# Training treats: sizes, calories and what to look for URL: https://pawtrace.ca/training-treats-calories-canada/ Updated: 2026-10-24 The short answer Treats and chews should make up no more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories, a limit that the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA, U.S.) all state. For a healthy adult dog at ideal weight, WSAVA’s calorie table gives the daily range. Taking 10 percent of the lower figure, a 10 kg (22 lb) dog gets 47 kcal of treats a day, which is 9 pieces at 5 kcal each or 15 pieces at 3 kcal. OVC describes training treats as small morsels of 3 to 5 calories, breakable into thirds. Count every extra, including chews, peanut butter and bits of cheese, and ask your vet for your own dog’s number, especially for a puppy, a senior or a dog with a health condition. Quick highlights - Treats and chews: no more than 10 percent of daily calories (OVC and WSAVA). - A healthy 10 kg adult dog: 47 kcal of treats a day, or 9 treats at 5 kcal each. - 28 g of cheddar is 120 kcal, 2.6 times that 10 kg dog’s daily treat budget. - No calories on the label? WSAVA advises contacting the manufacturer. PawTrace is not a vet. This guide shares what we found in the sources listed below; ask your vet about your own dog. Photo: [Andreas Schnabl / Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/german-wirehaired-pointer-receiving-treat-outdoors-37399817/) ### Key takeaways - OVC calls it the “10% rule”: food outside meals should be no more than 10 percent of daily calories ([OVC Pet Nutrition, Nutrition in Training](https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2022/06/09/nutrition-in-training/)). WSAVA gives the same limit ([WSAVA, Feeding treats to your dog, November 2025](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WSAVA_GuidetoTreats_Dogs_251107.pdf)). - The table below applies the rule to WSAVA’s published calorie ranges for healthy adult dogs. It is general guidance. Your vet sets the real number for your dog. - Training treats can be tiny. OVC says 3 to 5 calories each, and that many can be broken into thirds. - Chews and spreads count. At 10 kg, 28 g of cheddar is 120 kcal, which is 2.6 times the daily treat budget. - Canadian labels do not have to show calories. WSAVA says calorie information is required on pet food labels only in the U.S., and advises contacting the maker if a label lacks it. - If you suspect a food allergy, a vet-led elimination trial is the way to find out. Merck (U.S.) cites a review finding that a minimum of 10 weeks might be needed. ### The 10 percent rule, and where it comes from OVC Pet Nutrition, the University of Guelph’s nutrition service, calls it the “10% rule”: food that is not part of meals should add up to no more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily calories. It advises weighing the meal on a gram scale to 90 percent of your dog’s calorie needs, so the other 10 percent can go to treats ([OVC, Nutrition in Training, updated August 13 2025](https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2022/06/09/nutrition-in-training/)). The same limit appears in WSAVA’s treat guide, in AAHA’s 2021 nutrition and weight management guidelines (U.S.), and in advice from the Canadian Animal Health Institute, which says to limit treats to less than 10 per cent of the pet’s total energy intake for the day ([Veterinary Practice News, November 12 2018](https://www.veterinarypracticenews.ca/?p=21842)). Four sources agree on the number, so we use it. ### A daily treat budget by dog weight The source for the calories is WSAVA’s table “Calorie Ranges for an Average Healthy Adult Dog in Ideal Body Condition” ([updated July 2020](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Calorie-Needs-for-Healthy-Adult-Dogs-updated-July-2020.pdf)). Our method is one step: take 10 percent of the lower figure in the range and round down to a whole kcal. For 10 kg, 470 × 0.10 = 47. We recomputed every row by script on October 23 2026, and the pieces column divides the budget by 5 kcal or by 3 kcal and rounds down. Pounds are rounded to one decimal. | Dog weight | WSAVA kcal per day (healthy adult, ideal weight) | Treat budget (10% of the lower figure), kcal | Pieces at 5 kcal | Pieces at 3 kcal | 2 kg (4.4 lb) | 140 to 177 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 4 kg (8.8 lb) | 240 to 297 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 