Treats are one of the easiest places to go wrong with a dachshund, and I say that as someone who spends a good chunk of my week testing and vetting products for this site. It’s not that treats are bad — it’s that our breed’s body doesn’t have much margin for error. A few extra calories a day, repeated for months, shows up as real weight on a dog whose spine is already working overtime. So I want to walk through what actually makes a treat a good choice for a dachshund, how much is too much, which treats deserve a permanent spot in the cupboard, and which ones I’d skip entirely.
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Why Treat Choices Matter More for Dachshunds
A dachshund’s long back and short legs mean every extra pound translates into more pressure on the spine and a higher risk of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). That’s not a reason to cut treats out of your dog’s life — treats are genuinely useful for training, bonding, and just making a good dog’s day a little better — but it is a reason to be more deliberate about them than you might be with a larger, sturdier breed. I’ve covered the bigger picture of weight management and back health in more detail, and treats are usually the first place I tell owners to look when a dachshund has crept up a pound or two without an obvious cause. Treats rarely come with a feeding guide the way kibble does, which makes it easy to lose track of how many calories you’re actually adding to the day.
How Many Treats Is Too Many? The 10% Rule
The standard veterinary guideline is that treats should make up no more than about 10% of a dog’s total daily calories, with the rest coming from a complete, balanced diet. For a miniature dachshund eating somewhere around 300–400 calories a day, that’s roughly 30–40 calories from treats — which is less than it sounds like once you start checking labels, since a single mid-size dog biscuit can easily run 40–50 calories on its own. Standard dachshunds have more room, but not as much as their size might suggest, since they’re still a breed prone to weight gain relative to their activity level. If you’re not sure where your dog’s baseline calorie needs fall, our feeding chart by age and weight is a good starting point for figuring out how much treat “budget” you actually have to work with.
In practice, I think in terms of treat size rather than doing calorie math every day. Breaking a treat into thirds or quarters for routine use, and saving a full-size treat for something that actually warrants it, keeps most dachshunds comfortably under that 10% line without much effort.
What Makes a Treat “Healthy” for a Dachshund
When I’m evaluating a treat for this breed specifically, I’m looking at a short list of things:
- Short, recognizable ingredient lists — a single named protein or vegetable beats a long list of fillers, flavorings, and preservatives you can’t picture in your kitchen.
- Calorie density — freeze-dried and dehydrated treats are often lower in calories per piece than soft, chewy ones, simply because moisture has been removed rather than fat added.
- Appropriate size and texture — dachshunds have small mouths and, especially as they age, dental issues are common. Treats that are too hard can crack teeth; treats that are too large can be a choking risk if your dog tends to gulp rather than chew.
- No added sugar or excessive salt — neither does a dachshund any favors, and sugar in particular can contribute to the same weight creep we’re trying to avoid.
None of this means treats have to be boring. It just means reading the back of the bag matters more than the marketing on the front.
Everyday Treat Categories Worth Keeping on Hand
Rather than pointing to specific products, I find it’s more useful to think in categories, since what’s available and well-reviewed changes constantly:
- Freeze-dried single-protein treats (chicken, beef liver, salmon) — typically just one ingredient, naturally low in carbs, and easy to break into small training-size pieces. Stewart Freeze-Dried Beef Liver Treats are a reliable single-ingredient option I keep stocked.
- Dehydrated vegetables (sweet potato, green beans) — genuinely low-calorie, and a good option for a dachshund who needs more treat volume without more calories. Wholesome Pride Sweet Potato Chews are a one-ingredient option worth trying.
- Dental chews sized for small breeds — look specifically for small or “mini” sizing, since a chew designed for a 60-pound dog is both a choking hazard and far too many calories for ours. Greenies Teenie Dental Treats are sized correctly for most adult dachshunds.
- Frozen treats in hot weather — plain frozen banana slices or a small frozen dollop of plain yogurt can be a low-calorie way to help a dachshund cool down without reaching for something richer.
