Selecting Healthy Treats for Your Dog

Calories & Ingredients Matter!

By Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP

< A version of this article was published in the JAN 2026 issue of Downeast Dog News >

< Updated 2026-01-20 >

< The link to this page –  https://forcefreepets.com/SelectingDogTreats/ >

By Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP

We give our dogs treats for many reasons: as training rewards, as natural nutrition, to provide enrichment to keep them busy, to help keep their teeth clean, and “just because” we want them to know they are special. No matter the reason, I believe any treat we give our dogs must be healthy and nutritious. Since obesity is a significant concern, we must factor in the calories in every treat we give them and offset those calories by reducing the calories in their main meal. Helping our dog maintain, reduce, or increase their weight is entirely within our control and is our responsibility.

FMI – https://forcefreepets.com/pet-obesity-is-a-major-health-issue-for-our-pets-please-do-what-you-can-to-help/

The first step in selecting healthy treats for your dog is to take the time to become informed about the ingredients in the treats you purchase and their caloric content. Specifically, look for treats that are high in animal protein and that clearly indicate the type of meat: beef, chicken, etc. The healthiest treats will be low in fat content and have little or no carbohydrates.

Avoid treats with byproducts, sugar, propylene glycol, BHA, artificial colors or dyes, or artificial flavors.

Dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates, also known as starch or sugar. Carbs are very high in calories, typically twice as high as protein, and are a significant factor in obesity. If the package the treats are in does not indicate the number of calories, don’t buy it, and if you already have it, throw it away.

Treats as Training Rewards

Training is all about repetition; each repetition is rewarded with a treat, which is why I recommend selecting treats no larger than a green pea or that can be easily divided into small pieces.

In the photo below, you can see one of many treats I use for training: Saint Rocco’s Beef and Pumpkin Dog Treats.  Each bag contains 16oz of bars, approximately 10 to 12 per bag, and each bar is approximately equivalent to 60 calories. Saint Rocco’s indicates that each bar can be broken into at least 15 training treats. As illustrated in the photo below, I was able to get 84 pea-sized treats from a single bar; each treat has approximately 0.75 calories.

Use the table on the right to assess how many calories your dog needs per day. If the caloric content of the food you feed your pup is not listed on the bag, I recommend you find a different dog food. This is essential information. For your dog’s sake, subtract the calories of the treats you give from their regular meal. Ideally, no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories should come from sources other than their food.

Below you will find a series of tables listing and rating treats appropriate for training, functional nutrition, or enrichment purposes; dental treats to help keep your dog’s teeth clean; and treats you might give “just because” you like your dog. The table lists the Treat, Calories, the basis for the calories (an individual treat, a cup, or another unit of measurement), the percent protein, and the percent fat. Note that many of these treats can be divided into small pieces, further reducing the calorie content per treat. Some of the treats listed are freeze-dried complete diets.

The rating is mine and is primarily based on meat content versus carbohydrates. Each item is sorted by the sum of percent protein and percent fat; thus, the treat with the highest meat content appears first. A treat with five (5) stars is my top preference. Treats with one (1) star are still treats I would recommend and give my dog, but less often than a treat with five stars.

The first table lists the treats I specifically recommend for training your dog. However, there is no reason these treats cannot be used for non-training purposes.

MORE COMING SOON!