Compare Forthglade, JR and Lily’s Kitchen natural dog treats for training and routine rewards by exact ingredients, portion size and calorie information.
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Evidence: research-led. This shortlist is based on the exact current manufacturers’ composition, analytical constituents, feeding directions and pack formats, plus independent veterinary nutrition guidance. It is not a feeding trial, palatability test, allergy assessment or veterinary endorsement. How we assess products.
Our top pick
Forthglade Chicken with Liver Meaty Nibbles · ~£13
Best all-round natural treat with a published calorie density.
Evidence: research-led
Main drawback: It is not a single-ingredient treat and contains chicken plus fermented whey. The linked Amazon offer is 4 × 70g, so check that exact multipack and portion against the dog’s daily treat allowance.
The best natural treats for dogs are the ones that fit the job and the individual dog: tiny portionable rewards for repeated training, a clearly measured biscuit for an occasional routine, or a named single-protein product when ingredient checking matters.
“Natural” is not a nutritional score. It does not automatically mean low-calorie, complete, hypoallergenic or suitable for a prescribed diet. Compare the exact composition, analytical constituents, feeding guide, age statement and calories where the maker publishes them.
This page compares three current UK products without pretending that ingredient simplicity proves health or palatability. If the dog has a medical condition, suspected food reaction or veterinary diet, ask the veterinary team before adding a conventional treat.
Our best all-round research pick is Forthglade Chicken with Liver Meaty Nibbles because the exact recipe, energy density and portionable format are published. Choose JR Pure Training Treats when a one-meat ingredient list matters more than an earning link, or Lily’s Kitchen Bedtime Biscuits for a deliberate one-biscuit routine.
For frequent training, prioritise tiny, quickly eaten pieces and a known calorie budget. WSAVA says treats should stay below 10% of daily calories; measured complete food can cover lower-value repetitions. No product here is proven to be the “healthiest” for every dog.
Natural dog treat comparison: exact current packs
Compare the linked pack, published energy information and intended job. “Natural” does not establish that one treat is healthier, lower-calorie or suitable for a medical diet.
Product
Exact linked pack
Published label facts
Best fit and limitation
Forthglade Chicken with Liver Meaty Nibbles
Amazon: 4 × 70g; manufacturer data is per 70g pouch
75% chicken: 60% chicken plus 15% chicken liver; 360 kcal/100g
Soft portioned rewards; not single-ingredient and also contains potato, vegetable glycerin and fermented whey
JR Pure Training Treats Variety Pack
Manufacturer direct: 3 × 85g chicken, duck and rabbit
Each pouch is one named meat; analytical constituents published, but no kcal figure on the current page
Single-protein ingredient checking; non-affiliate link and the maker may substitute only within the selected proteins
One routine biscuit for dogs from 4 months; not a high-repetition training reward and not evidence of a calming effect
What actually matters here
Exact current pack and recipe, not a family-level claim copied across different variants.
Named ingredients where useful for checking a known dietary restriction; a short list alone does not prove nutritional quality.
Published analytical constituents, feeding guidance and calorie density where available.
A portion and texture suited to the job: repeated training, occasional reward or enrichment.
Compatibility with the dog’s complete diet, body condition, age and veterinary restrictions.
What “natural” can and cannot tell you
UK Pet Food’s labelling guidance says pet-food information must be truthful and not misleading. Labels must identify whether food is complete or complementary, provide feeding directions and list composition and analytical constituents.
Use those mandatory facts to compare products. A front-of-pack “natural” claim does not establish calorie content, portion suitability, allergy safety, palatability, organic status or superior nutrition.
We then checked independent WSAVA treat guidance and PDSA portion guidance. Ahrefs recorded no outbound-click visitor from this landing page in the last 30 days, so there is not enough behavioural evidence to claim one product converts better.
Natural treats for training: the tiny piece principle
Recent UK dog-training discussions repeatedly ask for rewards that are tiny, quick to eat, portable and calorie-manageable. That is useful demand evidence, not a controlled product test: the right reward value and texture still depend on the dog.
Check the actual packet, divide a suitable soft treat only when it can be done safely, and use part of the measured complete-food ration for lower-value repetitions. Do not invent a per-piece calorie number by dividing an uneven pouch.
How many natural treats per day?
WSAVA recommends keeping treats below 10% of daily calories. Its example ceiling is 24 kcal for an average healthy 4kg adult and 47 kcal for a 10kg adult in ideal body condition; an individual dog’s requirement can differ, so ask the veterinary team when accuracy matters.
PDSA also advises reducing the normal food allowance to account for food treats. Weigh the session portion where only kcal/100g is available, and avoid conventional treats without veterinary advice when a prescribed diet or medical restriction applies.
Quick questions before you buy
What does “natural” mean on a UK dog treat label?
Treat it as a regulated product claim, not a health score. Compare the legally required composition, analytical constituents, feeding directions and complete-or-complementary statement; “natural” does not automatically mean low-calorie, organic, hypoallergenic or nutritionally superior.
Are grain-free natural treats better for dogs?
Grain-free does not by itself make a treat healthier or lower-calorie. Choose against the individual dog’s complete diet and diagnosed restrictions rather than treating grain-free as a universal benefit.
Best all-round natural treat with a published calorie density
It is not a single-ingredient treat and contains chicken plus fermented whey. The linked Amazon offer is 4 × 70g, so check that exact multipack and portion against the dog’s daily treat allowance.
