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!
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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?
I’m interested to try this for my dog. Just wondering how long they last without freezing?
Would it be ok to use this for training my 17 week old German Shepherd pup or should i use something like chicken?
Best not to give young pups offal until they are a bit older and then introduce it gradually to not give them the squirts. Chicken is good though 🙂
I have a four year old rescue border terrier, so a big learning curve for him. Going to give him dried liver treats as comeback treats. Got to keep him on a long lead as he clears off regardless of how many sauceage bits I give him. Don’t even give him full breakfast until we get back home, so hoping liver will work as I get fed up with waiting for him to return.
If dried liver doesn’t work, then no other food will.
Training my 9 week old Border Terrier and was wondering how much of the dried Liver I can safely feed. Planning to use as a recall treat so will need to use often.
Cheers, Angie
I think liver is a bit rich for pups, I’d wait a little bit first then start with just a small amount.
Delighted to find this. The local butcher discards cow liver so, after a word with a friendly assistant I was given, free of charge (!), about three kilos. Prior to this I have been making liver cake treats with pigs liver and he adores them. With this quantity of Raw liver ,drying it in the oven is a much less labour intensive option. It’s in there now. So. I hope Max is similarly delighted with this alternative to liver cake. I’m wondering if, given the huge lumps, two hours might be required. Thanks for the recipe.!
That’s a fantastic find Leo, what amazing luck. I genuinely think you should enquire what other stuff they discard, like pig heads, chicken wings, offal etc
How long will the tuna and liver last in the fridge? Also which liver would you recommend using please?
Many thanks
Well because the liver has been dried under a low heat they should last a while in the fridge and forever in the freezer. You’ll just have to test to see how long, mine never last long enough. I use any liver, whatever is available. Supermarkets quite often sell chicken liver too in the freezer department, so I guess its just down to your own dogs preference but liver is liver and dogs just go crazy for it.
Does anyone have any advice about a dog who is chronically licking and removing fur from front legs?
Already on grain free diet.
Thanks,
Sue
I know this is old, but grain free is linked to heart problems in dogs. Get a high quality food avoiding corn as the main ingredient and you can also try avoiling wheat for alternatives like barley and rice, but not as important.
Most common allergies are to meat so try a fish based diet and work from there. Also adding either fish oil or some other forms of omega 3&6 with vit e can solve skin issues.
Alternatively it could be anxiety related. Make sure your dog has structure in their life.
My 2 dogs a 12 year old Shitzu and a 7 month old Pomarianan both go wild for the liver treats, I wouldn’t worry how long you can keep them in the freezer, believe me they wont last that long. All I do is get the lambs liver they prefer that cut it in strips heat the oven to 160 for half an hour, then cut them into the sizes you want. My 2 sit by the oven watching them cook. Lambs liver here in Australia is dearer, but they seem to prefer it.
Hi, I have heard something about freezing liver for a week before using to get rid of parasites or something. Is this recommended? buy it, freeze it for a week, defrost and then follow above recipe? How long can it be kept in fridge? can it be kept in airtight container instead to take for my dog when out walking them? sorry lots of questions 🙂
Its getting cooked as it dries so you dont need to feeze it beforehand unless you want to feed it raw. It stays in fridge for a good while cause it’s quite dry so lasts longer, not bone dry or anything. Once made I just bag it and freeze it.