Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Treats

Why High-Quality Treats Matter in Service Dog Training

Training treats are one of the most important tools in a service dog trainer’s kit. The right treat motivates the dog to engage, learn, and repeat desired behaviors. At Texas Service Dogs, we evaluate treats carefully — they must be safe, nutritious, and sufficiently motivating to reinforce complex training tasks.

Blue Buffalo Wilderness treats are a popular choice among professional dog trainers because they use real meat as the primary ingredient, are relatively low in calories per piece, and are available in soft varieties that are easy to break into small training-size pieces. Their palatability — the extent to which dogs enjoy eating them — is consistently high, which makes them effective reinforcers even in distracting environments.

What to Look for in Training Treats

• Soft texture: Soft treats can be consumed quickly, keeping training sessions flowing without long pauses for chewing.
• Small size: Treats should be small enough to give frequently without overfeeding. A pea-size piece is ideal for most training sessions.
• High palatability: The dog must genuinely want the treat. Some dogs are more food-motivated than others; knowing your dog’s preferences matters.
• Nutritional quality: Look for named protein sources, limited artificial additives, and ingredients appropriate for your dog’s dietary needs.
• Safety: Avoid treats with xylitol, excessive salt, or ingredients known to be harmful to dogs.

For more information about how we use treats in our training program, visit our About page or read our full Foster and Adopt guide.