Best Treats for Crate Training

TL;DR

The best crate-training treats do two different jobs: fast, tiny “go to your crate” rewards for lots of repetitions, and a longer-lasting option that helps your dog relax once the door is closed. We also recommend budgeting treat calories upfront and choosing options that won’t create a greasy, smelly crate — especially if your crate sits on carpet or in an apartment.

Top Recommended Dog Treats for Crate Training

Top Pick: Best Overall Dog Treats for Crate Training

Himalayan Dog Chew Original Yak Cheese Chew Bacon Small

Best for: Helping a small dog settle quietly in the crate with a longer-lasting chew (especially when you need a lower-mess option than many bully-style chews).

The Good

• Gives many dogs something to do after they enter the crate, which can reduce pacing and “I don’t want to be in here” whining during early training.
• Single-ingredient “yak cheese” style chew is a common choice for owners avoiding rawhide.
• Owner feedback often frames these as a “healthy, long-lasting chew” choice for small dogs.
• Compared with some animal chews, this style is often perceived as lower-odor (still: every home’s smell tolerance is different).

The Bad

• Some owners report it doesn’t last as long as expected, especially for enthusiastic chewers.
• Like any chew, it can become a swallowable end piece — you’ll want to remove it before it gets small enough to gulp.
• Not ideal for dogs with a history of trying to swallow chews whole; consider a different approach and ask your vet if you’re unsure.

“Finding a healthy, long-lasting chew treat for our smaller foster dogs that could keep them occupied and satisfied without resorting to rawhide or artificial ingredients.” — verified buyer, 5 stars

Our Take: For crate time where you need your dog to calmly “power down,” this is a solid, widely used chew — just size it appropriately and treat it like a supervised item until you know your dog’s chewing style.

Stewart Pro-Treat Freeze-Dried Beef Liver Treats

Best for: Quick crate-entry rewards during high-repetition sessions (like teaching “crate” to a puppy or a newly adopted adult dog).

The Good

• High-value treat style that’s easy to deliver the instant your dog steps into the crate.
• Freeze-dried liver is commonly motivating, which helps when your dog is hesitant about the crate at first.
• Easy to use in tiny amounts: you can break pieces smaller so you can do more reps without overfeeding.
• Works well as a “crate-only” treat — the kind of reward you reserve exclusively for crate sessions to build positive association.

The Bad

• Freeze-dried treats can crumble in pockets or on bedding, which may mean more vacuuming around the crate.
• The smell that makes it “high value” for dogs can be a downside in close quarters (small apartment, bedroom crate).

Our Take: If your main pain point is getting fast, happy crate entries, this is the type of treat we reach for — keep pieces pea-sized and account for calories since crate training can involve lots of reps.

Redbarn Bully Spring Dog Chew 4-6

Best for: A longer settle-in chew for dogs that ignore small treats and need something more engaging in the crate (especially adolescent dogs with busy mouths).

The Good

• Bully-style chew can keep many dogs occupied longer than typical crunchy treats.
• Useful as the “second treat” in a two-treat strategy: tiny treats for entry, then a chew to help them relax once they’re inside.
• Can be particularly helpful for dogs that get frustrated after the crate door closes and need an appropriate outlet.

The Bad

• Bully chews are often odor-forward and can leave residue — not everyone wants that inside bedding or fabric crate pads.
• Higher supervision needs for gulpers: when chews get small, they can become a choking or obstruction risk.
• May be rich for sensitive stomachs; introduce slowly and watch stool quality.

Our Take: If your dog truly settles best with a “project” chew, this can work — but it’s one we’d treat as a higher-mess, higher-supervision option rather than a set-it-and-forget-it crate item.

How to choose treats for crate training (goal, dog, and household fit)

Crate training usually goes faster when you match the treat to the exact behavior you’re trying to reinforce. Most dogs do best with a simple “two treat” system: one tiny reward to get in quickly, and one longer-lasting option to help them stay calm.

1) Match the treat to your goal: entry reps vs. settling

For fast crate entry (“go to crate” reps): Choose something you can deliver quickly, repeatedly, and in very small pieces. Freeze-dried liver-style treats are a common choice because many dogs find them highly motivating.

For quiet settling (after the door closes): Choose an option that buys you time — something your dog can lick or chew so the crate experience feels positive and predictable.

2) Choose based on chewing style (especially for “gulpers”)

Some dogs carefully chew; others try to swallow chews as soon as they get small enough. If your dog is a gulper, prioritize treats you can control in tiny portions (training treats), and be conservative with long chews until you’ve watched how they handle them.

• Watch the first few sessions: With any chew, supervise initially to see whether your dog gnaws, snaps pieces off, or tries to gulp.
• Plan for the “end piece” problem: Many chews become risky when they get small. Remove the last bit before it becomes swallowable.

