This is a specific conversation about Dog training treats — high value, small size — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A 14-year-old Schnauzer who still wants to train — that's brilliant, and you're right to think carefully about what you're popping in their mouth all session long. The best training treats are pea-sized, smelly, and high in protein so the dog eats them in one bite and stays focused — but at 14, you also need something genuinely low-calorie, since those treats add up fast and senior dogs don't need the extra weight. Is your dog on any dietary restrictions, and what are you actually training — new cues, or keeping up skills they already know?
She's a miniature Schnauzer, so small — maybe 7kg. No specific health issues beyond the usual senior stuff, vet just said keep her weight steady. We're mostly doing short sessions to keep her mentally stimulated, a bit of refreshing sit, stay, recall. She goes absolutely mad for food still which is great but also why I worry about overdoing calories.
inparticular.ai
That's the ideal training dog, honestly — food motivation doesn't fade and you've got a good vet steer on weight. The challenge with a 7kg senior is that even a few grams of treat per session matters. Can I ask — does she have any issues with tough or chewy textures? Some older dogs start to have dental sensitivity or just prefer something that dissolves quickly.
Good question — she still has most of her teeth but she definitely prefers softer things these days. Nothing too hard or crunchy.
inparticular.ai
Perfect, that narrows it down nicely. My recommendation is Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Beef treats. Here's why they work so well for your situation: they're intensely meaty and smell strong, so they hold her attention just as well as processed treats, but the ingredient list is basically just beef — no fillers, no sugars, no unnecessary carbs. They're soft enough to break into genuinely tiny pieces, so you control exactly how small each reward is. At 7kg with short sessions, you can keep each piece to about half a pea and she'll still think it's the best thing that's ever happened to her. The calorie density is high per gram, but because the pieces are so small and the flavour is so strong, you actually use less than you would with a standard commercial treat. They're available on Amazon UK in small bags so you can try before committing to a larger size.
That sounds really sensible. I've heard of Ziwi Peak for food but didn't know they did treats. Are they quite rich though — could they upset her stomach if I'm using them daily?
inparticular.ai
It's a fair concern. Because they're single-protein and free of artificial additives, most dogs actually tolerate them better than heavily processed treats. The richness comes from natural fat in the beef, but the quantities you'd use in a short training session — maybe 10 to 15 tiny pieces — are genuinely small. If you're cautious, start with five or six pieces in the first session and see how she goes. For most senior dogs without specific digestive conditions, there's no issue at all. If she had a sensitive stomach history I might steer you differently, but you haven't mentioned that. Just keep the pieces tiny and you'll be fine.
Great, I'll give them a go. Thanks — really helpful.
inparticular.ai
You're very welcome. Short sessions, tiny pieces, and a dog who still loves to learn at 14 — she's going to do great. Enjoy the training time with her.
