Best Low-fat Dog Treat Recipes & Amazing Homemade Dog Training Treats

Posted on April 24, 2022 • 8 min read • 1,569 words

Super crunchy oven baked biscuit treats in four flavors of lamb, peanut butter, chicken, and salmon.

In this blog, I devote a lot of attention to discussing different rewards you can use to train dogs. I do this for various reasons.

Here at the facility, we make extensive use of training rewards! My service dog’s name is Simba, and we go through several commands with her every day so that she can keep them fresh in her memory.

When I’m training, it’s easy to consume a lot of additional calories, so when I want a reward, I look for something that’s not too big, is nutritious, and has a low-calorie count. Training rewards are perfect for this.

I also speak a lot about training treats because dogs do not need a substantial reward to be content. Simba is often content with whatever she receives; she does not require a giant cookie to be satisfied.

Training goodies might be even more beneficial if you have a more pampered pooch. If you are not cautious, it won’t take long for the calories to mount up, and if you have a smaller dog, the treats you give them might rapidly consume a significant percentage of the calories they need for the day.

Simba could use some homemade dog training treats, and I’ve been thinking about making some for him recently. So, we tried a few straightforward recipes to produce some delicious, low-cost, high-protein homemade dog training treats. Now we can’t wait to share them!

The Hoopla  

You will find many different dog training treats when you visit the shops. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options.

It’s easy to be swayed by the enticing presentation of the product, whether it be the picture of a lovable dog on the front of the bag or the brief statements announcing the product’s superiority.

Sometimes I go to the store with the best intentions of purchasing only limited, wholesome treats with natural ingredients. Still, sometimes I end up buying a bag of goodies for the sole reason that the dog looks happy on the front of the package.

I’ve been fooled by deceptive advertising and bought something I did not truly desire.

The Cure  

Every item on those shop shelves has been packed, advertised, and designed to make you desire it. They are arranged in such a way as to draw your attention and encourage you to purchase them.

The marketing catches your eye, you remember the talking Golden retriever that craves bacon, or maybe you remember the dog racing across the floor reportedly screaming Kibbles ’n Bits, ’n Bits, ’n Bits.

Preparing delicious homemade dog treats is an excellent method to protect yourself from falling prey to deceptive advertising practices that trap consumers like you.

This way, you are aware of everything that went into those treats, including:-

• ingredients
• the origin of those ingredients
• the cleanliness of the kitchen and the cooks
• The process by which they were made

You get to select nutritional components for your dog that they will enjoy eating!

The Benefits  

One of the primary advantages of manufacturing your dog training treats at home is that you have complete knowledge and command over the components that go into those rewards. 

Suppose you want to prepare a peanut butter treat for your dog. You have complete discretion over whether the peanut butter is organic, natural, chunky, creamy, Skippy, or any other variety.

When you make treats at home from scratch, they contain no preservatives since none are needed. Preservatives found in nature are safe for your dog to consume, while chemical preservatives are to be avoided. You won’t need to add preservatives if you make treats for your dog at home.

Suppose your dog has a unique condition such as 

• food allergies
• diabetes
• sensitive stomach
• skin irritations
• being overweight

In that case, you get to pick the components that suit your dog’s circumstances, including choosing dog treats.

The Cost  

It’s more affordable! If you manufacture your dog training treats at home rather than buying them from the shop. You will almost always discover that doing so results in significant savings in money.

It is also enjoyable! Especially if you enlist the assistance of the younger generation!

How to Decide  

A quick search of the internet for recipes to create your dog treats, and you quickly discover a ton of them available, the majority of which seems just incredible.

I’m going to come clean and confess that I’m pretty dang lazy when it comes to cooking and baking, so I apologize in advance. Some of the recipes for dog treats that I discovered called for several different components, some of which I either don’t have lying around the home or need more precision than I believe a dog treat should.

Does it make a difference whether the treat is in the form of a little bone or if it has an imitation of icing on it? It doesn’t seem likely to me.

I like to use recipes that are easy to follow and call for a small number of ingredients, all of which I most likely already have in my kitchen.

I researched and found some incredibly low-fat dishes full of protein, and Simba loves them.

Lean Jerky Bits  

Ingredient  

• Meat (Preferably lower fat meat)

Instructions  

Quick Tip I find it much simpler to cut meat while it is still slightly frozen, so I suggest pulling it out of the freezer and letting it thaw a little bit till it is still firm but not as hard as a rock. This makes it much easier for me to cut the flesh.

1. Prepare the oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Remove the surplus fat and throw it away.

3. Cut the meat into pieces that are all around the same size. Remember that these are treats for your pet and that the meat will be smaller once it has been cooked. The size you decide to go with is likely going to depend on the size of your dog.

4. Allow the meat to defrost thoroughly before continuing.

5. Once defrosted, pat the meat dry with a paper towel.

6. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with a piece of parchment paper, then divide the meat into equal portions on the sheet.

7. Dry the beef in the oven for four to five hours, or until it reaches the consistency of leather, whichever comes first. Throughout the baking process, be sure to rotate the sheet regularly.

8. When the jerky pieces seem like they have lost all of their moisture in the oven, remove them. The amount of time needed to really dry the meat will vary according to its size and the kind of meat that is being utilized.

9. Remove any remaining oil with paper towels, then wait until it has totally cooled down before giving it to your dog.

10. Keep it in a tightly sealed container and place it in the refrigerator to prolong its shelf life.

Due to the fact that I overcooked Simba’s jerky, the finished product resembles beef crunchies rather than beef jerky; yet, Simba absolutely goes NUTS for them! You can tell that she is completely happy just by looking at her face!

Tuna Bits  

Ken Steepe, who works at McCann Dogs, is the one who provided me with this one.

Dogs really like the handmade dog training goodies that he uses consistently at his canine obedience school, where he operates. I really like that they are low in fat yet still have a good amount of protein.

If you exclude the cheese, you may reduce the amount of fat even more; however, you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Because cheese contributes both moisture and fat, omitting it may allow the goodies to bake more quickly.

Ingredients  

• 1 can of albacore tuna, drained and mixed with water (do not drain)
• 1 egg
• 1 ounce (or cup) of flour
• 14 measuring cups of cheese

Instructions  

1. Turn the oven up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Put all of the ingredients together and give it a good stir.

3. The mixed ingredients should be spread out evenly in a frying pan that is 8 by 8 and has been gently sprayed.

4. Bake for 20 minutes.

5. Reduce the temperature in the oven to 275 degrees.

6. Remove the whole sheet from the pan with a spatula, then invert it over onto a cutting board when it has been removed.

7. Cut the goodies into pieces no larger than a thumbnail, preferably using a pizza cutter or a knife.

8. Replace the pieces in the pan in which they were cooked.

9. Continue baking for an additional forty to sixty minutes. When the 40 minutes are up, start inspecting the crispness of the delights.

10. Take the crisps out of the oven after they are done.

11. Treats should be cut into even smaller pieces before being placed in plastic baggies and placed in the refrigerator.

Remember  

When cooking the jerky parts, remember that the amount of time needed to cook them might change based on the size of the pieces and the type of beef.

When baking, it is essential to closely check the process since the amount of time it takes to bake anything might change depending on the oven.

If you have some leftovers, they can be stored in the freezer to keep them fresh. By doing this, their freshness and shelf life will be significantly increased.

Nom nom!