How Many Treats Can a Dog Eat Per Day? (The 10% Rule)

Treats are one of the best tools for training and bonding with your dog. The problem is they are easy to over-give, and extra calories turn into extra weight — which puts strain on joints and shortens a dog's healthy life.

The 10% rule

Vets commonly recommend that treats make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. The other 90% should come from a complete and balanced dog food.

Rough daily treat calories by dog size

Toy dogs (2–5 kg, e.g. Chihuahua, Pomeranian): about 20–35 kcal
Small dogs (5–10 kg, e.g. Shih Tzu, Poodle): about 35–55 kcal
Medium dogs (10–25 kg, e.g. Beagle, Corgi): about 55–100 kcal
Large dogs (25–40 kg, e.g. Golden Retriever, Labrador): about 100–140 kcal

These are approximate — active dogs need more, senior and neutered dogs usually need less. Follow the feeding guide on your treat pack and adjust based on your dog's body shape.

Tips to make treats go further

Break treats into small pieces — dogs care about how often, not how big.
Reduce the main meal slightly on heavy training days.
Choose functional treats so every treat also supports joints, skin or teeth.
Avoid human snacks: chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic and xylitol are toxic to dogs.

FAQ

Can I give my dog treats every day?

Yes — daily treats are fine as long as they stay within about 10% of daily calories and the rest of the diet is complete and balanced.

What human foods are safe as treats?

Small amounts of plain cooked chicken, carrot, apple (no seeds) and pumpkin are generally safe. Never give chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, macadamia nuts or anything with xylitol.