Are you like me, always on the hunt for healthy, high-value dog treats that will not break your bank account?
Christina Bluhme
I'm a dog lover, a dog sports enthusiast and a dog trainer based in Surrey, UK. Also, I started this blog as I love sharing relevant, practical puppy and dog training tips. I am the founder of Dogitivity Positive Puppy and Dog Training, Surrey, UK.
It is no secret that high-value dog training treats are the key to positive reinforcement dog training. In reward-based training, we use training treats for teaching new behaviours and reward and maintain all the right choices our dogs make.
Your dog will most likely go through many dog treats during the day, or are you holding back because you worry that store-bought dog treats are laden with preservatives, salt, fat and other unnatural ingredients?
By replacing poor quality, processed dog training treats with healthy homemade dog treats; we can avoid harming our dog's body.
What is the best Healthy dog Training treat?
All dogs have preferences of their favorite preferred high value treats for dog training. High-value dog training treats are small, tasteful, low calorie and healthy.
Like us, our dogs grow tired of eating the same treats day after day.
If homemade dog treats are easy to make, don't crumble in your treat pouch; if they are soft, rubbery, easy to divide, and your dog loves them, then I would say that they are the perfect dog treats.
I can't wait to share my secret hacks with you.
Making homemade dog treats can be a relaxing activity for you and one that I am sure your dog will enjoy. It saves you from having to buy expensive dog treats, you can buy cheaper ingredients from your grocery store, and when you make homemade dog treats, you know exactly what goes into them.
Table of Contents
The most toxic foods for dogs
Before we start, you should know what foods dogs absolute cannot eat without getting sick. Dogs are scavengers and can get their paws into food which is poisonous for them. Even if they only eat a minimal amount can, the effect be fatal. Always contact your vet immediately.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, contains Theobromine which can cause kidney failure.
Corn on the cob, corn is dangerous to dogs, but the cob definitely is. It can cause severe blockage in your dog's intestines.
Grapes and raisins, both grapes and raisins, contain toxins that can cause kidney failure and liver damage.
Artificial sweeteners - Xylitol, be careful to read ingredients list Xylitol is mainly used in low-calorie products. When making homemade treats be especially careful with Peanutbutter as some brands contain it. Xylitol can cause hypoglycaemia.
Cooked bones, most dogs low raw bones and feeding non-weight bearing bones is an excellent supplement to the daily meals. However, cooked bones are easy to splinter, which can, in the worse cases, cause blockage or even perforation of the guts.
Garlic, chives and onions can cause an upset stomach and blood cell damage.
Macadamia nuts can impact your dog's muscle and nervous system, causing panting, weakness and swollen limbs.
Visit the following link if you like to learn more about poisonous foods for dogs. Click here.
Here are Ten Tasty Recipes for Homemade Healthy Dog Training Treats!
Easily made to make your dog happy, healthy and motivated for dog training.
Let's begin with my all-time favourite dog training treat recipe. The dog treats are grain-free, easy to make, rubbery, and my dog loves them. I usually use either lamb liver or tuna, but the trick is to use whatever protein source or leftover you have available.
The other trick which makes the dog treats grain-free, rubbery and non-crumbly is the tapioca flour.
Lastly, my ultimate hack is the silicone pyramid mat that I promise you that you cannot live without from now on.
500 homemade dog Treats with Tuna
Ingredients:
2 eggs (shells and all)
2 Cans of tuna
125 gr Tapioca flour
1 Tbs Parmesan Cheese
How to:
Preheat your oven to 170°C.
Puree the whole eggs with tuna(and water from the can) in the food processor.
Mix eggs and tuna with the dry ingredients. We are looking for consistency, very similar to when you make pancakes.
Pour the mixture into the baking moulds.
Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and firm.
Let the dog treats cool before it's time for dog training.
500 homemade dog Treats with lamb liver
Ingredients:
2 eggs (shells and all)
400 gr of lamb liver
200 gr of Tapioca flour
1 Tbs Parmesan Cheese
How to:
Preheat your oven to 170°C.
Dice the lamb liver
Puree the whole eggs with lamb liver in the food processor.
Mix eggs and liver with the dry ingredients. We are looking for consistency, very similar to when you make pancakes.
Pour the mixture into the baking molds.
Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and firm.
Let the dog treats cool before it's time for dog training.
Apple (No) Crumble, fruity healthy dog treats.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. I don't know about your dog, but mine starts drooling the second I take my first bite of an apple. Hence this recipe with delicious healthy apples and coconut flour.
Ingredients:
100 gr Coconut flour
100 gr Tapioca flour
1 Cup Unsweetened apple sauce (I made the sauce boiling two apples in a bit of water)
2 whole egg
How to:
Puree the apple sauce with the whole egg (remember shells and all)
Mix the ingredients into a pie dough-like consistency
Use your hands to flatten the dough into a 5mm thick disc.
Cover with plastic film and let it chill for 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 170°C.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown or firm. Cut the dough immediately into small pieces.
Let the dog treats cool before it's time for dog training.
A Dog's dream - when a high-value dog treat matters.
The perfect dog training treats for recall training in very challenging environments. Are you looking for recall inspiration?
Then this blog might be helpful: 5 Most Important Steps to teach a Reliable Recall.
Ingredients:
70 gr grated cheese
2 whole eggs
1.5 dl stock (low in salt)
3 slices of fried bacon
190 gr whole wheat flour
80 gr Tapioca
How to:
Preheat the oven 170
Pure egg, grated cheese and bacon in the food processor.
Mix dry and wet ingredients into a dough-like consistency.
Roll the dough into a tube, no wider than your finger.
Cut the dough into fine slices and place on a baking tray (with a baking sheet)
Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown or firm.
Let the dog treats cool before it's time for dog training.
Liver Bites
Easy to make, only one ingredient, and easy to stock in the freezer, the ideal homemade dog treat recipe.
Ingredients:
Liver (chicken, cow, lamb or pork)
How to:
Cut the liver into fine slices.
Wash every slice in cold water
Boil for 20-30 minutes
Let cool off while preheating the oven to 150
Bake in the oven for 2.5 hours
Let the dog treats cool before it's time for dog training.
Do you need inspiration for how to use all these delicious homemade dog treats and have fun training your dog?
Read;
Carrot & Chicken Dog training treats
Ingredients:
425 gr minced chicken
2 shredded carrots
2 whole eggs
125 Tapioca flour
1/2 dl Olive oil
How to:
Preheat your oven to 170°C.
Puree the whole eggs with minced chicken, carrots, olive oil and tapioca flour.
Pour the mixture into the baking moulds.
Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and firm.
Let the dog treats cool before it's time for dog training.
500 Multi berries dog treats
Ingredients:
150 gr mixed frozen berries
1 whole egg
1 tbsp cold-pressed oil
50 gr Coconut fibre flour
How to:
Preheat your oven to 150°C.
Puree the 4 ingredients in the food processor.
Pour the mixture into the baking moulds.
Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown and firm.
Let the dog treats cool before it's time for dog training.
* Dogitivity is an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small percentage of the sales prices of the products linked to with no additional cost for you. I only recommend products that I use and like.
