Puppies and older dogs may need extra thought when choosing treats, but there isn’t one treat type that suits every puppy or every senior dog.

A young puppy may still be learning how to handle different textures. An older dog may have excellent teeth and remain a confident chewer, while another may need smaller or softer choices because of dental problems.

Puppy treats | Training rewards | Senior dog treats | Teeth and chewing | Safety checklist | Fido’s packs

Choosing Treats for Puppies

Start by checking that the product is appropriate for your puppy’s age, physical size, mouth size and stage of development.

Also consider:

• whether the puppy is already familiar with treats and chews;
• whether they chew steadily or try to swallow pieces quickly;
• the size, thickness and hardness of the actual item;
• which ingredients are already part of their normal diet;
• how much food and how many rewards they have already had that day.

A treat being small doesn’t automatically make it suitable for every puppy. It still needs to be large enough not to disappear into the mouth whole and manageable enough for that individual puppy.

Introducing an unfamiliar treat

Offer a small amount first and introduce one unfamiliar treat type at a time. This makes it easier to notice how the puppy handles and tolerates it.

Stop offering the product and seek veterinary advice if you are concerned about vomiting, diarrhoea, itching, mouth pain, swallowing difficulty or another unexpected reaction.

Using Treats for Puppy Training

Food rewards can be useful during positive, reward-based training. Smaller pieces are usually more practical because they can be eaten quickly without interrupting the lesson for too long.

Training rewards may be used for:

• recall practice;
• toilet training;
• settling calmly;
• learning simple cues;
• rewarding safe and wanted behaviour.

Give the reward promptly so the puppy can connect it with the behaviour being rewarded.

Keep individual pieces small and count all training treats as part of the puppy’s daily food intake. Some owners use part of the puppy’s normal food allowance during training rather than continually adding extra treats.

Puppies and Chewing

Chewing is normal behaviour, but a puppy still needs an appropriate product and close supervision.

Before offering a chew, check:

• that the whole item can’t be swallowed easily;
• that it isn’t excessively hard for the puppy’s teeth;
• that it doesn’t develop sharp or damaged edges;
• that large pieces aren’t being torn off and swallowed;
• that the remaining end is removed before it becomes swallowable.

The toughest or longest-lasting product isn’t automatically the safest choice.

Read the Dog Treat & Chew Safety Guide

Choosing Treats for Senior Dogs

Age alone doesn’t tell you what an older dog can comfortably eat. Some senior dogs remain steady, experienced chewers, while others may need smaller, softer or easier-to-manage choices.

Consider:

• the condition of the dog’s teeth and gums;
• whether teeth are missing, worn or damaged;
• whether the dog still chews steadily;
• changes in appetite, weight or swallowing;
• the dog’s activity level and daily calorie needs;
• any diagnosed condition or prescribed diet.

Don’t automatically remove every chew from an older dog simply because of age. Choose according to the individual dog and avoid very hard products where their teeth, gums or chewing behaviour make them unsuitable.

Rewards and enrichment for older dogs

Senior dogs can still enjoy learning and reward-based activities. Small food rewards may be useful for gentle training, scent games and maintaining familiar routines.

Keep rewards manageable and include them within the dog’s daily food allowance. Toys, praise and attention can also be used as rewards where appropriate.

Check the Dog’s Teeth and Mouth

Dental disease becomes more common as dogs get older, but mouth problems can affect dogs at any age.

Speak to your vet if you notice:

• bad breath that is new or worsening;
• bleeding or swollen gums;
• dropping food while eating;
• chewing only on one side;
• pawing at the mouth;
• visible broken or loose teeth;
• reluctance to eat or chew;
• sudden discomfort when handling the face or mouth.

A softer treat might be easier to eat temporarily, but it doesn’t treat the cause of dental pain. Mouth pain and damaged teeth need veterinary assessment.

Ingredients and Dietary Needs

At Fido’s, every item in our natural range is one part of an animal with nothing else added. This makes the ingredient easy to identify.

Our crafted, bagged and packed products are separate ranges and may contain several ingredients. Read the individual composition and additives information before feeding.

A single-ingredient product isn’t automatically suitable for every puppy or senior dog. Dogs with a diagnosed medical condition, suspected allergy or prescribed diet need veterinary guidance.

Read the Dog Treat Ingredients & Labels Guide

Treat Portions and Weight

As a general guide, treats should make up no more than around 10% of a dog’s daily calorie intake. The dog’s normal food may need adjusting to allow for training treats, snacks and chews.

This matters for both growing puppies and older dogs. Even small treats can add up when they are given frequently, while a large chew may contain considerably more calories than an individual training reward.

Ask your vet for individual feeding advice where a puppy’s growth, an older dog’s weight or a medical condition needs closer management.

Puppy and Senior Treat Safety Checklist

Puppy and Senior Letterbox Packs at Fido’s

Pack contents and availability may change, so check the current product listing before ordering.

Browse all dog treat boxes and letterbox packs

Need Help Choosing?

Visit Fido’s Tasty Treats on Normanton High Street and tell us about your dog’s age, size, teeth, chewing style, experience and any ingredients you need to avoid.

We can help compare the available products, but we can’t diagnose a medical or dental problem, prescribe a diet or confirm that a general treat is medically suitable.

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