Posted by Jamie Sinclair
on September 12, 2026
Every dog owner wants to see their dog thrive — bursting with energy, a shiny coat, and enthusiastic about mealtimes. One of the simplest, most effective ways to support that is choosing the right foods and treats. With so many options on the shelf, it can be hard to know what's actually good for your dog versus what's just well-marketed.
This guide walks through the main food options, the treats genuinely worth choosing, and how to treat your dog responsibly — including some real research on why portion control matters more than most owners realise.
Table of Contents
- Why the Right Food and Treats Matter
- What the Research Actually Shows About Treats and Weight
- Which Breeds Are Genuinely Most at Risk
- The Main Food Options Compared
- Treats That Support Health, Not Just Taste Buds
- How to Treat Your Dog Responsibly
- Foods to Avoid
- Tailoring Food and Treats to Life Stage
- When to Talk to Your Vet
- FAQ
Why the Right Food and Treats Matter
Just like in people, a dog's diet has a direct effect on their physical and emotional wellbeing — from coat condition and joint support to energy levels and immunity. Getting the basics right matters more than chasing the latest trend.
A genuinely good diet:
- Supports healthy growth and development in puppies
- Improves digestion and reduces tummy troubles
- Supports joint mobility, particularly in senior dogs
- Helps maintain a healthy weight — see our guide on weight management for dogs if this is a particular concern
- Supports a resilient immune system
What the Research Actually Shows About Treats and Weight
This isn't just a general wellness talking point — there's real UK and international data behind it, and it's more striking than most owners realise.
PDSA's 2024 Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report found that 49% of UK vets have seen pet obesity increase in recent years, and vets estimate an average of 46% of the dogs they see are overweight or obese — despite the great majority of owners believing their own dog is a healthy weight. Treats are a genuine driver of this: 28% of vets who reported a rise in pet obesity specifically pointed to owners feeding too many treats as a cause, and PDSA's own research has found that millions of UK dogs are fed treats every single day, often on top of a full, complete meal rather than as part of it.
A large-scale VetCompass study of 22,333 UK dogs under primary veterinary care found a one-year overweight prevalence of 7.1% — roughly 1 in 14 dogs — based on actual clinical records rather than owner-reported estimates, and identified neutering and middle age as genuine, independent risk factors on top of breed.
The health cost of this isn't abstract. A large 2018 study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine — a collaboration between the University of Liverpool and the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition — followed over 50,000 middle-aged neutered dogs across 12 common breeds and found a clear, consistent pattern: dogs in an overweight body condition had a shorter lifespan than dogs of the same breed and sex kept at a normal weight, across every single breed studied. The researchers' own conclusion was blunt — that veterinary professionals should be raising this with owners early, from puppyhood, rather than waiting until weight becomes visibly a problem.
None of this means treats are the enemy. It means the portion and frequency genuinely matter, which is exactly what the responsible-treating section below covers in practical terms.
Which Breeds Are Genuinely Most at Risk
The same VetCompass research found overweight risk varies considerably by breed — not evenly across the dog population. Brachycephalic breeds carried some of the highest individual-breed prevalence estimates recorded in UK primary-care data: Pugs at 13.2% and British Bulldogs at 8.7%, both well above the general population average. A separate VetCompass breed-risk analysis found Pugs, Beagles, and Golden Retrievers at the greatest overall risk of obesity compared with crossbreeds. None of this means treats are off-limits for these breeds — it means portion discipline genuinely matters more for them than for a typical crossbreed, and it's worth factoring breed into how strictly you apply the 10% treat guidance below.
The Main Food Options Compared
| Food Type | Moisture Content | Convenience | Nutritional Control | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Kibble | Low (~10%) | High — long shelf life, easy to portion | High, if a genuinely complete formula | Most dogs; simplest to feed consistently |
| Wet/Fresh Food | High (~70-80%) | Medium — needs refrigeration once opened | High, often simpler ingredient lists | Fussy eaters, dogs needing extra hydration |
| Home-Cooked | Variable | Low — real time investment | Low unless recipe is vet-checked | Owners willing to work with a vet nutritionist |
| Raw | High | Low — storage, handling, hygiene | Variable — depends on formulation | Owners who've done the research and checked with their vet |
High-Quality Kibble
Dry kibble is convenient and, done well, provides all the essential nutrients your dog needs. Look for real meat as the first ingredient and minimal artificial additives. Limited-ingredient formulas can help dogs with sensitive stomachs or known allergies.
Wet or Fresh Food
Canned or fresh food tends to be higher in moisture and can work well as a supplement to kibble or as a primary food source. Fresh food ranges have grown considerably in recent years, often offering higher protein content and simpler ingredient lists.
Home-Cooked Meals
Cooking for your dog can work well if it's done properly — lean meats (chicken, turkey), cooked carrots, green beans, and rice are a reasonable base. Avoid onions and garlic entirely, and be aware that home-prepared diets are genuinely easy to get nutritionally unbalanced without proper guidance; a vet or veterinary nutritionist can help you check a recipe is actually complete.
Raw Diet
Raw feeding, using raw meat, bone, and vegetables, has grown in popularity, but it needs to be well-balanced and handled safely to avoid both nutritional gaps and hygiene risks. Speak with your vet before switching to a raw diet, particularly for puppies, senior dogs, or dogs with existing health conditions.
