How Many Calories are in Dog Treats?

Obesity is a major problem in our country and it’s also affecting our pets.  While exercise is a major factor in maintaining your dog’s ideal weight, nutrition is equally important.  Although it will vary greatly based on the activity level and the size of each dog, it’s important to know the caloric requirements of your dog (this is a great question to ask the vet).  Using that as a starting point, it’s important to know not only how many calories in are your dog’s food, but also how many calories are in those treats!

Take the quiz below to test your knowledge of the calorie content of some of the most popular dog treats.  The correct answers and your score will appear at the end of the quiz.

[QUIZZIN 1]

Just to give a reference point, a 45 pound dog with a normal activity level should be consuming roughly about 900 to 1100 calories per day.  While many of the treats appear to be “low” in calories, remember to factor in just how many treats your dog is getting, especially during a training session.  Don’t forget, these numbers are in addition to your dog’s regular meals, all those calories quickly add up.

Treats are great!  We love to use treats when we train, but consider rationing out part of your dog’s regular meal and use the kibble as treats during a training session.  Also be sure to get out and explore your local hiking trails, go for a walk around the block, or play ball at the park.  All of these fun activities will bring you and your dog closer together and also help burn off those extra calories.

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