Most dogs respond well to food as a reward for doing what you’re trying to teach them. Good training treats are:
Tiny, moist treats
- Tiny
- Soft (not dry)
- Healthy
Tiny treats will last a whole training session.
Be careful not to subject your dog to the chemicals and additives in most commercially packaged dog treats! Use foods you would eat yourself, such as tiny bits of:
- Fresh meat (chicken, steak, etc.)
- Cheese
- Hot dog
- Liverwurst
I am back in full training mode, now that Rio has joined our household. So… I have a very fresh perspective on the topic of training treats! Lately, my go-to treat has been thick-sliced deli cuts. I usually have a treat bag with two of the following, cut in tiny cubes: store-cooked roast beef, chicken or pork, or, mozzarella cheese. We’ve had fantastic progress with recall training, and I think I know why! I always use the very best treats for practicing our highest priority skills.
Treats work
well for
taking pictures!
A friend recently discovered her dogs LOVED little packs of chipped beef (shelf-packaged as a people snack). She was pleased with an improved training program… until… her dogs both started having stomach problems. This treat just wasn’t healthy enough to feed in large doses.
Some commercial brands do have decent treat options, but we still usually find them too dry for an extended training session. (The dog’s mouth gets dry after a few handfuls.) Our favorite commercial option is the Gourmet Meat Roll by Happy Howie’s. It is moist and tasty, has good ingredients, and cuts really nicely into tiny little cubes. We also do well with Primal Jerky Chicken Nibs. And sometimes we mix in some Wellness WellBites.
Or you can make your own training treats. We love salmon treats and here’s a banana recipe we’ve also done well with:
Mandi loves to lick the bowl!
Go-Bananas Training Treats Treat Sheet
- vegetable shortening (for greasing the pan)
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup canola or corn oil
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
- 1 cup skim milk
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 3 cups whole-wheat flour
- 3 cups uncooked oatmeal
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 10×15 inch baking sheet with vegetable shortening. Place the eggs, oil, honey, molasses, milk and mashed bananas in a bowl and mix with a hand blender. Add the flour and oatmeal and mix until it has the consistency of thick cake mix. Let your dog lick the spoon and bowl! Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Bake 1 hour; turn off the oven, and let the treats sit until the oven cools. Turn out onto the counter or a cutting board and using a pizza cutter, knife or cookie cutters, cut into whatever shapes suit your fancy, or break into pieces. Dogs don’t care! Cover and refrigerate or freeze up to 2 months.
