A wall of biscuit bags? Read the first ingredient.

Whatever you buy, keep treats to about 10% of your dog's daily calories. Past that, the biscuits start replacing dinner.

What to check on the bag

Check three things on the bag: the first ingredient, calories per treat and texture.

• First ingredient: A named meat like chicken or lamb beats a by-product or corn.
• Calories per treat: It matters when you hand out dozens in a training session.
• Texture: Soft for training and older dogs, crunchy for a dog who likes to chew.

Four picks, four jobs

11. Puppy training and everyday rewards: For training and everyday rewards: Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Soft-Moist Training Treats

Soft-moist bites with real chicken first and no corn, wheat or soy. Soft treats go down fast, so the training session keeps moving.

Back to our top pickBlue Buffalo Blue Bits Soft-Moist

• The catch: Larger than some training treats, and soft bites crumble in pockets.
• Skip it if: You want something that lasts. These are gone in a second.

22. Everyday reward biscuits: For a classic crunch: Old Mother Hubbard Classic P-Nuttier Biscuits

Slow oven-baked peanut butter biscuits in a mini bone, with no added artificial preservatives, says Old Mother Hubbard.

Best for: Everyday reward biscuits

The catch: Too crunchy for some senior dogs, and the crumbs end up on the floor.

Skip it if: Your dog has sore teeth.

Check price at Amazon

Read the Old Mother Hubbard Classic P-Nuttier review

• The catch: Too crunchy for some senior dogs, and the crumbs end up on the floor.
• Skip it if: Your dog has sore teeth. Pick a soft treat.

33. For a marrow-center biscuit: Milk-Bone MaroSnacks Dog Treats

A crunchy outside with a marrow center, plus added vitamins and minerals. Easy to find in most stores.

Best for: Anyone who wants a crunchy, marrow-center biscuit they can grab in most stores

The catch: Contains wheat and corn, and more artificial ingredients than the picks above.

Skip it if: Your dog has a wheat or corn sensitivity.

Check price at Amazon

Read the Milk-Bone MaroSnacks Dog Treats review

• The catch: Contains wheat and corn, and more artificial ingredients than the picks above.
• Skip it if: Your dog has a wheat or corn sensitivity.

44. Puppies: For puppies: Wellness Soft Puppy Bites

Grain-free soft bites made with lamb and salmon, sized for puppies.

Best for: Puppies

The catch: Soft treats dry out if the bag isn't sealed.

Skip it if: Your dog wants a crunch. Old Mother Hubbard Classic Dog Biscuits are crunchy and oven-baked.

Check price at Amazon

Read the Wellness Soft Puppy Bites review

The catch: Soft treats dry out if the bag isn't sealed.

How many treats a day?

• The cap: About 10% of your dog's daily calories, at most. For a dog eating 800 calories a day, that's about 80 calories of treats.
• How to count: Check the bag for calories per treat and count from there. Training days count too. The rest of the math is dinner: see our weight management picks for dogs.

Frequently asked questions

Are Milk-Bones bad for dogs?

Not in moderation. They have more wheat, corn and artificial ingredients than the premium picks, so we'd keep them as an occasional treat, not the main reward.

Our verdict

Blue Bits for training and everyday rewards, Old Mother Hubbard when your dog wants a crunch, Wellness for a puppy. Count every one toward dinner.