Checked against the SaluPaws toxic-food database
Most dogs can enjoy cheese as an occasional treat. Three cautions: never blue cheese (Stilton, Roquefort — the mould produces a toxin dangerous to dogs), some dogs are lactose intolerant, and cheese is a calorie bomb — one small cube can be most of a small dog's daily treat budget.
Safer picks: small amounts of cheddar, mozzarella or plain cottage cheese — cottage cheese is the lightest option and gentler on lactose-sensitive dogs.
Cheddar is roughly 120 kcal per 30 g. A typical 10 kg neutered adult needs about 630 kcal/day, so the 10% treat budget is ~63 kcal — one 15 g cube, with no other treats that day. A pea-sized training piece is ~4 kcal, so a twenty-treat training session quietly spends most of the budget too. Get your dog's exact numbers here.
Many adult dogs produce little lactase, the enzyme that digests milk sugar. Hard cheeses like cheddar are naturally low in lactose, which is why most dogs tolerate small amounts fine — but if your dog gets soft stools, wind or diarrhoea after dairy, skip cheese entirely. There are plenty of lower-risk high-value treats.
Log "cheddar cube" in SaluPaws and it counts against your dog's personalised daily calorie target — so training treats and table scraps stop being invisible calories. And if a flavoured cheese contains onion or chives, the toxic-food alert catches it as you log.
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Inside the 10% treat rule: about one 15 g cube of cheddar for a 10 kg dog, assuming no other treats that day. For small dogs, stick to pea-sized training pieces. Use the calorie calculator for your dog's exact budget.
Contact your vet, especially if it was more than a nibble or your dog is small. Roquefortine C can cause vomiting, tremors and seizures; your vet will judge the risk from the amount and your dog's size.
It's the lightest mainstream option — lower in fat and lactose than most cheeses, at roughly 100 kcal per 100 g. Plain only, and the same portion discipline applies.
Tiny amounts of mild cheese are fine for most puppies and useful for training, but their daily calorie budgets are small and growth diets should stay balanced — keep it to occasional pea-sized rewards.
Sources: The Kennel Club — household poisons · calorie figures are typical label values for cheddar. This page is general guidance, not a substitute for professional veterinary advice.