Treats that earn their place, the common foods that are toxic to dogs, and the nine rules we would put on every family's refrigerator.
This chapter is part of our evidence-based feeding guide for the Lagotto Romagnolo. The two-minute summary, the research library with every study cited, and the questions families ask live on the guide overview.
Treats That Earn Their Place
Treats should make up no more than 10% of daily caloric intake. That is the standard figure from the American Animal Hospital Association’s weight management guidelines, and it is more restrictive than most families realize when they actually count what they give.
We use treats strategically rather than affectionately. The best treats are the ones your dog will work for but that also fit your body condition management: small, low-calorie, easy to deliver. Pieces of the puppy’s own kibble count. So does a frozen carrot. So does a sliver of lean chicken breast. What does not count is a continuous drip of high-calorie training treats, cheese, peanut butter, and leftovers from dinner plates. Those add up to far more than 10% of the daily calorie budget in most households, and they are the single biggest driver of the 59% obesity figure the APOP reports.
Things to avoid: rawhide (choking and obstruction risk, variable manufacturing), cooked bones of any kind (splinter risk), pig ears and bully sticks in quantity (calorie-dense and often contaminated), xylitol-containing anything (see toxic list below), grapes and raisins (see toxic list below), fatty scraps from the table (pancreatitis risk).
Things that work: the puppy’s own kibble, frozen vegetables (carrots, green beans), small pieces of apple (no seeds), blueberries, plain cooked lean meat, commercial training treats that list a single protein and that you count against the 10% budget. Nothing fancy. Nothing that breaks the pattern.
Toxic Foods, The Complete List
Some foods are harmless to humans and dangerous to dogs. The mechanism varies. Some are toxic at small doses, some cause damage only in quantity, some are individually variable. Print this list or save the interactive version below and make sure everyone in the household knows it. Pediatric accidents in children are a good analogy: the hazards are not hidden, but they do need to be known by everyone who interacts with the dog.
If your dog has eaten any of these, the two numbers you want saved in your phone are your regular veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Poison Control is staffed 24 hours a day by veterinary toxicologists; there is a consultation fee but they are the people who actually wrote the textbook chapters on this stuff, and they can guide you through whether the amount your dog ate warrants emergency care.
Nine Rules for Feeding Your Dog
Everything in this essay distilled into a reference card. Save it, print it, share it.
Frequently Asked Questions
›Which foods are most dangerous for dogs?
The severe group, where you should seek emergency veterinary care, includes chocolate (dark is worst), xylitol (birch sugar), grapes, raisins and currants, onions and garlic in any form, leeks, chives and shallots, macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine and raw yeast dough. Others, such as cooked bones, fatty scraps and avocado, cause moderate problems and warrant a call to your vet.
›What should I do if my dog eats something toxic?
Call your regular veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, which is staffed 24 hours a day by veterinary toxicologists (a consultation fee applies). They can tell you whether the amount your dog ate warrants emergency care. Save both numbers in your phone before you need them.
Questions About Feeding Your Dog?
Nutrition decisions compound over years. If you have a specific question about your own dog, what to feed, when to switch, what supplement to try, how to read a label. we’re happy to answer one. Not a consultation. Not a service. Just a question, answered from eleven years of experience and the peer-reviewed literature this article draws on.
If you’re considering a Lagotto and want to know what we do at Northwest Lagotto, the waitlist and breed pages are the right places to start.
Sources for This Chapter
- Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. 2024 State of U.S. Pet Obesity Report.
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods. World Small Animal Veterinary Association.