Table of Contents
- Quick answer
- The treat math problem
- Commercial treat recommendations
- Single-ingredient whole food treats
- Homemade treat recipes
- Dental chews that actually work
- Training treats: quantity vs. quality
- Treats for dogs with allergies
- Treats to avoid entirely
- How to cut back without guilt
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answer
The best treats for French Bulldogs are single-ingredient, low-calorie options making up no more than 10% of daily calories.
For a 25-pound Frenchie eating 700 calories per day, that's 70 treat calories max. Two small training treats. Or one medium dental chew. Not both.
Our top picks: Zuke's Mini Naturals (3 calories each), Charlie Bear's Liver Crunch (2 calories each), and Whimzees Dental Treats (sized for small mouths). For whole-food options, boiled chicken breast, baby carrots, and frozen blueberries are hard to beat.
The treat math problem
French Bulldogs are small dogs with low calorie budgets. A single large Milk-Bone biscuit? 120 calories. That's 17% of a 25-pound Frenchie's entire daily allowance. In one treat.
Two Milk-Bones plus a dental chew. You're at 30% of the daily diet from treats alone.
Real-world calorie breakdown for a 25-lb Frenchie (700 cal/day):
| Treat | Calories | % of Daily Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Large Milk-Bone biscuit | 120 | 17% |
| Dentastix (medium) | 75 | 11% |
| 1 tbsp peanut butter | 95 | 14% |
| 1 oz cheddar cheese | 115 | 16% |
| Beggin' Strip | 30 | 4% |
| Zuke's Mini Natural (1) | 3 | 0.4% |
| Baby carrot | 4 | 0.6% |
Most owners have no idea. "Just a few" treats usually adds up to 200-300 calories. Then they wonder why the vet says their Frenchie is overweight.
The 10% rule isn't a suggestion. It's a ceiling. Exceed it regularly, your Frenchie gains weight. No exceptions.
Commercial treat recommendations
Zuke's Mini Naturals — Best Overall
Calories: 3 per treat | Price: ~$8 for 6 oz
Gold standard for training. 3 calories each means 20 rewards and you're still under 10% of the daily budget. Clean ingredient list — real meat first, no corn, wheat, or soy. Soft texture breaks apart easily for tiny Frenchie mouths.
Rabbit, duck, and salmon flavors tend to cause fewer issues than chicken for allergy-prone Frenchies.
Break each Mini Natural into thirds for training. Your dog cares about frequency, not size.
Charlie Bear's Original Crunch — Best Budget Option
Calories: 2 per treat | Price: ~$6 for 16 oz
Flat, crunchy discs. Around for decades for good reason. At 2 calories each, they're the lowest-calorie commercial treat that dogs actually enjoy. The liver flavor has near-universal appeal.
Downside: contains wheat flour and corn syrup. Won't work for grain-sensitive dogs. For the average healthy Frenchie, perfectly fine in moderation.
Whimzees Dental Treats — Best Dental Chew
Calories: 44 (XS) to 89 (M) | Price: ~$20 for 48-pack
VOHC-accepted for plaque and tartar. Vegetarian — no animal protein allergy concerns. The ridges reach back teeth where Frenchies build the most tartar.
Most adult Frenchies do well with XS or Small. Medium is too large and adds unnecessary calories.
One per day, max. At 44 calories for XS, that's 6% of the daily budget. Factor it in.
Fruitables Skinny Minis — Best for Weight Loss
Calories: 2.5 per treat | Price: ~$6 for 5 oz
Formulated for calorie-restricted dogs. Pumpkin and apple flavors are genuinely popular. The added fiber helps with satiety — useful when your Frenchie is dieting and staring at you with those eyes.
Single-ingredient whole food treats
The simplest, healthiest, and cheapest treats are whole foods from your kitchen.
| Food | Calories | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boiled chicken breast (1 oz) | 35 | High-value reward; excellent for training |
| Baby carrot | 4 | Crunchy, fiber-rich |
| Frozen blueberry | 1 | Antioxidants, refreshing in summer |
| Apple slice (no seeds) | 10-15 | Remove seeds and core |
| Green bean | 2 | Filling, low calorie |
| Plain pumpkin puree (1 tsp) | 5 | Digestive aid |
| Cooked sweet potato cube | 15 | Beta-carotene, fiber |
| Banana slice | 10-12 | Potassium; some dogs love it, some don't |
| Plain Greek yogurt (1 tsp) | 5 | Probiotics; check for xylitol |
| Cooked egg white | 8 | High protein, no fat |
The chicken rule: Small pieces of boiled chicken breast are the highest-value training treat for most dogs. Unmotivated during training? Switch to chicken. The calorie cost (35 per ounce) is worth the behavioral response.
The vegetable rule: Baby carrots, green beans, pumpkin. Your friends when your Frenchie is hungry but you've hit the calorie limit. Filling. Healthy. Most Frenchies accept them, especially if introduced early.
Homemade treat recipes
Peanut Butter Pumpkin Biscuits
Makes: ~60 small treats | Calories: ~12 each
Mix 1 cup pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling), 1/4 cup natural peanut butter, and 2 eggs. Gradually add 2.5 cups oat flour until dough forms. Roll to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into 1-inch shapes. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely. Store airtight for 1 week or freeze for 3 months.
Check your peanut butter for xylitol. Also called birch sugar, wood sugar, E967. Lethal to dogs in any amount. Appears in some "natural" and "no sugar added" brands.
