Last updated: July 16, 2026
Feeding & Rewards
Dog Training Treats Guide
This dog training treats guide covers how to choose the right rewards, how many treats are safe by dog size, and how to fit training treats into your dog's daily calorie allowance without causing weight gain.
How to Choose the Best Dog Training Treats
Training treats are a tool, not a snack. Because you deliver dozens of them in a single session, the qualities that matter are different from a once-a-day chew. Look for these five things.
- 1.Small size. Pea-sized or smaller. Your dog should swallow it in a second so the session keeps moving. Larger treats can be broken into pieces.
- 2.Low calories. Aim for treats around 1 to 5 calories each. Low-calorie rewards let you train often without blowing the daily budget.
- 3.Soft and quick to eat. Soft treats are faster to chew than hard biscuits, keeping your dog focused instead of crunching.
- 4.High value. For hard skills or distracting places, use something your dog finds especially tasty, like a meaty soft treat, so the reward is worth the effort.
- 5.Simple ingredients. A short ingredient list with a named protein first, and no excess sugar or fillers, is easier on digestion during frequent feeding.
Treat Calorie Limits by Dog Size
Vets recommend treats stay under 10 percent of daily calories. Here is roughly how that translates by size.
| Dog Size | Typical Daily Calories | 10% Treat Budget | Roughly Equals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 20 lb) | 250–500 kcal | 25–50 kcal | 10–25 tiny treats |
| Medium (20–50 lb) | 500–900 kcal | 50–90 kcal | 15–40 small treats |
| Large (50–90 lb) | 900–1,400 kcal | 90–140 kcal | 20–50 small treats |
| Giant (90+ lb) | 1,400–2,000 kcal | 140–200 kcal | 25–60 small treats |
Daily calorie needs vary by age, activity, and neuter status. Get your dog's exact number with the Dog Nutrition Calculator, or the Puppy Calorie Calculator for growing pups.
How Treats Fit Into the Daily Calorie Allowance
The single rule that keeps training from causing weight gain is simple: treats are part of the daily total, not extra on top of it. Follow this approach.
Step 1: Find the daily calorie target
Use the Dog Nutrition Calculator to get your dog's maintenance calories based on weight, age, and activity. This is the number everything else works from.
Step 2: Set aside 10 percent for treats
Reserve up to 10 percent of that total for all treats combined, training rewards included. A 700 kcal dog gets about a 70 kcal treat budget for the whole day.
Step 3: Reduce meals to match
On heavy training days, cut meal portions slightly so meals plus treats equal the target. Weighing food and knowing the calories per treat makes this exact rather than a guess.
Step 4: Use kibble for high-volume training
For long or repetitive sessions, reward with pieces of the daily kibble ration. It adds zero extra calories and saves the high-value treats for the moments that need them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Training Treats
Common questions about choosing, portioning, and counting training treats
What makes a good dog training treat?
A good training treat is small (pea-sized or smaller), low in calories, soft so it is eaten quickly, and high value enough that your dog is motivated to work for it. During a training session you hand out many treats, so tiny and low-calorie matters far more than it does for an occasional snack.
How many training treats can I give my dog per day?
Keep all treats, including training rewards, to no more than 10 percent of your dog's daily calories. For a medium dog eating 700 kcal a day, that is about 70 kcal, or roughly 15 to 40 small training treats depending on their size. Subtract the treat calories from meals so the daily total stays the same.
Do training treats count toward my dog's daily calories?
Yes. Every treat adds calories, and training treats add up fast during a session. Count them in the daily total and reduce meal portions to match. Ignoring treats is one of the most common causes of slow, unexplained weight gain in dogs.
Can I use my dog's regular kibble as training treats?
Absolutely. Measuring out part of the daily kibble ration to use as training rewards is the easiest way to train without adding any extra calories. For harder skills or distracting environments, mix in a few higher-value treats to keep motivation up.
Are training treats safe for puppies?
Yes, in moderation and with the right size. Use very small, soft treats made for puppies or small pieces of their regular food, and keep to the 10 percent rule based on the puppy's daily calories. Because puppies eat and train often, low-calorie rewards are especially important.
Plan Your Dog's Calories
Use our free calculators to set the right daily calories, treats included, for a healthy weight.