Training a puppy or even an older dog can often be quite tricky. Making a dog follow your instructions is no easy feat. But, with the combination of the delicious treats and patience, you can get your dog on board the training.
Store-bought treats, however, can not only cost you a fortune but are also not the healthiest option for your pet.
Thankfully, you can make healthy homemade dog treats that will not only keep your expenses under control but will also help you ensure they’re safe for your dog.
Here are some simple, healthy, and tasty recipes to make training treats for dogs. An ideal training tool, these homemade treats need a few basic ingredients and can be whipped up in no time!
Table of Contents
Homemade Liver Treats
Rich in proteins and vitamins, liver treats are excellent treats for dogs! This easy recipe uses liver sprinkles to make deliciously healthy homemade dog treats without the icky smell of raw liver!
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/3 cup of coconut oil
- 1/4 cup of liver sprinkles
- 3 tbsp water
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 ℉.
- Blend banana, coconut oil, and the liver sprinkles in a food processor.
- Add water and 2 cups of flour and blend again.
- Use the remaining 1/2 cup of flour to dust the mat and pour the mixture on it.
- Using your hand press the mixture into a ball.
- Flatten the ball with a rolling pin until it is as thick as a pie crust.
- With a knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into long strips and then cut it into small pieces.
- Place these pieces on the silicone mat, space them out and bake them for 15 minutes.
If you’re worried about coconut oil and are wondering can dogs eat coconut, don’t fret. In small quantities, coconut oil is actually great for your dog’s health.
Peanut Butter, Banana, and Oats Treats
Your pup will go bananas for these simple, tasty treats! Make sure you use homemade peanut butter; store-bought peanut butter may contain harmful ingredients like xylitol which is toxic to dogs.
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe mashed banana
- 3 tbsp peanut butter (unflavored)
- 1 egg
- 1 cups oats
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Scoop out tablespoons of the mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Use a spoon to flatten the mixture a little.
- Using the molds or cookie cutters cut into the shapes you want
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
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Bacon and Cheddar Treats
Dogs love bacon! And this bacon and cheddar treats recipe will have your dog enthusiastically obeying your commands to get that treat!
Just remember, bacon is very fatty and has high salt content. So, make sure you check with your vet about feeding your dog bacon.
Ingredients:
- 4 strips cooked bacon
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 and 1/2 cups rolled oats
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
- Blend the bacon, cheese, and oats in a food processor.
- Add eggs and blend again until you get a dough-like consistency.
- Sprinkle some oat flour on a wooden chopping board and roll out the dough (thickness should be about 1/4 inch).
- Use a cookie cutter to cut the dough.
- Place the cut-out dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake for about 20 minutes.
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Apple-Cheddar Dog Biscuits
If you were wondering what is the healthiest training treats for puppies, these apple-cheddar biscuits are just what you want to keep your dog healthy!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups barley flour
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl with 3 tablespoons of water and form a dough.
- Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness between two plastic wrap sheets
- Remove plastic and use a bone-shaped cookie cutter to cut the dough.
- Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
Chicken Treats
This recipe delivers one of the best homemade chicken dog training treats that’ll have your dog jumping with excitement for training!
And if you use a standard-sized pyramid pan, you can easily make about 500 of these dog treats.
Ingredients:
- 1 10-ounce can of chicken
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup tapioca flour
- ½ cup of white flour
- 1 tablespoon of oil (EVOO or flaxseed oil would be best)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
- Using the food processor blend the chicken and eggs
- In a bowl, combine this mixture with flour and oil, and stir continuously to mix well.
- Pour the batter into the silicone molds.
- Bake them for about 12 minutes.
- Let it cool, and once cooled, turn over the mold and pour out the treats into a bag.
Pumpkin Carrot Treats
This 4-ingredient recipe for pumpkin carrot treats is easy, quick, and a very healthy option for your pup!
Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 egg
- 1/2 cup grated carrot
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
Direction:
- Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
- Use a large bow to mix the pumpkin puree, carrots, egg, and flour.
- Use your hands to turn the mixture into a firm dough.
- Roll out the dough on a dusted counter and use cookie cutters to cut out different shapes.
- Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 18 to 20 minutes.
These are only a few of the many healthy homemade dog treats you can make for your pet.
And although all these treats are healthy, you should always check with your vet for any allergies or food sensitivities that your dog may have. Once you have your vet-approved foods, these recipes can serve as a great starting point to make easy homemade dog treats to train your dog.