Treats and chews
Can I use plain kibble instead of treats to save calories?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Yes, using a dog's own kibble as a treat substitute is one of the most effective ways to save calories, since it comes from the same calorie budget already planned for the day rather than adding anything extra. It works especially well for everyday rewards and calm training, though it may not motivate as strongly as richer treats during high distraction situations.
The calorie logic behind the swap
Because kibble is already accounted for in a dog's daily ration, setting aside a portion of it, for example 20 g out of a 200 g daily amount, to use as rewards throughout the day means the total calories eaten do not change even if the timing of when the food is eaten does.
Where the approach works best
Reinforcing known, calm behaviors, like settling on a mat or responding to a name call at home, works well with plain kibble, since the dog does not need extra motivation to perform an easy, familiar task in a low distraction environment.
When it falls short and what to add instead
For harder tasks, like recall in a park full of exciting smells, kibble alone often fails to compete, so pairing it with a small amount of something more enticing, saved specifically for those moments, keeps the overall approach calorie efficient while still motivating the dog when it counts.
Key takeaways
- Using a dog's own kibble as treats keeps calories within the already planned daily ration.
- It works well for calm, familiar behaviors in low distraction settings.
- Kibble often loses effectiveness for high distraction training, where richer treats are needed.
- Setting aside 10 to 20 g of daily kibble as rewards is enough for most everyday training.