How Many Treats Per Day for a Dog?

9/11/24

Reviewed by: Dr. Tori

How Many Treats Per Day for a Dog? A Comprehensive Guide

As a dog owner, you likely know how easy it is to get carried away with treats. You may find yourself rewarding your furry friend for each and every simple task.

However, a treat is supposed to be just that—an occasional indulgence. If you want to keep your dog happy and healthy, it’s in your best interest to limit their treat calories.1

So, how many treats should a dog get a day? Conventional wisdom says that treats should make up no more than 10% of your canine’s daily calories.

That means your total treat allowance depends on your dog. To help you understand what’s best for your pet, we’re sharing everything you need to know about dog treats.

Understanding Dog Treats and Their Impact

Let’s start with the basics: What is a dog treat?

Most traditional training treats are calorie-dense, delicious (to dogs) snacks designed to be handed out occasionally. Whether they’re crunchy or chewy, these treats usually emphasize taste over nutrition. In other words, many dog treats—though not all—are like “junk food” for your pet. 

As with humans, junk food should be eaten in moderation. Give your dog too many treats, and you may put them at risk of obesity and other pet health conditions. Those small daily treats may not seem like much, but they can add up over time and affect your pet’s health.

Of course, dog treats serve a purpose. They’re essential to dog training, especially for food-motivated dogs. By giving your pet a tasty treat every time they sit or shake a paw, you create an association between the desired behavior and the reward. Treats are also a way to show your dog you love them. Sometimes, you want to give your pet a treat for no reason at all.

And that’s okay. As long as you stay within the upper limit of treats, you can safely feed your dog their favorite snacks day after day.

How Many Treats Per Day for a Dog?

What’s that upper limit? As mentioned, veterinarians suggest that treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s diet.

But what does that mean in practice? 

To determine exactly how many treats you can give your dog, you’ll need to look at:
 

  • Your pet’s caloric requirements
  • The number of calories in their food
  • The number of calories in their treats

Once you have that information, you can crunch the numbers and find out how many treats to hand out each day. To give you a better idea of how to calculate this number, we’ve put together an example.

Calculating Treats as a Percentage of Daily Caloric Intake

To start, you’ll need to determine how many calories your dog needs in a day. Luckily, that part is relatively easy: Your veterinarian should be able to tell you your dog’s unique requirements. Alternatively, most dog food packaging will have a chart that explains how much to feed your pet.

For our example, let’s say you have a sixty-pound Rottweiler that needs 1200 calories per day. Take 10% of 1200, and you’re left with 120—the number of calories your dog can have in treats.

From here, all you have to do is translate that answer into a number of treats. To do that, look at your best dog treat packaging to find out how many calories are in each treat. If every treat is, say, 20 calories, you’ll know you can feed your dog six of these treats every day. The remaining 1080 calories will come from their food. Choosing raw dog food can help ensure your adult dog gets balanced meals while leaving room in their daily calorie allowance for healthy treats.

Follow this formula, and you’ll end up with the ideal treat amount for your pet.

Factors Influencing Treat Limits

It’s worth noting that the formula above may not work every time for every dog. The 10% rule assumes that you have an average, perfectly healthy dog. However, as you probably know, every dog is different.

So, if you’re asking yourself, “How many treats should I give my dog each day?” you should really ask your veterinarian. That’s because your pet’s unique upper treat limit will depend on several factors.

Age

Dogs have different caloric requirements at different ages:
 

  • Puppies – Once they’ve weaned off their mother’s milk, puppies need an enormous amount of calories to fuel their rapid growth. A puppy will eat far more calories than an adult dog of the same size—and that means more opportunities for treats.
  • Adult dogs – When dogs reach maturity, their calorie needs level off. With that in mind, you may find you reach for the treats a little less often.
  • Senior dogs – As dogs reach old age, they tend to become less active. As such, their calorie requirements start to decrease. Older dogs will therefore need fewer treats than their younger counterparts.

Additionally, younger dogs are more likely to consume more treats while in training. Think about it: When you’re teaching your pup to shake a paw or roll over, they’ll receive plenty of training treats for their efforts. Once your pet learns how to do those tricks, they won’t get a treat every time.

Weight

Another factor that influences the treat limit is your dog’s weight. Simply put, larger dog breeds need to eat more than smaller dogs—and more eating means more treating. For example, a German shepherd may be able to eat four times the number of treats a Pomeranian can.

Your dog’s relative weight for their breed also plays a role. If a vet has determined that your dog is underweight, a few extra calories from treats every now and then won’t hurt. If, however, your vet believes your dog is overweight, you may need to hold back on the treats.

