The treat budget sheet: the 10% rule made operational — how to count chews, training bites, and table scraps against a daily calorie ceiling.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| The rule | Treats ≤10% of daily calories (a 40 lb dog: ~150 kcal) |
| Count everything | Chews, training bits, pill pockets, table scraps |
| Major debits | Standard bully stick 80–120 kcal; Greenie Regular ~90 kcal |
| Training mode | Switch to 1–2 kcal liver bits for high-rep sessions |
| Meal integration | Pull kibble out of meals to cover treats — never add on top |
How to run the ledger
Set the daily target (our calculator), reserve 10% for treats, then debit each item: one bully stick spends most of a 40 lb dog’s budget (our calorie map), a Greenie takes half (file). Training-heavy days switch currency to liver bits (our file).
The failure modes
Two account for most overflow: the “it’s healthy” tax (single-ingredient chews are still 3,500+ kcal/kg — our sweet potato file) and double-feeding (two treat-dispensing adults). The monthly BCS score audits the ledger — a drifting score means uncounted treats.
FAQ
What is 10% of my dog’s calories?
Daily target × 0.10 — a 40 lb dog at ~1,150 kcal fits ~115 kcal of treats. Count chews in the ledger.
Do I subtract treats from meals?
Yes — treats replace meal calories, never stack on top. That is the difference between a budget and a fantasy.
Related reading: Calculator · Treat library · BCS card · Library