The definitive training treat
These dried liver treats are unbeatable for training sessions and anytime you need your dog’s attention. I use them when out walking the dogs, and the difference compared to shop-bought treats is remarkable—your pups will love them! Liver is affordable at local supermarkets or butchers, making these treats cheaper and healthier than branded options. Dogs go wild for them, even those who ignore other treats.Â
To make cleanup easier, line your oven tray with tin foil or use disposable foil trays. Dried liver is gorgeous and has a nice smell, I even like eating it but it can make your clothes smell if you carry it in them so use a treat bag when out and about. If you fancy an alternative liver recipe, try my liver cake recipe for dogs, a super dog treat.
Get yourself a treat bag and you're good to go!
Â
Ingredients
A packet of liver (any liver will do).
Method
Get yourself some liver. Any liver will do.
Rinse the blood of the liver
Wrap a baking tray in kitchen foil.
Lay your liver on the tray. Preheat your oven to 120c (250f/Gas mark 1). Cook for 1½ - 2 hrs or until fully dry.
Two hours later and this is it now dried. There is no juices in the tray and liver is dry inside and out..
Cut into little squares and fridge what you will use in a few days and freeze the rest. See now why we're using kitchen foil?
It’s so good to know that any liver is suitable, I’d been told that pigs liver is a no no for dogs so I’ve been lightly frying lambs liver (so much more expensive not that it’s bothered me, my Beagle is worth it) in a ceramic pan negating the need for oil but have to fry pack in 3 or 4 batches. This is a FAR better idea and now I know pigs liver is fine I’ll save a bit too.
Thank you so very much. I’ve also got a batch of the sardine oatcakes in the oven right now
Thanks Mike, hope your dog enjoys it!
Hi Jamie – Thanks for this recipe. I made some last night and the lurcher who’s staying with me became v wide-eyed at the smells coming from the kitchen. She’s not that food-orientated but went bonkers for these treats. I took some to the park today and met up with the usual crew. I was mobbed! Lots of wet noses rifling through my pocket. No need to buy treats in future and I put plenty in the freezer too.
Just been looking at your liver treats and they seem to be perfect for what i need. I have just started Raw feeding my dogs and a 100% meat treat is ideal for when we are out and about. You mentioned that you freeze your bite sized treat for when you need them, do you de-frost them before you give them to your dog or can they chomp on them frozen?
Hi Tabz
Because they have been dried they hold little water so they are good to go frozen!
Wow, so simple. Tucker is very interested in the oven right now. Fingers crossed this is the ‘eye popping’ treat we need for his training as he isn’t a food orientated dog.
Thanks Sam. How did it go down with Tucker?
A simple and easy way to make treats. My teenage son says thanks. 😀
( BTW my dog likes them too !)
Hehe – Thanks Jim!
Thanks so much for this recipe Jamie – I’ve been raw feeding for a few months now and wondering what to do about treats….my daughter is just starting agility classes with our rescue lab so the need for healthy treats has skyrocketed! I’m putting the liver in the oven now…:)
Thanks Claire and let me know how your dog likes them. I think they are simplest and most effective treat out there!
Thanks Jim. 🙂
Thanks for this I hate feeding my puppy treats with grain in so have been looking for home made treats as we are doing clicker training and I don’t want her getting fat. This sounds brilliant thanks.
Thanks for the recipe- I was looking for this!
What does it smell like? I notice people mentioning the smell…
Hi Justin. The smell’s not too bad, its a just liver smell. Some people just don’t like the idea of liver, so the smell of it is unappealing. But I like it and will nibble while I cut it into pieces.
sorry that wasnt related to liver…
If dogs are in boot they wont need harnesses but will probably need something if in back seat. Thing is, some dogs will try to sit on your lap if they can. I have a dog gaurd behind front headrests but my own dog will be my backup as she wont let any dog in the front. She sits next to me on passenger seat! She defo makes like easier!
You wont get a whole bunch of dogs in one go, they come one by one. If they puppy they can go straight in, if they not maybe keep them separate in car for first trip to see how they get on.
I do leave dogs in car waiting, but never for long, never more than 5 mins. A quick rub down and I’m away.
Jamie
hi i am a new dog walking provider but
having some problems with my own two dogs being aggressive to other dogs in our car…all cool once out on our walk but stress of journey freaking me out!
Hi Julie! I’d love to help and when I see my next dog behaviourist I will ask her about it. I have one dog that is not good with other dogs in the car. He is separated and the other dogs just ignore him, in fact he only growls if they look at him. He’s find outside.
In meantime, keep your dogs separated from the other dogs and try distracting them with something like a pate filled kong. In fact you could try giving them a kong when you put a dog in the car and see if they learn to associate a dog in the vehicle as a good thing. Anyway, I’ll get back to you once I’ve spoke to my behaviourist – not sure when though, busy time of year at the moment.
Hi Jamie,
I was wondering about transporting the dogs int he car. I am getting an estate but wondered if it was safe to have 3 dogs loose in the back. Obviously I will use a dog guard but do they all need harnesses? and also do dogs that have not met get on in the same vehicle generally? Do you have a procedure in them meeting up a few times before you try the car? Also when you drop the dogs back home and have to clean them do you leave the other dogs in the car waiting?