6 kg (13.2 lb) | 320 to 403 | 32 | 6 | 10 | 8 kg (17.6 lb) | 400 to 499 | 40 | 8 | 13 | 10 kg (22 lb) | 470 to 590 | 47 | 9 | 15 | 15 kg (33.1 lb) | 640 to 800 | 64 | 12 | 21 | 20 kg (44.1 lb) | 790 to 993 | 79 | 15 | 26 | 25 kg (55.1 lb) | 940 to 1174 | 94 | 18 | 31 | 30 kg (66.1 lb) | 1080 to 1346 | 108 | 21 | 36 | 35 kg (77.2 lb) | 1210 to 1511 | 121 | 24 | 40 | 40 kg (88.2 lb) | 1340 to 1670 | 134 | 26 | 44 | 45 kg (99.2 lb) | 1460 to 1824 | 146 | 29 | 48 Source: WSAVA calorie table (July 2020). Budget and pieces calculated by PawTrace. General guidance only. Two honest limits apply. First, the table is for healthy adult dogs at ideal body condition. Puppies, seniors, pregnant or nursing dogs and dogs with a medical condition are not covered, and puppy needs are not tabulated here, so ask your vet. Second, WSAVA’s own footnote cites the NRC 2006 reference calculation of 130 × body weight in kg to the power 0.75 for an active adult and 95 × that for an inactive one. That formula gives higher numbers than the table does: at 10 kg it gives 534 to 731, where the table gives 470 to 590. We used the table’s published figures, which give the smaller treat budget. Here is the formula worked for 10 kg: 10 to the power 0.75 is 5.623, so 95 × 5.623 = 534 kcal and 130 × 5.623 = 731 kcal. WSAVA’s treat guide also prints its own table of treat calories by weight. It matches 10 percent of the calorie table’s lower figure at 2, 4, 6 and 45 kg, but shows 32 kcal for every weight from 8 to 40 kg, so we did not use it. Your vet may use a different number for your dog, and that number wins. ### How to use the budget - Find your dog’s weight in the table and read the budget in kcal. For a weight between rows, ask your vet instead of guessing. - Check the calories in your training treat. The label may give kcal per treat or per 100 g. If it gives neither, WSAVA advises contacting the manufacturer. - Divide the budget by the kcal per piece. A 10 kg dog gets 9 pieces of a 5 kcal treat or 15 pieces of a 3 kcal treat in a day. - Count every extra: chews, dental sticks, spreads, pill pockets and table scraps all belong in the same 10 percent. - Make room in the meal. OVC suggests weighing the meal on a gram scale to 90 percent of your dog’s daily calorie needs. ### Treat size for training OVC defines training treats as small morsels of 3 to 5 calories each, which you can break into thirds, so a treat goes a long way ([OVC](https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2022/06/09/nutrition-in-training/)). The table counts those calories as kcal. WSAVA adds that a treat should be an appropriate size and shape to reduce the risk of choking. If your dog gulps treats without chewing, ask your vet which size is safe. OVC also lists low-calorie options: cucumbers, red peppers, strawberries, apples, carrots, frozen green beans, watermelon and pumpkin puree (not pie filling). It suggests using some of the dog’s own kibble from the meal as the reward. Some foods are toxic to dogs. WSAVA’s list includes chocolate, macadamia nuts, onions and their relatives, grapes and raisins, xylitol, alcohol and caffeine. Check any ingredient, including a nut spread, before you share it. Our [toxic foods guide](https://pawtrace.ca/toxic-foods-and-household-hazards-for-dogs/) has more. #### Chews count too Chews are often the largest calorie item. The table compares foods and chews from WSAVA’s treat guide with the 47 kcal daily treat budget of a 10 kg dog. The multiple is the food’s kcal divided by 47. | Food or chew (WSAVA serving) | kcal | Multiple of a 10 kg dog’s daily treat budget | Cheddar cheese, 28 g | 120 | 2.6 | Peanut butter, 1 tbsp | 81 | 1.7 | Ham, 28 g | 46 | 1.0 | Lean cooked chicken breast, no skin, 28 g | 47 | 1.0 | Dried tripe stick, 28 g | 217 | 4.6 | Dried pig ear, 56 g | 242 | 5.1 | Rawhide bone, 190 g | 700 | 14.9 Calories from WSAVA, Feeding treats to your dog (November 2025). Multiples calculated by PawTrace. WSAVA’s unsafe-treats list includes bones (cooked and raw), excessively hard chews such as antlers and hooves, and unprocessed raw animal-based treats such as contaminated pigs’ ears. See our guide to [safe chews and bones for dogs](https://pawtrace.ca/safe-chews-and-bones-for-dogs/) before you choose a chew. ### Reading a treat label in Canada The Canadian Food Inspection Agency does not comprehensively regulate pet food, and WSAVA