A 2026 survey by Fish4Dogs revealed that 85% of dog owners give their pup treats every day, while 77% have fed their dog human food. Of those owners, 63% give their dog human food daily.

While it can be hard to resist those puppy eyes and wagging tails, these foods can add a lot more calories to your dog’s diet than you may realise, particularly for smaller breeds.

Treats are no longer just an occasional indulgence, and the habit of frequently feeding human food only intensifies throughout a dog’s life, with calorie exposure more than doubling on average from puppies to senior dogs.

Our research found that 82% of owners consider their dog to be an ideal weight, while 16% believe their pup is slightly overweight, and fewer than 1% describe their dog as overweight.

But are dog owners living in denial? The Royal Kennel Club estimates that obesity affects between 30% and 60% of pooches.

How well do owners understand their dog’s nutrition?

Generally, treats should make up less than 10% of a dog’s daily balanced diet.

However, Fish4Dogs research finds that 43% of owners don’t consistently factor treats into their dog’s daily intake.

A 2024 report by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) found that only 56% of owners know their dog’s ideal weight, despite 82% of Fish4Dogs survey respondents describing their dog’s weight as ideal.

Our findings also reveal that only 39% of dog owners have received nutritional guidance from a vet, while 28% have turned to online sources and 18% have received no guidance at all.

Nevertheless, 97% of owners are somewhat or very confident they know what foods are safe for their dog, including believing calorie-dense options like cheese are suitable (55%).

And yet, while research suggests that between 30% and 60% of the canine population is overweight, 73% of owners say they have never been concerned about their pup’s weight.

What are human foods really costing your dog?

Human foods can cost your pup a lot more than you might think, both in calories and the exercise needed to burn them off.

Careful portion control is essential when sharing food from your plate to help maintain a healthy, balanced diet for your dog. But 42% of owners state they don’t measure the human food portions they give their pup.

The most common human foods fed to dogs

Cheese

Cheese is the most commonly fed human food, given to dogs by 8% of owners. It’s deceptively high in fat and calories, with even a small amount containing around 40 calories. This alone would take a staggering 53 minutes to walk off for a small dog, compared to 12 minutes for a large breed.

A 30g portion for a dog is roughly equivalent to a person eating 2.5 burgers.

Eggs

7% of dog owners feed their pup eggs, which can be a good source of protein. However, it would still take between 11 and 47 minutes to walk off depending on breed and size.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is another popular treat, with 5% of owners offering it as a snack. This is a slightly lower-calorie option, taking around 16 minutes of walkies for small dogs to burn off.

Processed meats

Small breeds would need a whopping 66-minute walk to burn off just a small portion of processed meats, while larger dogs would need 23 minutes. Yet 4% of owners still feed this to their furry friends.

The impact on small dogs

A small dog pays roughly four times the price of a large dog for the same portion, yet Fish4Dogs found that 62% of small dog owners walk their dogs for 60 minutes or less, while 84% give treats daily.
Despite the significant amount of exercise required for pooches to walk off even small portions, 93% of owners believe their dog gets enough exercise for their diet.

How do feeding habits develop over a dog’s lifetime?

The Fish4Dogs survey found that puppy owners feed their pups the fewest calorie-dense human foods.

However, as dogs grow into adulthood and their senior years, owners’ habits of feeding human foods and treats become more frequent.

As a result, daily calorie consumption more than doubles over a dog’s lifetime.



While 40% of puppy owners give their pooches human food daily, this rises to 66% among owners of senior dogs. Cheese, in particular, sees daily feeding rates rise from 4% among puppy owners to 10% for senior dog owners.
This extra snacking adds up; on average, 3% of puppies are overweight, compared to 23% of senior dogs.

In spite of this, senior dog owners are the most confident in their knowledge of diet and exercise balance. Only 35% state that they would find a better understanding helpful, compared to 38% of adult dog owners and 58% of puppy owners.

Serve up a healthy plate your pooch will love with Fish4Dogs

When it comes to your beloved pooch’s wellbeing, dog owners trust Fish4Dogs.

According to our survey, 99% of owners say they are confident that Fish4Dogs is a good choice for their dog’s health.

Our delicious dog food and treats are naturally rich in protein and Omega 3, helping to support your pup’s mobility, cardiac and joint health, and a healthy coat. 

Fish contains a range of natural health benefits, including essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. It’s lower in calories than many other protein sources and is easily digestible, making it ideal for older dogs or those with sensitive tummies.

With 85% of dog owners giving treats daily, our low-calorie treats, including our popular Sea Jerky dental treats, are the perfect way to keep tails wagging while supporting your dog’s nutritional needs.

Our methodology

Fish4Dogs conducted a survey on 1,007 of its dog-owning customers in May 2026.  We asked owners of large, medium, and small dogs questions on the following:

•    Have you fed your dog human food? If so, how much and which items? 
•    If yes, why do they feed your dog human food? 
•    Level of guidance and knowledge around dog-safe foods, and desire for further education 
•    How much exercise does your dog engage in daily? 

To identify the calorie burden, we also conducted further analysis using the following data points:  

•    Average kcal per portion of human foods used in the study 
•    Average walk time identified in the study (60 min or less) 

We then used a dog exercise calculator to discover how much walking is required to burn off each treat for small, medium and large dogs.