Nutrition & Nutrients

Dog Treats: What’s Good, What’s Bad, and How Much

Treats (snacks, dog snacks, training rewards) are food given outside of regular meals — as a reward during training, for engagement, or as a social bonding tool. They are an important tool in positive reinforcement-based training but can also contribute to weight problems if quantity and calorie content are not taken into account.

Dog Treats: What’s Good, What’s Bad, and How Much

What are dog treats?

Treats (snacks, dog treats, training rewards) are food given outside of regular meals—as a reward during training, as an activity, or as a way to bond socially. They are an important tool in positive-reinforcement-based training, but can also contribute to weight problems if portion size and calorie content are not taken into account.

Important: Treats are not a substitute for a meal. They are a supplement—and should be included in your dog’s daily calorie allowance, not added on top of it.

Background + Scientific Context

Hiby et al. (2004, Animal Welfare, PubMed 15053370) investigated the effectiveness of training methods: Positive-reinforcement-based training using food rewards (treats) produces better learning outcomes, less stress-related behavior, and more problem-solving behavior than punishment-based methods. Treats are the most accessible and effective primary reinforcers for most dogs—high motivational value, clear timing options, and easy dosing.

Laflamme (2006, Veterinary Clinics of North America, PubMed 16564378) analyzed obesity in dogs and cats: A significant proportion of obesity in dogs is caused by uncontrolled supplemental feeding (treats, table scraps, snacks). The calorie content of treats varies enormously—commercially available snacks can contain 10–50 kcal per piece. Recommendation: Include treat calories in the daily ration; use the 10% rule (a maximum of 10% of the daily calorie requirement from snacks) as a guideline.

Cope (2005, *Veterinary Medicine*) describes allium poisoning in dogs and cats: onions, garlic, leeks, and related allium species are toxic to dogs—they destroy red blood cells and can cause hemolytic anemia. Dogs are less sensitive than cats, but regularly adding garlic to treat recipes poses a real risk of poisoning. In addition to Allium: chocolate (theobromine), grapes/raisins (unknown toxicity), xylitol (sugar substitute, hypoglycemic)—all of which are present in commercially available foods and, in some cases, in snacks.

Vitomalia-Position

Treats aren’t a luxury—they’re a training tool and a source of joy for dogs. But: They’re extras, not meals. If you love your dog, factor treats into their daily intake and avoid toxic ingredients. Saying “It’s fine” when asked about treat portions is the most common path to obesity.

When do treats come into play?

  • In training: primary reinforcers for operant conditioning
  • For entertainment: chew toys, treat balls, snuffle mats
  • For administering medication: Treats as a wrapper for pills
  • If your pet has dietary restrictions (allergies, special diet): find suitable treats
  • If your dog is overweight: Reduce the number of calories, adjust the amount of treats, or replace them with vegetables

Practical application

Assorted Treats — Overview:

Type Calorie content Suitability for training Note
Soft meat snack Medium Very good Can be dispensed in small quantities
Dried meat/lung Medium-high Good Strong scent, motivating
Hard cheese (Parmesan, Emmental) High Very good Dice into small pieces
Raw vegetables (carrots, cucumbers) Very low Medium For a low-calorie treat
Commercially available Training Treats Variable Good Check the ingredients
Bread slices/cookies High (carbohydrates) Medium Keep an eye on calories

Toxic foods — NEVER give as treats: - Chocolate (theobromine) - Onions, garlic, leeks (Allium poisoning) - Grapes, raisins (kidney failure) - Xylitol (sugar substitute in candy/gum) — hypoglycemic, toxic to the liver - Macadamia nuts, avocado

Common Mistakes & Myths

  • “A treat here and there isn’t a problem, is it?” For a 10-kg dog with a daily caloric requirement of ~400 kcal: a 20-kcal snack = 5% of the daily requirement. Several snacks a day quickly add up to more than 10%—especially for small dogs.
  • “My dog doesn’t respond to treats—he’s not motivated to learn.” Often, the treat isn’t motivating enough, or the dog is stressed. Test the treat hierarchy: what does the dog like best? Fresh pieces of meat or cheese often work better than dry treats.
  • "Treats from the supermarket are just as good." Many store-bought products contain high amounts of sugar, sugar substitutes (watch out for xylitol!), or artificial flavors. Read the ingredients.

Current State of Research (2026)

The use of treats as the primary reinforcer in dog training is well-supported by scientific evidence and is widely accepted in the field of applied animal behavior science. The discussion regarding optimal treat frequency, timing, and portion size in advanced training (variable reinforcement schedules) is an active area of research. From a toxicological perspective, the list of known food toxins for dogs is well documented; new case reports (e.g., xylitol poisoning) are continuously incorporated into veterinary recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many treats can my dog have per day?

Rule of thumb: Snacks should account for no more than 10% of daily calorie intake. For a 10-kg dog with a daily calorie requirement of approximately 400 kcal, this means a maximum of 40 kcal from treats. Subtract the calories from treats from the main meal. If the dog is overweight: opt for low-calorie alternatives (carrots, cucumber slices).

Which foods are toxic to dogs when given as treats?

Strictly prohibited: chocolate (theobromine), grapes/raisins (kidney failure), onions/garlic (allium poisoning), xylitol (sugar substitute—hypoglycemic), and macadamia nuts. Also avoid coffee, alcohol, and avocados. If in doubt, call the poison control center or your veterinarian.

What are the best treats for training?

Small, soft, strongly scented pieces—preferably made from fresh or dried meat (chicken breast, beef lung, cheese). Important: small enough that the dog can swallow them immediately without having to chew for long. Snack quality = training motivation: use higher-quality rewards for difficult tasks.

Related terms

Sources & Further Reading

  1. Hiby, E. F., Rooney, N. J., & Bradshaw, J. W. S. (2004). Dog training methods: Their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare. Animal Welfare, 13(1), 63–69. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15053370/

  2. Laflamme, D. P. (2006). Understanding and managing obesity in dogs and cats. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 36(6), 1283–1295. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16564378/

  3. Cope, R. B. (2005). Allium species poisoning in dogs and cats. Veterinary Medicine, 100(8), 562–566. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2004.tb02780.x

Wissenschaftliche Einordnung

Hiby et al. (2004, Animal Welfare, PubMed 15053370) investigated the effectiveness of training methods: Positive reinforcement-based training with food rewards (treats) produces better learning outcomes, less stress behavior, and more problem-solving behavior than punishment-based methods. Treats are the most accessible and effective primary reinforcer for most dogs — high motivational value, clear timing possibilities, easy dosability.

Laflamme (2006, Veterinary Clinics of North America, PubMed 16564378) analyzed obesity in dogs and cats: A significant proportion of obesity in dogs is caused by uncontrolled supplementary feeding (treats, table scraps, snacks). The calorie content of treats varies enormously — commercial snacks can have 10–50 kcal per piece. Recommendation: include treat calories in the daily ration; the 10% rule (maximum 10% of daily caloric needs from snacks) as a guideline.

Cope (2005, Veterinary Medicine) describes Allium poisoning in dogs and cats: Onions, garlic, leeks, and related Allium species are toxic to dogs — they destroy erythrocytes and can cause hemolytic anemia. Dogs are less sensitive than cats, but regular addition of garlic to treat recipes is a real poisoning risk. In addition to Allium: chocolate (theobromine), grapes/raisins (unknown toxicity), xylitol (sugar substitute, hypoglycemic) — all are present in commercially available foods and partly in snacks.