39. Recipes for Training Treats

An alternative to commercially prepared treats (perhaps since you know what ingredients go into them and because homemade ones are often much cheaper as well as better quality), is to make your own. Here are some suggestions. If you want to add nutrition, dust meat bits with debittered Brewers Yeast and kelp powder. Soaked millet, rolled oats and cooked barley are good substitutes for other treat recipes requiring wheat since they are higher in protein and are more easily digested by dogs.

Chicken Patty Treats
For probably the most economically priced and easiest to prepare healthy training treat, purchase frozen chicken patties, sprinkle liberally with garlic powder and cook until done all the way through. Cut into 1/4 inch slices and freeze . When needed, thaw for 10 sec in microwave and cut again into quarter inch cubes. (about $3 per kg!)

Liver Treats
Cooked Liver (beef, chicken, pork or turkey)
garlic powder flavoring

Sprinkle powder on liver and use outdoor BBQ to fry up liver slices (to prevent from smelling up house) and cut into strips, then tiny bits. Freeze in containers. This is very rich and should not be more than 1/6 of your dog's daily food intake. Some dogs get goopy eyes from eating liver.

Moist Meat Treats
A bit more sloppy treat is slow cooked chicken, turkey, duck or roast. Buy the cheapest cuts and cook until bones fall off. Separate bones from meat and freeze meat bits in containers, using wax paper or plastic to make layers that container enough or one training session. Freeze. Thaw or microwave before using.

For the cheap cuts of meats such as beef or moose roast, slice into 3/4 inch steaks. Freeze until ready to cook separating steaks with wax paper or plastic Drop bundle on the ground to break apart and remove as many steaks as you want to cook. Thaw. Sprinkle garlic powder on both sides and let sit for a few minutes. Cook (fry in no stick pan or BBQ) until brown all the way through then slice in quarter inch strips and freeze in containers. Cut into 1/4 inch squares after thawing.

Beef/chicken/turkey Patti treats
1lb lean ground beef, chicken, or turkey
2 eggs
1-2 cup quick oatmeal (add more or less depending on consistency-more for higher fat meat)
garlic powder to taste

Mix all ingredients into a giant patti (or several smaller ones) and flatten to very thin. Cook on a no stick fry pan until cooked. Flip and cook all the way through.
Cool and cut into strips, then tiny squares and freeze on cookie sheet. Then scoop bits into containers for freezing. Does have a somewhat crumbly texture so best used at home). This recipe is more work (and more expensive) than the chicken patty treats above)

Cheese Bits
Use a mild chedder or marble cheese and cut into 1/4 inch cubes. On hot days can get abit mushy.

Hard Boiled Egg Bits
Hard boil and egg or two for 10 minutes and let cool. Peel the shell off and cut egg white and yolk into small pieces and freeze in a small container. Take a few out for training sessions and let thaw for a few minutes (or microwave for 15 sec). The yolk is usually highly prized by dogs. It is a bit messay but works well for in home training.

Egg variation: Make french toast and cook all the way through. Cut into quarter inch cubes and freeze until needed.

Kidney Bean Treats
Slow cooked kidney beans are high in protein and do not cause gas in most dogs. They are very cheap and make an ideal, if somewhat sloppy treat.
Place 2-3 times as much water as beans in slow cooker, turn on high and cook until tender (about 4 hours).
Use a slotted spoon and lift beans onto cookie sheet in a single layer and freeze. When frozen, remove from freezer, let thaw for about 3 minutes, then lift with flipper or butter knife and break into bits and freeze in containers. (looks like peanut brittle at this point). Thaw for a few minutes before feeding. Juice makes a tasty additive to dry foods.

Have other favorite recipes? Please share them with us!