High-Value Dog Training Treats You Can Make at Home (Cheaper Than Store-Bought!)

Ever looked at the price tag on those tiny bags of training treats and thought, “I could probably make my mortgage payment with what I spend on these things?” You’re not alone!

As someone who’s gone through countless treat bags while training my food-motivated Lab mix, I’ve learned that homemade treats are a game-changer for both your wallet and your pup’s training progress.

Let’s face it – good training requires a lot of treats. And those premium store-bought ones can cost a small fortune, especially when you’re going through them like water during intense training sessions.

The good news? You can make treats that your dog will actually work harder for, right in your kitchen, for a fraction of the cost.

Why Homemade Treats Beat Store-Bought Every Time

Store-bought treats might be convenient, but they come with some serious drawbacks. Have you checked the ingredient list on those packages lately? Yikes.

The Cost Factor

Let’s talk numbers for a second. A small 3-4oz bag of premium training treats typically costs $6-10 and might last you… what, a week if you’re training regularly? When I calculated my monthly training treat expenses, I nearly fell over. Making your own treats can cut those costs by 60-80% depending on the recipe.

Fresher Ingredients = Higher Value

Dogs aren’t dumb. They know the difference between some processed mystery nugget and a piece of real chicken or cheese. Homemade treats with fresh ingredients are simply more enticing to most dogs.

Control Over Ingredients

When you make your own treats, you control exactly what goes into your dog’s body. No weird preservatives, no mystery meat, no artificial flavors that might upset sensitive stomachs. This is especially important if your dog has allergies or dietary restrictions.

Size Customization

One of the biggest advantages of DIY treats is being able to make them whatever size you need. For intensive training sessions, you want pea-sized treats that your dog can eat quickly before moving on. Most store-bought treats are either too big or crumble into a mess when you try to break them down.

What Makes a Great Training Treat?

Before we dive into recipes, let’s talk about what makes a treat “high-value” in the first place.

High Value vs. Low Value Treats

Not all treats are created equal in your dog’s eyes. High-value treats are the ones your dog will do backflips for – usually smelly, meaty, and novel. Low-value treats might be accepted in a distraction-free environment, but won’t cut it when you’re competing with squirrels at the park.

Think of it this way: would you work harder for a plain rice cake or a slice of pizza? Exactly.

The Perfect Training Treat Criteria

The best training treats are:

• Small (pea-sized or smaller)
• Soft and easy to eat quickly
• Smelly (dogs experience the world nose-first)
• Novel enough to maintain interest
• Durable enough to carry in your pocket or treat pouch
• Healthy enough for frequent consumption

Now let’s get into the good stuff – the recipes that will save your wallet while leveling up your training game!

Easy No-Bake Treats (For When You’re Feeling Lazy)

Look, we’re not all master chefs with hours to spend in the kitchen. Sometimes you need treats ASAP because you just realized you’re completely out and have a training class in an hour. Been there!

Cheese Cubes: The Ultimate High-Value Reward

Nothing could be simpler than this, and most dogs go absolutely bananas for cheese:

• Buy a block of cheddar or another firm cheese
• Cut into tiny cubes (¼ inch or smaller)
• Store in a container in your fridge

Boom. Done in 2 minutes flat. I keep these for those special training challenges or when I really need my dog’s attention. Just don’t leave them in your treat pouch all day in summer unless you want a pocket full of cheese soup. Trust me on this one. :/

Deli Meat Morsels

Another super quick option:

• Purchase low-sodium deli turkey, chicken, or ham
• Cut into tiny pieces with scissors
• Pat dry with paper towel if too moist
• Refrigerate in airtight container

These will last 3-4 days in the fridge. IMO, turkey works best as it’s lean and doesn’t get as slimy as ham can.

Quick Peanut Butter Blobs

For peanut butter loving pups:

• Mix 1 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free!) with ¼ cup rolled oats
• Roll into tiny balls
• Refrigerate until firm

These are a bit messier but have serious staying power in the motivation department.

Baked Treats Worth Turning On The Oven For

When you have a bit more time, these baked options are economical and can be made in big batches to freeze.

Chicken Jerky Training Bits

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 170°F (or lowest setting)
2. Slice chicken into very thin strips
3. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet
4. Bake for 3-4 hours until completely dry
5. Once cooled, cut into tiny training-sized pieces
6. Store in freezer for maximum freshness

One pound of chicken breast will make you enough training treats to last weeks and costs about $3-5 depending on where you shop. Compare that to the $20+ you’d spend on the equivalent amount of chicken jerky treats at the pet store. Ridiculous, right?

Liver Brownies (Warning: Stinky But Effective)

Every trainer I know swears by these. They’re like doggy crack, but in a good way.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beef or chicken liver
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Blend liver in food processor until smooth
3. Add eggs and oil, blend again
4. Mix in flour until just combined
5. Spread mixture ½ inch thick on parchment-lined baking sheet
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes until firm
7. Cool completely before cutting into tiny squares
8. Freeze portions you won’t use within a week

Fair warning: your kitchen will smell like liver while making these. But your dog will love you forever, so there’s that.