Chicken & Sweet Potato Jerky
Makes: ~40 pieces | Calories: ~8 each
Slice 1 lb chicken breast and 1 medium sweet potato into 1/4-inch strips. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 200°F for 2-3 hours until dry and leathery. Refrigerate for 2 weeks.
Frozen Yogurt Drops
Makes: ~50 drops | Calories: ~3 each
Mix 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (no xylitol) with 1/4 cup pureed pumpkin or mashed banana. Drop teaspoon-sized dots onto parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze 2 hours until solid. Store in freezer. Great for teething puppies.
Dental chews that actually work
Not all dental chews are equal. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) maintains a list of products proven effective in clinical trials.
VOHC-accepted options for small dogs:
- Whimzees (all varieties)
- Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent chews
- Purina Dentalife
- Greenies (high calorie — small size only)
Look for: Size-appropriate, VOHC seal, no rawhide, under 50 calories per piece.
Avoid: Most "dental" biscuits (too soft), rawhide (impaction, bacteria), antlers and hooves (tooth fractures — too hard for Frenchie jaws).
Training treats: quantity vs. quality
Training requires high-volume rewards. Strategic sizing solves the calorie problem.
High-frequency rewards (basic obedience, leash training): Smallest treat possible — Zuke's Mini broken into thirds, or individual kibble pieces. Reward every 2-3 seconds of correct behavior. Budget: 15-20 calories per 10-minute session.
Medium-value rewards (new commands, mild distractions): Small pieces of commercial treats or chicken. Every 5-10 seconds. Budget: 20-30 calories per session.
Jackpot rewards (difficult behavior, perfect response): Larger piece of chicken or several treats rapid-fire. Sparingly — 1-2 per session.
The kibble trick: Measure daily food in the morning. Set aside 10-15% for training treats throughout the day. Keeps calories in budget. Ensures your dog works for part of their meal.
Treats for dogs with allergies
Food-allergic Frenchies often get exposed through hidden treat ingredients.
Chicken-allergic dogs:
- Zuke's rabbit or salmon Mini Naturals
- Whimzees (vegetarian)
- Single-ingredient rabbit jerky
- Baby carrots, green beans, blueberries
Beef-allergic dogs:
- Chicken-based treats (if chicken tolerated)
- Fish-based treats
- Vegetarian options
Grain-sensitive dogs:
- Zuke's grain-free line
- Single-ingredient whole foods
- Grain-free biscuits with oat or coconut flour
Elimination diet exception: If your Frenchie is on a strict elimination diet, ALL treats must match the diet protein. Use prescription kibble pieces or hydrolyzed protein treats from your vet. No exceptions. Not even one.
Treats to avoid entirely
| Treat | Why |
|---|---|
| Rawhide | Impaction risk, Salmonella, chemical processing |
| Pig ears | Extremely high fat (25%+), Salmonella, calorie bomb |
| Antlers, hooves, bones | Tooth fracture risk |
| Jerky treats from China | Linked to kidney disease (2007-2015) |
| Propylene glycol | Toxic to cats; questionable for dogs |
| High-fat biscuits (>15% fat) | Pancreatitis risk, weight gain |
| Artificial colors | Unnecessary; linked to hyperactivity |
| Grapes, raisins, currants | Kidney failure |
| Chocolate-covered anything | Theobromine toxicity |
| Any treat with xylitol | Hypoglycemia and liver failure |
How to cut back without guilt
Realized you're over-treating? The transition feels emotionally difficult. Frenchies are professional guilt-trippers.
Switch to bulk fillers. Replace half your treats with baby carrots, green beans, or pumpkin. Same number of rewards. Fewer calories.
Use praise and play. Not all rewards need to be edible. Verbal praise, petting, brief play sessions, favorite toy access. Alternate food with non-food rewards.
Break treats smaller. Cut every treat into quarters. Same taste. Same positive association. Fewer calories per reward.
Scheduled treat times. Designate 2-3 "treat times" per day instead of constant handouts. Helps you track quantity.
Remember the long game. An overweight Frenchie lives 1.5-2 years less than a lean one. Those extra treats today cost you years together. That's veterinary epidemiology, not drama.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many treats per day?
Calculate 10% of daily calories, divide by calories per treat. 25-lb Frenchie (700 cal/day) eating Zuke's Mini Naturals (3 cal each): 70 ÷ 3 = ~23 treats max. Dental chew (44 cal) included? 70 - 44 = 26 cal remaining, or ~8 treats.
Are raw carrots safe?
Yes. Cut into small pieces. Whole baby carrots can choke brachycephalic dogs. Slice lengthwise into quarters.
Can Frenchies have peanut butter?
Yes, in small amounts (1 teaspoon ~30 calories). Check the label for xylitol. Use natural peanut butter with no added sugar, salt, or palm oil.
What about cheese?
Most Frenchies love cheese. It's calorie-dense. One ounce of cheddar = 115 calories. Tiny pieces as high-value training rewards only.
Treats are a tool. Not a love language. The kindest thing you can do for your Frenchie is keep them lean.
Choose low-calorie options. Measure portions. Account for dental chews. Use vegetables and praise as alternatives. Your Frenchie will be just as happy with a baby carrot as with a high-fat biscuit. And they'll live longer for it.
Related guides: Best Food for French Bulldogs: Vet-Reviewed Picks 2026, How Much to Feed a French Bulldog: Weight-Based Chart, French Bulldog Food Allergies: Elimination Diet Guide