3 Principles for Feeding Dog Treats

The most important food for dogs is dog food. Owners should ensure their dogs primarily eat dog food daily, while dog treats should serve as supplementary food. Below are some basic facts about dog treats:

1. Reasonably control the total amount of snacks consumed

Excessive treats can interfere with a dog’s main meals. However, owners often give treats sporadically—a little of this, a little of that—resulting in dogs consuming large amounts of non-meal treats throughout the day. It’s best for all household members to follow consistent feeding guidelines. Here’s a helpful tip: Set aside the entire daily portion of dog treats in a designated container. This way, everyone can access treats from that single source, preventing your dog from consuming too many treats and interfering with their main meals.

2. Snacks cannot replace meals

Some pet owners believe that as long as the dog is full, it doesn’t matter whether it eats regular meals or dog treats. This is actually incorrect. Like humans, dogs eat not just to satisfy hunger but to obtain adequate nutrition. Dog treats contain relatively limited nutritional components and cannot match the comprehensive balance of regular dog food. Therefore, they should never replace main meals.

3. Avoid Encouraging Daily Dog Treat Consumption

Treats are primarily used as rewards. When they become readily available daily, dogs cease to perceive them as incentives for good behavior. This undermines their effectiveness as training tools and diminishes training outcomes.