Reviewed By Joana Garrido DVM
A big chunk of the canine population has a huge affinity for food. This is where high-value dog treats come in handy. They sit on top of the hierarchy of training treats, making them a powerful tool in your dog training kit.
High-value dog treats are not difficult to find in your kitchen. You can even easily make them at home by following these recipes.
1. Turkey Taco Cups High-Value Dog Treats
Transform regular tacos into bite-size snacks for your canine companion.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons pepper
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ cup diced cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup shredded lettuce
- 1½ cups grated ricotta cheese
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 24 wonton wrappers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use a nonstick cooking spray to evenly coat each pocket of the muffin tin.
- In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the ground turkey to the pan and sauté it for 4 to 5 minutes until browned. Transfer it to a medium-size bowl.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, lettuce, salt, pepper, and cumin to the bowl. Combine until all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
- Line each cup of the oiled muffin tin with a wonton wrapper.
- Spoon around 1 tablespoon of taco mixture into each cup and then press down using a spoon.
- Top the taco mixture with 2 tablespoons of ricotta cheese.
- Bake these high-value dog treats for 10 to 13 minutes until the cheese has melted and the edges of the wontons are golden brown and crispy.
- Pop the taco cups out of the muffin tin by carefully running a sharp knife around the sharp edge of each cup.
- Let these high-value dog training treats cool down before using them for dog training.
Notes
- Place unused taco cups in an airtight container or ziplock bag and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days for later use.
- Reheat these high-value treats for dogs in the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 15 minutes.
2. Shrimp Pizza Scrolls High-Value Dog Treats
Make your typical homemade pizza into something smaller and more dog-friendly.
Ingredients
For the dough
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup self-rising flour
For the toppings
- 3 teaspoons virgin olive oil
- 10 tablespoons applesauce
- ½ cup portobello mushrooms
- ½ pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
- ¼ cup green bell pepper
- ¾ cup crumbled Swiss cheese
Instructions
For the dough
- Preheat the oven to 356 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Mix all the ingredients for the pizza scroll dough in a large bowl until a smooth ball is formed.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. With clean hands, knead it for at least 5 minutes or until it becomes elastic.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a rectangular shape measuring approximately 40 cm x 20 cm.
For the toppings
- Thaw the shrimp and pat them dry.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet on medium-high heat.
- Cook the shrimp for up to 3 minutes per side until they turn opaque.
- Transfer the shrimp to a large bowl.
- Add the portobello mushrooms and green bell pepper. Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Spread applesauce over the pizza dough.
- Evenly distribute the shrimp mixture on top then followed by the crumbled Swiss cheese.
- Roll up the pizza scroll dough vertically into a tight sausage. Pinch the ends to seal them properly.
- Cut the rolled-up dough into 15 equal-size pieces.
- Arrange them cut-side up on the lined baking tray. Allow at least 3 centimeters of allowance to prevent these high-value dog treats from sticking to each other.
- Bake for around 15 to 20 minutes or until the pizza scrolls are golden and puffed up.
- Place these high-value dog treats onto a wire rack to cool slightly before using them as training rewards.
Read: Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? A Guide to Poisonous and Healthy Options
Notes
- As much as possible, only use a thin layer of applesauce and toppings. Otherwise, the sealed edges of the pizza scrolls may tear apart when baking.
- These high-value dog treats can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days on in the freezer for around 2 months.
- Reheat the pizza scrolls in the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes.
3. Air-Fried Chicken Taquitos High-Value Dog Treats
If your furry pal loves a good crisp to his dog treats, these fried chicken taquitos are a great option for him.
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons salt
- ¾ cup silken tofu
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 12 16-inch spinach tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Puree the silken tofu in a food processor or blender until it has a cream cheese-like consistency.
- Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add in salt. Stir until both ingredients are mixed well.
- Add the shredded chicken and fresh cilantro to the mixture and combine. Set aside.
- Stack the spinach tortillas in a microwave-safe container. Make sure to place a damp paper towel between every 2 tortillas.
- Microwave them for around 20 to 30 seconds then take them out.
- Lay a tortilla on a flat surface. Place 2 tablespoons of the chicken and tofu mixture an inch on the bottom of the tortilla.
- Tightly roll it upright and use the Greek yogurt to close the edges.
- Apply the same process to the remaining tortillas.
- Put these high-value dog treats seam-side down on the air fryer basket. Leave at least an inch of space between each of them so that all sides will cook properly.
- Air-fry the chicken taquitos for 5 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Check every 1 to 2 minutes to prevent overcooking.
- Wait for these high-value dog treats to cool before using them as food rewards during your pup’s training session.
Read: Can Dogs Eat Tofu?
Notes
- Do not skip warming up the spinach tortillas to keep them from cracking when rolled.
- Uneaten chicken taquitos can be placed in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Simply reheat these high-value dog treats in the air fryer to 360 degrees for 1 to 3 minutes.
FAQs About High-Value Dog Treats
1. What Are High-Value Dog Treats?
High-value dog treats commonly serve as high-value rewards for canines. These special treats tend to be very palatable and have a strong enticing odor, which helps motivate dogs and keep them focused during training.
2. What Are Good High-Value Treats for Dogs
Ideally, good high-value treats for dogs should be protein-rich. It must be sourced from top-quality ingredients such as lean meats like turkey, shrimp, and chicken or nutritious plants such as soy.
The taste and scent are important factors as well. High-value dog treats often possess a pungent scent and a savory meaty taste that many dogs love.
It is important to mind the presence of preservatives and additives. The fewer these ingredients are in high-value dog treats, the healthier and safer these doggy snacks are for your canine companion.
3. When to Use High-Value Dog Treats?
High-value dog treats have plenty of uses in training. They are greatly effective when given to pets at the right time such as:
- Retaining and redirecting the focus of canines when in highly distracting areas
- Reinforcing cues or behaviors that dogs find difficult
- Hugely rewarding pooches when they carry out a command extraordinarily well
Take note that dogs enjoy high-value treats because of their novel taste. Thus, these types of treats need to be used very sparingly or else your furry pal’s taste buds will quickly get bored of them.
For this reason, we suggest breaking or cutting our homemade doggy snacks into small pieces rather than feeding them to him whole.
4. What Are the Most High-Value Treats for Dogs?
There is no straightforward answer to this question since every dog has different preferences when it comes to high-value treats.
You will have to work with your canine companion to find out what treat options or dog-safe human foods he finds of high value.
One method you can try is to place two different treats on the ground and then cover them with cups. Allow your pet to inspect them. Whichever of the cups your pooch sniffs or paws at the most is considered high value.
Summary
High-value dog treats are special snacks that can greatly enhance your furry pal’s performance in dog training. Our recipes are a good starting point if you have not tried making these kinds of treats at home yet.
If you already know what types of food your pet loves, this makes the whole process easier. You can modify the recipe and use them as the main ingredients.
Visit our Diet & Recipes page to learn more homemade dog treat recipes.
