The 10% rule
Vets advise that treats stay under 10% of what your dog eats in a day. The other 90% comes from the main food, which has the vitamins and minerals your dog needs. Treats are made to taste good, not to be a full diet.
This calculator takes 10% of your dog's daily food and shows how many of one treat fit in it. If your dog needs to lose weight, it uses the smaller weight-loss portion, so there is less room for treats.
Treats come off the meals
Treats are food. If you give treats on top of full meals, your dog eats more than it needs. That is how most dogs gain weight, a little each day. So give a little less food at meals on days with treats. The calculator shows how much less.
Low-calorie dog treats
Most dogs care more about how many treats they get than how big the treats are. So small and light treats go a long way.
- Baby carrots. Crunchy, and about 20 of them equal one large biscuit.
- Green beans. Plain, fresh or frozen, with no salt.
- Apple slices. Remove the core and the seeds.
- Blueberries and cucumber. Almost free.
- Part of the meal. Take a handful of today's food and use it as treats. Many dogs do not notice the difference.
- Smaller pieces. Break one biscuit into 4. Your dog gets 4 rewards for the price of one.
Treats to never give
- Grapes and raisins. They can damage the kidneys, even in small amounts.
- Chocolate, coffee and caffeine.
- Xylitol. It is a sweetener in some peanut butters, gum and sweets. Read the label.
- Onions, garlic and chives.
- Macadamia nuts.
- Cooked bones. They can break into sharp pieces.
If your dog ate one of these, call your vet or a pet poison helpline now.
Questions
Do dental chews count as treats?
Yes. Many dental chews have as much food in them as a large biscuit. Count them in the 10%.
What about training days?
Use tiny training treats or pieces of the dog's own food. On days with a lot of training, feed less at meals.
Why does my dog get so few treats?
A dog that is losing weight eats less in total, so 10% is also less. It gets easier when you switch to light treats like carrots.
Does this work for puppies?
No. Puppies need more food for their size while they grow. Ask your vet about treats for a puppy.