Dog Treats and Calories: The 10% Rule
6-minute read · Loyal Saints Feeding Library
Quick answer
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories, with the other 90% from complete, balanced food. Over-treating is a hidden cause of weight gain and can unbalance the diet. Choose low-calorie whole-food treats like green beans, carrots, and blueberries, and subtract treats from meals.
Treats are valuable for training, bonding, and enrichment — but they're also a common, often-overlooked source of excess calories and dietary imbalance. The widely recommended guideline is the '10% rule': treats should account for no more than 10% of your dog's total daily calories, with at least 90% coming from a complete, balanced diet that provides proper nutrition.
Going over this can cause weight gain and, because treats usually aren't nutritionally balanced, can dilute the quality of the overall diet. The fixes are simple: choose low-calorie, whole-food treats (green beans, carrots, cucumber, blueberries), break treats into small pieces (dogs value the reward, not the size), use part of the daily food ration as training rewards, and subtract treat calories from meals. Whole-food treats also avoid the additives in many commercial options.
Smart treating
The 10% rule
Treats ≤10% of daily calories; 90%+ from complete, balanced food.
Choose low-calorie whole foods
Green beans, carrots, cucumber, and blueberries are excellent.
Small pieces work
Dogs value the reward, not the size — break treats up.
Subtract from meals
Account for treats in the daily total to prevent weight gain.
For training-heavy days, you can even use part of your dog's Loyal Saints ration as high-value rewards (the real-meat aroma makes it appealing), keeping the diet balanced. For everyday treats, whole foods like carrots and blueberries add nutrition with minimal calories. Keep the 10% rule in mind and your dog stays lean and well-nourished.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many treats can I give my dog?
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories, with the rest from complete, balanced food. The exact number depends on the treat's calories and your dog's size — choose low-calorie options and subtract treats from meal portions.
What is the 10% rule for dog treats?
The 10% rule means treats should account for no more than 10% of your dog's total daily calories, ensuring at least 90% comes from a complete, balanced diet. This prevents weight gain and keeps the overall diet nutritionally sound.
What are the healthiest treats for dogs?
Low-calorie whole foods are ideal: green beans, carrots, cucumber, and blueberries provide nutrition with minimal calories and no additives. They're great for weight-conscious dogs. You can also use part of your dog's regular food ration as training rewards.
Do treats make dogs gain weight?
Over-treating is a common, hidden cause of weight gain because the extra calories add up and often aren't accounted for. Following the 10% rule, choosing low-calorie treats, and subtracting treats from meals keeps treating from causing weight gain.
Feed real food, the simple way.
Loyal Saints freeze-dried raw is complete, balanced, and easy to portion — real whole-food nutrition with no fillers or synthetic premix.
