Homemade dog training treats are a great way to save money on store-bought treats and create something that your pup will love. You can use homemade dog training treats to help your dog focus and stay engaged during training, and they will no doubt love the extra effort you put into creating high-value rewards for them.
In this article, we talk about training treats and give you our favorite recipes for homemade dog training treats.
Why Should I Use Training Treats?
According to Dog Academy, training treats are an integral part of positive, rewards-based training, and this is the type of training that has the most impact on dogs. As opposed to negative training, which may use tools like shock collars, positive training uses high-value treats, praise, and attention to help keep a dog focused.
This allows a dog to enjoy their training and to form a stronger bond with their owner, instead of potentially developing fear or stress-based behaviors as a result of negative training methods.
You should use training treats to keep your dog focused on training and to give an incentive every time they properly complete a task or command.
Can I Train My Dog Without Treats?
It is possible to train your dog without treats, which may be something you’re interested in if your dog is on a special diet or if you want to move away from using food as a reward. In these cases, we recommend using toys as a reward or giving your dog extra praise and attention to help keep them engaged with training.
Homemade Dog Training Treats: Our Favorite Recipes
The following recipes are healthy and dog-approved. You can bake large batches of these treats and then break them down into smaller pieces once they are cooked. Smaller serving sizes can help your dog if you are worried about their caloric intake, and it can make a batch of treats last longer.
- Banana Peanut Butter Treats: You will need 2 cups of oats (unflavored and unsweetened), 2 ripe bananas, and 1/2 cup of peanut butter (make sure peanuts are the only ingredient).
- Blend all ingredients in a food processor and then roll the dough out on a floured surface. Use a dog-safe flour, like whole wheat flour.
- Use a cookie cutter or a knife to cut the dough into pieces.
- Lay your cut dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Let your treats cool before giving them to your pup.
- Apple Dog Treats: You will need 3 cups of oats, 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, and 1/4 cup whole wheat flour.
- Add oats to a blender or food processor and grind until the oats are a powder. Add your applesauce and coconut oil and blend. Then, add your whole wheat flour and blend until a dough forms.
- Dust a surface with whole wheat flour and then roll out your dough. Cut treats out with a cookie cutter or knife.
- Lay your cut treats on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Let your treats cool before giving them to your dog.
- Pumpkin Dog Treats: You will need 2 and 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup of pumpkin puree, and 3 tablespoons of peanut butter.
- Add all of your ingredients to a blender or food processor and create a dough. Add a little water if the dough is too dry.
- Roll your dough out onto a lightly floured surface and cut treats out with a cookie cutter or knife.
- Bake your treats at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes. You can bake a little longer if you want very crunchy treats.
- Let the treats cool and store them in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
If you have any concerns about the type of food or training treats your dog is consuming, make sure to speak with a veterinarian about your pup’s diet.
What Other High-Value Training Rewards Can I Use?
While crafting your own dog treats and ensuring that you have the perfect training treats for your pup can be fun, there are some other simple, high-value training rewards you could use instead. The following training rewards can be an option if you need to add variety to your dog’s training routine or if you are short on time and need a quick, easy training treat.
Fun, high-value training rewards to keep your dog engaged include:
- A small amount of peanut butter
- Cooked, boiled chicken
- Small pieces of a hot dog
- Blueberries
- Small pieces of carrot
- Unseasoned meatballs cut into small pieces
Additionally, if your dog is a big fan of certain fruits or vegetables, like cut-up watermelon, for example, you can give them small pieces as a reward. If you plan on feeding your dog any food outside of their normal diet, make sure it is unseasoned and that the food itself is safe for your pup to eat.
Keeping Your Dog Focused on Training
Training your dog is an essential step for many owners, and training treats are a key part of keeping your dog’s attention and ensuring that their good behavior is rewarded. You can use any type of high-value training treat healthy for your dog to eat, or you can use toys and praise to keep your dog’s attention.
Our recipes above are a perfect way to create homemade dog training treats that your pup will love and look forward to during the training process.
