5 Effective Training Treats You (Probably) Already Have in Your Fridge
As your favourite foodie on four legs, today I’m letting you in on a little secret: sometimes the best training treats are already in your kitchen! That’s right - no fancy ingredients or special shopping trips needed. Just a few simple foods that’ll have your pooch eagerly sitting, staying, and high-fiving like a pro. Let’s get to it!
With these easy treats in your pantry arsenal, you’re all set to keep your pup focused, happy, and excited to learn!
Peanut Butter Power Bites
Ingredients
1–2 tablespoons of unsalted, unsweetened peanut butter
A spoon for portioning (if you want to go pro!)
Instructions
Check for Xylitol: Before you do anything, make sure your peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol (toxic for us dogs!!!).
Prep Your Spoon: Scoop a tiny dollop of peanut butter onto a spoon, then offer it up as a reward for good behaviour. Just a small dab works wonders!
Ready, Aim, Treat! Use these sticky spoonfuls as “lick treats” during training sessions. They’re perfect for rewarding a job well done!
Pro Tip: Peanut butter can get a little messy, but that just adds to the fun. Cats may judge us for our sticky, peanut-butter-smeared faces, but we’re here for the taste, not the etiquette!
Cheesy Bites of Brilliance
Ingredients
A small piece of cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss cheese
Instructions
Dice It Up: Cut the cheese into tiny cubes—just bite-sized enough to pop in your mouth (or throw in the air for an exciting catch).
Serve Wisely: Cheese is a powerful motivator, but keep it in moderation. A few small cubes during a training session will keep us eagerly performing without overloading on dairy.
Store Leftovers: Store any extra cheese cubes in the fridge for future training sessions.
Pro Tip: Keep these out of paw’s reach, or you’ll find them mysteriously gone. Cats may turn up their noses at cheese (they pretend they’re “lactose intolerant”), but we dogs know better. Seriously, who turns down cheese?!
You had me at ‘cheese’!
Apple Chomps
Ingredients:
1 apple, cored and sliced into small chunks
Instructions:
Core and Slice: Cut the apple into bite-sized chunks, making sure to remove any seeds (they’re not good for us).
Serve as Rewards: Use apple slices as low-calorie rewards for training sessions. They’re crunchy, sweet, and perfect for practicing our best tricks.
Keep Extras Fresh: Store any leftover apple slices in an airtight container in the fridge for the next round.
Carrot Crunchers
A crunchy, healthy option that’s packed with vitamins and has the perfect snap. Carrots are great for us dogs and can be a simple, satisfying treat!
Ingredients:
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
Instructions:
Chop & Prep: Peel the carrot and cut it into small, bite-sized pieces. The smaller the better—especially for training sessions.
Serve Fresh or Chilled: Offer a piece as a reward each time your dog nails a command. These are great for crunchy, low-calorie treats!
Store for Later: Keep any extra carrot pieces in the fridge for freshness.
Eggy Bits
When you need a high-protein treat to grab our attention, eggs are the answer. Soft, easy to make, and incredibly satisfying, egg treats will have us sitting, staying, and rolling over in record time!
Ingredients:
1 egg
Instructions:
Cook the Egg: Either scramble the egg or hard-boil it—whichever you prefer (just avoid any seasoning or oils!).
Chop Into Small Pieces: If hard-boiled, peel and chop into tiny chunks; if scrambled, cut into small, manageable pieces.
Serve as Training Treats: Use a small piece as a reward for each trick or command. They’re soft and quick to eat, which is perfect for a fast-paced training session.
See? No need for a special shopping list, just a quick stop at the cupboard or fridge and you’re good to go! So grab those ingredients, grab your dog, and let’s get training.
Truffle 🐾
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Hi there, I’m Truffle (aka Truffbear, Truffito, Truffkin, Trufflenose, Baron von Truffy … and a million more. What can I say, my human loves me). I’ve been called a philosopher of sorts, with a keen nose for treats (did someone say chicken?) and a knack for solving the perplexing intricacies of canine-human relations.
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