How many treats can you give your dog a day? How to avoid overfeeding during training

Training starts innocently enough. One “sit”, one “stay”, a few steps at heel and a small treat for every task performed correctly. Then comes a reward during the walk, something tasty after returning home and perhaps an edible chew in the evening. Each portion seems small, but by the end of the day your dog may have received far more energy from treats than you realised.

This does not mean that you need to stop using food as a reward. Treats can be extremely useful when teaching new behaviours, and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends reward-based training methods [4]. The problem is therefore not using food during training itself, but failing to control how much of it your dog receives.

The most important practical rule is that treats and other extras should provide less than 10% of your dog’s daily energy intake, while the foundation of their nutrition should be a complete and properly balanced diet. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) includes not only conventional dog treats in this allowance, but also snacks, edible chews, some supplements and food used to administer medication [1]. This is why, during training, the question “how many treats can I give?” is often less useful than “how many calories from additional food has my dog received today?”.

What will you learn from this article? In this guide, you will learn:

• how many treats you can give your dog each day,
• what the 10% rule means,
• why counting the number of treats is not a good way to determine a portion,
• how to calculate a daily calorie allowance for treats,
• how to avoid overfeeding your dog during intensive training,
• whether you can use your dog’s regular food as a reward,
• how to prepare your dog’s daily treat allowance before training,
• which treats work best when training involves many repetitions,
• whether treats should be deducted from your dog’s daily food allowance,
• when the amount and type of treats should be discussed with a veterinary surgeon.

How many treats can you give your dog a day?

There is no single number that is right for every dog. Five large biscuits may provide more energy than several dozen genuinely tiny pieces used during training, which means that simply counting individual treats tells us very little. What matters is the calorie content of the specific product, the portion size, the dog’s daily energy requirement and all the other extras they receive throughout the day.

WSAVA recommends that treats should account for less than 10% of a dog’s daily calorie intake [1]. The University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine gives similar guidance, stating that treats and additional foods should account for no more than 10% of daily energy intake, while at least 90% should come from a complete and balanced diet [2]. This principle matters not only for weight control, but also because most treats are not complete foods that provide all the nutrients a dog requires.

In practice, it is therefore much more useful to think in terms of a “treat budget” rather than a specific number of treats. If most of that allowance is used during training on a particular day, there should not then be a second, separate allowance for snacks after a walk, an edible chew or pieces of food offered by other members of the household. All additional calories count together.

What is the 10% rule for dog treats?

The principle is simple: first establish how much energy your dog should receive over the course of an entire day and then calculate approximately 10% of that amount. This does not mean your dog has to use their whole allowance every day. It is better understood as an approximate upper limit for additional foods in a healthy dog, while WSAVA recommends staying below this level [1].

This is not a table showing a dog’s energy requirements according to body weight. It simply demonstrates mathematically what 10% of an already established daily energy allowance looks like. Actual requirements depend on factors including age, activity level, body condition, health and feeding method, so if you are unsure, it is best to establish them with your veterinary surgeon or a professional specialising in animal nutrition.

Why is counting only the number of treats not enough?

Imagine two dogs who each receive 20 rewards during a training session. The first receives a tiny piece each time, small enough to eat without really interrupting the exercise. The second receives an entire, much larger biscuit every time. Technically, both dogs have received “20 treats”, but the amount of energy consumed may be completely different.

This is why it is worth checking the calorie information for a product before training. WSAVA recommends contacting the manufacturer of commercial treats if the energy value is not stated on the label [1]. This allows you to establish whether a single reward contains 1, 3, 10 or considerably more calories.

This is particularly important for small dogs. The same reward represents a much larger proportion of a small dog’s daily energy requirement than it does for a large dog. That is precisely why “one treat” is not a universal nutritional unit.

How do you count treats during dog training?

For a simple example, imagine that your dog’s established daily energy intake is 500 kcal. Approximately 10% of that is 50 kcal, so all additional snacks offered during the day should fit within this allowance. If one small training reward contains 5 kcal, ten of those pieces would use the entire approximate allowance.

If, however, you divide the same treat into five small pieces, your dog can be rewarded several times while the total amount of food consumed remains exactly the same. During training, it is often the moment at which the reward is delivered that matters rather than its size. VCA Animal Hospitals recommends using treats that can easily be divided into small pieces, small pieces of the dog’s normal food or other low-calorie rewards during training [3].

Training is therefore not about giving your dog a large amount of food after every task. A reward can be very small as long as it remains attractive to the dog. This approach is particularly practical during exercises that require many repetitions.

