New puppy owners ask this question constantly — and understandably so. You want to reward good behaviour, start training early, and bond with your pup, but you also don't want to give them something that'll upset their stomach or harm their development. Here's the straightforward answer.
When Can Puppies Have Treats?
Most puppies can start having treats from around 8 weeks of age — which is typically when they arrive home. The key constraints at this age are:
- Size: Treats must be tiny. What seems small to you is a significant piece for a puppy. Break treats into crumb-sized fragments for young pups.
- Softness: Very young puppies don't have the jaw strength or adult teeth for hard chews. Soft, small treats are best initially.
- Ingredients: Keep it simple. Novel proteins, single ingredient, no additives. A puppy's digestive system is still developing.
- Volume: The 10% rule applies from day one. Treats should not displace nutrition from their main diet.
Treats in this guide
Kangaroo Jerky
From 14
Australian Beef Bully Sticks 8"
From 34
Goat Horn
From 12
Safe Treats for Puppies in Australia
8–12 Weeks
Start with soft, single-ingredient treats — small pieces of air dried meat work well. Kangaroo jerky and forage fish are good choices because they're novel proteins with low allergen risk. Break them into tiny pieces. Training at this age is more about positive association than complex commands, so high frequency of tiny rewards is ideal.
3–6 Months
As teeth develop and the puppy grows, you can introduce slightly larger pieces. Puppy-appropriate chews become an option — rabbit ears are popular at this stage because they're softer than harder chews and easy to digest. Avoid very hard chews like antlers during this window — puppy teeth are not equipped for them.
6 Months+
With adult teeth coming in, you can start introducing more substantial chews. Bully sticks sized for your puppy's breed and goat horns all become appropriate with supervision.
Natural Puppy Treats — What to Look For
For puppies especially, ingredient quality matters. Look for:
- Single ingredient treats — you know exactly what's going in
- No artificial preservatives, colours, or flavourings
- Appropriate size — puppies can choke on pieces that are too large
- Australian-sourced where possible — you have more certainty about production standards
What to Avoid for Puppies
- Hard chews (antlers, solid bones) — puppy teeth can fracture
- Rawhide — digestibility concerns, not appropriate for puppies
- Treats with xylitol — toxic to dogs at any age, fatal in quantity
- Cooked bones — splintering risk
- Human food treats — particularly grapes, raisins, onion, macadamias, chocolate
- Over-treating — puppies should be eating primarily their puppy-formulated diet
Using Treats for Puppy Training
Puppies learn through repetition and reward — which means you'll go through a lot of treats in the early months. To keep calories in check:
- Use genuinely tiny pieces — a fingernail-sized piece of kangaroo jerky is a complete reward for an 8-week-old
- Use lean proteins so the calorie load per repetition is minimal
- Consider using a portion of their daily kibble as training rewards on high-volume training days
Our single-ingredient, air dried treats are appropriate for puppies from 8 weeks — just break them to size. Kangaroo and fish are our most popular puppy-friendly options. For guidance on safe chews as they grow, see what chews are safe for dogs and our guide to the best long-lasting chews. Browse the range here.