For overweight dogs or those on special diets, low-fat protein sources like rabbit can be an ideal choice. Rabbit meat is good for dogs, particularly for dogs needing a lean, nutritious alternative to traditional meats."

Diet (Regular vs. Special Diets)

Dogs on a normal diet can generally follow the 10% rule. However, if your vet has placed your pet on a special diet, you might need to reduce your total number of treats (or eliminate them altogether).

Similarly, if you have other pets at home, such as cats, you might wonder, is duck good for cats? Duck is a novel protein source and a good cat treat that can benefit cats with food sensitivities or allergies.

Health Conditions

Some dogs may also have health conditions that require them to eat fewer treats. For example, a dog with hypothyroidism—an affliction that impacts thyroid hormone levels—will have a lower metabolism. A reduced metabolism means fewer calories burned, and that translates to a lower calorie requirement for your pet. The result? Less room in the diet for treats.

On the other hand, some conditions may require your dog to eat more. In that case, you’ll be able to feed them more treats.

The Treats

Naturally, the treats you choose impact the treat limit. A large, dense chew could have as many as 50 calories, while a kibble-sized snack may only have five. That could be the difference between giving your pet one treat or ten!

With that in mind, it’s essential to look closely at your treat packaging and determine the number of calories in a serving.

Signs of Overfeeding Treats

Even when you understand how many treats per day for a dog like yours, it can be challenging to stick to the rules. It’s so tempting to reward your pet for every little thing—especially when they give you those puppy-dog eyes.

However, staying under the daily treat limit is crucial. Overfeeding your dog can lead to harmful symptoms and health conditions.

Luckily, it’s easy enough to recognize when you’re giving too many treats. Keep an eye out for the following signs:

  • Weight gain – You know your dog best. If they seem to be a little bulkier than normal, they may be overeating. Consider weighing your dog weekly to monitor their weight, and adjust your treat-giving accordingly.
  • Digestive issues – An excess of treats can strain your dog’s digestive system, resulting in symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and indigestion.
  • Unfinished meals – If your dog steps away from their dinner without finishing it, you may have given them too many treats throughout the day.

Healthy Alternatives to Traditional Treats

Though there may be risks to overdoing it, the reality is that your best friend deserves treats. So, how do you reward and excite your dog without putting their health at risk? It’s simple: You turn to alternative treats.

The next time your dog performs a trick, consider rewarding them with:

  • Vegetables – Dogs love something to crunch on—and raw vegetables fit the bill. Carrots, cucumbers, and sweet potatoes are all excellent choices.
  • Fruits – If your pet has more of a sweet tooth, they may wag their tail at the sight of fruits like apples, blueberries, or pears.
  • Meat – Your dog’s ancient ancestors enjoyed eating chunks of meat. Yours can, too. Replace your traditional treats with pieces of meat, and your dog will thank you.

Like humans, dogs have food preferences, so feel free to experiment with these alternatives to find something your pet loves. For even more nutritious options, consider rewarding your dog with fresh dog food that provides all-natural ingredients without sacrificing flavor.

And if you’re wondering whether other proteins, like fish, are safe for dogs, you may ask yourself, can dogs eat fish? Fish can be a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which support your dog’s skin and coat health.

Explore Darwin’s Treats for Dogs

Now that you know how many treats to feed your dog, it’s time to give them the healthy, natural treats they deserve. If you're looking for the convenience of pet food delivery, Darwin’s offers premium quality meals that can arrive at your doorstep, ensuring your dog gets the best nutrition with ease.

Whether you’re training your pup or giving them one of those “just because” treats, reach for dog treats from Darwin’s. We formulate all our treats with premium, human-quality ingredients, ensuring your dog receives nothing but the best.

Order yours today to start treating your dog to a better, healthier lifestyle.

Sources: 

1American Kennel Club. How Many Treats Can Your Dog Really Have? https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/how-many-treats-can-dog-have/

2National Research Council. YOUR DOG’S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS: A Science-Based Guide For Pet Owners. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/10668/dog_nutrition_final_fix.pdf

3VCA Animal Hospitals. Hypothyroidism in Dogs. https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/hypothyroidism-in-dogs

More like this

 

As summer warms up, your dog may be craving a cool treat as much as you are. Here are three healthy pupsicles to fend off the heat.

 

You want to choose the best dog food—the high-quality, wholesome nutrition that keeps your pet happy, healthy, and filled with energy, all without breaking your budget.