The easiest method: prepare your dog’s daily treat allowance in the morning

One of the most practical ways to stay in control is to prepare the entire daily reward allowance before the first walk. Measure out the appropriate quantity and place it in a separate container. Everything your dog receives during training, walks or exercises at home then comes from this one allowance.

This means you do not have to wonder after every training session how many treats your dog has already eaten. Once the container is empty, the daily allowance has been used. This method can be particularly useful in a household where several people reward the dog, because it prevents every family member from unknowingly starting their own count from zero.

On a walk, you can transfer the prepared portion into a MIDI black dog treat bag. Bowl&Bone Republic treat bags are also available within our dog walking accessories collection, making it easy to keep rewards close at hand without carrying the entire packet. This is about more than convenience – measuring the portion in advance helps you stay aware of how much your dog actually eats during an activity.

Should training treats be deducted from your dog’s food allowance?

If you give additional treats on top of your dog’s normal daily food allowance, the energy they contain becomes extra energy in the diet. Regularly adding those calories every day can eventually result in your dog exceeding their energy requirements. A study published in 2025 examining the 10% recommendation emphasises the importance of including snacks in the overall nutritional balance and maintaining complete and balanced food as the foundation of the diet [5].

This does not mean, however, that you should automatically reduce a large proportion of your dog’s main food and replace it with arbitrary treats. Treats are often not complete foods, so excessive amounts can alter the nutritional balance of the overall diet [1][2][5]. In a healthy adult dog, a small amount of additional calories can be incorporated into the overall feeding plan, but if you train frequently every day, using part of the dog’s regular food as rewards may be a more practical approach.

If your dog is overweight, follows a therapeutic diet, has kidney, heart or gastrointestinal disease, has a food allergy or has other specific nutritional needs, the type and quantity of treats should be discussed with your veterinary surgeon. VCA notes that certain rewards may be unsuitable for dogs with particular medical conditions [3]. In these situations, the general 10% rule does not replace an individual feeding plan.

Can you train your dog using their regular food?

Yes – and for many dogs this is one of the simplest solutions. If your dog is sufficiently motivated by their usual food, you can measure out their entire daily allowance in the morning, put some into their dog bowl and use another portion during training. VCA points out that using a dog’s own dry food as a reward makes it possible to train without automatically adding more calories on top of the previously established daily allowance [3].

Not every dog will work equally enthusiastically for their everyday food in every situation. In a quiet living room, a piece of their usual dry food may be rewarding enough, while on a walk filled with smells, other dogs and unfamiliar distractions, your dog may need something more appealing. In that case, regular food can be used for easier tasks and higher-value treats reserved for more difficult exercises.

A good example is teaching a command at home and then gradually transferring it into increasingly challenging environments. Part of the daily portion can be served in the DUO CERAMIC grey dog bowl, while a small amount can be taken along for training. This way, food becomes part of your everyday work with your dog rather than an additional and uncontrolled layer of the diet.

Which treats work best during dog training?

When teaching behaviours that require many repetitions, the most practical rewards are usually small, quick to eat and unlikely to distract the dog from the exercise for too long. VCA suggests small pieces, the dog’s regular food and low-calorie treats as practical options during training [3]. The best treat does not need to be the largest – it simply needs to be sufficiently appealing to the individual dog.

It is also worth varying the value of the reward. A piece of everyday food may be enough for an easy behaviour that your dog has performed many times before, while a difficult recall in an environment full of distractions may deserve something they particularly enjoy. A higher-value reward does not, however, need to be large – you can still offer a very small piece.

If you enjoy preparing your dog’s snacks yourself, you can find our guide How to make DIY dried dog treats on the Bowl&Bone Republic blog. With homemade treats, portion control is just as important as it is with products purchased from a shop. The word “natural” does not automatically mean “calorie-free”.

Can you reward your dog with something other than food?

Yes. Food is a very convenient and often effective reinforcer, but it is not the only thing that can function as a reward for a dog. AVSAB explains that reward-based training can use food, play or other activities valued by the individual dog [4].

You can therefore sometimes reward your dog by allowing them to run towards an interesting place, beginning a game, giving them access to a favourite toy or allowing another activity they currently want. This can be particularly useful for dogs that very easily use up their daily calorie allowance or that have already completed an intensive training session. It can also prevent the dog from associating every correctly performed behaviour exclusively with the appearance of food.

This does not mean you need to suddenly stop using treats. When initially teaching a new skill, food can be an extremely valuable training tool. The aim is to broaden the range of rewards available rather than replacing one type with another.

Can a dog have treats every day?

For a healthy dog, treats can be part of every day as long as they are chosen appropriately and fit within the dog’s overall feeding plan. The main concern is excessive calorie intake and displacing a complete diet, not the simple fact that a dog receives a small reward every day. WSAVA emphasises that treats should not replace meals and that dogs require a complete and balanced diet [1].

