Human Food as Dog Treats: How to Share Food Safely Without Overfeeding

Updated September 2026

Yes, some ordinary foods from our kitchens can make suitable occasional treats for dogs.

The important words are small and occasional.

Your dog’s main diet should normally be an appropriate complete dog food. Human food, training rewards, chews, and other extras should fit around that rather than gradually replacing the balanced part of the diet.

I also distinguish between food that is safe for a dog to eat and food that is sensible to give regularly.

A tiny piece of plain cooked chicken may be a useful training reward. Your leftover chicken curry is a completely different proposition.

If you are trying to find out whether a particular food is safe or toxic, start with my broader Can Dogs Eat Human Food? guide.

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Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you buy through one, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that fit the way I actually work with dogs and that I believe are useful for the purpose described.

Can I give my dog human food as a treat?

For many healthy dogs, yes.

Small amounts of suitable plain foods can be used as occasional treats or training rewards. PDSA includes small pieces of plain lean meat and suitable fruit and vegetables among foods that can sometimes be used as occasional treats.

That does not mean your dog needs human food.

A healthy dog eating an appropriate complete diet does not need a side order from your dinner every evening.

Think of suitable human food as an optional extra, not an essential part of good dog nutrition.

For the wider feeding picture, use my Dog Food & Nutrition Hub.

Safe does not always mean suitable

This is probably the most useful distinction to make.

A food can be non-toxic without being a particularly sensible dog treat.

For example, a dog may be able to eat a small amount of cheese without being poisoned. That does not mean large chunks of cheese should become an everyday part of their diet.

Before sharing anything, I would ask:

• Is the food actually safe for dogs?
• Is it plain rather than covered in sauce, seasoning or other ingredients?
• Is the portion tiny enough to be a treat?
• Does my dog have a health condition that makes it unsuitable?
• Am I already giving plenty of other extras today?
• Would part of their normal food work just as well?

Those questions are much more useful than simply asking whether dogs technically can eat something.

How much human food can my dog have?

Keep extras small.

WSAVA advises that treats should generally make up no more than about 10 per cent of a healthy dog’s daily calorie intake, with the main diet supplying the overwhelming majority of their nutrition.

That allowance includes much more than obvious dog treats.

It can include:

• pieces of chicken used during training
• cheese
• fruit
• vegetables
• dental chews
• food inside a KONG
• lick mats
• leftovers
• scraps passed under the table
• food given by somebody else in the household.

This is where owners can accidentally underestimate how much their dog is eating.

Nobody thinks they gave the dog very much.

The dog may disagree.

For the detailed portion question, read How Much Should I Feed My Dog?

Which human foods can work as occasional dog treats?

I would keep it straightforward.

For a healthy dog who tolerates them, examples might include tiny amounts of:

Plain cooked chicken or turkey

Small pieces of cooked, unseasoned, boneless chicken or turkey can make useful higher-value training rewards.

Remove bones and avoid heavily seasoned meat.

I mean tiny training pieces, not half a chicken breast after dinner.

Small pieces of suitable cooked meat

You can also use other plain cooked meats occasionally.

Fatty, salty and heavily processed meats are less useful choices.

This is one reason I would normally choose a tiny piece of plain chicken over regularly using bacon, sausages or ham.

Carrot

Small pieces of carrot can suit some dogs.

Cut food to an appropriate size and remember that even low-calorie foods are still extras.

Green beans

Many dogs can also have plain green beans in small amounts.

Avoid butter, salt and sauces.

Small amounts of suitable fruit

Some dogs enjoy pieces of apple, blueberries, strawberries or other dog-safe fruits.

Fruit can contain a surprising amount of natural sugar, so I would still treat it as a treat.

For the proper fruit list and preparation guidance, use Can Dogs Eat Fruit?

For vegetables, use Dog-Friendly Vegetables rather than relying on old internet lists of supposed health benefits.

PDSA also advises keeping fruit and vegetables plain, in suitably sized pieces and free from butter, oil, salt and flavourings.

Should I give my dog eggs?

A small amount of plain cooked egg can be an occasional food for many healthy dogs.

