The Best Salmon Dog Treats

Training your dogs can be a massive undertaking — getting them to even pay attention when calling their name is often a difficult process. However, whether it’s teaching them to go to the bathroom in the appropriate area, how to behave around others, or just keeping them from destroying your furniture, proper training is vital for their basic needs. While it may be difficult to get your dog's attention during training, a tasty bag of dog treats can help significantly aid in the process — especially when the treats are made with delicious salmon.

What to Look For

In order to find the best salmon dog treats on the market, we asked ourselves three questions: Are the treats made with high-quality ingredients? Do dogs like the taste? Are they reasonably priced? Our favorite pick came from Pupford because they’re great to use while you’re treat-training your dog. But we also love IMK9’s treats, which are as pure and nutritious as they come. Read on below to see the rest of our picks and why we liked each of them so much.

Pupford Freeze-Dried Treats

Healthy and delicous

These incredibly simple and yummy low-calorie snacks are as good as it gets.
Best Overall

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Pupford’s freeze-dried treats are low-calorie salmon bites that are ideal for your next training session. At only one calorie per treat, they’re perfect for feisty animals who require longer training sessions and more incentives to pay attention. A mix of freeze-dried salmon and antioxidants ensures these treats are nutritious and safe for your dog’s health, giving you extra peace of mind every time you shower your dog with praise. And with over 475 treats in each bag, Pupford’s treats offer your dog plenty of incentives to behave their absolute best.

Pros:

  • There are more than 475 treats in each package, so these will last you a long time.
  • Because they’re made with freeze-dried salmon, they likely retain more of their nutritional content than other, more heavily processed treats.

Cons:

  • If you break it down on a per-ounce basis, these treats are a bit pricy.

IMK9 Salmon Dog Treats

The top-shelf option

These premium dog treats are made from high-quality salmon.
Best Premium Treat

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Your dog deserves the best when you’re trying to encourage them to be the best, and IMK9’s salmon dog treats are here to help you give them just that. Made entirely out of human-grade salmon, these premium treats are certified safe and packed with important omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins that are great for your dog’s health. For premium salmon dog treats that are as healthy as they are delicious, turn to IMK9.

Pros:

  • The salmon is wild-caught and freeze-dried. This helps maintain its shelf life without having to add tons of preservatives, and it helps preserve the salmon’s nutritional value.
  • While some companies let the salmon’s skin go to waste, we appreciate that this isn’t the case with IMK9’s treats. Not only does the skin contain flavor and nutrients, but utilizing it also helps cut down on waste.

Cons:

  • Because they’re freeze-dried, the treats may flake or crumble if they’re mishandled in transit.

Plato Small Bites Salmon Treats

The underdog

These small, natural salmon treats will be the perfect reward for your dog.
Best For Small Breeds

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These treats from Plato are bite-sized morsels of salmon with no added wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or chemical preservatives. The treats are air-dried to help naturally preserve them, ensuring the quality of the ingredients and the nutrients remain intact throughout the entire process. They’re fantastic as rewards during training sessions or even just as small treats in between meals for a quick, healthy snack.

Pros:

  • If you’ve been struggling to find high-quality salmon treats that are bite-sized, go with these. Thanks to their small size, little dogs won’t have any difficulty chewing them.
  • If you have a Furbo camera that dispenses dog treats, these are compatible with it.

Cons:

  • These are made with sweet potato and other ingredients that some dogs may not like. (With that said, other dogs absolutely love sweet potato.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the health benefits of salmon for my dog?

Salmon is packed with various nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that can help support your dog’s health. Rich in fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, salmon can help improve your dog’s coat by decreasing shedding while helping to make it softer and more lustrous. It also contains vitamins A, B12, and D, which can help improve your dog’s energy levels and alertness.

What is freeze-drying, and why is it used in some dog treats?

Freeze-drying is a method of preserving food without the aid of artificial or chemical preservatives, providing a natural way to maintain its quality for longer periods of time. Food is frozen and placed under a vacuum to separate water and other liquids from within, effectively “drying” it to prevent it from spoiling. And because heat is not involved in the process, nutritional quality is better preserved for a healthier final product.

About the Author

A self-proclaimed dog person, Eugene grew up with several pooches and is looking to adopt a new one. He knows that not all pets are the same, so he wants to make it easier for owners to find products that are just right for their furry friends. Eugene is also an avid outdoorsman and enjoys rock climbing, backpacking, and hiking.

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