crunchy treat's longer eating time can actually reinforce the calm behavior for a few extra seconds, which works in your favor rather than against it in that context.
Key takeaways
- Soft treats suit fast paced training because they are swallowed almost instantly.
- Crunchy treats take 5 to 10 seconds to chew, which can break a dog's focus mid session.
- Soft treats tear into even, small pieces more easily than crunchy ones.
- Crunchy treats work well for calmer exercises where a longer eating time is not a downside.