Natural Dog Treats: What Every Owner Needs to Know (And What to Avoid)
Choosing the right treats for your dog shouldn't feel complicated — but with so many options on the market, it's easy to get overwhelmed. We've pulled together answers to the questions dog owners ask most, so you can make confident, informed choices.
What are natural dog treats?
Natural dog treats are made from whole, minimally processed ingredients — think single-protein chews, air-dried meat, fish skins, or root vegetables — with no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. The key difference from standard treats is what's not in them: no fillers, no mystery "meat derivatives", and no chemical additives that your dog's body has to work to process.
At Marley N Co., every treat we stock is chosen with this standard in mind. If we wouldn't feel comfortable reading the ingredient list out loud, it doesn't make it onto our shelves.
Are natural dog treats healthier than regular treats?
Generally, yes — but the word "natural" isn't regulated in the UK pet food industry, so it pays to read the label. A genuinely natural treat will have a short ingredient list you can actually understand. Look for:
- Named protein source (e.g. "chicken", "salmon", "beef") rather than "meat and animal derivatives"
- No added sugar or salt
- No artificial preservatives (watch for E numbers like E320, E321)
- Single-ingredient options where possible — these are the cleanest choice
High-quality natural treats support dental health, coat condition, and digestion compared to heavily processed alternatives.
What natural treats are good for dogs with allergies?
If your dog has a known or suspected food allergy, single-ingredient treats are your safest bet — they make it easy to identify and eliminate triggers. Good hypoallergenic options include:
- Fish-based treats (salmon, sprats, whitebait) — naturally low in allergens and rich in omega-3s
- Venison or rabbit chews — novel proteins that most allergy-prone dogs haven't been sensitised to
- Root chews (sweet potato, carrot) — grain-free and gentle on sensitive stomachs
- Air-dried single protein — no cross-contamination from mixed recipes
Always introduce new treats one at a time and monitor for reactions over 48–72 hours. If your dog has a diagnosed allergy, check with your vet before switching.
Browse our hypoallergenic treat range →
Can puppies have natural dog treats?
Yes — but with a few caveats. Puppies have smaller jaws, developing teeth, and more sensitive digestive systems, so the treat needs to match their stage of development:
- Avoid hard chews (antlers, dense bones) until adult teeth are fully in — typically 6–7 months
- Choose soft, small treats for training — look for treats under 5% of their daily calorie intake
- Stick to single proteins to keep their diet simple while their gut flora establishes
- Avoid rawhide entirely — it's a choking and digestive risk at any age, but especially for puppies
Soft air-dried treats and small fish-based snacks are ideal for puppies from around 8 weeks.
How many treats should I give my dog per day?
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake — this is the standard guideline from most veterinary nutritionists. For a 10kg dog eating around 500 calories a day, that's roughly 50 calories from treats.
In practice, this means:
- Small dogs (under 10kg): 1–3 small treats per day
- Medium dogs (10–25kg): 3–5 treats depending on size
- Large dogs (25kg+): 4–6 treats, but watch calorie density on high-fat chews like fish skins
If you're using treats heavily for training, reduce the size of each piece rather than cutting them out — a treat doesn't need to be big to be rewarding.
Are grain-free treats better for dogs?
Not necessarily for every dog — but for dogs with grain sensitivities or those on a raw/natural diet, grain-free treats are a logical choice for consistency. Dogs are facultative carnivores, meaning they can digest grains, but they don't need them.
The real question is what replaces the grain. Some grain-free treats substitute with high-starch fillers like potato or tapioca, which aren't much of an improvement. The best grain-free treats use meat, fish, or vegetables as the primary ingredient — not a starch swap.
What's the difference between air-dried and raw treats?
- Air-dried treats are gently dehydrated at low temperatures to remove moisture while preserving nutrients. They're shelf-stable, easy to handle, and retain much of the nutritional profile of raw meat. Great for everyday use and training.
- Raw treats (frozen or freeze-dried) are the closest to what a dog would eat in the wild. Freeze-dried in particular locks in nutrients with minimal processing. They require more careful handling and storage.
Both are excellent choices. Air-dried is more practical for most owners; freeze-dried is ideal if you're already feeding a raw diet and want consistency.
Where can I buy natural dog treats in the UK?
You're already in the right place. At Marley N Co., we stock a carefully curated range of natural treats — from single-ingredient chews and fish skins to air-dried training treats and raw options — all sourced with ingredient quality as the first filter.