Treats and chews
How many treats can a dog have a day?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Most vets suggest treats stay under 10 percent of a dog's total daily calories, which works out to roughly 20 to 40 kcal for a 5 kg dog and 80 to 160 kcal for a 25 kg dog. That might mean 3 to 6 small training treats or a single dental chew, depending on the product. The exact number depends far more on the calories per treat than on a fixed count, so checking the label matters more than counting pieces.
Why percentage beats a flat number
A 10 kg terrier eating a 300 kcal daily ration has about 30 kcal of room for treats, which is roughly one small dental chew or five pea sized training treats at 6 kcal each. A different brand's training treat can run 15 to 20 kcal apiece, so the same five pieces could use up the whole daily budget on its own. Reading the treat bag's kcal per piece, not just the feeding suggestions, is the only reliable way to know your real limit.
What this looks like across a day
Splitting the allowance across a full day works better than one large handful, since a dog training three separate 5 minute sessions can use 10 to 15 small pieces without exceeding budget if each is under 3 kcal. Owners who free feed treats throughout the day, on top of two meals, are the group most likely to drift over 10 percent without noticing, since it happens in small increments rather than one obvious overfeed.
Adjusting for an active training phase
During a focused training week, some trainers reduce the dog's regular meal by 10 to 15 percent to make room for a higher treat volume, then return to normal portions once training tapers off. This keeps total daily calories steady rather than letting treats stack on top of an unchanged meal, which is the most common way a dog gains half a kilogram over a couple of months without an obvious diet change.
Key takeaways
- Keep treats under about 10 percent of daily calories, which is roughly 20 to 40 kcal for a 5 kg dog.
- Calories per treat vary widely between brands, from 3 kcal to 20 kcal per piece, so check the label.
- Spreading treats across the day avoids the slow calorie creep that comes from constant small handouts.
- Trim the regular meal slightly during heavy training weeks to keep total calories level.