In practice, it is usually better to offer several very small rewards for a specific purpose than to add large snacks between meals without thinking about them. If treats form part of training, they should be considered just as consciously as the rest of the dog’s food. This is especially important for small dogs, senior dogs and less active animals because their total daily energy allowance may be relatively low.

If you also share foods from your own kitchen with your dog, those items count towards the total as well. You can read more about safe foods in our guide What can dogs eat from our table?.

What else counts as a treat?

This is one of the most commonly overlooked issues. WSAVA uses a broad definition of treats – products given in addition to a complete and balanced diet, not just conventional dog biscuits or training treats. The total allowance can also include edible chews, snacks, food used to give a tablet and foods intended for humans [1].

If your dog receives a snack in the morning, takes part in training at midday, gets an edible chew in the evening and members of the household also share small pieces of food throughout the day, all of this should be considered part of the same day’s feeding. Your dog’s body does not have a separate category for “calories given with love”. Every piece provides energy regardless of whether we call it a meal, treat or reward.

This is why it is helpful for everyone in the household to know how much of the daily treat allowance has been prepared. A simple container in the kitchen or a pre-measured amount in the training pouch may be far more effective than trying to remember every small reward at the end of the day.

How can you tell if your dog may be getting too many treats?

The most obvious sign is gradual weight gain, although it is not always immediately noticeable. It is worth regularly looking at your dog’s body shape and monitoring their weight, particularly if the number of training sessions or snacks has recently increased. If the ribs become increasingly difficult to feel and the dog’s body shape changes despite a similar activity level, the entire diet needs to be reviewed – not just what is put into the food bowl.

Too many treats may also make a dog less interested in their complete meal. Large amounts of additional food may cause gastrointestinal problems as well, particularly if many new products have been introduced within a short period. If you are concerned about your dog’s body condition, you can also read our article Is my dog overweight?.

It is important not to assume on your own that every change in weight is caused solely by treats. Unplanned weight gain or weight loss can have a variety of causes. If the change is significant, rapid or accompanied by other symptoms, consult your veterinary surgeon.

How to avoid overfeeding your dog during training – a simple plan

The easiest approach is to start each morning by establishing all the food your dog will receive that day. Measure out the main food allowance and a separate portion of additional rewards rather than reaching into the packet every time your dog performs a command correctly. If your dog works well for their regular food, use some of the daily portion during training and leave only the remainder to be served in the bowl.

Divide large treats into smaller pieces and reserve the most calorific or attractive rewards for more difficult exercises. At home, easier tasks can be rewarded with normal food, while a higher-value snack can be used outdoors. This allows you not only to control calories more effectively, but also to match the value of the reward to the difficulty of the task.

During walks, the MIDI dog treat bag can be useful for carrying only the amount you have planned. Once the pouch is empty, you do not reach for another packet for “just a few more repetitions”. Simply limiting the amount available can often be much easier than trying to count every piece during a dynamic training session.

How many treats can you give your dog a day? Summary

There is no single correct number of treats for every dog. Their total energy value is what matters most, and a practical rule is to keep additional snacks below approximately 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. [1][2] A small dog can use up their treat allowance very quickly, while a larger and more active dog may have a greater amount of energy available.

During intensive training, it is best to use small rewards, divide larger pieces and, where possible, use part of the dog’s normal food allowance. This allows many repetitions without automatically adding a large number of extra calories. It is also worth remembering that food does not always have to be the reward – for some dogs, play or access to a favourite activity can be equally valuable [4].

The simplest way to stay in control is to prepare the entire daily amount of food and treats in advance. Your dog’s main portion can be served in a suitable dog bowl, while training rewards can be carried in a convenient dog treat bag. This allows training to remain enjoyable and effective without treats quietly turning into an additional meal.

– the Bowl&Bone Republic team

FAQ – frequently asked questions about the article –
How many treats can you give your dog a day? How to avoid overfeeding during training

How many treats can you give a dog a day?

There is no single number that is suitable for every dog because treats vary in size and calorie content. WSAVA recommends that additional treats should provide less than 10% of a dog’s daily energy intake [1]. It is therefore best to check the calorie content of the specific treats and consider it in relation to your dog’s entire daily diet.

How many treats can a small dog have a day?

A small dog generally has a lower overall energy requirement, so even a relatively small treat may account for a significant proportion of their daily calorie allowance. The number of treats should therefore not be determined simply by counting individual pieces. The safest approach is to calculate the energy value of all additional snacks.

Can a dog have treats every day?

Yes. A healthy dog can receive treats every day as long as they remain a small part of a properly balanced diet. They should not replace complete meals or regularly cause the dog’s daily energy requirement to be exceeded [1][2]. The amount and calorie content matter more than frequency alone.

