Homemade liver training treats, a how-to tutorial

In training puppies and dogs, there are a few things to remember - consistency, keep the sessions short, a good sense of timing and most of all, use really yummy treats... and just tiny bits of them. In keeping your dogs attention during training sessions - we can use all the help that we can get!

I see many people buy expensive dog training bits and treats, but to me it seems a bit silly. You can use things like hot dogs, sliced thinly and then cut into quarters - or you can make homemade liver training treats for just pennies. Best of all, in the latter case you have control of what ingredients are in the treats and most dogs love liver.

Start with organic calf liver (this is important as the organ acts as a filter to mitigate toxins from the body), boiled for a few minutes in water to cook (10 - 15 minutes), then rinse off to get rid of the scum that accumulates. Dry with a paper towel, then place the boiled liver onto a cookie sheet, completely flat and into a 225 degree oven (depending on your oven, as temperatures vary) for another 15-20 minutes to dry. Cool the dried liver and you can break off tiny pieces as you need them. Since there are no preservatives in these treats, I recommend keeping the dried liver refrigerated in a container for up to a week.

Remember, dogs should not eat too much liver, so keep the number of treats low, and the bits tiny.

Watch an online tutorial here.