Why Choosing the Right Treats for Small Dogs Matters
If you share your life with a Chihuahua, Yorkie, Dachshund, or any other small breed, you know they have big personalities in tiny bodies. What many pet parents don’t realize is that small dogs have very different nutritional needs compared to larger breeds — especially when it comes to treats.
Oversized or high-calorie treats can quickly lead to weight gain, which puts extra strain on a little dog’s joints and heart. That’s why choosing the best treats for small dogs means paying close attention to size, calorie count, and ingredients.
How Many Calories Should Small Dogs Eat Per Day?
On average, small dogs (under 20 lbs) only need about 200–400 calories per day depending on activity level, age, and body condition. Compare that to larger breeds who may burn 1,000+ calories a day, and you can see how quickly things add up.
Veterinarians recommend that treats make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories.
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For a 10 lb dog (~250 calories/day), that’s only 25 calories from treats daily.
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If a treat is 5 calories each, that’s just 5 pieces before hitting the limit.
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But with Snaggletooth Teeny Tiny Treats (<1 calorie each), your pup can enjoy 25+ rewards without worry.
👉 This is why treat size and calorie density matter so much for little dogs.
Why Small Dogs Need Teeny Tiny Treats
Here’s what makes a treat truly “small dog-friendly”:
✅ Low Calorie
Because small breeds have lower daily calorie needs, each treat should be under 3 calories. Our Teeny Tiny Treats are less than 1 calorie each, perfect for training or frequent rewarding.
✅ Appropriate Size
Big biscuits are hard for little mouths to chew and can be a choking hazard. At 3/8” cubes, our treats are sized just right for even the tiniest pups.
✅ High-Value Flavor
Small dogs can be picky! Freeze-dried liver is a natural high-value reward that gets tails wagging every time.
✅ Clean Ingredients
Fillers like sugar, salt, or artificial flavors have no place in your dog’s diet. Snaggletooth treats are single-ingredient, human-grade, and 100% USDA meat.
Training Small Dogs: Why Treat Size Matters Even More
Training a small dog often involves lots of repetition. Every “sit,” “stay,” or “come” needs to be rewarded — which means dozens of treats in a single session.
If each treat is 3–5 calories, your pup will blow past their daily allowance in minutes. With freeze-dried Teeny Tiny Treats (<1 calorie each), you can reward generously without overfeeding.
This makes them not only the best training treats for small dogs, but also the safest choice for long-term health.
The Best Treats for Small Dogs? Snaggletooth Teeny Tiny Treats
At Snaggletooth Pets, we designed our treats with small dogs (and cats!) in mind:
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🐶 Less than 1 calorie per treat
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🐶 Perfectly sized 3/8” cubes - that's 25% smaller than average training treat
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🐶 100% single-ingredient liver (beef, chicken, or duck)
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🐶 Made in the USA with USDA human-grade proteins
They’re the tiny but mighty training reward that keeps your pup healthy, happy, and motivated.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to the best treats for small dogs, both size and calories matter. Tiny breeds need portion-controlled, nutrient-dense, and irresistible rewards that won’t tip the calorie scale.
That’s why Snaggletooth Teeny Tiny Treats are the perfect choice for small dogs everywhere.
👉 Ready to treat your little one? Shop our collection of Teeny Tiny Treats today and see why pet parents everywhere are making the switch.
