Last updated: October 3, 2026
Dog Nutrition Guides
Feeding a dog well is part knowing what is safe and part getting the amounts right. These guides cover which human foods are fine and which are dangerous, and how to choose treats that support training without piling on calories. To dial in portions, start with our dog feeding calculator.
These guides are general information, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different. Check with your veterinarian before changing your dogs diet, and if your dog has eaten something toxic, such as chocolate, grapes, xylitol, or a wild mushroom, contact your vet or a pet poison helpline immediately.
How much should your dog eat?
Treats only stay healthy when they fit inside the day. Use the Dog Feeding Calculator to find your dogs daily amount, then keep treats to about 10 percent of that.
Open the Dog Feeding CalculatorHuman foods and safety
How to Think About Dog Food and Treats
A few principles that keep feeding simple and safe
Balanced food first
A complete, balanced dog food should make up the bulk of the diet. It is formulated to meet your dogs needs, so everything you add on top should fit around it, not compete with it.
The 10 percent rule
Keep treats to roughly 10 percent of daily calories. For training, use tiny, low-calorie rewards so you can be generous with praise and repetition without overfeeding.
Know the true dangers
Some foods are genuinely toxic to dogs, including chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, xylitol, and wild mushrooms. These are never treats, and some warrant an urgent vet call.
Watch the waistline
Extra treats are the quiet cause of a lot of canine weight gain. If the treats are creeping up, trim the meal to match, and check your dogs body condition regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Nutrition
Common questions about treats and safe foods
How much of a dogs diet should be treats?
A widely used guideline is that treats should make up no more than about 10 percent of your dogs daily calories, with the remaining 90 percent coming from a complete, balanced dog food. This keeps treats from unbalancing the diet or adding unwanted weight. For training, where you may hand out many rewards, use very small, low-calorie treats so you can give plenty without going over that budget.
What human foods are dangerous for dogs?
Several common foods are toxic to dogs, including chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, chives, macadamia nuts, and anything containing the sweetener xylitol. Wild mushrooms can also be extremely dangerous. If your dog eats any of these, contact your vet or a pet poison helpline right away. When in doubt about a food, it is safer to skip it and check first.
Can I use these guides instead of my vet?
No. These guides are general information to help you feed your dog sensibly and spot foods to avoid. They cannot account for your dogs age, weight, breed, and health, and they are not a substitute for veterinary advice. Check with your vet before making diet changes, and call your vet if your dog eats something dangerous or reacts badly to a food.
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