What this article covers
1. Why I stopped buying most store treats
2. Best fruits and vegetables as healthy treats for dogs
3. Simple homemade dog healthy treats anyone can make
4. Store bought options that are actually decent
5. Foods to never give as treats
6. How many treats per day is too many
7. Frequently asked questions
Milo used to go through a whole bag of store-bought treats every two weeks. He loved them. I bought them without reading the label because they had a happy dog on the front and said “natural” in big letters. Then one day I flipped the bag over and spent five minutes trying to pronounce the fourth ingredient. That was the day I started looking into healthy dog treats properly.
What I found surprised me. Some of the best healthy treats for dogs are things sitting in your kitchen right now. Additionally, a few store brands are genuinely good once you know what to look for on the label. This article covers both.
Quick note about Milo: He is a three-year-old Shih Tzu, 5.8kg, and a famously picky eater. If something makes this list, it is because he actually ate it with enthusiasm. He rejected roughly half the things I tried before landing on what works. Consequently, this list is tested, not guessed.
Why I Stopped Buying Most Store Treats
The treat aisle at any pet shop is overwhelming. Hundreds of bags, all promising something. However, once you start reading labels, a pattern emerges pretty fast.
Many of the most popular dog treats contain ingredients like propylene glycol, artificial colours, and unnamed meat meals as the primary protein. According to the American Kennel Club, treats should never make up more than ten percent of your dog’s daily calories, and low-quality filler ingredients in cheap treats add empty calories without any real nutrition.
That does not mean all store treats are bad. Some are genuinely good. However, knowing what to look for on the label changes everything. I will get to those later. First, the stuff you already have at home.
Best Fruits and Vegetables as Healthy Treats for Dogs
These are the dog healthy treats I reach for most often because they cost almost nothing, require zero preparation, and Milo actually wants them.
Carrots
Crunchy, low calorie, and naturally sweet. Milo gets half a baby carrot as his afternoon treat. Furthermore, the crunch helps scrape plaque off teeth, which is a bonus for small breeds prone to dental issues.
About 4 calories per baby carrot
Blueberries
Milo goes absolutely still when he sees me grab the blueberry container. He discovered them when one rolled off the counter. They are high in antioxidants and small enough for any dog size.
About 1 calorie per berry
Watermelon (seedless)
Perfect for summer. Remove the rind and seeds before giving it. Milo takes it gently from my hand like it is something precious. High water content also helps with hydration on hot days.
About 5 calories per small cube
Apple slices
Remove the core and seeds completely since apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide. The flesh is safe, crunchy, and dogs generally love the natural sweetness. Milo prefers these cold from the fridge.
About 8 calories per slice
Plain cooked sweet potato
Cut into small cubes and baked or boiled with nothing added. High in fibre and vitamin B6. These work especially well as training treats because you can cut them small and they are soft enough for puppies.
About 10 calories per small cube
Plain Greek yogurt
A small teaspoon of plain unsweetened Greek yogurt as an occasional treat. Contains probiotics that support gut health. However, always check the label since some yogurts contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
About 10 calories per teaspoon
Simple Homemade Dog Healthy Treats Anyone Can Make
I started making Milo’s treats at home about eight months ago. Not because I enjoy baking, because I really do not, but because the ingredients are so simple that it takes about twenty minutes and the results last all week.
Peanut butter and oat treats
This is the recipe I make most often. Three ingredients: one cup of oat flour (just blended rolled oats), half a cup of xylitol-free peanut butter, and one egg. Mix them together, roll flat, cut into small shapes, and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for fifteen minutes.
Milo smells them from the other room while they are baking. He sits outside the kitchen door and waits. When they come out, he gets one immediately and I store the rest in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. They cost roughly a third of what I was spending on store treats monthly.
Frozen blueberry yogurt treats
This one takes under five minutes. Mix plain unsweetened Greek yogurt with a handful of blueberries, spoon into an ice cube tray or silicone mould, and freeze for three hours. These are especially good in summer. Furthermore, they double as a slow-release treat that keeps Milo occupied for a few minutes while I work.
What I learned making these: Always double-check that your peanut butter does not contain xylitol. Some brands do. Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs and appears in a surprising number of products including some peanut butters, some yogurts, and some toothpastes. The ASPCA lists xylitol as one of the most dangerous common household substances for dogs. I now check every label before using anything in a homemade treat.
Store Bought Treats That Are Actually Worth Buying
There are store options worth buying. After testing several, these are the three that passed both the label check and the Milo test.
