The Best Brands for Natural Dog Treats

Who doesn’t love a little treat? We asked our audience to vote on 15 of the best brands making dog treats that you can use to reward your beloved pooch for listening to your commands, reinforcing positive behavior, or for just plain being adorable — we won’t judge. Plus, a number of brands on this list make plant-based dog treats, which are not only more eco-friendly, but also kinder to animals!

The 10 winners of this Green Matters Approved contest are listed below. Read more about our Green Matters Approved contests here.

The Portland Pet Food Company makes human-grade dog biscuits, a few flavors of which are vegan, including the Gingerbread Biscuits and Apple & Mint Biscuits. The brand donates 5 percent of profits to local nonprofits, including animal shelters. The Portland Pet Food Company is also transparent about its ingredients, which includes Bob's Red Mill products and SP Provisions. And thanks to a collaboration with TerraCycle, Portland Pet Food Company's pouches are recyclable.

Charlee Bear makes a variety of dog treats, which are produced in the U.S., and boast of being both natural and gluten-free. While most of the treats are meat-based, a few flavors are plant-based, though those do include honey.

Despite the high-brow name, Lord Jameson dog treats can be enjoyed by every canine. All Lord Jameson products are USDA-certified organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, and made in small batches. Lord Jameson also has a "Small Breed" collection so you can give your smaller pup some love — without overfeeding them. Additionally, Lord Jameson also has a wellness treat collection that includes three different focuses: Golden Health, Everyday Greens, and Everyday Calm.

Natural Rapport boasts of "uncomplicated pet essentials" and carries not only dog products but fish and bird products, too. The company makes all its products in the U.S. without fillers, hormones, byproducts, or preservatives. A few of Natural Rapport's dog treats are vegan, including the Sweet Potato Bites and Chews.

Aside from its sweet name, Wet Noses offers dog treats in a variety of flavors and textures. Its products are USDA-certified organic, Safe Quality Food certified, human-grade food that meets Association of American Feed Control Officials standards. Wet Noses Inc. even makes its own in-house peanut butter.

You might be most familiar with Newman's Own as a salad dressing company, but it makes dog treats, too! Its non-GMO treats contain no soy, wheat, or grains. Not to mention, Newman's Own donates 100 percent of profits to charity.

Jiminy's (as in Jiminy Cricket) is a small-batch dog treat company with a unique twist. Jiminy's products are made with insects, including crickets and grubs, which the company argues is more eco-friendly that using other animals typically farmed for meat. The company claims that it follows the UN sustainable development goals as a guide to becoming even more sustainable in the future.

Grandma Lucy's makes not only dog treats and food, but cat treats and food as well. The company uses USDA-certified organic human-grade food with all-natural ingredients, and is non-GMO certified. A few of Grandma Lucy's dog treats are even meat-free, such as the Organic Pumpkin and Organic Blueberry treats.

The aptly named Dog Mammas wants you, as a pet parent, to have complete peace of mind when feeding your dog treats. Its products are USDA-certified organic, certified gluten-free, and also peanut-free, non-GMO, soy-free, and dairy-free. Additionally, Dog Mammas products are all vegan, so you don't have to worry about processed meats in the mix.

Cookie Pal is a Certified B Corp that makes adorably shaped dog treats. The company's treats are made with human-grade ingredients that are USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, dairy-free, and made in a facility without nuts. Additionally, the company is Zero Waste Certified and Plastic Neutral via RePurpose.