Treats are an important part of dog training. When I’m training a dog, I usually say, the smellier the better!
But there’s something we don’t always talk about when it comes to choosing training treats: the human has to handle them too.
For many neurodivergent people, certain textures, smells and sensations can be genuinely unpleasant or overwhelming. A treat might be absolutely amazing to your dog, but if it feels slimy, greasy or smells incredibly strong, you might dread having to reach into the treat pouch every few seconds.
And if handling the treat is unpleasant enough, you’re probably going to be less motivated to use it consistently.
A lot of my friends are neurodivergent, so I asked them about their experiences with different dog treats and put together a very unofficial rating system.
I’ve rated some common dog treats on two things:
Dog rating
How much dogs tend to love it as a training reward.
Human feel rating
How pleasant or unpleasant it is for the person handling it.
Obviously, these ratings are subjective. Every dog and every person is different, but hopefully this gives you a starting point if you struggle with certain smells or textures.
The Ratings
| Treat | Dog Rating | Human Feel | Average | My thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ziwi Peak | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 | My favourite option for being neurodivergent-friendly while still being a pretty high-value treat |
| Prime100 Roll | 10/10 | 5/10 | 7.5/10 | Very high value and less slimy than some other dog rolls |
| Cheese | 9/10 | 6/10 | 7.5/10 | A fan favourite for many dogs, and for me too! Some dogs, and some humans, are lactose intolerant though 😭 |
| Prime100 Dry | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.25/10 | A good middle ground |
| Providore Air Dried | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.25/10 | Another good option if you want something dry and easy to handle |
| Liver Treats | 5/10 | 9.5/10 | 7.25/10 | Much easier to handle than some high-value treats, although not necessarily as exciting for dogs |
| Roast Chicken | 10/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | Extremely high value, but can be oily |
| Chunkers | 10/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | Dogs tend to LOVE them, but they can be a bit unpleasant to handle |
| Dried Biscuit | 3/10 | 9/10 | 6/10 | Very easy to handle, but generally better suited to lower-distraction environments |
| Devon | 9/10 | 3/10 | 6/10 | A very cost-effective high-value option, if you can tolerate the texture |
| Supermarket Dog Roll | 9/10 | 2/10 | 5.5/10 | High value, but can be very slimy and turn into mush |
| Dried Sardine | 7/10 | 4/10 | 5.5/10 | Not too bad texture-wise, but the smell can be a LOT |
| Kibble | 0.5/10 | 8/10 | 4.25/10 | Great for easy training at home, but often not motivating enough for harder situations |
| Wet Food | 8/10 | -100/10 | -46/10 | Great for muzzle training or lick mats. Absolutely not going in my treat pouch. |
My Favourites
For me, Ziwi Peak and Prime100 Roll are the winners.
Ziwi Peak
Ziwi Peak is a great option if you want something that is relatively pleasant to handle without completely sacrificing value.
It’s a dry, firm treat, so you don't get the oily or slimy feeling that you can get with meat rolls, cheese or cooked meat.
It also doesn't have the same strong smell as some of the really high-value treats, while still being interesting enough for many dogs. If you find handling wet or greasy treats difficult, this would be one of the first things I'd try.
Prime100 Roll
Prime100 Roll is another favourite of mine.
It tends to be very high value for dogs, but I find it easier to handle than a lot of other dog rolls. You can cut it into small pieces, and freezing it makes it even firmer.
It's also made from ingredients like meat, vegetables and seeds, depending on the variety, rather than being full of a long list of ingredients I can't pronounce.
Meal Prep Your Training Treats
One thing I recommend to clients is meal prepping their treats.
Rather than pulling out a big roll of Devon or dog roll every time you train, cut the whole thing into small, training-sized pieces when you first buy it. Then pop the pieces in the freezer.
This has a few key benefits:
- You only have to deal with the texture once
- The pieces are ready to grab when you need them
- Frozen treats are firmer and less likely to squish or stick together
- You can portion out a whole roll at once
- You can keep different treats ready for different training situations
And if you have sensory sensitivities, there is something really nice about doing the unpleasant part once, rather than having to handle the same texture every single training session.
❄️ BONUS: Freeze your treats!
If you have a treat that your dog loves but you don't love handling, try freezing it. Freezing treats can make them firmer, less greasy and less messy.
This can work particularly well for things like dog rolls, cheese and other soft treats. It won't magically make a slimy treat into a pleasant experience, but it can make enough of a difference to make handling it more manageable.
You Don't Have to Use the "Highest Value" Treat
One final thing I want to mention is that the best training treat is one that both you and your dog are happy to use.
There's no point in me telling you that roast chicken is the best training reward if handling roast chicken makes you want to crawl out of your skin.
Your dog also doesn't need the same treat for every situation.
- Kibble might be perfectly fine when you're practising "sit" in your living room.
- A dried biscuit might work when you're doing some easy training in the backyard.
- And when you're trying to help your dog work around a big trigger on a walk, you might need something much more exciting.
Think about your dog's motivation and your own sensory comfort. Training should be something that works for both ends of the lead.
Disclaimer: None of these ratings are scientific or sponsored. They are based on my personal experience and opinions gathered from other dog owners, and individual dogs and people will have different preferences.
Not sponsored: I have no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned above. These are my genuine personal opinions.
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