Last Updated on May 28, 2026 by Shannon
Finding store-bought dog treats I actually feel good about giving Luna has taken a lot of trial and error over the years.
Some treats ended up being too messy, too rich, or filled with ingredients I wasn’t thrilled about. Others were technically “healthy,” but Luna had zero interest in them, which obviously defeats the purpose.
While I make homemade treats often, I also keep a handful of store-bought favorites around because sometimes convenience matters. Training sessions, busy days, road trips, enrichment toys, and subscription boxes all have their place in our routine.
These are the store-bought dog treats I come back to again and again, including the ones Luna gets most excited about.
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What I Look For in Store-Bought Dog Treats
When choosing treats, I usually look for a few simple things:
- Ingredients I recognize
- Treats that are easy to break apart
- Different textures and sizes for different situations
- Options that work for training
- Treats Luna actually gets excited about
- Products that don’t upset her stomach
I also like having a mix of everyday treats and “special occasion” treats that feel a little more exciting.
That’s one reason BarkBox became such a fun addition for us.
BarkBox
If I had to pick the store-bought treats Luna gets most excited about, BarkBox would probably win.
We originally tried BarkBox because I thought it would be fun to get surprise toys each month, but the treats quickly became one of the biggest highlights.
Every box includes a mix of treats, chews, and toys with different themes each month, which honestly makes it feel more fun than just grabbing another bag of treats at the store.
Luna knows exactly what the BarkBox shipping box looks like now. The second it comes inside, she’s already investigating it.
Update: BarkBox has switched away from shipping in a box to shipping in a bag.
What I Like About BarkBox
Variety
One thing I really like is that the treats change constantly.
Instead of buying the same flavor over and over again, we got different proteins, textures, and recipes throughout the year. It helped keep things interesting for Luna, even though she was happy to get any treat.
Different Types of Treats
Most boxes include a combination of:
- Crunchy treats
- Soft treats
- Training-style treats
- Chews
That makes it easy to use them for different situations instead of needing separate products for everything.
The Toys Are a Huge Bonus
Even though this post is about treats, I can’t ignore the toys because they’re a big part of why we used BarkBox for as long as we did.
Luna absolutely loves plush toys, especially ones with squeakers, crinkly material, or hidden toys inside. Some of her longest-lasting favorite toys actually came from BarkBox boxes.
It Feels Like a Fun Monthly Surprise
This is probably the biggest difference between BarkBox and regular store-bought treats.
Instead of just tossing a bag into my cart during a grocery run, BarkBox feels more like an experience. Opening the box has honestly become part of the fun.
For dogs that love novelty and enrichment, that excitement can be worth a lot.
And even for us humans, who doesn’t enjoy getting a box full of surprises to open each month?
A Few Things to Consider
No product works perfectly for every dog.
Some toys may not hold up well for aggressive chewers, and some treats may work better for certain dogs than others. Like with any treat, I always recommend introducing new treats slowly, especially for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
But overall, BarkBox has been one of the easiest ways I’ve found to regularly rotate in new treats and toys without constantly researching and shopping for them myself.
I will say that we have since stopped using BarkBox, but not because of anything negative about the boxes themselves.
Luna has struggled with weight issues in the past, so we’ve had to become much more careful about how many treats she gets. Between store-bought treats and all the homemade treats I make, we simply couldn’t go through that many treats each month anymore.
That said, we genuinely enjoyed our experience with BarkBox, and I still think it can be a really fun option for dogs who enjoy variety, toys, and trying new treats regularly.
If you want to try it for your dog, you can check out BarkBox here.
Zuke’s Mini Naturals Soft Dog Training Treats
These are one of my favorite training treats because they’re small, soft, and easy to carry around.
I especially like them for:
- Training sessions
- Walks
- Quick rewards
- Puzzle toys
Since they’re small, I can reward them more often without feeling like I’m giving huge treats constantly.
Luna has always been very motivated by these, which makes training much easier.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Mini-Rewards
I started using these because I wanted a simpler ingredient option for training treats.
These are especially nice if you prefer limited ingredient treats or want something fairly straightforward.
They’re also:
- Small
- Soft
- Easy to break apart
- Convenient for training
I usually keep a container around because they work well for everyday use.
Merrick Power Bites
These felt a little more like “high value” treats in our house.
They’re softer and smell stronger than some training treats, which immediately gets Luna’s attention.
I tended to use these more for:
- Recall practice
- New training situations
- Vet visits
- Grooming rewards
- Higher distraction environments
Basically, these were the treats I pulled out when I really needed Luna focused.
Unfortunately, we eventually stopped using these after Luna had multiple bouts of diarrhea. There were other things going on at the time, both in life and with her health, so it’s possible the treats were just a coincidence. But with a dog as big as Luna, it simply wasn’t worth the risk of trying them again to find out for sure.
Interestingly, my other dog, Morgan (who has since passed away), never had any issues with these treats, and both dogs ate treats from the same bag. Every dog reacts differently to foods and ingredients, which is why I still feel comfortable recommending them even though we no longer use them ourselves.
Why I Still Use Store-Bought Treats Even Though I Make Homemade Ones
People sometimes assume that because I make homemade dog treats, I never buy treats from the store anymore.
That’s definitely not true.
Homemade treats are something I genuinely enjoy making, but store-bought treats are still incredibly useful for convenience, training, travel, and everyday life.
Sometimes I simply need something fast and easy.
And honestly, Luna is not complaining about having both.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the “best” dog treats are the ones that work well for both you and your dog.
Some dogs do great with crunchy treats. Others prefer soft treats. Some need limited ingredients, while others just want the tastiest thing possible.
These are simply the store-bought treats that have worked well for us over time and consistently get Luna excited.
And if your dog loves surprises, toys, and trying new treats regularly, BarkBox has easily been one of the most fun options we’ve tried.
