• Home
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Privacy & Disclosure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Me
  • All Recipes
    • Nerdy Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Main Courses
      • Chicken
      • Pasta
      • Soups
      • Salads
    • Beverages
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
      • Bars, Brownies & Blondies
      • Cookies
      • Cupcakes
    • Healthy
    • Easy Weeknight Meals
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas
      • Valentine’s Day
  • Recipes for One
  • Recipes for Two
  • Small-batch Desserts

Baking Mischief

Good Food, Nerdy Recipes, Living Well

  • Breakfast
  • Main Courses
    • Easy Weeknight Meals
    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Pork
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Soups
    • Pasta
  • Desserts
    • Bars, Brownies & Blondies
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Frozen
  • Side Dishes
You are here: Home / Recipes / High-Value Dog Treats

High-Value Dog Treats

06/08/16 | Pets, Recipes

19.5Kshares
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

The perfect homemade high-value dog treats for training. Easy, inexpensive, and irresistible to dogs. Your pup will do anything for these things. Also cat friendly–your cat would probably be willing to trip you for one.


It’s really important to me that my pets be good citizens. Okay, my cats are both jerks, but my horse and my dog have great manners.

One of the ways I manage this is that I’m definitely the strict, uncool pet parent, but the other way is through sheer bribery. All of my pets know that if you do something good, you’re going to get a treat.

This is great for them but expensive for me because with the concerns about toxic treats coming from overseas, it’s increasingly important to purchase high-quality treats from companies you trust.

So, tired of spending $$$$ on treats I go through like water, I’ve started supplementing the store-bought treats with some of my own like my Carrot Oat Applesauce Treats for Dogs and Horses, Horse and Dog Gingerbread Treats, and now these High-value Dog Treats.

The perfect easy homemade high-value dog treats for training. Simple, inexpensive, and irresistible to dogs. Cats love them too! From BakingMischief.com | Homemade Dog Treats | Homemade Cat Treats |

What does “high-value” dog treats mean? It means they are extra appetizing so dogs will do anything for them. They are meaty, fishy, chewy, and a little smelly which makes them absolutely irresistible to dogs and the perfect homemade dog training treats.

I taught Ella to “sit pretty” using these over the last couple of weeks. She’s not a particularly athletic dog, so this was a tough one for her, but look how good she’s getting at it!

The perfect easy homemade high-value dog treats for training. Simple, inexpensive, and irresistible to dogs. Cats love them too! From BakingMischief.com | Homemade Dog Treats | Homemade Cat Treats |

Ella LOVES these treats and I love them too because they are so easy to make (did you watch the video above?). You just puree a can of tuna in your food processor, add an egg, a little flour, bake and cut. For training, you can cut them small so they are eaten in a second, and they don’t crumble in training pouches* or bags in your pocket.

The best part is that they are just smelly enough to be suuuuuuper appetizing to dogs but not so much that it’s going to gross you out touching them–maybe it’s just me, but some commercial treats are so greasy and smelly that I hate sticking my hand into the bag.

The perfect easy homemade high-value dog treats for training. Simple, inexpensive, and irresistible to dogs. Cats love them too! From BakingMischief.com | Homemade Dog Treats | Homemade Cat Treats |

They’ll keep in the fridge for about a week (I store mine in a mason jar with one of these storage caps* so they’re easy to get in and out of), or you can keep batches in the freezer for months. And they cost about $2 a batch (even less if you buy your tuna in bulk).

They are also cat-friendly. I’ve had to start leaving the lid on the treats when I have them out because the cats hear the jar open and will come and try to dump it over to eat them all (like I said, jerks)!

The perfect easy homemade high-value dog treats for training. Simple, inexpensive, and irresistible to dogs. Cats love them too! From BakingMischief.com | Homemade Dog Treats | Homemade Cat Treats |

I’m always really cautious introducing new things to my cats’ diets because I find them to be way more sensitive to new foods than dogs. My cat who will throw up at just about anything new ate these with no problem, but take care with your own pets and always talk to your vet if you have any concerns!

The perfect easy homemade high-value dog treats for training. Simple, inexpensive, and irresistible to dogs. Cats love them too! From BakingMischief.com | Homemade Dog Treats | Homemade Cat Treats |
Print Pin
4.93 from 27 votes

High-value Dog Treats

The perfect homemade high-value dog treats for training. Easy, inexpensive, and irresistible to dogs. Your pup will do anything for these things. Also cat friendly–your cat would probably be willing to trip you for one.
Course Dog Treats
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 20 minutes minutes
Servings 2 cups
Author Tracy

Ingredients

  • 1 3.5 oz can tuna fish (oil or water is fine, do not drain)
  • 1 large egg
  • 3/4 cup (90g) all-purpose flour

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
  • In a food processor or blender, combine tuna, egg, and flour and process until until a thick paste forms.
  • Spread paste evenly over about an 8x8 square on your prepared baking sheet (it doesn't need to be exact or pretty). Bake for 15 minutes, until mixture is set.
  • Allow to cool slightly before slicing into 1/2-inch squares (1/4-inch for cats).
  • Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Recipe Adapted From Instructables

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive small commission if you make a purchase using them. There is absolutely no additional cost to you. 

