Best training treats for Australian Shepherds

Biscuits losing your Aussie mid-session is a classic problem — they're too dry, too bland, and frankly not worth the interruption to a dog with a brain that never stops. The most effective training treats are pea-sized, smelly, soft, and high in protein — something your dog inhales in a split second and immediately wants another. To point you to the right thing: how big is your Aussie, what are you training for, and any dietary restrictions I should know about?

That tracks completely. Recall and loose-lead are both high-distraction exercises — your dog is being asked to override instinct, and a dry biscuit just isn't a strong enough reason. You need something with serious smell and real meat payoff. At 20kg with no dietary restrictions, you've got good options. Can I ask — are you doing short sharp sessions or longer training walks where you need a lot of treats over 20–30 minutes?

Perfect, that narrows it down well. For high-volume training on walks, I'd go with Forthglade Natural Training Treats — the lamb or chicken variety. They're tiny (genuinely pea-sized), soft enough to eat in one gulp, and they have a strong meaty smell that cuts through outdoor distractions. They come in 100g pouches or larger bags so the cost per treat is reasonable when you're going through volume. Aussies in particular respond really well to them because the smell reward hits fast. The key difference from your biscuits: your dog won't need to crunch and chew, so his focus never actually breaks.

It's a real consideration, especially with a dog who's working hard and eating a lot of treats. The Forthglade ones are around 3–4 calories each, so if you're giving 30–40 on a walk, that's maybe 120 calories — worth trimming his main meal slightly on heavy training days. The small size helps a lot here; you're rewarding frequently without loading him up. At 20kg with an active Aussie lifestyle he'll burn most of it off, but it's good practice to keep an eye on his waist.

Good luck — the switch should make a noticeable difference pretty quickly. Aussies aren't ignoring you because they're stubborn; they're just telling you the reward isn't worth it. Give them something worth working for and they're usually excellent. Come back if you want to talk through anything else once you've had a few sessions with him.