Dog treats for large breeds
A large breed needs a treat sized for a bigger mouth and a stronger bite, rather than the same small treat a toy breed would get, but the calorie count still matters just as much. A treat that is too small for a big dog can be swallowed almost whole, and a big appetite is not the same thing as a licence to overfeed.
Why size matters as much as the treat itself
A treat sized for a small dog can disappear in one gulp for a large breed, which removes any of the chewing time that makes a treat satisfying and also raises the risk of it being swallowed without being properly chewed at all. A larger, more substantial treat gives a big dog something to actually work at.
That is particularly true of dental chews and long-lasting treats, where the point is the chewing itself rather than just the taste. A dental chew sized for a small breed does very little for a large dog's teeth if it is gone in seconds.
Watching the calorie side
A large dog's bigger appetite does not automatically mean more treats are appropriate, since the calorie content of a treat scales with its size too. A big treat for a big dog is still a treat that needs counting within their daily allowance, the same as it would for a smaller dog.
Treats generally work best kept to around ten per cent of a dog's daily calorie intake, whatever their size, which for an active large breed can still add up to a reasonable amount, but it is worth checking the pack rather than assuming size alone justifies unlimited feeding.
What actually changes at the bowl
Beyond size, a large breed's higher overall energy needs mean a slightly richer training treat is less likely to unbalance their daily intake than it would for a small dog eating a fraction of the calories. That gives a bit more flexibility with flavour and recipe than it does with portion size.
Choking risk is the other genuine consideration: a treat that is hard and small enough to be swallowed rather than chewed is a real hazard for any dog, but especially one that tends to gulp its food, which is common in larger, food-driven breeds.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Fresh Breath Treats 8pk
Chicken soft dog treats with parsley and peppermint oil for fresh breath
£2.45
Pedigree Dentastix Light Dog
Pedigree DentaStix Light dental chews across small, medium and large sizes
From£2.35
Dentalife Dental Oral Care Dog Chicken Chews
DENTALIFE chicken dental chews with medium-dog and large-dog variants
£1.65
Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Joints & Bones Treats
Grain-free salmon dog treats with salmon oil, glucosamine and chondroitin
£2.45
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Training Rewards Chicken & Liver 8pk
Grain-free chicken and liver soft bites for dog training rewards
£2.45
Forthglade Functional Soft Bite Treats - Plant Based Banana & Honey
Plant-based banana and honey soft dog treats for training rewards
£2.45
Forthglade Dental Calming Sticks
Dental chew sticks for dogs with added calming botanicals for evening routines
£2.99
Pedigree DentaStix Daily Dental Chews Small Dog
Daily Pedigree DentaStix dental chews for small dogs over the label age limit
£2.35
Whimzees Toothbrush Daily Dental Dog Chew
A vegetarian daily dental chew for dogs, shaped like a toothbrush
From£0.69
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Calming Treats 8pk
Grain-free turkey soft bites with a declared botanical blend
£2.45
Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Good Gut Health Treats
Grain-free chicken dog treats with ginger, chicory root and MOS
£2.45
Common questions
- Should I give my large dog more treats because they are bigger?
- Not simply because of size. A large dog does have higher overall calorie needs, but treats should still stay around ten per cent of daily intake, so a bigger dog gets a bigger allowance in absolute terms rather than an unlimited one.
- Are dental chews for large breeds different from small breed ones?
- Yes, they are usually sized and shaped differently, since a chew has to last long enough to do its job on a bigger jaw. A small-breed dental chew given to a large dog is likely to be swallowed too quickly to have much dental benefit.
- What is the choking risk with treats for large dogs?
- A treat that is small and hard relative to a large dog's mouth can be swallowed almost whole, particularly by a dog that tends to gulp food rather than chew it properly. Choosing a treat genuinely sized for your dog, not just its breed's typical adult weight, helps reduce that risk.
- Do large breed puppies need different treats from adult large dogs?
- A large breed puppy is still growing into their eventual size, so a treat sized for their current mouth and appetite, rather than their expected adult size, is the safer and more practical choice while they are still developing.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.