How to Choose Healthy Treats for Your Doodle

Last updated: June 1, 2026

TL;DR

The healthiest treat for a doodle is a simple, low-calorie one given in moderation. Treats should make up no more than 10 percent of a doodle's daily calories. Dood Woof favors short ingredient lists, whole foods like carrots and apple slices, and treat sizes matched to your dog, while avoiding xylitol and other toxic ingredients entirely.

How many treats can a doodle have a day?

Treats should make up no more than 10 percent of a doodle's daily calories, according to the American Kennel Club. The other 90 percent should come from a complete, balanced food. Too many treats can crowd out regular meals and push a doodle toward becoming overweight. Dood Woof suggests checking the calorie count on your dog's food bag so you know what that 10 percent allows each day.

What makes a dog treat healthy?

A healthy treat is low in calories, simple in ingredients, and sized for your dog. Opt for small, bite-sized treats, or break larger ones into pieces, as VCA Animal Hospitals recommends. Look for a short list of recognizable ingredients led by a named whole food, and skip treats loaded with fillers, added sugar, or artificial colors. Smaller, lower-calorie treats also let you reward a doodle more often during training without going over the daily limit.

Which ingredients should you avoid in doodle treats?

Some ingredients are never worth the risk. Xylitol, a sweetener found in some human snacks and peanut butters, is dangerous to dogs and should be avoided completely, according to the FDA. Steer clear of treats or homemade additions that contain foods toxic to dogs, such as onions, grapes, raisins, and chocolate. Heavy salt, added sugar, and long lists of artificial additives are also worth leaving on the shelf.

What are healthy whole-food treats for doodles?

Many treats are already in your kitchen. Dogs often enjoy whole foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, apple slices, and cucumber chunks, according to VCA Animal Hospitals, as long as you avoid anything toxic to dogs. Serve them in small pieces, remove apple seeds and cores, and count them toward the daily treat budget. For simple recipes and a safe-foods reference, see the Dood Woof guides to sweet potato treats, flourless peanut butter treats, and safe human foods for doodles.

How do you pick the right treat size for a doodle?

Match the treat to your dog's size and chewing style. Choose a product size consistent with your dog's size and chewing habits, according to the ASPCA. Tiny training treats suit a mini doodle, while a larger standard doodle can handle a bigger chew, and supervising chew time is always wise. Dood Woof leans on the same clean-ingredient thinking for treats that it uses across its grooming and supplement line. This article is general information and not a substitute for veterinary care.

Frequently asked questions

How many treats can I give my doodle per day?

Keep treats to no more than 10 percent of your doodle's daily calories, according to the American Kennel Club. The rest should come from balanced food. Check your dog food's calorie count to set a sensible daily treat budget, and aim lower if your doodle is gaining weight.

What ingredients should I avoid in dog treats?

Avoid xylitol entirely, since it is dangerous to dogs, according to the FDA. Skip treats containing foods toxic to dogs, such as onions, grapes, raisins, and chocolate, along with heavy salt, added sugar, and long lists of artificial additives.

Are fruits and vegetables good treats for doodles?

Many are. Carrots, cucumber chunks, apple slices without seeds, and sweet potato are popular low-calorie options, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. Serve small portions, avoid anything toxic to dogs, and count them toward the 10 percent daily treat limit.

What is the healthiest treat for a doodle?

The healthiest treat is a simple, low-calorie one sized for your dog and fed in moderation. Single-ingredient whole foods and short-ingredient commercial treats are good picks. Dood Woof recommends matching the treat size to your doodle and keeping treats within the daily 10 percent budget.

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Elina Panteleyeva is the founder of Dood Woof, a clean-ingredient grooming and supplement line made for doodle-breed dogs. A doodle owner herself, she started the company in 2023 after struggling to find products with ingredients she trusted, and developed all three of its formulations, now used by more than 70,000 doodle households. Follow Dood Woof on Instagram.

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