says calorie information is required on pet food labels only in the U.S. ([WSAVA, Guidelines on selecting pet foods](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf)). In the U.S., AAHA says the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) requires calories on labels including treats, but not chews, bones or toys. If your label has no calorie figure, WSAVA advises you to contact the manufacturer. Until you have the number, ask your vet how to size treats for your dog. Our guide to [reading a dog food label in Canada](https://pawtrace.ca/how-to-read-dog-food-label-canada/) covers what Canadian labels must show, the dry-matter method for comparing foods and what marketing words mean. Read it before you compare treats by their front-of-pack claims. ### Food allergies and training treats A treat can be the hidden source of an allergy. The Merck Veterinary Manual (U.S.) lists the most common food allergens in dogs as beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat and lamb, and a 2016 review in BMC Veterinary Research names beef, dairy products, chicken and wheat as the main canine food allergens. If your vet suspects a food allergy, the test is an elimination diet trial. Merck says recommendations for trial length vary, and cites a literature review that found a minimum of 10 weeks might be required to identify 95 percent of food-allergic patients. It says that during the trial you must avoid any food-based item, including rawhide, pill pockets, table food, flavoured supplements and toys. That includes training treats. Do not start an elimination diet without your vet. Skin and stomach signs can have other causes. ### If your dog is overweight OVC uses a 9-point body condition scale, where 4 or 5 is the healthy range for dogs, and says each point above 5 means 10 to 15 percent more body fat. It describes an hourglass shape from above, an abdominal tuck from the side and ribs you can feel ([OVC, Scoring for Health, updated August 13 2025](https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2021/10/25/scoring-for-health/)). OVC also says excess fat decreases quality and length of life, and that in one lifetime study overweight dogs lived almost two years less. A clinical survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (U.S.), cited in a Canadian Animal Health Institute release reported in November 2018, found 56 percent of dogs were overweight or obese. That is a U.S. figure. We found no Canadian figure that we could confirm. If your dog is above the healthy range, do not cut treats on your own into a crash diet. Ask your vet for a calorie target and a plan. The table above is a ceiling for a healthy dog at ideal weight, not a weight-loss plan. OVC suggests using some of the dog’s own kibble from the meal as the reward, which adds no calories beyond the meal. When to call the vet Call your vet the same day if you notice: - Your dog has eaten something on WSAVA’s toxic list, such as chocolate, grapes or raisins, xylitol, onions or macadamia nuts. - Vomiting, loss of appetite, belly pain or lethargy after swallowing a chew or a piece of one. Cornell (U.S.) lists these among the signs of a blockage in the gut. - Itchy skin or stomach upsets that you think a treat may cause. Your vet decides whether an elimination diet is needed. If your dog is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, or you think it is an emergency, call your vet or the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic now. [24-hour emergency vets](https://pawtrace.ca/24-hour-emergency-vets-canada/) · [Find a vet](https://pawtrace.ca/find-a-vet/) ### Myth vs fact | Myth | Fact | Training treats are too small to count. | They count. OVC puts them at 3 to 5 calories each, so 40 treats at 5 kcal is 200 kcal, which is more than the whole daily treat budget of a 20 kg dog (79 kcal) in our table. | A natural chew has no calories to count. | WSAVA lists a dried pig ear at 242 kcal and a rawhide bone at 700 kcal. Chews count toward the 10 percent. | Every Canadian treat label shows calories. | WSAVA says calorie information is required only in the U.S. Contact the maker if the label has none. | The 10 percent rule is one vet’s opinion. | OVC, WSAVA, AAHA (U.S.) and the Canadian Animal Health Institute all state it. | If my dog has itchy skin, switching treats will fix it. | Diagnosis needs a vet-led elimination diet trial. Merck (U.S.) cites