Can you give a dog lots of treats during training?

You can complete many repetitions and reward your dog many times, but it is best to use very small pieces. VCA recommends options including small treats, the dog’s regular food or rewards that are easy to divide [3]. A large number of rewards does not have to mean a large amount of food.

Should training treats be deducted from a dog’s food allowance?

If they provide additional calories, they need to be considered as part of the dog’s total daily food intake. During regular training, part of the dog’s normal daily food allowance can be used as rewards. This makes it possible to train without automatically adding extra calories.

Can you train a dog using their regular food?

Yes. If the dog is sufficiently interested in it, part of the daily food allowance can be used as a reward during training [3]. More difficult tasks or environments with more distractions may require a more attractive reward.

Do treats make dogs gain weight?

Every treat provides energy, so regularly exceeding a dog’s daily energy requirement can contribute to weight gain. This does not mean that treats themselves always cause obesity. The total energy balance and portion size are what matter.

Can you divide dog treats into smaller pieces?

Yes, and this is very practical during training. One larger treat can often be divided into several small rewards, allowing the dog to receive reinforcement after more successful repetitions without increasing the total amount of food. The only requirement is that the pieces are safe for the dog to eat.

What counts towards a dog’s daily treat allowance?

The additional allowance includes more than conventional training treats. WSAVA also includes snacks, edible chews, some supplements, foods used to administer medication and additional food prepared at home [1]. All of these form part of the dog’s total daily food intake.

Does an edible dog chew count as a treat?

If the chew is edible and provides energy, it should be included in the dog’s additional calorie allowance [1]. Some larger chews can contain considerably more energy than small training rewards. On a day when your dog receives one, it is worth paying particularly close attention to other snacks.

How many calories from treats can a dog have?

A practical guideline is to keep treats below approximately 10% of the dog’s total daily energy intake [1]. For example, if a dog’s established daily intake is 500 kcal, 10% would equal 50 kcal. This is a mathematical example rather than an individual nutritional recommendation for a particular dog.

Which treats are best for dog training?

The most practical options are usually small, quick to eat and attractive to the individual dog. When many repetitions are involved, low-calorie products or treats that can easily be divided into very small pieces are particularly useful [3]. For easier exercises, the dog’s regular food may often be sufficient.

Can a dog on a weight-loss diet have treats?

Food rewards do not always need to be eliminated completely, but their quantity must form part of the weight-management plan. If a dog is overweight, it is not advisable to independently increase the number of snacks or remove large amounts of complete food. The feeding plan is best established with a veterinary surgeon.

Can a dog on a veterinary diet have treats?

This depends on the medical condition and the type of diet being used. Some additional products may be inappropriate for dogs with kidney, heart or gastrointestinal disease or during an elimination diet [3]. In these cases, treats should be discussed with the veterinary surgeon responsible for the dog’s care.

Do you have to reward a dog with food every time?

No. A training reward can also be play, access to an enjoyable activity or something else the individual dog genuinely values [4]. Food is a highly effective training tool, but it does not have to be the only way to reinforce behaviour.

Sources and inspiration used to write the article
How many treats can you give your dog a day? How to avoid overfeeding during training

1. World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), “Feeding treats to your dog” – guidance on the role of treats in a dog’s diet, the recommendation to keep them below 10% of daily energy intake, products that count as treats and the importance of a complete and balanced diet.
   https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Feeding-treats-to-your-dog-v2.pdf
2. University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, “Treat Guidelines for Dogs” – Nutrition Service guidance on treats and additional foods; used to support the recommendation that at least 90% of energy should come from a complete and balanced diet while additional foods should account for no more than approximately 10%.
   https://healthtopics.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/canine/treat-guidelines-dogs
3. VCA Animal Hospitals, “Using Food and Treats for Training Dogs” – veterinary nutrition guidance on using treats and regular food during training, choosing small rewards and accounting for calories from treats within the overall diet.
   https://vcahospitals.com/southgate/know-your-pet/using-food-and-treats-for-training-dogs
4. American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), “Humane Dog Training Position Statement” – a position statement on reward-based dog training methods; used in the sections concerning the role of rewards during training and the use of reinforcers other than food.
   https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf
5. Leonardo de Andrade Príncipe, Pedro Henrique Marchi, Andressa Rodrigues Amaral et al., “Assessment of the Nutritional Impact of the 10% Snack Recommendation in Pet Diets”, Veterinary Sciences, 2025 – a scientific analysis of the recommendation that up to 10% of daily energy may come from snacks and the nutritional effects of replacing part of a complete diet with complementary foods.
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11945345/