We Tested Dog Treat Pouches And Found 7 For Walks, Training, and Everyday Fun

Dog treat pouches make it convenient to reward your dog when you are training or going for a walk, and there are multiple styles to choose from depending on your needs. “I look for a bag that can hold two different kinds of treats, regular training treats as well as a high-value treat,” shared Traci Madson, a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant, with The Spruce Pets. “I also consider pouches with multiple pockets so I can carry things like poop bags, training clickers, and my keys and phone.”

This treat pouch is all-around perfect for everyday use. The main treat compartment is substantial enough to hold at least a cup of treats. It has a magnetic closure and a wide opening, so it’s easy to pop it open and closed with one hand and you don’t have to maneuver too much to quickly access a treat. There are slight gaps when the pouch is closed, so treats might be able to spill out, but you’d have to be nearly upside down for that to happen.

The pouch has a little zip pocket in the front which can hold essentials like some poop bags, your keys, and lip balm or a clicker. The bag can be worn three ways: with the attached belt, using the loops to attach it to your own belt, or with the included clip. It comes in 20 colors and patterns so you can opt for something subdued like black or champagne, or you can choose a vibrant print like blue flowers or pink camouflage.

As the mom of a smart border collie mix and a foster to more than 70 dogs, I have tried at least a dozen different treat pouches. I mostly use them in the yard for training and to get a pup’s attention. This has become my favorite for everyday use. It’s the right size because rarely do I carry more than a large handful of dry kibble or training treats. It has the extra handy pocket so I always know I have some poop bags on hand and it’s easy to snap on and easy to clean.

I don’t often use high-value treats like hot dogs or chicken, but if I did, I’d definitely put them in a zip-top plastic bag to avoid any mess. This bag wouldn’t be my choice if I were going on an all-day dog outing or if I needed to carry a lot of extra gear like my wallet and a water bowl, but it’s rare that I’d need to tote all that stuff. This really fits the bill for a neighborhood walk, a romp in the backyard, or training in the living room.

Can be worn three ways

If you typically take a bunch of things with you when you’re out with your dog, this is a good-sized option. The Wilderdog Utility Pack has three storage areas: There’s the main compartment and two smaller zippered pockets. I put treats in the top front pocket which is accessed with a sturdy zipper and easy-to grip plastic tabs on the end. I kept the zipper closed until I was ready to grab some treats and I could do it quickly with one hand. I had to bend over pretty far with the zipper open before anything fell out.

The main compartment is big enough for your wallet and phone, but there’s also plenty of space for a clicker and a ball or squeaky toy if you need a distraction. It would be nice to include a small zippered pocket in that big area so you could stash away keys or your ID, but definitely not a dealbreaker.

The lower front pocket is made for a roll of poop bags with a built-in dispenser. There’s also a stitched webbing loop so you can use a carabiner or clip to attach a collapsible bowl or clicker. The bag is made of a sturdy water-resistant cotton/poly blend that’s durable but not too heavy.

The bag can be worn as a fanny pack or as a crossbody bag and you can buy an additional strap extender to add 24 inches if needed. It comes in black and three jewel colors—huckleberry (featured in our tested photos), evergreen, and pacific blue. Also extra points because it’s machine washable!

Three storage pockets

How We Picked

Testing: We selected 10 of the best-selling and highly recommended dog treat pouches for multiple weeks of real world testing with real dogs. Our experienced dog guardians—myself included—were asked to consider many other treat pouches that they currently used or tried in the past. Each treat pouches was evaluated for its functionally including: attachment features, closure types, capacity, storage compartments, and how easy they were to clean. We also consulted with dog owners, fosters, and trainers and read hundreds of product reviews.

More We Recommend

Best for Long Outings: The MuttRuk Sidekick Hip Pack is huge and equipped with a variety of compartments to stash necessities for both human and hound. I filled the Sidekick Hip Pack with a cup of training treats, a full roll of poop bags, a water bottle, my phone, my keys, my wallet, and there was still a ton of room left. While it feels like too much for a quick walk, I do find it to be ideal for hikes, day trips, and camping where you want to have all your dog’s stuff and your stuff in one place. Plus, there is washable liner that can be fully removed making it ideal for treats.

The front of the pack has three zippered sections for a phone, accessories (dog toys, collapsible bowl, ball, etc.) and treats. There is also an inner sleeve for an ID, cards, and cash secured with a hook and loop strap and a dispensing pocket for a roll of poop bags. A hidden mesh pouch extends to hold a water bottle, and a carabiner is available to hook anything else or you dog’s leash.

I found it’s capacity to be similar to a backpack, but the ability of wear it crossbody or around the waist makes it more convenient for accessing the contents inside. The Sidekick Hip Pack comes in four colors (black, gray, red, and teal) all made from durable, water resistant polyester and completely with a breathable mesh backing to make you less sweaty when you wear it.

Strap is adjustable from 20 to 52 inches

Most Stylish: The Treat Pouch from Wild One is among the more stylish set of treat pouches we tested. It looks like a sleek crossbody bag until you look inside to discover the convenient compartments for stashing dog treats and keeping poop bags easy to dispense from the side.