Best single-ingredient treat for serious training sessions
The current 3 x 85g manufacturer pack is about £19 and may substitute only within the proteins selected if one is unavailable. Check the current pack before ordering.
Best measured routine biscuit rather than a training treat
The maker directs one biscuit, so this is not our choice for repeated training rewards. The recipe includes rye, oats, yoghurt, oil and honey and will not fit every dietary restriction.
~£4
£
Recommended picks
Top pick
Best for: Best all-round natural treat with a published calorie density
Why it made the list: The manufacturer publishes the exact recipe and 360 kcal/100g for the 70g pouch: 60% chicken, 15% chicken liver, potato, vegetable glycerin, fermented whey and minerals. The soft nibble format is intended for rewards, but we have not run a palatability or portion-size test.
Main drawback: It is not a single-ingredient treat and contains chicken plus fermented whey. The linked Amazon offer is 4 × 70g, so check that exact multipack and portion against the dog’s daily treat allowance.
Typical price band: ££
Pros
Exact 75% chicken recipe is published.
Manufacturer publishes 360 kcal/100g.
Soft nibble format is intended for portioned rewards.
Cons
Not a single-ingredient product.
Contains chicken and fermented whey.
Per-piece calories are not published, so weigh the session portion when accuracy matters.
Why it made the list: The current 3 × 85g pack contains separate chicken, duck and rabbit pouches, each made from one named meat. The maker describes bite-size pieces, but we have not measured the pieces or tested reward value with a dog.
Main drawback: The current 3 x 85g manufacturer pack is about £19 and may substitute only within the proteins selected if one is unavailable. Check the current pack before ordering.
Typical price band: ££
Pros
Each pouch has one named meat ingredient.
Current page publishes analytical constituents for all three proteins.
Resealable 85g pouches separate the varieties.
Cons
Not currently an earning link.
No calorie figure is published on the current manufacturer page.
A variety pack cannot diagnose a food sensitivity.
Why it made the list: The current 80g product is labelled for dogs from four months, with one biscuit before bedtime and a published energy density of 365 kcal/100g. Chamomile and passion flower appear in the recipe, but that is not clinical evidence of a calming or sedative effect.
Main drawback: The maker directs one biscuit, so this is not our choice for repeated training rewards. The recipe includes rye, oats, yoghurt, oil and honey and will not fit every dietary restriction.
Typical price band: £
Pros
One-biscuit feeding direction is explicit.
Manufacturer publishes 365 kcal/100g.
Zooplus provides a non-Amazon UK buying option.
Cons
Not intended for repeated training rewards.
Contains multiple cereals and dairy-derived yoghurt powder.
Botanical ingredients do not prove a calming effect.
Treat it as a regulated product claim, not a health score. Compare the legally required composition, analytical constituents, feeding directions and complete-or-complementary statement; “natural” does not automatically mean low-calorie, organic, hypoallergenic or nutritionally superior.
Are grain-free natural treats better for dogs?
Grain-free does not by itself make a treat healthier or lower-calorie. Choose against the individual dog’s complete diet and diagnosed restrictions rather than treating grain-free as a universal benefit.
Can I use human food as dog treats?
Some plain foods may be suitable in measured amounts, but WSAVA lists chocolate, allium vegetables, grapes and raisins, xylitol, alcohol, raw yeast dough, macadamia nuts and caffeinated drinks as unsafe. Ask the veterinary team when unsure.
How do I know if my dog has a food sensitivity?
Do not diagnose a food reaction from a treat response or a home test. Record the exact food and symptoms and ask the veterinary team whether a controlled elimination diet is appropriate.
What is the best natural treat for dogs?
For an all-round portionable reward, our research pick is Forthglade Chicken with Liver Meaty Nibbles because its full recipe and 360 kcal/100g are published. JR’s separate single-meat pouches make ingredient checking simpler, while Lily’s Kitchen is a one-biscuit routine option rather than a training treat.
What's the healthiest brand of dog treats?
No brand is healthiest for every dog. Check calories, portion size, named ingredients and compatibility with the complete diet or medical restrictions. WSAVA recommends keeping treats below 10% of daily calories.
What are the best natural dog treats in the UK?
The strongest choice depends on the job: a soft portionable reward such as Forthglade Meaty Nibbles, a one-meat option such as JR Pure Training Treats, or a measured occasional biscuit such as Lily’s Kitchen Bedtime Biscuits. None is proven best for every dog.
What should I compare when choosing a healthier dog treat?
Compare the portion’s calories, named ingredients, analytical constituents, feeding guide and fit with the dog’s complete diet. “Natural”, “grain-free” and a short ingredient list do not by themselves prove that one treat is healthier.
Which natural dog treat is best for frequent training?
Choose a soft or safely divisible reward with a known session allowance. Forthglade publishes 360 kcal/100g; JR publishes one-meat recipes but no kcal figure on its current page. Measured complete food can cover lower-value repetitions without adding a second food.
Are these natural treats suitable for puppies?
Check the current pack rather than applying one age across the shortlist. JR currently states four weeks and over; Lily’s Kitchen states four months and over; verify the Forthglade pack and ask the veterinary team when the puppy has dietary or health restrictions.
What to buy alongside
Optional extras that may help with the task on this page. Check size, compatibility and care instructions before buying; these are category searches, not products tested by Dog Product Reviews.
Washable dog treat pouch
Keeps a measured training allocation accessible and separates soft rewards from keys and waste bags. Wash it according to the maker’s care instructions.
