Puppy feeding and growth
Are training treats bad for a puppy's diet?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Training treats are not inherently bad for a puppy's diet, but overusing them without accounting for the extra calories can throw off an otherwise correctly portioned diet. Keeping treats to around 10 percent of daily calories and choosing small, low calorie options keeps training compatible with healthy growth.
The issue is quantity, not the treats themselves
A treat used occasionally to reward good behavior is a normal, useful part of raising a puppy. The problem arises when treat use during frequent training sessions adds up to a meaningful share of daily calories without the regular meals being adjusted downward to compensate.
Choosing lower impact treats
Small, low calorie training treats, or simply pieces of the puppy's own kibble, let training happen frequently without pushing total daily intake too high. Save richer, higher value treats for occasional special moments rather than every single training rep.
Keeping the diet balanced overall
As long as the bulk of daily calories still comes from a complete, appropriately portioned puppy food, and treats stay within a reasonable share of the total, training treats are a compatible, useful part of a healthy growing puppy's routine rather than something to avoid.
Key takeaways
- Training treats are fine in moderation and are not inherently unhealthy for puppies.
- Problems arise when treat calories are not accounted for against the daily total.
- Small, low calorie treats or plain kibble work well for frequent training sessions.
- Save higher value, richer treats for occasional use rather than every repetition.