How Soon Can Puppies Have Treats? Vet-Approved Guide

Have you recently welcomed a bouncing bundle of energy into your life? If you’re like many pet parents, you probably can’t wait to start spoiling them.

However, if you’re here, you’re probably wondering whether you can safely give them treats. The good news is that you can.

But, this doesn’t mean that you should give them just any treat at any age. While spoiling them early and often can seem like a good idea (because it will definitely earn you some adorable wiggles) it can result in issues that last long after their puppy years.

So, when should you start treating your furry little friend? And just how many treats can you give them before it becomes a problem? Read on as we answer these and more questions below.

As with human babies, every bite you give your new pup matters. Just like you wouldn’t feed cookies and ice cream to a baby, you shouldn’t give your puppy too many treats.

Rather than spoiling them with treats, go for vet recommended pet food, making sure to incorporate all vital nutrients into their diet. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) , some of the most essential components for a growing puppy’s diet include:

•  Proteins (minimum of 22.5% dry matter (DM)):  Ingredients like beef and chicken can support muscle growth and overall puppy development.

•  Fat (minimum of 8.5%):  Nutrients like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid can promote optimal brain, vision, skin, and coat health.

•  Minerals:  Options like calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium can support bone and tooth development as well as metabolic functions.

•  Vitamins:  Vitamins A, E, D, Riboflavin and Niacin can support immune health.

While giving your furry friend treats will undoubtedly make them happy, be cautious not to upset the balance of their diet. A few treats once in a while are great, but your focus should be on making sure they receive all the vital nutrients in sufficient quantities to promote normal development.

Puppies can start having treats at around eight weeks old. This is well after you start weaning them (which typically begins around week three or four) and during the puppy teething period, when they may need some extra love from you.

However, if you intend to start puppy training early, some experts recommend waiting a few more weeks to introduce treats. Puppy socialization and training typically begin at around 12 weeks of age, so it may be beneficial to wait four more weeks and introduce treats at that point. Treats can serve as positive reinforcement and motivators, helping you instill proper puppy behavior as well as new skills and tricks.

When buying treats for your pup, look for products labeled as suitable for puppies. Such products typically have a higher nutritional value than adult dog treats and can therefore support the development of growing puppies. Other considerations to make when choosing puppy treats include:

• Soft textures to protect their sensitive teeth

• Minimal ingredients to lower the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) irritation

• No artificial ingredients or unnecessary additives to preserve the nutritional value of what you feed your little one

• Valuable ingredients for puppy development, such as DHA, phosphorus and vitamins

While you can buy products specifically intended to be treats, you don’t have to. In fact, it’s even better when you pull from the balanced diet you’re already feeding your puppy. For example, if you feed them dehydrated foods from The Honest Kitchen, you can use our recipes to transform them into little tasty treats. You could also use kibble and clusters from their regular diet instead of buying specific treats.

Using foods already in your pet’s diet can help prevent overfeeding. Treats are typically higher in carbohydrates and sometimes fat, which could increase your chances of going beyond your puppy’s recommended calorie intake.

Regular foods are also better because they tend to be richer in minerals and vitamins. This makes them more beneficial to your puppy’s growth than the empty calories in dog treats, which generally aren’t fortified with essential vitamins and minerals.

While it’s common for some dog owners to use human foods as treats, they can do more harm than good, especially for growing puppies. Some specific foods that can be bad for your little friend include:

•  Garlic, grapes and chocolate:  They can be toxic to dogs.

•  Cheese, bacon and high fat meat:  Their high fat content can cause GI upset and increase their risk of obesity.

•  Peanut butter:  Avoid peanut butter with xylitol. While it’s not dangerous for humans, the artificial sweetener increases insulin release in dogs, which can result in seizures, hypoglycemia or even death.

It’s also important to avoid adult dog options like rawhide, bones, jerky or crunchy treats, as they can be a choking hazard, hard to digest or crack pups’ developing teeth.

It all depends on your puppy’s feeding chart. The general rule of thumb for pups and adult dogs is that treats shouldn’t exceed 10% of their daily calories. If you’re feeding your furry friend 400 calories per day, for example, their treats shouldn’t be more than 40 calories worth. If you want to give them multiple treats in a day, break the 40 calories into smaller portions instead of going over the limit.

While it can be hard to resist their puppy eyes, overfeeding them can be dangerous, as it may cause digestive upset and lead to weight gain over time.

How do you know you’re overfeeding your pup? The easiest way is to measure whatever you feed them. You can also tell you’re overfeeding them from the following signs:

•  They incessantly paw or bark for treats, even after you’ve already fed them:  This could show that they’ve gotten used to treats.

•  They refuse regular food:  Too many treats could make normal food less appealing.

•  They don’t respond enthusiastically to commands when offered treats as a reward:  Too many treats lose their value.

Treats are a powerful positive reinforcement tool that can help you:

• Teach your puppy good behavior and new skills. You can use them as rewards for following commands like “Down,” “Come,” or “Jump.”

• Reinforce potty or crate training.

• Build trust with your new puppy by facilitating bonding.

The downside of using treats in bonding and training sessions is that it increases the risk of overfeeding. To prevent this, plan your puppy’s meals and treats beforehand, ensuring their daily consumption doesn’t exceed their caloric limit.

Also, use regular food from their diet as treats instead of buying actual treats. This is because consuming too many high-carbohydrate products (such as standard treats) leaves less room for healthy food options. This can, in turn, affect young puppies’ muscle, bone, skeletal and brain development.

Another way to prevent overfeeding is to opt for training treat alternatives. Some non-food rewards worth considering include:

• Verbal praise, like “Yes” or “Good Puppy,” when they do something right

• Gentle head petting or belly rubs

• Clicker training

• Interactive play with their favorite toys

• Short walks for good behavior

Incorporating these alternatives helps reduce overreliance on food rewards and increases your puppy’s physical activity, which supports overall well-being.

Can you feed puppies treats? Absolutely! Just be sure to do so in moderation.

While treats can be an excellent means to bond with and train your newest family member, standard options could have a high fat and carbohydrate content, increasing your puppy’s caloric intake without actually adding any value to their bodies. Rather than overfeed your puppy, transform regular foods from their diets into treats.

The Honest Kitchen offers human grade, natural ingredient clusters and dehydrated foods that can serve as healthy treat options for your puppy. We also provide recipes to help you elevate each treat so your furry friend has something different to look forward to.

 Want to reward your puppy with  healthy treats? Explore our  puppy food  options!

 *Health Disclaimer: This post is educational in nature and doesn’t constitute health advice. Please consult your pet's veterinarian or other healthcare professional for specific guidance on this topic.