The perfect homemade high-value dog treats for training. Easy, inexpensive, and irresistible to dogs. Your pup will do anything for these things. Also cat friendly--your cat would probably be willing to trip you for one. From BakingMischief.com

Comments | 76 comments

« Strawberry Limeade Mix
8 Life-Changing Kitchen Tools »

Comments

  1. Joseph Jordan says

    August 9, 2021 at 11:03 am

    IT STINKS GOOD!

    Just what I was looking for. I show my dog and need her to stack for extended periods while in the ring. Meat and most other goodies are just too tasty, she loses her composure. Tuna and sardines are part of her regular dietary supplements so she knows that smell of the tuna. These treats are very fragrant, as my dog would say “It STINKS GOOD!” Yet not sticky in the pocket and chewy enough to allow her to nibble while holding in her stacked position.

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      August 9, 2021 at 4:07 pm

      Lol, the highest compliment!!

      Reply
  2. Beverley says

    June 5, 2021 at 8:36 am

    5 stars
    My first batch, my James bond labrador just love them

    Reply
  3. Miki says

    September 18, 2020 at 8:12 am

    4 stars
    I tried a different recipe before but couldn’t find it. I honestly found it difficult, because I’ve never seen 3.5 Oz tuna cans. 5 or 12oz is all I could find, so I used 12oz tuna 2 1/2+1/8 cup flour (12/3.5 = 3.6, so I used 3.5 as the multiplyer for all the ingredients according to the size difference in our cans) and 4 eggs. The treats still ended up dry and my dog much preferred the other recipe, apparently she loved that it stank and never minded either. As for actual ease and simple ingredients and method, I dig it. Next time I use your recipe I am going to tweak it for more tuna less and a little less flour.

    Reply
  4. Anna says

    June 20, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    5 stars
    I just finished this recipe! I don’t have food processor so used my vitamins to blend a can of tuna in water with the eggs and then I hand mixed in the flour. I took one treat to put in the freezer so I could give my little Rory immediately and she loved it! The rest are still cooling but this recipe is amazing!! Thank you so much

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 22, 2019 at 2:35 pm

      I’m so glad to hear Rory approves! Thanks for reporting back!!

      Reply
  5. Paula says

    June 7, 2019 at 1:44 pm

    So glad I have just found this recipe. My 11 month cavachon barks at every dog he meets. He wants to play but its driving me crazy. I have spent a fortune on training treats but nothing gets his attention away from.the dogs. Hoping these will work. Oh by the way I also have two jerk cats that beat my barney up all the time Haha

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 10, 2019 at 1:11 pm

      Hopefully he will find these sufficiently distracting! And I’m so glad I’m not the only one with a couple of jerk cats! LOL

      Reply
  6. Karen Teeling says

    June 6, 2019 at 1:25 pm

    Your High Value Dog Treats (tuna, egg and flour) – how long can the be outside the fridge? Volunteering at a local humane society event and want to bring some treats with for my fellow volunteers dogs and we won’t have a fridge. So need to know about how long they can be OUT of the fridge before I should worry. Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      June 10, 2019 at 12:41 pm

      Hi, Karen, I wouldn’t leave them at room temperature for more than half an hour, and never some place hot, like a car. If you need them out for longer than that, I’d just pack them in a bag/lunchpail with a couple ice packs or baggies of ice. Packed with ice, they should be fine until the ice melts. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  7. Jayne says

    April 26, 2019 at 10:14 am

    Hello, you did say they were chewy, not hard biscuits, correct? Going to try in a bone mold.

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      May 1, 2019 at 4:23 pm

      Hi, Jayne, they’re kind of gummy. Not chewy chewy like a fruit or meat snack, but they’re definitely not a crunchy-type treat. Hope that makes sense!

      Reply
  8. Suzanne Quinn says

    April 4, 2019 at 6:38 am

    Hi, thanks for taking the time to post this recipe!! Can I substitute WW Flour for the All Purpose?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      April 5, 2019 at 9:27 am

      Hi, Suzanne, it should work. I’d start by mixing in 1/2 cup and then sprinkle in the remaining 1/4 cup slowly, until you get a spreadable paste. If the mixture begins to get crumbly or dry looking, stop adding flour, even if you haven’t used it all. Hope that helps, and please let me know how they turn out!