Training Treats: Small, Soft, and Fast
Training calls for a different profile than a reward you hand out once a day. You want something your dog can eat in roughly one second flat, without pausing to chew, so the treat doesn’t interrupt the flow of a training session. Soft, pea-sized pieces work best — freeze-dried treats broken down small, tiny bits of plain cooked chicken, or commercial training treats made specifically in that “pea-sized” format, like Zuke’s Mini Naturals Training Treats. Because training sessions can mean a dozen or more treats in a sitting, this is exactly where calorie density matters most; a high-value but tiny treat lets you reward generously without blowing through your dog’s daily budget. If you’re working through basic obedience with a puppy or a dog that’s new to structured training, our guide to training a dachshund puppy goes into how to time and pace treat-based rewards for the best results.
Treats to Avoid or Use With Caution
A few categories deserve extra scrutiny for this breed specifically:
- Rawhide — softens as it’s chewed and can become a swallowing hazard; I’d skip it for a breed this size.
- Bully sticks and other long-lasting chews — fine in moderation, but watch portion size closely, since they’re calorie-dense, and supervise so your dog doesn’t swallow a piece that’s gotten small enough to choke on.
- Bacon-flavored or very fatty treats — dachshunds have some predisposition toward pancreatitis, and rich, fatty treats are one of the more avoidable triggers.
- Anything containing xylitol, onion, or garlic — these show up in some “people food” style treats and baked goods and are genuinely dangerous, not just something to limit.
- Hard antlers and bones — tough enough to crack a tooth, which is a real risk given how many small-breed dogs end up needing dental work later in life.
Homemade Treats: A Simple Low-Calorie Option
If you want full control over what’s going into your dog, homemade treats are easier than they sound. Thin slices of sweet potato, baked low and slow until they’re chewy-crisp, make a reliable single-ingredient option that costs a fraction of the packaged equivalent. Steamed green beans, cut into bite-size pieces, work well as a low-calorie filler treat for dogs who always seem to want “more.” Plain cooked chicken or turkey, shredded small and kept in the fridge for a few days, makes an excellent training treat with zero additives. The main thing to watch with homemade treats is that they still count toward that 10% calorie guideline — “homemade” doesn’t mean unlimited, even though it often feels that way.
Adjusting Treats for Senior or Overweight Dachshunds
If your dachshund is already carrying extra weight or is getting older and less active, the calculus shifts a bit. This is the point where I’d lean almost entirely on low-calorie categories — dehydrated vegetables, tiny bits of lean protein, or even using a few pieces of your dog’s regular kibble as the “treat” during training. It sounds anticlimactic, but a dog that’s food-motivated often doesn’t care that the reward is just their normal food, and it keeps the day’s total calories honest. For a senior dog, softer textures also matter more, since dental sensitivity and jaw strength both tend to decline with age.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many treats can I give my dachshund per day?
As a general guideline, treats should make up no more than about 10% of your dog’s total daily calories. For most miniature dachshunds, that works out to roughly 30–40 calories a day from treats, though it varies by size, age, and activity level.
Are dental chews safe for dachshunds?
Yes, as long as you choose a size made for small breeds and supervise your dog while chewing. Avoid chews hard enough to risk cracking teeth, and remove any piece that’s been chewed down small enough to swallow whole.
What human foods make good treats for a dachshund?
Plain cooked chicken, steamed green beans, and small pieces of sweet potato are all good low-calorie options. Avoid anything with added salt, sugar, seasoning, or sauces, and always check that an ingredient isn’t on the unsafe list before sharing it.
Can treats cause weight gain in dachshunds?
Absolutely, and it’s one of the most common ways dachshunds end up overweight, since treat calories are easy to lose track of compared to measured meals. Keeping treats small, low-calorie, and within the 10% guideline is the simplest way to prevent this.
The Bottom Line
Treats don’t have to be a weak spot in an otherwise careful diet. Choosing single-ingredient, lower-calorie options, sizing them down for training, and keeping a rough sense of that 10% guideline in your head covers most of what matters. Your dachshund’s back will thank you for the extra few pounds you never let creep on — and honestly, so will your vet bill.
