Treats and chews
What are high value treats for dog training?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
High value treats are foods a dog finds especially motivating, usually rich, soft, and strongly scented, such as small pieces of plain cooked chicken, cheese, or freeze dried liver, kept distinct from everyday training treats. They earn their name from the effort a dog is willing to put in for them, which is why they are best saved for harder tasks rather than used for every routine repetition.
What makes a treat feel high value to a dog
Strong smell, moisture content, and rarity all contribute to a treat's perceived value, which is why a small cube of cheese or a piece of freeze dried liver typically outranks a plain dry biscuit in a dog's preference, even at a similar or smaller size. Value is relative to what the dog usually gets, so rotating which treat counts as special keeps it effective.
When to actually use them
Introducing a brand new cue, working around real distractions like other dogs or unfamiliar environments, or reinforcing a difficult behavior like a reliable recall away from something exciting are the situations where a high value treat earns its cost, both in effort and calories. Using the same treat for an easy, well known cue at home wastes its impact for the moment it is actually needed.
Managing the extra calories they bring
Because high value treats tend to be richer, a small piece of cheese around 2 cm cubed can carry 15 to 25 kcal, several times more than a typical pea sized training treat, so using fewer of them and reserving them for key moments keeps calorie totals from climbing during an intensive training phase.
Key takeaways
- Strong smell, moisture, and rarity make a treat feel high value to most dogs.
- Save high value treats for new cues, distractions, or difficult behaviors, not routine repetitions.
- A small cheese cube can carry 15 to 25 kcal, several times a typical training treat.
- Rotating which treat counts as special helps keep it effective over time.