If you have ever picked up a bag of dog treats and found yourself squinting at the ingredient list, you are not alone. A lot of commercial treats are packed with fillers, vague ingredients, and things most of us would never intentionally feed our dogs. And what if you think you have a dog is isn’t food motivated? I was recently interviewed on this very topic by The Farmer’s Dog.
That is exactly why I love this homemade dog treat recipe.
It is simple, flexible, and built around real food. You can make it using The Farmers’ Dog food or swap in other human grade foods or easy, accessible proteins like canned tuna, canned chicken, pumpkin, or cheese. The recipe is designed to be personalized, so whether your dog has dietary restrictions, sensitivities, or just strong opinions, you can adjust it to fit your dog instead of forcing your dog to fit the recipe.
One of the biggest perks is how cost effective it is. A single batch (for the sized mat I have) makes over 2,000 small training treats. If you do any amount of training, enrichment, or reinforcement based work, you know how fast treats disappear. Making them yourself can save a surprising amount of money over time. And, this enables you to use your dog’s food as their training, so they’re not getting extra calories!
I also love this recipe for picky dogs. Real food smells better. It tastes better. And for many dogs, it is far more motivating than store bought treats that have been sitting on a shelf for months. When motivation matters, especially in training, that difference can be huge.
Another bonus is peace of mind. When you make your own treats, you know exactly what you are giving your dog. There are no mystery ingredients and no marketing language to decode. Just food you recognize, prepared in a way that works for your dog.
This recipe is not about being fancy or perfect. It is about practicality. It is about giving your dog something they genuinely enjoy while keeping things affordable, customizable, and transparent.
If you want a treat option that works for everyday training, supports picky eaters, and lets you stay in control of ingredients, this is one recipe worth keeping on hand.
Download the recipes here. You will need a pyramid silicone mat (typically used to drain fat in cooking) to make these treats. Something like this.
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