Home-made treats
We need to avoid unwanted weight gain.
When using training treats make sure you cut down on “regular” food to balance their diet and food intake.
With thanks to Basingstoke and District Dog Training Club
“Tasty treats are an invaluable aid for dog training.
Have different levels of treats to reward different levels of achievement from a “well done” treat to a “stupendous superbly brilliant” reward.
Nothing focuses most dogs’ attention more than something extra special they wouldn’t normally have.
Keep these just for training!
The type of treat you use will vary according to your dog or puppy. E.g. young pups don’t do well with rough, dry treats that take some chewing and can scratch their throats. Some dogs may get upset tummies or become very thirsty eating frankfurters or strong cheese.
The answer is to know your dogs and choose appropriate treats that suit them, their size and stomachs.
Choose something easy for you as a trainer to handle – wet and soggy foods are NOT fun to use nor are tit bits that crumble all over the floor, distracting your dog and everyone else’s too! Make treats size appropriate – not too big…half your little finger nail is ideal.”
Home-made treats are quick and easy to make, are tailor-made for your dog and you know exactly what’s in them.
Recipes to try
Pilchard Cake or Chicken Liver Treats
4 tablespoonful of plain flour
2 small eggs
Pinch of garlic salt
For the pilchard cake you need a 155g tin of Pilchards in tomato sauce or brine.
For the chicken liver cake use a similar amount of livers (Use these sparingly as too much offal can upset tummies)
Blend all ingredients in a food mixer or blender (or you can use your hands for the pilchards!) For the liver cake it is better to blend the liver first and then add the other ingredients
Pour the mixture into two plastic containers (the ones that you get from Chinese takeaways are ideal)
Cook for about 7 minutes in microwave on high (for 850w micro)
Remove the cake from the containers after a couple of minutes and leave to cool and then cut into small squares
This receipe freezes well so you can make it in bulk.
Hard Liver Treats
(Use these sparingly as too much offal can upset tummies)
A pack, any size, of liver
Pinch of garlic salt
Mix the garlic salt into the liver
Place on a pre-heated, greased baking tray and bake in the oven until cooked through
Remove from oven and leave to cool
Cut into squares to suit your dog (smaller tit bits for smaller dogs, larger ones for bigger ones)
Then bake again - either in the oven or microwave until firm and dry
These treats will keep well and can also be frozen if use later if you prefer.
Tuna Pyramid-Pan Treats
1 can of Tuna (in water preferably)
2 eggs
100g plain flour
Water
Preheat oven to 350F
Mix well in a blender, adding water if necessary
Smooth mixture over your baking mat and bake for approximately 20 mins
Sardine/Banana/Cheddar Cheese/Coconut Flour
1 can of sardines (in water, no salt)
1 ripe mashed banana
about 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
about 3/4 cup coconut flour
add water to make pancake batter-like consistency
Spread onto a silicone pyramid mat and cook at 350F for about 40 minutes
Pop out of the mat and cook for a further few minutes if necessary, until dry
Use what your dog likes/loves/adores, depending on how high-value your treats need to be
Cheese & Sardine Pyramid Pan Dog Treats
1 can of sardines
2 eggs
150g grated Parmesan cheese
Handful of roasted vegetables
75g tapioca flour (or plain flour)
Water
Preheat oven to 160 degrees C..
Transfer all ingredients into a blender and blend to make a thick batter, adding water if too thick.
Smooth mixture over your baking mat and bake for approximately 15mins or until crispy.
Alternatively...
Chop up cooked sausage or chicken (high value in our house)
Cut up meatballs of your choice for a tasty treat
Cut firm low fat mild cheese or dog pate into small chunks, or grate it (messier)
Chopped veg like carrots or broccoli stems – some dogs love them!
Use high-value treats for serious training, or to reinforce something your dog has “forgotten”
Foods and other things potentially harmful to dogs…
Thanks again to Basingstoke and District Dog Training Club
“Many foods and substances around us can be harmful to dogs.
Some will make them sick quickly - others can result in hidden damage, sometimes causing problems in later life that you may not initially attribute to such incidents.
In some instances they can be fatal
Some examples:
“Human” chocolate – the darker it is the worse it is for dogs
Caffeine (in tea, coffee, chocolate)
Raisins and grapes (e.g. mince pies and Xmas cake)
Ibruprofen and other “human” painkillers (paracetamol ok but only in the “right” dose for the size/weight/condition of your dog and only with vet approval)
Daffodil bulbs, acorns, tomato plants, hellebores and various other garden plants
Macademia nuts, nutmeg, walnuts, almond nut casings and some other nuts
Slug pellets
Onions, chives or garlic (in excess otherwise we’d certainly not add a little powdered garlic to our treats)
Xylitol and some other sweeteners e.g. found in human peanut butter (as a low sugar option)
Some alternative human healthcare products
Toilet disinfectants – keep that toilet lid down – and other cleaning products
Puff balls out and about in forest areas…and with Alabama Foot Rot spreading too always wash your dog off after muddy wet walks (especially forest ones)
This is not an exhaustive list!
Don’t panic – but be safe rather than sorry.
Effects vary and can be dependent on the amount eaten as well as the size and health of your dog.
Ask your vet for advice - in the event of your dog eating any of these substances please call your vet immediately.
Keep calm but act quickly. Make a note of what your dog has eaten, when and how much
Finally – never feed anyone else’s dog without asking first. Serious food allergies are on the rise!”