One of this bag’s most useful features is how it opens and closes. We found it very convenient to quickly stick a hand in, grab a treat, and then continue with our walk. There is a bendable frame inside at the top allowing it to push open and then snap closed using only one hand. It doesn’t seal closed completely, but it’s pretty tight and will keep a phone and keys contained.

The pouch can be worn either as a crossbody bag or as a waist bag, and the straps are incredibly easy to adjust with a length up to 53 inches. The compact size and lightweight build are ideal for daily walks.

It is currently available in eight colors, including classic black, lilac, and spruce, and Wild One will often release limited edition designs and colors throughout the year. The easy-to-clean material is knit-like and durable, and each bag is made from 10 recycled water bottles.

Matching leash, harness, and collar available

Best Silicone: Many of the dog trainers we spoke with rely on dishwasher-friendly treat pouches because they typically use messy treats like boiled chicken or hot dogs. The RoyalCare Silicone Treat Pouch is easy to clean with soapy water or on the top rack of a dishwasher.

“The little silicone treat pouches are good for treats because you can pop them in the dishwasher,” shared Dawn Kettler, dog trainer and owner of DK9 Training shared with The Spruce Pets. “They have a magnetic close, but the ease of cleaning wins out for me.”

The budget-friendly treat pouches from RoyalCare are sold in packs of two, so you can always have a clean one on hand, or you can designate one for dry treats and one for messy treats. They are made from food-grade silicone and have a sturdy clip that attaches to a belt or strap, but it doesn’t have a strap connected for crossbody wear.

Each pouch is equipped with a strong magnetic closure, so it’s always closed unless you’re grabbing a treat. The feature prevents treats from spilling out when you lean over, but it cannot be locked in the open position which, depending on what style of training you are working on, might feel inconvenient.

The RoyalCare Silicone Treat Pouches can be used in tandem with another bag, and since they have only one compartment for treats, you’ll need to find another place for a poop bag dispenser and your essentials. As is common with silicone, it can be hard to keep it free of dog hair and lint.

Magnetic closure

Best Machine-Washable: The PetSafe Treat Pouch Sport is a great option for all levels of dog training. And when it gets to grimy, it can be machine washed and hung to dry—which is a feature many dog treat pouches do not share. The interior is lined in water-resistant fabric which is easy to clean by hand and keeps messy treats from seeping into other compartments.

The pouch opens and shuts with a sturdy hinge, but our tester found it to be difficult to open with one hand. We also like that this bag features a pocket divider allowing you to keep two different types of treats, such as a regular training treat and a high value treat, completely separate. There’s an additional front pocket for extras like a phone, keys, and poop bags, and loops on the front to attach essentials like a training clicker, and a carabiner on the side for leash or collapsible bowl attachment.

The Treat Pouch Sport measures approximately 8 x 8 x 2 inches, comes in three colors (blue, red, and black), and has an adjustable waist strap which is optional. The pouch can also be clipped onto a waistband.

We didn’t’ feel that the size was too bulky, but if are a training a smaller dog, you might find the PetSafe Mini Treat Pouch (6.5 x 1 x 5 inches) to be more amendable with the amount of treats you need to carry.

Durable canvas exterior

Best Weatherproof: This rugged training pouch from Ruffwear is outdoorsy and sturdy like the brand’s many harnesses, leashes, and other outdoor gear. It can be clipped directly to your waistband or slipped on the included belt. The rim on the outside of the bag can be bent to conform to your body for better comfort. One of our testers preferred the clip and another preferred using the belt, so it’s nice to have both options.

The outer nylon is water resistant so it protects your treats when you’re training outdoors. The pouch has a magnetic closure that opens and shuts with a click. The treat pocket has a waterproof lining that is easy to wipe clean.

The training pouch comes in only one style with a muted blue and gray checked pattern. There are several nice extras like a small zippered pocket on the front where you can stash things like poop bags. There’s also a hook for clipping your keys or a clicker. But there is just one basic pocket for treats.

Easy to wipe clean

Other Products We Tested

In addition to our winners, we also tested these training treat pouches that we feel are worth mentioning. They might be a good fit for your needs, but for one reason or another they didn’t rank among our top picks.

Kurgo Go Stuff It Dog Treat Bag: We normally like Kurgo products and the bag seems sturdy. It has a carabiner and two straps that clip onto your belt or backpack. But we aren’t fans of the drawstring closure. It’s hard to do with one hand and not very convenient with an active dog.

Chuckit! Treat Tote: This is an inexpensive option that might be something to try if you’ve never used a treat pouch before. It has a clip that attaches easily to your waistband and comes in either 1-cup or 2-cup sizes. However, again, we aren’t fans of the awkward drawstring closure.

PetAmi Dog Treat Pouch: Another drawstring option, you can wear this with a shoulder strap, waist strap, or clipped on to a belt. It has a mesh pocket for things like your phone and keys and a dedicated poop bag area.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

This story was written by Mary Jo DiLonardo, who has covered animals and pets for several decades. Mary Jo has fostered more than 75 dogs and puppies. She has done a lot of training with her dog and her foster puppies and has used various training treat pouches. Mary Jo is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products to use with them such as best dog toys and best dog treats.

We also consulted with Traci Madson, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant based in Park City, Utah, and Dawn Kettler, dog trainer and owner of DK9 Training in Mount Olive, Illinois.

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