🦴
Zuke’s Mini Naturals Chicken RecipeAmazon affiliate
Under 3 calories each. First ingredient is chicken. No artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. These are also the treats I use for training because they are small enough to give ten times in a session without overfeeding. Milo treats these like currency.
🥕
Fruitables Pumpkin and Apple TreatsAmazon affiliate
Made with real pumpkin and apple as the first ingredients. Low calorie at around 8 calories each. Milo is indifferent to most vegetable-based treats but he actually eats these without hesitation. Good for dogs on a weight management plan.
When looking at any store treat label, check three things before buying. First, named meat or whole food as the first ingredient. Second, no artificial preservatives like BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin. Third, a calorie count you can actually work with based on your dog’s daily allowance.
Foods to Never Give as Dog Treats
Never give these to your dog, even in small amounts
Grapes and raisins — can cause sudden kidney failure even in very small amounts
Chocolate — toxic at relatively low doses, especially dark chocolate
Xylitol — found in sugar-free products, gum, some peanut butters and yogurts
Onions and garlic — damage red blood cells over time
Macadamia nuts — cause muscle weakness and vomiting
Avocado — the flesh, skin, and pit all contain persin which is harmful to dogs
How Many Treats Per Day Is Too Many
The ten percent rule is the standard guideline. Treats should not make up more than ten percent of your dog’s total daily calories. For Milo at 5.8kg, his daily calorie allowance is around 280 to 300 calories. Ten percent of that is 28 to 30 calories from treats across the whole day.
That sounds restrictive until you realise a single baby carrot is 4 calories, a blueberry is 1 calorie, and even his Zuke’s training treats are under 3 calories each. So he can have quite a variety of healthy treats for dogs throughout the day without going over his limit.
Where owners tend to go wrong is treating alongside regular meals rather than instead of something. If your dog is getting treats on top of full meals every day, calories add up fast. Consequently, I count Milo’s treats as part of his daily total rather than extras added on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the healthiest treats I can give my dog?
Whole fruits and vegetables like carrots, blueberries, and apple slices are some of the best options because they are low in calories and contain real nutrients. Additionally, homemade treats made from oat flour, xylitol-free peanut butter, and eggs give you complete control over what your dog is eating.
Can I give my dog treats every day?
Yes, as long as treats stay within ten percent of their daily calorie intake. The type of treat matters too. A few blueberries and a baby carrot every day is very different from a large processed biscuit every day. Keep the calories manageable and choose ingredients with actual nutritional value
Are homemade dog treats better than store bought?
Not always, but often. The advantage of homemade is knowing every ingredient. However, some store bought treats have excellent ingredient lists and are perfectly fine. Check the label of any store treat before buying. If the first ingredient is a named protein like chicken and there are no artificial preservatives, it is probably a reasonable choice.
What treats should I use for training?
Small, soft, and smelly treats work best for training because they can be given quickly and dogs find them motivating. Zuke’s Mini Naturals are what I use with Milo. Furthermore, small pieces of cooked chicken breast work brilliantly for high-value moments like recall training when you need maximum motivation.
Can dogs eat peanut butter as a treat?
Yes, but only xylitol-free peanut butter. Check the label every time, not just when you first buy a brand, because manufacturers sometimes change their formulas. Plain unsweetened peanut butter with just peanuts and salt as ingredients is safe in small amounts. Milo gets a small amount on a lick mat as an occasional treat.
Final Thoughts
Switching to healthy dog treats does not have to be expensive or complicated. A bag of baby carrots and a punnet of blueberries cover most of my treat needs for the week. The homemade peanut butter and oat treats take twenty minutes and last seven days.
Milo is healthier, his coat looks better, and honestly he seems more excited about treat time now than he ever was with the processed bag treats. That might be because he actually tastes real food for the first time. Or it might be because I am more enthusiastic about giving him something I actually feel good about.
Try one thing from this list this week. Start with a baby carrot. See what happens. Then leave a comment below telling me whether your dog took it or looked at you like you had lost your mind, because that reaction is genuinely fifty fifty.
More guides on Pet Nurture Nest
Best Dog Food for Small Breeds: 5 Options I Actually Tested — petnurturenest.com/best-dog-food-small-breeds
Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food: Is It Worth the Price? — petnurturenest.com/freeze-dried-raw-dog-food
How to Train a Puppy at Home — petnurturenest.com/how-to-train-puppy-at-home
Homemade Dog Treats Recipes — petnurturenest.com/homemade-dog-treats-recipes