Treats: How Many Is Too Many?

The 10% rule\n\nTreats should make up no more than 10% of daily calories. For a 10kg dog (~600 kcal/day), that is 60 kcal — about 4 small biscuits, NOT a full chew stick.\n\n## Hidden calorie bombs\n\n- One large rawhide stick: 300+ kcal\n- A piece of cheese (30g): 100 kcal\n- One commercial dental chew: 70–110 kcal\n- A spoon of peanut butter: 90 kcal\n\n## Training treats — go tiny\n\nUse pieces the size of a pea. Frequency matters more than size during training; tiny pieces let you reward 30 times in a session without overfeeding.\n\n## Healthy treat options\n\n- Small piece of plain boiled chicken\n- Plain cucumber, carrot, apple (no seeds)\n- Commercial low-calorie training treat\n\n## Avoid\n\nTable scraps, fatty meats, bones, anything seasoned, anything sugary.\n\n## Watching the waistline\n\nIf your pet is gaining despite "the same kibble", treats are usually the cause. Have us assess body condition score at the next visit.