I wouldn’t consider eggs something you need to add to a dog’s complete diet for extra vitamins, protein, skin health, or coat condition.

If their normal food is complete, it has already been formulated to provide their essential nutrients.

Think of cooked egg as another possible treat rather than a nutritional upgrade.

Avoid adding butter, salt or seasoning.

What about yoghurt?

Some dogs tolerate a small amount of plain yoghurt, while others do not cope well with dairy.

Again, there is no nutritional need to add yoghurt to an otherwise appropriate complete diet.

If you do use it occasionally, check the ingredients carefully.

Avoid products containing sweeteners or unnecessary additions. Xylitol, sometimes listed as birch sugar, is extremely dangerous to dogs and can be present in some sugar-free products

There are usually simpler choices available.

Is cheese safe for dogs?

A tiny piece can work as a valuable reward for some dogs.

That does not make cheese a particularly good everyday snack.

It can be high in calories and fat, and some dogs do not tolerate dairy well.

Dogs Trust suggests that foods such as cheese, chicken or sausage can sometimes be cut into very small pieces and used as particularly high-value training rewards. The key is size and frequency.

For most training, the piece does not need to resemble a human-sized snack.

Think pea-sized or smaller where appropriate for the dog.

What about ham, sausages and processed meats?

These are not foods I would choose as everyday dog treats.

They can contain substantial amounts of salt and fat, and flavoured varieties may contain onion, garlic or other ingredients that make them unsuitable.

A dog stealing a tiny piece of plain ham is different from deliberately building processed meat into their daily feeding routine.

There are usually simpler options.

Should I share leftovers from my dinner?

Generally, I would not make table leftovers a regular dog-feeding habit.

The problem is that a human meal often contains much more than the obvious main ingredient.

Your roast chicken may also involve:

• gravy
• onions
• garlic
• stuffing
• butter
• salt
• sauces
• cooked bones
• fatty skin.

PDSA and Dogs Trust both advise caution with table scraps because they can contribute unnecessary calories, upset digestion and sometimes contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs.

If you genuinely want to save your dog a small piece of something suitable, it is much easier to put aside a plain piece before seasoning the human meal.

Why I prefer giving food deliberately rather than from the table

There is another practical issue.

Dogs are very good at learning what works.

If staring at you during dinner regularly results in cheese, chicken or toast arriving from your plate, there is a good chance they will keep trying.

That does not mean the dog is naughty.

The behaviour has simply worked.

If I am using human food as a reward, I would rather choose the piece deliberately and use it for something useful.

That could be:

• returning when called
• choosing to settle
• walking past a distraction
• checking in on a walk
• learning a new skill.

Dogs Trust recommends reward-based training and notes that food rewards should count toward the dog’s overall feeding amount.

My Dog Training Rewards Guide explains this in more detail.

Can I use human food for dog training?

Yes.

In fact, this is where I think suitable human food can be most useful.

Not every training situation needs something exciting.

Your dog’s normal food may work perfectly well for easy practice at home.

When something is more difficult, a tiny piece of a higher-value food such as plain cooked chicken may make a noticeable difference.

I sometimes think of rewards in levels.

Normal food might be enough for an easy behaviour in a quiet room.

A slightly more interesting treat may work outside.

Something particularly valuable might be useful when the environment is much more distracting.

The individual dog decides what counts as valuable.

The important thing is to keep food rewards small and include them in the overall intake.

Do training treats need to be large?

No.

Generally, I want a training reward small enough for the dog to eat quickly and keep going.

A large chunk of chicken every time a dog looks towards you can turn a short training session into an unexpected second dinner.

Several tiny pieces are usually much more useful than one enormous piece.

This is particularly relevant with small dogs, where what looks like a modest human-sized treat can represent a significant number of calories.

Can I use human food in a KONG or lick mat?

Yes, as long as the food itself is suitable for your dog.

But remember that a KONG or lick mat does not make calories disappear.

If you fill a food toy after your dog has already eaten their complete daily allowance, you have added extra food.

Where practical, I prefer using part of the dog’s normal allowance or keeping additional ingredients modest.

