The Treat Problem Nobody Talks About
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. That's the standard recommendation from veterinary nutritionists, and it makes sense. The problem is that most dog treats are nutritionally equivalent to junk food: high calorie, low nutrient, heavily processed, and loaded with ingredients that have no business in your dog's body.
But you're going to give your dog treats. Of course you are. Treats are how we communicate love, reward good behavior, and make training possible. So instead of guilt tripping you about treat giving, let's talk about better options.
The Worst Offenders (and Why)
Before we get to the good stuff, a quick look at what to avoid:
- Beggin' Strips, Pup-Peroni, and similar "bacon" style treats: These are basically corn and soy with artificial flavoring, sugar, and preservatives. Check the ingredient list and you'll struggle to find actual meat.
- Dental chews with sugar: Some dental treats list sugar or corn syrup in their ingredients. The irony of a "dental health" treat that feeds oral bacteria is remarkable.
- Rawhide: Made from the inner layer of cattle or horse hides, processed with chemicals including lime and sometimes arsenic based solutions. They're a choking and intestinal blockage hazard, and the nutritional value is zero.
- Anything with artificial colors: Your dog does not care what color their treat is. Artificial dyes exist solely for human marketing purposes and have been linked to behavioral issues in some studies.
Whole Food Treats You Can Give Right Now
Single Ingredient Protein Treats
The simplest upgrade. Look for treats that contain exactly one ingredient:
- Freeze dried liver: Beef liver, chicken liver, or lamb liver. Dogs go absolutely bonkers for these, and liver is packed with B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A. These work brilliantly for training because they're small, high value, and dogs will do backflips for them.
- Dehydrated sweet potato: Just sweet potato, dried. Good source of fiber and beta carotene.
- Dried sardines or minnows: Whole fish, dehydrated. Excellent source of omega 3s and protein. They smell terrible to humans but dogs love them.
- Dehydrated chicken or duck feet: Natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. Also serve as a dental chew.
Fresh Food Treats
These cost almost nothing because they're just regular foods cut into treat sized pieces:
- Blueberries: Low calorie, antioxidant rich. Perfect training treats for small dogs.
- Watermelon cubes: Seedless, no rind. Hydrating and sweet without added sugar.
- Baby carrots: Crunchy, low calorie, and most dogs love the texture. The beta carotene is a bonus.
- Apple slices: Remove seeds and core. Good source of fiber and vitamin C.
- Plain cooked chicken: Cut into pea sized pieces for training. High protein, zero filler.
- Frozen banana slices: Great for summer. Most dogs treat these like ice cream.
- Green beans: Raw or steamed. Very low calorie, satisfying crunch.
DIY Training Treats
If you're willing to spend 20 minutes, you can make training treats that outperform anything commercial:
Liver Training Treats: Blend raw liver into a paste, spread thinly on a parchment lined baking sheet, bake at 300 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until firm, and cut into tiny squares. Store in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for longer. These are high value treats that any dog will work for.
Pumpkin Bites: Mix canned pumpkin with a beaten egg and a small amount of oat flour. Drop small spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Low calorie, gut friendly, and dogs love them.
The Calorie Math
This is where most people get into trouble without realizing it. Here's what 10% of daily calories actually looks like:
- A 20 lb moderately active dog needs roughly 400 calories per day. Their treat budget is 40 calories.
- A 50 lb moderately active dog needs roughly 900 calories per day. Their treat budget is 90 calories.
- A 70 lb moderately active dog needs roughly 1,200 calories per day. Their treat budget is 120 calories.
A single Milk Bone Large biscuit is about 125 calories. One Greenies Regular dental chew is about 90 calories. Those numbers add up fast, especially if you're giving multiple treats per day. This is one of the sneakiest contributors to canine obesity.
Smart Treat Strategies
- Break treats into smaller pieces. Your dog doesn't care about the size. They care about the frequency. Five tiny pieces of chicken are more rewarding than one big piece. This is especially useful for training.
- Use your dog's regular food as training treats. Set aside a portion of their daily kibble or fresh food and use it throughout the day for reward based training. It counts toward their daily calories because it IS their daily calories.
- Account for treats in daily feeding. If you know you'll be giving significant treats (like during a training class), reduce the next meal slightly.
- Keep a treat log for a week. Just for awareness. Count every treat, every table scrap, every dental chew. Most people are shocked at how many extra calories they're feeding.
What About Dental Chews?
Dental chews deserve their own mention because they sit in a gray area between treat and functional product. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) maintains a list of products that have met their standards for reducing plaque and tartar. If dental health is your goal, stick to VOHC approved products and account for their calories.
Natural alternatives like raw marrow bones, bully sticks, and dehydrated chicken feet also help with dental health, though they're higher in calories and should be used accordingly.
The Bottom Line
Treats are part of the joy of having a dog. Nobody is telling you to stop giving them. But swapping processed junk treats for whole food options is one of the easiest nutritional upgrades you can make. Your dog won't miss the artificial flavors. They'll be too busy losing their mind over freeze dried liver.
