Our Final Verdict
We give Pupford dog treats an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 5/5
Variety: 5/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Value: 5/5
When training your dog, it is important to offer positive reinforcement to encourage the types of behaviors you want. While verbal praise can assist in this endeavor, most dogs respond best to food rewards. So, what is the best type of food to use? Given the frequency of treat presentation required during a training session, small, low-calorie, high-value treats are ideal. And because we all want our dogs to be healthy, it’s important to choose treats with a high nutritional value as well. This desire to formulate an effective training reward that would also enhance a dog’s overall well-being was the driving factor behind the creation of Pupford, a pet brand focused on improving the relationships between pets and their owners. They established not only a line of well-rounded dog treats, but also a digital platform providing expert dog training courses known as the Pupford Academy. Today, Pupford offers a wide range of products designed to elevate a dog’s mental and physical well-being, and through their training videos, they are ensuring that pet parents are getting the guidance they need to enrich the lives of their dogs.
At a Glance: What We Recieved
About Pupford
Who Makes Pupford and Where is it Produced?
Utah-based Pupford was co-founded in 2017 by dedicated dog mom Yukiko Stephan, with the help of digital marketing experts Eric Stephan and Mike Steele. Yukiko is no ordinary dog mom though, she’s also a dog foster mom. It is her extensive knowledge of what it takes to create a well-adjusted dog that drives Pupford’s mission “to empower you to create a healthier and happier relationship with your pup.” This family-run small business does this by addressing three key principles: Companionship, Nutrition, and Training. By giving their customers the tools to interact positively with their pets, Pupford not only facilitates the human-dog bond, but also provides appropriate nutrition to optimize a dog’s overall health.
Which Types of Dogs is Pupford Best Suited For?
Whether you have a new puppy from a breeder, a rescued dog with some things to learn, or a well-trained dog that has been your companion for years, there is always a need for treats. Trust me, your dog would agree! But Pupford is not just about treats. Pupford offers a variety of products aimed at training, reward, nutrition, and enrichment. Peruse their website, and you will find items like snuffle mats, lick mats, treat dispensers, flirt poles, treat pouches, and puzzle toys. A dog that is engaged with its owner is a happy dog, and Pupford helps accomplish just that. You will also find a wide variety of free Pupford Academy training videos on their site, but if you need more help, you can become an Academy Plus member for premium course access through their website or the app.
Key Features
When choosing what food to use as a training reward with your pup, there are a few things to consider. The most important thing is whether your dog will find the treat tasty enough to perform the behaviors you’re asking. The treats your dog loves the most are described as “high value”, and generally are the treats with the most appealing flavors and aromas. It is also important in a training setting to use very small treats. There are many reasons for this, but the main reasons are:
- You need to keep your dog wanting more.
- Larger treats have more calories and may contribute to weight gain in your pet.
- The reward only needs to last a second to reinforce the behavior.
Pupford’s training treats are definitely small, and with the variety of options, you are assured to discover at least one flavor that your dog finds to be “high value”. But this brand went above and beyond to ensure that every tiny morsel in their training treats is packed with all-natural nutrition to fuel our pups’ bodies and minds.
Ingredients
Pupford Dog Training Treats are freeze-dried to retain nutritional value, and the ingredients are sourced from the US (except for the rabbit treats, which are sourced from France). All of the training treats are made with 3 or fewer ingredients and have no added fillers, artificial flavors, or artificial aromas.
Treat Size
Pupford training treats are the perfect size for carrying in a treat pouch, offering a quick reward to mark desired behaviors, and won’t fill your pup up before dinnertime! These tiny 1-calorie nuggets are not uniform, so size can vary a little, but in general, most are the size of your pinky nail.
Variety
Pupford offers a wide range of treat options, including such flavors as beef, chicken, salmon, and rabbit, but there are plant-based options as well. If your dog prefers sweet flavors, give a bag of freeze-dried sweet potato, blueberry, or mango treats a try!
Price
Prices will vary, as does the treat quantity per bag, depending on which flavor you choose. But most of the meat versions provide 475 treats for around $16. The fruit options are a few dollars cheaper, but also have slightly less treats per bag. For the quantity of treats that you get, and the unmatched nutritional quality, Pupford Dog Training Treats are a great value.
Pupford Dog Training Treat Reviews
The treats listed below are a small sample of what’s available from Pupford.
1. Freeze-dried Beef Liver
Pupford’s Beef Liver treats are made with just 3 ingredients – beef liver, beef hearts, and mixed tocopherols as a natural plant-based preservative. They have an aroma that is likely to entice your dog but is not overpowering for your human nose. These tiny, freeze-dried treats each contain less than 1 kcal and do not leave any greasy residue on your fingers or treat pouch. They are relatively high in fat however, with a crude fat analysis of 35%, so they might not be the best choice for overweight pups, or dogs requiring a lower fat content in their diet for medical reasons. Beef liver and beef hearts are, however, very high in iron and other vitamins and minerals, and can offer a great occasional boost to your dog’s diet.
Pros
- No strong odor
- Not greasy
- Only 3 ingredients
- Nutrient-rich
- Less than 1 kcal per treat
2. Freeze-dried Salmon
Salmon is a great source of protein and can also be a great option for dogs with food allergies to beef or chicken. Pupford’s freeze-dried salmon training treats are tiny 1-calorie nuggets that are much lower in fat than their beef option and have an irresistible fishy aroma that dogs go nuts for. Unlike a lot of other salmon treats, these leave no greasy mess on your fingers or in your pocket or treat pouch. Salmon is also high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which aids in mobility, skin and coat health, and a healthy immune system.