Keep food enrichment easy enough that the dog can actually enjoy it.

The goal isn’t to create the world’s most difficult frozen puzzle.

For more ideas, use Ditch the Bowl at Mealtimes.

And for enrichment beyond feeding, use my Dog Enrichment Guide.

What about peanut butter?

Peanut butter can be calorie-dense, so use only a small amount.

More importantly, check the ingredients every time.

Never give a product containing xylitol. It is highly toxic to dogs. =

Products and recipes can change, so don’t assume a brand you checked six months ago still has exactly the same ingredients.

Plenty of alternatives are available if you are unsure.

Can human food upset my dog’s stomach?

Yes.

Even a food that is not toxic can cause problems for an individual dog.

Suddenly giving a large portion of something unfamiliar, particularly a fatty food, is very different from giving a tiny training piece.

Be cautious if your dog:

• has a sensitive digestive system
• has previously had pancreatitis
• has diagnosed food allergies
• has diabetes
• has kidney or liver disease
• is on a veterinary diet
• takes medication affected by food
• has another medical condition affecting their diet.

In these situations, the appropriate treat is something to discuss with your veterinary team.

What if my dog is on a food trial?

Do not add human food unless your vet has specifically said it is allowed.

This is important.

During an elimination diet or veterinary food trial, even a small piece of chicken, cheese, biscuit or another pet’s food can interfere with the result.

PDSA advises that dogs undergoing a diagnostic food trial should eat only the prescribed trial diet unless the veterinary team says otherwise.

For more information, read Dog Food Allergies and Intolerances.

Can I give my puppy human food?

The occasional tiny suitable treat is different from replacing a puppy’s properly formulated diet.

Growing puppies have specific nutritional requirements.

Their main food should support growth, and I would be especially cautious about filling a puppy with extras that reduce how much complete puppy food they eat.

For puppy-specific guidance, use my Puppy Feeding Guide.

What about an older dog?

Age alone does not make human food either necessary or unsuitable.

The individual dog’s health matters much more.

An older dog may have:

• changing calorie needs
• dental problems
• reduced appetite
• medication
• kidney disease
• digestive changes
• muscle loss
• another condition requiring a specific diet.

If an older dog’s appetite or weight changes unexpectedly, I would not try to solve the problem by making their food increasingly rich or adding tempting leftovers indefinitely.

Speak to your veterinary practice.

See Senior Dog Nutrition Tips for the wider feeding picture.

Can human food replace dog food?

Not simply because the individual ingredients appear healthy.

A plate containing chicken, rice, carrots and peas may contain perfectly safe ingredients but still fail to provide all the nutrients a dog requires over the long term.

Complete nutrition is about balance as well as ingredient safety.

If you want to prepare your dog’s main diet yourself, it should be properly formulated rather than created from generic percentages found online.

Blue Cross advises that homemade diets are difficult to balance correctly unless prepared with specific veterinary nutritional guidance.

Read my updated Homemade Dog Food Guide for the full explanation.

What foods should never be casually shared?

Some ordinary human foods can cause serious poisoning in dogs.

Important examples include:

• chocolate
• grapes
• raisins, sultanas and currants
• onions
• garlic, leeks, chives and related foods
• xylitol
• macadamia nuts
• alcohol
• caffeine
• mouldy food.

Bones can also cause serious injuries, choking, obstruction or damage to the digestive tract. (PDSA)

This is deliberately not a complete toxic-food list.

Use my dedicated Toxic Foods for Dogs Guide for that.

What should I do if my dog eats something potentially toxic?

Contact your veterinary practice promptly.

Do not wait for symptoms to appear before seeking advice if you know your dog has eaten something potentially dangerous.

Keep the packaging if there is any.

Be ready to tell the vet:

• what was eaten
• approximately how much
• when it happened
• your dog’s approximate weight.

Do not try to make your dog vomit unless a veterinary professional specifically tells you to do so.

PDSA advises contacting a vet if you suspect a pet has eaten something harmful; foods such as chocolate, grapes, xylitol, onions, and macadamia nuts can require urgent attention.

My Dog Health and First Aid Hub covers other situations that may require veterinary help.