      Reply
  9. Mary says

    March 18, 2019 at 2:00 pm

    5 stars
    I made these for my 6-month-old cattle dog mix and she loved them! I substituted 1/4 cup of coconut flour and an extra egg for the 1 cup of flour, and I think the texture held together. This was my first go at homemade trips, and they were so easy! Happy to make inexpensive treats with items I already have in the pantry 🙂

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      March 18, 2019 at 10:29 pm

      So glad your girl enjoyed them, Mary!

      Reply
  10. joanne says

    March 1, 2019 at 8:32 pm

    Was wondering if anyone has made this recipe in one of the silicone molds in the shape of bones or paws? I think I will try it! sounds like a great training tool/treat!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      March 4, 2019 at 4:45 pm

      Hi, Joanne. I haven’t heard of anyone doing that, but it should work just fine.

      Reply
  11. Dale says

    February 3, 2019 at 1:34 pm

    5 stars
    Wow these are so good! We bought expensive treats and our pup really cared less about them; these she will do anything for – as in, her first and only recognizable word is ‘treat’ and she sprints to the fridge. Thank you!

    Reply
  12. Megan says

    November 1, 2018 at 6:47 pm

    5 stars
    Made these last night to shake things up with my sheltie puppy’s training and these absolutely grab her attention! Maybe a bit too much since she’s bouncing everywhere as soon as I pull these out of the fridge! Our two kitties are also huge fans and chewed a hole in the side of the bag as soon as my back was turned. Definitely be making these again! Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      November 6, 2018 at 8:04 am

      Lol. Happy to hear all the furry family members are enjoying them!

      Reply
  13. Amber says

    February 14, 2018 at 11:01 am

    5 stars
    My dogs loved them. Made them for my chiweenies 4th birthday today. Super easy and quick to make! 🙂

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      February 17, 2018 at 2:49 pm

      So glad they enjoyed them! And happy belated birthday to the pup! 😉

      Reply
  14. Matt says

    October 16, 2017 at 1:02 pm

    Just made a batch of these and my spaniel loves them. Quick question – do they need to be kept in the fridge or can they be kept in an air tight container out the fridge ?

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      October 23, 2017 at 7:55 am

      Glad your pup enjoyed them! These should be stored in the fridge.

      Reply
  15. Jennifer says

    October 8, 2017 at 2:27 pm

    5 stars
    I love how adaptable this recipe is! I’ve been making these with sardines (in water) rather than tuna fish, and with the Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 baking flour. I had to adjust the recipe slightly for amounts, but basically just add enough flour to soak up the moisture and make a “play dough” consistency after mixing the fish and egg. For the batch that’s in the oven atm, I also added some ground flax seed and some buckwheat flour. Next time I plan to try making it with the canned chicken, as my mom’s dog is allergic fish. These don’t last long as my my dog, and the roommates cat, and all the dogs at the dog park LOVE them.

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      October 8, 2017 at 2:29 pm

      Sorry, that was supposed to say Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 **gluten free** baking flour.

      Reply
    • Tracy says

      October 10, 2017 at 12:00 pm

      I’m so glad these have worked out for you, Jennifer. And thank you for leaving such a detailed description of the changes you made!! It’s really helpful!

      Reply
  16. Shelley says

    September 5, 2017 at 3:07 am

    What I’d any meat besides fish can you use as I have dogs with allergies and myself allergic to fish could I substitute chicken or beef

    Reply
    • Tracy says

      September 5, 2017 at 8:24 pm

      Hi, Shelley. I would try canned chicken, the same size as a standard size can of tuna. I’ve never tried it, so I’m not positive it would work, but it would probably be the best substitution option. If you try it, please let me know how it works out!

      Reply
      • Shelley says

        September 5, 2017 at 8:26 pm

        I will

« Older Comments
Newer Comments »
4.93 from 27 votes (10 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome!


Hi, I'm Tracy! Welcome to Baking Mischief, where we realize that not everyone is cooking every night for a family of four. We have delicious sweet and savory recipes, mostly scaled for one or two, and we love our pop culture around here, so keep an eye out for film, book, and TV-inspired treats as well! Read more»
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Get free recipes delivered to your inbox!

Join the Baking Mischief Newsletter

Subscribe and get recipes delivered to your inbox weekly PLUS a free mini e-cookbook. 

Popular Recipes

Gooey Chocolate S’mores Cupcake with a bite out of it.No Fail Butter and Garlic Green Beans in a white dish.Pesto Chicken Sandwich on Sourdough being picked up.Chicken Shawarma With Yogurt Sauce wrapped in foil on a wooden plate.Easy Carnitas Recipe on a white plate with limes.The BEST Crispy Oven-roasted Broccoli on a baking sheet.

What I’m Loving Now

Small-batch Chocolate Banana Muffin with a bite out of it.Carnitas Enchiladas (Pulled Pork Enchiladas) on a plate with lettuce.Easy Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup in a pot.Easy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies stacked on a plate.

Copyright © 2025 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.