Losing weight doesn’t have to mean giving up treats
When it comes to where dog’s get their daily calories, we recommend following the 90/10 rule: 90% of calories from a complete and balanced diet, 10% from treats!
Treats can be considered the splurge, but more often, the actual act of giving a treat means more to the dog than the actual treat itself. Treats are typically given as a sign of affection or when training or rewarding.
To most dogs, the number of treats is more important than the taste of the treat. There are some instances when high-value (ie high-calorie/ tasty) treats are needed, but more often, low-calorie treats can be given with the same end result—a happy dog!
How treats can interfere with weight loss plans
Treats are often the culprit when dogs are overweight or having trouble losing weight.
We have compiled a list of common human foods used as treats, comparing the good (nutritious and low-calorie) with the bad (deliciously high-calorie). You may be surprised where a lot of extra calories are coming from! If dogs get store-bought treats, be sure you know how many calories are in each treat—the bag should clearly indicate this.
Use this link to find the calorie content in virtually any human food.
Foods listed here are fresh, uncooked, without any oil, butter or other toppings. Giving a dog some leftovers is not necessarily bad, but will likely add up to more calories, depending on how the dish was cooked and seasoned.
Low-Calorie Treats
| Treat/Food | Size | Calories | Notes & Tips |
|---|
| Snap peas | 1 cup (8 oz) | 26 | About 25 medium sized snap peas |
| Green beans | 1 cup (8 oz) | 33 | |
| Celery | 8-inch stalk | 6 | This is the clear winner of bang for your buck!
|
| Broccoli | 1 cup (8 oz) | 33 | About 9 medium heads of broccoli |
Baby carrot (fresh, uncooked)
| “Large”, 15 g | 5 | Chop or slice the carrot into smaller pieces rather than giving the entire carrot to make this treat go even further!
|
| Asparagus | 1 cup (8 oz) | 27 | About 10 medium spears |
| Blueberries | 1 cup (8 oz) | 85 | About 135 small to medium blueberries |
| Canned pumpkin | 1 tbsp | 5 | NOT pumpkin pie filling, plain canned pumpkin. This is a winner and great substitute for peanut butter or cream cheese- but be careful—too much pumpkin can cause diarrhea or constipation.
|
High Calorie Treats
High-Calorie Treats
| Treat/Food | Size | Calories | Notes/Tips |
|---|
| Peanut Butter | 1 tbsp | 96 | Yikes! Compare this to canned pumpkin! |
Cream cheese (full calorie)
| 1 tbsp | 50 | Better than peanut butter |
| Cream cheese (low fat) | 1 tbsp | 31 | An even better option |
| Cheddar cheese cubes | 1 cube | 25 | 1 cube, not so bad. More than one, probably too many calories. Break one cube into multiple pieces if needed
|
| Pill pocket | 1 pocket, capsule size
| 23 | This is the same for peanut butter and hickory smoked flavors, capsule and tablet size
|
| Pill Pocket – Duck and Pea | 1 pocket, tablet size | 8 | This belongs on the low-calorie list! Unless you have a good reason otherwise, choose this flavor! |
| String cheese | 1 stick, 28 g | 90 | This will vary based on brand |
| Bully stick | 6-inch stick | 90 | You know what these are, right? Click here to read the truth about Bully sticks |
| Marrow bone | 100 g
0.5 oz
| 786
125
| Yikes! This should only be given as a special treat! Or, once the marrow has been eaten, replace with canned pumpkin and freeze for a low-calorie option.
|
NOTE: We did not even include the following types of treats because we don’t recommend them - Ever. That includes Pig ears, rawhide, Greenies, hooves, and cooked bones. These “treats” carry excessive risks of causing esophageal or intestinal blockage, and many are processed in China.
NOTE: We are not even including the following treats because we just don’t recommend them – ever:
- Pig ears
- Rawhide
- Greenies
- Hooves
- Cooked bones
These “treats” carry excessive risks of causing esophageal or intestinal blockage, and many are processed in China.
FAQs
When it comes to where dog's get their daily calories, we recommend following the 90/10 rule: 90% of calories from a complete and balanced diet, 10% from treats! Treats can be considered the splurge, but more often, the actual act of giving a treat means more to the dog than the actual treat itself.
How many calories should a dog treat have a day? ›
Dog treats should only be used as rewards for good behavior and make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. So, for example, if you have a small dog that needs 400 calories a day, and the treats you give them are 20 calories each, then they can have two of them per day.