What if my dog steals human food?

Prevention comes first.

Keep dangerous food genuinely out of reach rather than relying entirely on your dog’s self-control.

That matters particularly with:

• chocolate
• Christmas food
• grapes and dried fruit
• chewing gum
• cakes and sweets
• bins
• handbags containing food
• children’s snacks.

It is also useful to teach a reward-based leave or drop skill.

Dogs Trust recommends teaching this by exchanging rather than forcibly taking objects away.

For reward-based training guidance, use my Dog Training Hub.

How I handle treats when I am caring for somebody else’s dog

I do not decide that a client’s dog should try a new snack because I happen to have something in the fridge.

I follow the owner’s agreed feeding and treat instructions.

That matters with ordinary dog walks and particularly with house sitting.

I want to know:

• which treats are allowed
• what foods must be avoided
• whether the dog has allergies or intolerances
• whether food is used for medication
• whether the dog has a veterinary diet
• how much food they normally receive
• whether other household pets need to eat separately.

Keeping the normal routine is usually more useful than introducing unnecessary novelty while the owner is away.

You can read about my House Sitting Service here.

Frequently asked questions

Can dogs eat food made for humans?

Some individual human foods are safe for many dogs in small amounts. That does not mean complete human meals are suitable. Ingredients, seasoning, fat content, portion size and the individual dog’s health all matter.

What is the healthiest human food to give a dog?

There is no single healthiest human food your dog needs.

Their nutritional needs should primarily be met by an appropriate complete diet. If you want an occasional extra, small pieces of suitable plain foods are usually more sensible than rich table scraps.

Is chicken a good dog treat?

Small pieces of plain, fully cooked, boneless chicken can make useful rewards for many dogs.

Avoid seasoning, sauces, bones and excessive quantities.

Can I give my dog cheese every day?

I would not routinely make cheese a large daily part of a dog’s diet.

Tiny pieces can work as particularly high-value rewards for some dogs, but cheese can be calorie-dense, and some dogs do not tolerate dairy well.

Can dogs eat scrambled egg?

Plain cooked egg can be an occasional treat for many healthy dogs.

Avoid butter, salt and seasoning, and remember that it is an extra rather than something your dog needs added to a complete diet.

Is it better to give fruit or dog treats?

Neither is automatically better.

The useful questions are whether the food is safe, appropriate for the individual dog and being fed in sensible quantities.

Can I give my dog leftovers every day?

I would avoid making leftovers a routine part of your dog’s diet.

They are difficult to account for nutritionally and may contain excessive fat, salt, seasoning or ingredients that are unsafe for dogs.

Can I use human food for recall training?

Yes, if the food is safe and your dog finds it rewarding.

Tiny pieces of a higher-value food can be particularly useful when practising difficult skills. Count those rewards as part of the day’s food intake.

Does my dog need vegetables?

No.

Complete dog food should already provide the nutrients your dog needs.

Suitable vegetables can be occasional treats or enrichment foods if your dog enjoys them.

Is human food bad for dogs?

That is too broad.

Some human foods are suitable in small amounts. Some are nutritionally unnecessary but non-toxic. Others are genuinely dangerous.

The particular food, amount and individual dog matter.

Human food should remain an extra

Sharing food with your dog does not need to be complicated.

Keep their complete food at the centre of the diet.

Choose extras deliberately.

Keep portions tiny.

Use food as a reward when it has a useful purpose.

Account for those extras in the overall intake.

Avoid unknown ingredients, heavily seasoned leftovers and foods you are not sure about.

And never assume something is safe for a dog simply because we can eat it.

For a food-by-food safety guide, continue with Can Dogs Eat Human Food? Safe Foods, Treats and Foods to Avoid.

For the overall nutrition cluster, return to the Dog Food & Nutrition Hub.

I am a professional dog walker and pet sitter, not a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nutritionist. This page provides general information about occasional foods and treats. Speak to your veterinary team before adding extras if your dog has a medical condition, food allergy or intolerance, a history of pancreatitis, a prescription diet, or unexplained changes in appetite, digestion, or weight.