What treats should you give your furry friend? The manual of gourmet dog training!
Updated 16 October 2026
In short: for training, choose small, soft, tasty treats that your dog swallows in a second. Treats shouldn't make up more than about 10% of its daily intake: reduce its meals if you give a lot. Some human foods are toxic (chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion, garlic, xylitol, macadamia nuts…). Never give cooked bones: they splinter.
Why use treats in training?
Food is one of the most effective rewards for most dogs. It lets you mark the right behaviour precisely, within a second, which speeds up learning. Veterinary behaviour associations recommend these reward-based methods over punishment.
How do you choose the right treats?
- Small (pea-sized) and soft: swallowed fast, no crumbs.
- Full of flavour: meat or fish as the first ingredient.
- Keep the best ones for hard exercises (recall, passing another dog).
- Chews sized for your dog, under supervision.
- Avoid anything harder than teeth (fracture risk) or small enough to swallow whole.
- Its kibble ration in a food-dispensing toy is a treat too.
In small amounts, plain and unseasoned: cucumber, carrot, green beans, courgette, apple or pear without seeds or core, blueberries. Introduce them one at a time.
Which foods are dangerous for dogs?
Chocolate, coffee
Theobromine and caffeine: the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous.
Grapes and raisins
Risk of kidney failure, even in small amounts in some dogs.
Onion, garlic, leek, chives
Raw, cooked or powdered: they damage red blood cells.
Xylitol
Chewing gum, sweets, some peanut butters: blood sugar crash and liver damage.
Macadamia nuts
Weakness, tremors, fever.
Avocado, stones, alcohol
Stones and pips (cherry, peach): obstruction and toxicity risk. Never alcohol or raw dough.
Suspect your dog ate something toxic? Call your vet or a veterinary poison centre straight away, with the packaging and the time. Don't make your dog vomit without advice.
Can you give your dog bones?
Cooked bones are safe if they're big.
FALSEAll cooked bones become brittle and splinter: mouth injuries, blockages, perforation.
A raw beef bone is risk-free.
FALSEEven raw, very hard bones can break teeth, and raw meat can carry bacteria. Ask your vet, and always supervise.
Cooked poultry bones are especially dangerous.
TRUEThin and hollow, they break into sharp splinters.
How do you use treats well in training?
- Reward within a secondRight after the right behaviour, so your dog makes the link.
- Match the valueKibble for a sit at home, a top-value morsel for a recall in the park.
- Count them in the daily rationTake some of the kibble, or reduce the meal on training days.
- Phase out graduallyOnce the behaviour is learned, reward every other time, then intermittently, keeping praise and play.
A pouch on your belt helps you reward quickly. For lead walking, see teaching heel and recall.
Frequently asked questions
How many treats a day for a dog?
No more than about 10% of its daily intake. For training, use tiny pieces and reduce its meals.
Is cheese a good treat?
In tiny amounts it can suit some dogs, but it's fatty and salty, and some dogs don't tolerate it. Keep it occasional.
Which fruit can a dog eat?
Apple or pear without seeds, blueberries, a little banana. Never grapes or raisins.
Should I always give a treat?
No. Once the behaviour is learned, space treats out and mix in play and praise.
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