Did you know that in 2022 global pet care sales reached $280 billion?
Believe it or not, the population of pet lovers is getting bigger each day. Nowadays, people consider their dogs like family members and thus take just as good care of them.
Although certain dogs have naturally good behavior, others need some help from their owners. Dog training is a must for all those dogs who lack good behavior.
To help you with this, we’ve created a guide with the best puppy training treats. Read on to discover how to make and use treats for puppy training.
High-Value Treats
High-value treats have taste and texture that provides your dog with ultimate motivation in their training. These treats are grain-free and packed with natural ingredients. This makes them not only healthy but also gives puppies the flavor they love.
High-value treats typically have higher nutritional value than standard dog treats. It ensures that your pup is getting the necessary vitamins and minerals. Also, high-value treats are typically more affordable.
To make a high-value treat, start by blending the ingredients such as top-quality ingredients like real meat, fruits, and vegetables into a paste or small chunks. Add ingredients such as cheese, bacon, or yogurt to mix it up and create flavors your pup loves.
After which, roll them into balls the size of a pea. Nevertheless, these treats can take many different forms and should be chosen based on the puppy’s individual preferences and interests.
Afterward, place the treats in an airtight container and refrigerate them. Good thing, they can stay for up to one week.
These treats should be used sparingly and at appropriate times. This is because they can easily cause overindulgence and result in an unruly puppy if used improperly.
The most effective way to use high-value treats is when the puppy is exhibiting the desired behavior. When puppies complete a task, offer a power-reinforcing high-value treat.
However, if your puppy is a police dog, your pup needs a special kind of treat training. Luckily, you can easily find k9 puppy training programs on the internet that can surely give your dog the training it needs.
Low-Calorie Treats
Low-calorie treats are a great way to keep a puppy’s caloric intake balanced while they learn and master their training. These treats can include dehydrated meats, raw veggies, and even pureed fruits. They are the best option if you don’t want to overfeed your pup to gain too much weight.
Before giving these treats to your pup, it’s important to verify that they are safe for puppy consumption. Also, make sure that they have been inspected and approved.
Making your low-calorie treats is easy and can be done with minimal effort. All you need is a few ingredients and a microwave.
Start by using fruits, vegetables, or even oats and blending them in a blender. You can also opt for organic ingredients if possible.
Once blended, spread the mixture on a greased baking pan and bake it in a preheated oven or microwave. Once cooled, the treats can be cut into small shapes and stored.
A great way to use them is to have your pup practice basic obedience or agility commands. During the training session, use one or two of these treats as a reward.
This provides the pup with an incentive to continue the task. The low-calorie treat means that they can be enjoyed without having to worry about overfeeding.
Chewy Treats
Chewy treats are ideal for training your puppy because they are easy to break into small sizes. They are soft enough for puppies to chew, but also tasty enough to keep them coming back for more.
To make your chewy treats, start by mixing a cup of whole wheat flour, a quarter cup of peanut butter, and a quarter cup of vegetable oil. After which, add two tablespoons of honey and a tablespoon of beef or chicken broth for flavor.
Once all the ingredients are mixed, roll the mixture out into an eighth-inch thick sheet. Then, cut into the desired shapes.
Place the treats on a greased baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes. Once cooled, the chewy treats are ready to be enjoyed by your pup!
They are ideal for a reward system for puppies with good behavior, as they are an enticing treat for dogs to work for. You can break up the chewy treats into smaller pieces if needed, to provide your pup with smaller rewards.
Chewy treats should be used sparingly, as they are high in calories. This way, you can ensure they are used only when your pup is displaying the behavior you want them to, rather than just for snacking.
Crunchy Treats
Crunchy treats are especially perfect for dogs who enjoy chewing. There are many options available on the market for crunchy treats, including traditional biscuit-type treats, natural grain-based treats, and freeze-dried dog treats.
However, if you want to make this treat, the ingredients include whole wheat, oat or barley grain flour, vegetable oil, peanut butter, egg, and water or low sodium broth. Mix the flour and the oil in a bowl until a crumbly mixture is achieved. Then, add the egg, peanut butter, and liquid until a dough is formed.
Roll the dough out and use a cookie cutter to form treats in desired shapes. Bake at 350°F for 18 to 20 minutes. Once cooled, your puppy training treats will be crunchy, delicious, and ready to give as a reward for good behavior.
To use crunchy puppy treats, start with small treats and slowly increase the size as your puppy’s skills improve. Also, don’t forget to introduce the treats in a fun and positive way.
Crunchy treats are beneficial when teaching puppies how to bark on command, as they will be tempted to bark for a crunchy treat. This is because the crunchy texture communicates that the reward is special. Moreover, the noisy crunching act can help draw your puppy’s attention.
Try These Puppy Training Treats Today
Puppy training treats are an effective tool to use during the training process. Whether you choose high-value treats, low-calorie treats, chewy treats, or crunchy treats, the important thing is that these treats provide motivation, and build a bond between you and your pup.
If this article has helped you, make sure to check out other pet-related posts on our blog.