If you want to fill any nutritional gaps regardless of which food type you choose, our 10-in-1 Vitamins and Probiotic Chews are designed to support a complete, balanced diet rather than replace one.
Treats That Support Health, Not Just Taste Buds
Protein-Rich Treats
- Chicken or turkey strips: low-fat and protein-rich, good for lean muscle
- Salmon bites: rich in omega-3s, good for coat and skin condition
- Prawns and tuna: lean seafood options — see our full guides for how to prepare them safely and how often to offer them
Fruits and Vegetables
- Carrots: crunchy, good for dental health, genuinely low-calorie
- Apples (deseeded): a sweet, fibre-rich snack
- Pumpkin: a good source of fibre that supports digestion
- Bananas: potassium-rich, but watch portion size given the sugar content
- Raspberries and blackberries: low-sugar, antioxidant-rich berries
- Mango and pineapple: safe in small amounts — see our full guides for prep and portion sizes
Low-Calorie Snacks
These are genuinely worth reaching for first if your dog needs several small treats through the day — training sessions especially — given how much lower in calories they are than a typical commercial biscuit:
- Green beans: useful for dogs who need to watch their weight
- Cucumber: around 95% water, one of the lowest-calorie options available — see our full cucumber guide
- Sweet potato chews: a wholesome alternative to processed treats
- Plain popcorn: a low-calorie crunchy option, but only air-popped and completely unseasoned — kernels and seasoning are both genuine risks worth knowing about
Specialised Chews
Purpose-formulated chews can combine a tasty treat with targeted support — our Calming Treats and Hip & Joint Chews are designed to do exactly that, alongside daily nutrition rather than instead of it.
Natural Bones and Dental Chews
Bones and dental chews can help with dental hygiene, but choose vet-approved options to avoid harmful additives or a genuine choking or fracture risk from anything too hard.
How to Treat Your Dog Responsibly
Given what the research above shows about the real, measurable effect of excess weight on lifespan, a few ground rules genuinely matter:
- Limit portion size: treats should make up no more than about 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake — the rest should come from a complete, balanced main meal
- Choose quality over quantity: avoid treats with excessive salt, sugar, or artificial ingredients
- Know what's genuinely toxic (see below) rather than guessing
- Use treats purposefully: they're genuinely useful for training and reinforcing good behaviour, not just for snacking
- Factor treats into the day's total food, not on top of it: if your dog's had a training-heavy day with lots of small treats, it's worth trimming their usual meal slightly to compensate
Foods to Avoid
Never give your dog chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, or anything containing xylitol. A few less obvious ones worth knowing:
- Tomatoes: the ripe fruit is fine, but the plant itself is toxic
- Avocado: genuine risk, particularly the pit and skin
- Mushrooms: wild mushrooms specifically are genuinely dangerous
- Cherries: the flesh is fine, but the pit, stem, and leaves are toxic
- Olives: plain, unsalted olives are a lower-risk occasional extra, but most jarred versions are brined or stuffed and best avoided
Tailoring Food and Treats to Life Stage
Puppies
- Higher-calorie, nutrient-dense meals to support rapid growth
- Frequent, smaller meals rather than one or two large ones
Adult Dogs
- Balanced meals for sustained energy and immune support
- Treats that support dental and digestive health as a bonus, not the main event
Senior Dogs
- Lower-fat diets to help prevent weight gain as activity naturally decreases — the lifespan research above is particularly relevant here, since the study specifically followed middle-aged dogs
- Joint-friendly treats and, where appropriate, a dedicated joint supplement — see our guide to helping an older dog with joint pain for the full picture
When to Talk to Your Vet
This guide covers general good practice, but every dog is different. If your dog has a diagnosed health condition, is on medication, or you're planning a significant diet change (particularly to a home-cooked or raw diet), check with your vet first — they can help make sure whatever you choose is actually complete and appropriate for your dog specifically. If you're not sure whether your dog is currently a healthy weight, your vet or vet nurse can check their body condition score in a couple of minutes at any routine visit.
FAQ
Can I give my dog human food as treats?
Yes, if it's genuinely dog-safe. Cooked chicken, carrots, and apple are good choices. Avoid onions, chocolate, garlic, and anything containing xylitol.
How many treats can I give my dog?
Treats should make up no more than around 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake. Moderation matters more than the specific treat — UK research has linked overweight body condition to a measurably shorter lifespan across common breeds.
Which breeds need to watch treats most closely?
UK primary-care data has found Pugs, British Bulldogs, Beagles, and Golden Retrievers at genuinely higher risk of overweight status than crossbreeds, making portion discipline especially worthwhile for these breeds.
What are the best treats for training?
Small, soft, low-calorie treats tend to work best for training, since they're quick to eat and don't fill your dog up between reps. Cucumber and lean protein strips are good low-calorie options for treat-heavy training sessions.
Are natural treats genuinely better for dogs?
Generally, yes — treats free from artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives tend to be a better everyday choice, though "natural" alone isn't a guarantee of quality, so it's still worth checking the ingredient list.
A happy, healthy dog starts with a well-balanced diet and treats chosen with a bit of thought. Get the everyday basics right, and the rest genuinely does follow.