How do you calculate calories in homemade dog treats? ›
First needed is the weight of a single treat or a cup of product in grams. Dividing the kcal/kg value as determined above by 1000 converts it to kcal per gram. Then, multiplying by the number of grams per treat or cup gives you the calories per treat or cup.
How many treats per day for a dog calculator? ›
The 10% Rule of Dog Treats
Treats should make up no more than about 10% of your dog's daily calories. For example, if your dog needs 400 calories per day (check out the resting rate calorie counter below), they should have no more than 40 calories from treats, with the other 360 coming from their normal food.
What is the 333 new dog rule? ›
The 3-3-3 rule is a guideline for transitioning a rescue dog into its new home and helping it to settle in. It suggests that the first three days should be used for adjusting to its new surroundings, the next three weeks for training and bonding, and the first three months for continued socialization and training.
What are the most fattening dog treats? ›
High-Calorie Treats
| Treat/Food | Size | Calories |
|---|
| Pill Pocket – Duck and Pea | 1 pocket, tablet size | 8 |
| String cheese | 1 stick, 28 g | 90 |
| Bully stick | 6-inch stick | 90 |
| Marrow bone | 100 g 0.5 oz | 786 125 |
5 more rows(Resting Energy Requirements or RER), which can be calculated by multiplying the animal's body weight in kilograms raised to the ¾ power by 70, for example, a 10kg (22lb) adult neutered dog of healthy weight needs RER = 70(10kg)3/4 ≈ 400 Calories/day.
Is it OK to give dogs treats everyday? ›
You can offer them treats at different points throughout the day! Treats can be used as a reward, or just as a way to spoil your dog with some delicious happiness. You can give your dog a treat as often and whenever they want one, but it's important not to overdo the treats.
How do you read calories on dog treats? ›
Finding Kcals on a Food Label. Kcals are required to be listed on all dog food labels, including treats. Often times, these will be listed under the Calorie Content section on the back of the packaging by weight (kilocalories per kilogram) and volume (kilocalories per cup or can).
What is a low calorie food for dogs? ›
Other low calorie treats for dogs are carrot sticks, cucumber slices, zucchini slices, apple slices (without seeds), cooked lean meats, small pieces of baked potato or baked sweet potato (no unripe potatoes or potato plants), bananas, unsalted almonds, plain cooked pasta, broccoli, tomato, pumpkin, blueberries, ...
Fiber: Fiber helps dogs maintain healthy digestion as they get older. Zinc: Zinc aids with the loss of skin elasticity and moisture dogs experience as they age. Calorie Intake: Senior dogs should be eating 25 to 30 calories per pound of dog weight each day.
What is high in calories for dogs? ›
Proteins like beef and lamb are higher in calories than, say, chicken or fish. The most important part of DIY dog food, however, is ensuring it is a complete and balanced diet that meets your dog's specific nutritional needs. Always work with a professional to help a malnourished dog.
What percentage of a dogs diet should be treats? ›
“Treats should not make up more than 10 percent of your dog's diet,” say veterinarians everywhere.
How do I calculate what to feed my dog? ›
As a rule of thumb, the number of calories your dog should be fed to maintain your dog's ideal weight is referred to as the “resting energy requirement (RER).” To determine your dog's RER, convert the dog's ideal weight in pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2. Then multiply that number by 30 and add 70.
What high value treats can I give my dog? ›
Cheese, low sodium hot dog, cooked chicken, dog food rolls such as Natural Balance, or even your dog's favorite treat from the pet store are all great options depending on his preferences and health. There's nothing wrong with a taste-test to figure out what he likes best.
What is the rule of 7 for dogs? ›
Eaten from at least 7 different containers • Been held and petted by at least 7 different people • Taken at least 7 one-mile car rides • Been in a crate at least 7 times • Played with at least 7 different kinds of toys • Walked on at least 7 different substrates (grass, gravel, concrete, etc.)
What is the golden rule for dogs? ›
Love, admire and respect your dog.
Be patient with him. Don't hurt, abandon, or ignore him. Get help before you give up on him.
What is the 3s rule dogs? ›
The 3-3-3 rule is a set of guidelines for the first three days, three weeks, and three months after adopting a new dog. The goal of the 3-3-3 rule is to help the dog adjust to their new environment and build a strong foundation for a long and happy life with their new family.
What is the 95 rule for dog food? ›
The 95% Rule
At least 95% of the product must be the named ingredient, for example, “Chicken for Dogs,” or “Salmon Dog Food,” must include at least 95% of chicken or salmon, respectively. In addition, this main product must be at least 70% of the total product when counting the added water.