Pros
- Fishy aroma to entice your pup
- Mess-free
- High in protein
- Contains omega-3 fatty acids
- Only 2 ingredients
- 1 kcal per treat
Cons
- Humans may find odor unpleasant
3. Freeze-dried Shrimp
These unusual little treats are just 1 ingredient – SHRIMP! They’re basically little shrimp puffs with all the moisture removed but none of the flavor or nutrition. They have a softer texture than Pupford’s other Train treats, are a little bit larger (meaning less treats per bag), and can be a little crumblier. They also have a very strong aroma which may be unpleasant to the dog owner who has to tote them around, but dogs seem to find it quite enticing. One of the best things about this treat option is the protein to fat ratio. With 84% protein and only 3% fat, this is the best option for pets that require low-fat diets. Shrimp are also known to be a good source of B12, which boosts immunity, and iodine, an important mineral related to thyroid health.
Pros
- Softer texture offers variety
- Just 1 ingredient
- Less than 1 kcal per treat
- Highest protein
- Lowest fat
- Contains B12
- Contains iodine
Cons
- 40% fewer treats per bag
- Larger treat size
- Very fishy odor
- Slightly crumbly
4. Chicken Jerky
In addition to the three Train options listed above, we also got to try a new product from Pupford’s Reward line, a softer chicken jerky than their original. Crafted with an appealing smoky flavor, this jerky is designed to be torn into pieces for use as a training reward when a slightly longer distraction is needed. It can also be given as a final reward for a job well done!
Pros
- Enticing smoky flavor
- No fillers
- Contains honey instead of cane sugar
- Easy-tear design for training
- Not crumbly
- Provides longer distraction
- Great for reactive dogs
- Great for all ages
Cons
- Jerky odor transfers to your fingers
- Some dogs may try to swallow too quickly
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does it mean when food is freeze-dried?
Freeze-drying is a process that removes moisture from food without destroying the nutritional value. Foods that are baked at high temperatures lose many important nutrients, making them a less healthy option for your dog.
Does Pupford carry any vegan options?
Yes, Pupford does have some freeze-dried options for treats, like sweet potato, blueberries, and mango.
How much does it cost to access the training videos on Pupford’s website?
Nothing! Pupford offers a TON of free dog training videos on their site. In fact, each bag of training treats even comes with a QR code to get you started with free training. But more extensive training content is available through Academy Plus, with a few payment options – $9.99 per month, $40.16 (special price) every 6 months, or $99.99 (special price) for lifetime access.
What do I get with an Academy Plus membership?
This membership gets you app and website access to premium courses by certified trainers. A variety of videos and step-by-step GIFs can assist with normal obedience training, problem behaviors, teaching your dog fun tricks, and more.
Our Experience With Pupford
Since adding another dog to our household, things have gotten complicated around here. Group walks are trickier, especially when the original two, Turtle and Rooney, were already dog-reactive. Teaching the newbie, Candy, our potty routine has been a challenge. And now I have three sets of eyes on me (four if you count the cat) when it’s time to dole out treats. When I discovered Pupford’s training treats, it wasn’t hard to see this was the perfect option for our household. The tiny size, high treat count per bag, and quality ingredients convinced me, and after using these with my dogs, we are all in love with this brand.
I ordered three bags from Pupford’s “Train” line – beef liver, salmon, and shrimp. These are tiny 1-calorie treats made with 3 or less ingredients. I love that they are freeze-dried, which preserves nutritional content, making these a healthy addition to my dogs’ daily food intake. There are no fillers and nothing artificial. They are great for dogs with food allergies or sensitive stomachs, as the minimal ingredients make it easy to pick something that agrees with your pup. I also ordered a bag of Pupford’s smoky chicken jerky, which can be given as a chewy reward, a special treat, or torn into small pieces to use during training.
The small training treats have been awesome to fill my treat pouch to take on walks. I also keep some right inside our door so that when the dogs come in, I can immediately ask them to sit and then reward them – this is teaching the new girl, Candy, that it’s in her best interest to come inside when called! This part of our routine always attracts the attention of my cat, Luna, so I have started giving her a freeze-dried shrimp or salmon treat at this time, and it’s safe to say – she’s a fan.
The chicken jerky has filled another role. I take a few strips with us on our walks for when I really need to get the dogs’ attention. Turtle and Rooney have always been dog-reactive, so to avoid a chaotic interaction with lots of barking, I have to distract them with something irresistible, and this jerky fits the bill. I love that Pupford has this soft jerky version that can be torn into small pieces, and the smoky aroma and chicken flavor keeps the dogs engaged with me long enough to let other dogs pass by. I also give each dog a strip at home when they are relaxing on their beds, being the good little pups I know they can be. The only issue is Candy tries to swallow the jerky whole because it tastes so good!
I am thrilled that I found these perfectly sized, nutritious treats for my pack. The dogs love them, too, and have already asked me what other treats are available. We’re all looking forward to our next treat delivery – we are now officially a Pupford family.
Conclusion
Pupford has created the perfect dog treats by using only the good stuff and preserving that tasty and nutritious goodness through freeze-drying. With their minimal ingredients, these American-made treats remove the guesswork about what’s safe to give our fur kids. And the best part is the dogs love them! The Pupford brand has also gone above and beyond to establish a platform that provides free training resources for pet parents, which facilitates the happy healthy bond we all want to have with our dogs. This is a brand truly dedicated to improving the lives of dogs and dog owners alike. And with free shipping and a rewards program that allows you to earn money towards future purchases, there’s no reason not to give Pupford treats a try!
