Last Updated on July 11, 2023 by ellen
Are you looking for homemade dog training treats? Check out my easy puppy training treats recipe and make a batch today.
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Homemade Dog Training Treats
Making homemade puppy treats for your dog is a wonderful way to reward good behavior. Did you have a chance to try these Christmas dog treats?
Or, these pumpkin peanut butter dog treats are always a popular homemade dog snack. Why not make a batch today for your dog?
Dogs are stubborn creatures that don’t always respond to training. It can be hard to get your dog to listen when you’re trying to train them. Some dogs simply won’t do what you want, especially if they think it’s in their best interest not to comply with your commands.
With the right treats and a little patience, getting your dog on board is easy! Just follow these simple steps and you’ll have a well-behaved pup in no time!
What can I use for training treats?
Because you’ll be rewarding good behavior regularly, you want to make sure that the treats you’re offering are healthy. These homemade training treats are a perfect option.
But, if you are short on time and you want something you can supplement with, these are a few healthy options you can buy to keep on hand.
- Fresh meat or cheese
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals
- Gerber’s Baby Food
- Your dog’s daily kibble
What are homemade dog training treats?
If you want to make your dog healthy, then homemade training treats are the best option for dogs. You can easily make them at home by following this easy recipe. But, there are certain things that you should keep in mind while preparing homemade dog treats.
Check out these tips for training your dog.
Why should you make your own dog training treats?
After all, you can buy them in the grocery store. They look and smell just like what I make at home, right? Yes, they do! The only difference is that they are not as fresh or healthy for your dog.
Creating homemade dog training treats from scratch allows you to be flexible and find out what your dog likes the most. You can also make sure that your dog is getting healthy, nutritious food.
You may want to check out these single ingredient dog treats.
Ingredients needed to make homemade dog training treats
- 2 1/4 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
- 3 Tbsp Water
- 1 Over Ripe Banana
- 1/3 Cup Coconut Oil
- 1/4 Cup Liver Sprinkles
Steps to making homemade dog training treats
- Add peeled banana, coconut oil and liver sprinkles to the food processor. Mix until well blended.
- Add 2 cups flour and water and mix until fully blended.
- Using the rest of the flour dust the counter or pastry mat then dump the mixture onto it.
- With your hand’s press the mixture into a ball.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten the ball until it is about as double-thick as a pie crust.
- Using a pizza cutter or knife cut the dough into strips then cut across those strips to make small pieces. I did mine about 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch but you can cut to any size you want.
- Place pieces on a silicone mat on a baking sheet. Space them out so they are touching as little as you can. I had to do 3 cookie sheets to bake all mine. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 400 for 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool.
NOTE: If you cut your pieces smaller, they will take less time to bake so keep an eye on them and take them out when they are lightly golden.
How to use these?
There are some dog training treats that work well, and others that simply do not. The most important factor is your dog’s motivation to perform the behavior in order to earn a reward. Using food as a reward works for just about every type of dog, but if your dog isn’t crazy about his kibble there are other options to explore.
Training treats are a great way to entice your pup into learning new behaviors. A lure is when you place the treat in your hand and use it as motivation for them to follow along behind.
This can be helpful if they have trouble following directions on their own. While luring takes away some of the pressure from training, using one means that you control where they go by controlling what’s scented closest to their nose!
Trainers suggest when training your pup to use a prompt instead of an actual food lure because they can get used to following the hand motion in place of real food. The promise by way of the gesture has always delivered something yummy for them before.
This means it’s easy enough just waiting and watching as their owner makes some a “come here” motion with their arm.
Tips for storing homemade dog training treats
It’s important to note that storing homemade treats in the fridge or freezer will prolong their shelf life and keep them fresh. Homemade training treats do not have preservatives, so it’s best to keep them in the refrigerator.
Related reading
- Peanut butter pupcakes recipe
- Healthy homemade dog treats
- Homemade Christmas treats
- Safe homemade dog treats
- Homemade treats for cats
- Best freeze dried raw dog food
- Homemade dog toothpaste
Homemade Dog Training Treats Recipe
Are you looking for homemade dog training treats? Check out my easy puppy training treats recipe and make a batch today.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
- 3 Tbsp Water
- 1 Over Ripe Banana
- 1/3 Cup Coconut Oil
- 1/4 Cup Liver Sprinkles
Instructions
- Add peeled banana, coconut oil and liver sprinkles to the food processor. Mix until well blended.
- Add 2 cups flour and water and mix until fully blended.
- Using the rest of the flour dust the counter or pastry mat then dump the mixture onto it.
- With your hand’s press the mixture into a ball.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten the ball until it is about as double-thick as a pie crust.
- Using a pizza cutter or knife cut the dough into strips then cut across those strips to make small pieces. I did mine about 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch but you can cut to any size you want.
- Place pieces on a silicone mat on a baking sheet. Space them out so they are touching as little as you can. I had to do 3 cookie sheets to bake all mine. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 400 for 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Notes
If you cut your pieces smaller, they will take less time to bake so keep an eye on them and take them out when they are lightly golden
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
100Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 17Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Ellen runs a small pet sitting business in southern Vermont. She has experience with a variety of small animals, dogs and cats. She has also cared for ducks, chickens and rabbits. Combined, she has over 20 years of experience in pet care and pet sitting.