Treats and chews
How many calories should treats be for a small dog?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
For a small dog around 5 kg eating roughly 300 to 350 kcal a day, treats should stay under about 30 to 35 kcal total, following the general 10 percent guideline. That is a small number in absolute terms, often just 4 to 8 very low calorie pieces, which is why calorie dense treats can use up a small dog's whole daily allowance in just one or two pieces.
Why small dogs have the tightest margin
A 5 kg dog's entire daily calorie need is roughly a quarter of a 20 kg dog's, but many commercial treats are sized and portioned for larger dogs by default, meaning a single standard biscuit at 15 kcal already represents around half of a small dog's total treat allowance for the day.
Choosing appropriately sized treats
Treats specifically marketed for small or toy breeds, or simply breaking a standard treat into three or four smaller pieces with kitchen scissors, keeps individual portions closer to 3 to 5 kcal, letting a small dog get several rewards during training without exceeding the daily limit in just one or two pieces.
Watching for compounding effects
Because a small dog's margin for error is so narrow, adding a dental chew at 20 kcal on top of a few training treats can easily double the intended daily treat total, so tracking all treats and chews together, not just training rewards on their own, matters more for small dogs than for larger ones.
Key takeaways
- A 5 kg dog's treat allowance is roughly 30 to 35 kcal a day under the usual 10 percent guideline.
- A single standard sized biscuit can already represent half of that daily allowance.
- Cutting treats into three or four smaller pieces keeps individual portions around 3 to 5 kcal.
- Track all treats and chews together for small dogs, since totals add up quickly on a tight margin.