3) Make one reward “crate-only” to build a stronger association

Both the Humane Society’s crate-training guidance and general vet-aligned training advice emphasize helping your dog see the crate as a positive, safe space — not a punishment. A simple way to do that is to reserve one special treat (often your highest-value one) exclusively for crate time.

4) Budget treat calories before you start training hard

Crate training can involve dozens of reps per day, especially in the first week. Nutrition guidelines (including the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines) commonly recommend keeping treats to a small portion of daily intake to avoid unbalancing the diet or creeping weight gain.

• Decide your daily treat “allowance”: If you’re doing frequent sessions, you may need to slightly reduce meal portions.
• Use tiny pieces for entry: A treat can be “high value” without being large.
• Don’t reward noise by accident: Deliver the treat for calm entry or quiet behavior, not for barking (timing matters).

5) Factor in odor and mess (real life matters)

If the crate is in your bedroom, office, or an apartment living room, smell and residue can make a “good on paper” chew feel like a bad fit. Bully-style chews often have stronger odor; yak-cheese-style chews are often perceived as more tolerable, but every product and household is different.

6) Keep safety and hygiene in the picture

Any edible chew can pose choking or blockage risks, and rich treats can cause stomach upset — especially if introduced quickly. For handling and storage, follow basic pet food safety practices like washing hands and storing treats properly (see the FDA’s pet food selection and storage tips).

Also, if you’re working through serious crate distress (panic, self-injury, nonstop drooling or attempts to escape), it’s worth looping in your vet early. The AVMA’s crate training guidance is a good starting point for humane basics.

Other Notable Alternatives Worth Considering

• Bully Bunches Himalayan Yak Chew for Dogs 100g Strawberry — This appears in retailer category listings as a similar yak-cheese-style chew; listed in this category based on retailer data, but we haven’t independently verified specific performance (like longevity, odor, or how it wears down for different chew styles).

FAQ

How many treats should I use for crate training per day, and how do I prevent weight gain?

Use as many as you need to get clean repetitions — but shrink the size, not the count. For entry practice, aim for pea-sized pieces (or smaller) and set a daily treat budget, then slightly reduce meal portions if needed so total calories don’t climb; general guidance like the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines can help you think about treats as a small slice of the overall diet.

What treats are safest for dogs that gulp or try to swallow chews whole?

For gulpers, prioritize tiny, non-chew treats you can control (like small pieces of freeze-dried liver) and be cautious with long-lasting chews until you’ve observed their chewing behavior. If you do use chews, remove them once they get small enough to swallow, and consider talking with your vet if your dog has a history of choking or gastrointestinal obstruction.

What are the best low-odor crate treats for apartments or shared indoor spaces?

In many homes, yak-cheese-style chews tend to be more tolerable than bully-style chews, while freeze-dried liver can be effective but still “smelly” up close. If odor is a dealbreaker, test any new treat when you’re home first, and keep the crate area easy to wipe down (a washable mat under the crate can help).

Can I leave a chew in the crate unsupervised, and which types are lowest risk?

No chew is truly zero-risk when a dog is alone, because choking and obstruction can happen quickly — especially when a chew becomes small. If you choose to leave something in the crate, first supervise multiple sessions to see if your dog breaks off chunks or tries to swallow pieces, and remove end pieces early; when in doubt, ask your vet what’s appropriate for your dog’s chewing style and dental health.

What’s the best crate-only treat strategy for separation anxiety or crate refusal (and when should I consult a vet)?

Use your highest-value treat as “crate-only,” give it only after calm entry, and keep crate sessions short enough that your dog can succeed — this aligns with humane crate-training guidance like Humane Society crate-training basics. If you’re seeing panic behaviors (attempts to escape, self-injury, extreme drooling, nonstop vocalizing), consult your vet and consider a qualified behavior professional — anxiety needs a plan beyond treats alone.

Should I use one treat type or rotate treats during crate training?

Most dogs do best with a consistent “special” crate-only reward plus one backup option for variety. Consistency helps the crate predict good things, but rotating between two or three options can prevent boredom and helps you manage practical issues like odor, crumbs, and stomach sensitivity.

Bottom Line

For most dogs, crate training goes more smoothly with a two-part setup: a tiny, high-value training treat for quick entries and a longer-lasting chew to encourage calm settling. Our top overall pick is the Himalayan Dog Chew yak-cheese chew for small dogs because it can keep them occupied in the crate with less mess than many alternatives — just monitor wear and remove small end pieces. Keep treats to a reasonable share of daily calories, and lean on humane crate-training fundamentals from trusted sources like the AVMA and Humane Society if you hit a plateau.

Affiliate disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if you make a purchase.