Sweet Potato Training Coins

For a healthier option that’s still high on the value scale:

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)
• Pinch of cinnamon (optional, but makes them smell amazing)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 250°F
2. Wash and thinly slice sweet potatoes (⅛ inch thick)
3. Toss with coconut oil and cinnamon if using
4. Arrange in single layer on parchment-lined baking sheet
5. Bake for 2.5-3 hours, flipping halfway, until dry but slightly chewy
6. Cool completely before storing

These are awesome because they’re entirely natural and even picky eaters tend to like the sweet flavor.

Treats For Dogs With Special Needs

Training a dog with allergies or health issues doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice treat quality or break the bank.

Grain-Free Turkey Roll

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (plain, not pie filling)
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl
3. Press into a parchment-lined loaf pan
4. Bake for 30-35 minutes until cooked through
5. Cool completely before cutting into small cubes
6. Refrigerate up to 5 days or freeze

This recipe is perfect for dogs with grain sensitivities and provides a good protein boost.

Single-Ingredient Dehydrated Options

Sometimes the simplest approach is best, especially for dogs with multiple food sensitivities:

• Dehydrated sweet potato slices
• Dehydrated apple slices (core removed)
• Dehydrated banana chips
• Dehydrated white fish (strong smell, high value!)

If you have a food dehydrator, these are super easy. If not, you can use your oven on its lowest setting with the door cracked open slightly.

Tips For Making Your Treats Last Longer

Ever made a big batch of treats only to have them go bad before you could use them all? Been there. Here’s how to avoid that waste.

Proper Storage Is Key

• Refrigerate soft treats in airtight containers for up to a week
• Freeze extra portions in small batches that you can thaw as needed
• Use silicone ice cube trays to freeze portion-sized amounts of softer treats
• Vacuum sealing extends freezer life if you have that option

Stretching Your Training Dollar Even Further

Mix high and low-value treats in your pouch. Use the cheaper, lower-value treats for easy behaviors in non-distracting environments, and save the premium stuff for the challenging moments.

Cut commercial treats even smaller. Those store-bought treats? They’re almost always bigger than they need to be. Cut them in half or even quarters to make them last longer.

Use a portion of their kibble as training treats, especially for at-home sessions. Just subtract it from their daily meal portion.

When Store-Bought Actually Makes Sense

I’m all about saving money, but sometimes store-bought treats do have their place:

• When traveling – homemade treats can be less stable without refrigeration
• During multi-day training events where prep space is limited
• As backup options for when you run out of homemade treats
• For training in very hot weather when meat or cheese might spoil quickly

In these cases, look for treats with simple ingredients and without artificial preservatives. Yes, they’ll cost more, but you’re not relying on them exclusively anymore.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

I’ve made pretty much every treat-making mistake possible, so learn from my fails!

Not Accounting For Training Intensity

If you’re doing an hour-long training session, your dog might consume 100+ tiny treats. Make sure whatever you’re using isn’t too rich or it could lead to digestive upset. Been there, cleaned that up. Not fun.

Making Treats Too Big

Size matters! Training treats should be tiny – just enough to give a quick taste reward without requiring chewing time that interrupts the flow of training.

Choosing Treats That Crumble

There’s nothing more annoying than reaching into your treat pouch and finding a handful of crumbs. Make sure your homemade treats hold together well, especially if you’ll be moving around a lot during training.

Not Testing Value Level Before Important Training

What works for my dog might not work for yours. Always test new treats in a low-distraction environment first to gauge your dog’s enthusiasm before relying on them for more challenging scenarios.

Which Homemade Treats Work Best For Different Training Scenarios?

Not all training scenarios are equal, and your treat choice should reflect that.

For At-Home Basic Training

When you’re working on basic cues in your living room, lower-value treats often work fine:

• Kibble mixed with a few higher-value treats
• Plain boiled chicken pieces
• Small pieces of carrot or apple for health-conscious pups

For Outdoor Training With Distractions

When competing with squirrels, other dogs, and interesting smells, bring out the big guns:

• Liver brownies
• Cheese cubes
• Deli meat pieces
• Freeze-dried meats (if you’re buying commercial)

For Reactive Dog Training

If you’re working with a reactive dog on triggers like other dogs or strangers, you need the highest value possible:

• Slices of hot dog (use sparingly due to sodium)
• Tiny bits of steak or burger
• Liver treats
• Whatever your particular dog goes absolutely crazy for

Test, Adjust, Succeed

The beauty of making your own treats is the ability to customize based on what works for YOUR dog. Some dogs will do backflips for a piece of carrot, while others would look at you like you’ve lost your mind if you offered a vegetable as a reward.

Pay attention to what gets your dog most excited. Does their training performance improve with certain treats? Do they work more enthusiastically? Make note and adjust your recipes accordingly.

The Bottom Line: Your Wallet (And Dog) Will Thank You

Making your own high-value dog training treats isn’t just economical—it’s actually better for your training results. Your dog gets fresher, healthier, more motivating rewards, and you get to feel good about both what you’re feeding your best friend and the money you’re saving.

Start with one or two easy recipes and expand your repertoire as you get comfortable. Even replacing half your store-bought treats with homemade options will make a significant difference in your training budget.

Remember, the best training treat isn’t necessarily the most expensive one—it’s the one your dog is willing to work for consistently. And often, that’s the one you made with your own two hands.

Now go get cooking—your dog is waiting for samples! And FYI, most of these recipes are actually human-grade, so you could technically try them yourself… though I’d recommend skipping the liver brownies unless you’re feeling particularly adventurous. Just saying.