a review finding that a minimum of 10 weeks might be needed, and the trial excludes any food-based item. ### Frequently asked questions How many training treats can my dog have a day? Take the treat budget for your dog’s weight and divide it by the kcal in one piece. For a 10 kg dog, the budget is 47 kcal, so 9 pieces at 5 kcal or 15 pieces at 3 kcal. Ask your vet to confirm the number for your dog. Does the 10 percent rule apply to puppies? The 10 percent limit is stated for dogs in general, but WSAVA’s calorie table is for healthy adult dogs. Puppy needs change as they grow, and we do not tabulate them. Ask your vet. Is it better to use kibble as treats? OVC lists using kibble from the meal as a reward option, and advises weighing the meal to 90 percent of daily calorie needs, leaving 10 percent for treats. It keeps the count simple. Can I give my dog peanut butter? WSAVA lists xylitol as toxic to dogs. Check the ingredient list for it, and count the calories: WSAVA gives 81 kcal for 1 tbsp, which is 1.7 times the 10 kg dog’s daily treat budget. What if my dog is on a vet diet? Ask your vet before you add any treat. Some medical diets and elimination trials exclude every food-based item. Do dental chews count? Yes. Count the calories of any chew, and check the label. Our [dental care guide](https://pawtrace.ca/dental-care-for-dogs-brushing-chews-and-cleanings/) covers chews and brushing. ### Keep reading - [What your puppy should eat and how much](https://pawtrace.ca/what-your-puppy-should-eat-and-how-much/) - [How to read a dog food label in Canada](https://pawtrace.ca/how-to-read-dog-food-label-canada/) - [Toxic foods and household hazards for dogs](https://pawtrace.ca/toxic-foods-and-household-hazards-for-dogs/) - [Chews and bones for dogs: how to choose safe ones](https://pawtrace.ca/safe-chews-and-bones-for-dogs/) - [Exercise needs by breed group](https://pawtrace.ca/exercise-needs-by-breed-group/) Looking for a vet to set your dog’s calorie target? [Find a vet near you](https://pawtrace.ca/find-a-vet/). ### Sources All links were checked on October 23 2026. - [OVC Pet Nutrition, University of Guelph: Nutrition in Training (June 9 2022, updated August 13 2025)](https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2022/06/09/nutrition-in-training/) - [OVC Pet Nutrition, University of Guelph: Scoring for Health (October 25 2021, updated August 13 2025)](https://ovcpetnutrition.uoguelph.ca/2021/10/25/scoring-for-health/) - [WSAVA: Feeding treats to your dog (November 2025)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WSAVA_GuidetoTreats_Dogs_251107.pdf) - [WSAVA: Calorie Ranges for an Average Healthy Adult Dog in Ideal Body Condition (updated July 2020)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Calorie-Needs-for-Healthy-Adult-Dogs-updated-July-2020.pdf) - [AAHA (U.S.): 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines, prevention of obesity](https://www.aaha.org/resources/2021-aaha-nutrition-and-weight-management-guidelines/prevention-of-obesity/) - [AAHA (U.S.): Feeding plans for healthy, appropriate-weight cats and dogs](https://www.aaha.org/resources/2021-aaha-nutrition-and-weight-management-guidelines/feeding-plans-for-healthy-appropriate-weight-cats-and-dogs/) - [Veterinary Practice News: Canadian Animal Health Institute pet obesity release (November 12 2018)](https://www.veterinarypracticenews.ca/?p=21842) - [Merck Veterinary Manual (U.S.): Cutaneous food allergy in animals (full review August 2025)](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/integumentary-system/food-allergy/cutaneous-food-allergy-in-animals) - [Mueller RS, Olivry T, Prélaud P. BMC Veterinary Research, 2016: Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0633-8) - [WSAVA: Guidelines on selecting pet foods (updated 2021)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf) - [Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Pet food, treats and chews](https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/exports/pet-food/pet-food-treats-and-chews) - [Cornell University (U.S.): Gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction in dogs](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/gastrointestinal-foreign-body-obstruction-dogs) General information only. This guide is not veterinary advice. Ask your vet how many calories your dog needs and how many treats fit. Written by the PawTrace Team.