Healthy Dog Treats: How to Choose and How Many

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

Treats are a powerful tool for training and bonding, but they are also one of the easiest ways to overfeed a dog. Choosing wisely and measuring portions keeps your dog healthy and happy.

The ten percent rule

A widely used guideline is that treats and extras should not exceed about ten percent of daily calories. The rest should come from a complete and balanced diet. For a small dog needing 400 calories a day, that is only 40 calories, which could be one small biscuit. Adjust meal portions on days with many treats. See our portion guide.

What to look for

• Short ingredient list with recognizable, named ingredients
• Appropriate calorie content, ideally printed on the pack
• Size and texture suited to your dog, small and soft for training
• No xylitol. See xylitol
• Limited sugar and salt
• Reputable manufacturer with quality control
• Made in countries with strong standards

What to avoid

• Treats with artificial colors and unnecessary additives
• High-fat, high-calorie treats for overweight dogs
• Hard, large chews that can crack teeth or cause blockages. See safe dog chews
• Cooked bones. See cooked bones
• Treats that cause allergic reactions in your dog

Training treats

For training, use pea-sized, soft treats that can be eaten quickly. Many dogs work well for small pieces of cooked chicken, cheese, freeze-dried liver or commercial training treats. Use part of the daily kibble for easy exercises, and save high-value treats for harder tasks. See our puppy training guide.

Whole food treats

• Carrots and green beans. See carrots and green beans
• Apple slices without seeds. See apples
• Blueberries. See blueberries
• Small pieces of cooked lean meat
• Plain cooked eggs. See eggs

Dental treats

Dental chews can help reduce plaque when used with brushing, but they add calories. Choose products with recognized quality marks, and size them to your dog.

Treats for sensitive dogs

Dogs with allergies or digestive issues need treats with simple, safe ingredients. See feeding a dog with food allergies and sensitive stomach diets. Use the same protein as the diet during elimination trials.

Homemade treats

Simple recipes using oats, pumpkin, banana or peanut butter without xylitol can be fun, but they must be baked and stored safely. Check that every ingredient is safe, and count calories.

Storage

Keep treats in airtight containers, in a cool, dry place. Check dates. Refrigerate homemade treats and soft treats.

Using treats wisely

• Keep a daily treat budget.
• Do not use treats to replace attention.
• Measure treats in a jar in the morning.
• Be consistent across the household.

A sample treat budget

Suppose your dog needs 500 calories a day. Ten percent gives 50 calories for treats. That could be ten pea-sized pieces of a 5-calorie training treat, one small dental chew and a few green beans. Reduce the dinner scoop a little on days when training is busy. Keep a labeled jar of the day's treats so you can see when it is empty.

Reading treat labels

Look for calories per treat, not just per 100 grams. Check the ingredient order, and make sure the product states whether it is a complementary feed, meaning it is not designed to be the main food. Be wary of long shelf lives that rely on a lot of preservatives, and choose treats appropriate to your dog's age and health conditions.

The takeaway

Choose simple treats, keep them small and count them in your dog's calories. They are a great training tool when used wisely.

This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different. If your dog is unwell, or you are unsure about a symptom, diet change or medication, contact your veterinarian.