It is time to reward the dogs! They are not always good. But, when they are, rewarding them with something healthy and homemade is the best way to “show the love.” Our Homemade Fishy Dog Treats are easy to make and we guarantee your dog will love them. We have used these treats for potty training, crate training, and basic commands. We have also broken them into smaller pieces and used them as rewards when are dogs were into agility training. They are easy to make and are perfect every time.
Since our fishy treats are soft, they can easily be broken and you can also cut them into any size. They work for any size dog – even the big ones! Big dogs do not need big treats. There is no added sugar, salt, or any preservatives. Right from the start you know what the ingredients are and know they are fresh and healthy for your pet. They are human grade and very bland. And, don’t ask me how I know that. 🙂
My sister actually puts an individual treat inside ice-cube trays and then fills them with water and freezes them. Her dog loves crunching on the ice-cube to get to the fishy treat inside as an added bonus. Plus, with the extra water from the ice he gets added hydration. A win-win!
Ingredients
I call these “fishy treats” because the base is salmon and tuna. Our dogs respond to those words and come running when they hear “fishy treat.” Of course, I make other homemade treats, as well. They likely just respond to that TREAT word!
These are simple with the only other ingredients being wheat flour and beaten eggs. The flour does add carbs but they can tolerate the small amount since the batch makes so many small treats. Our dogs eat a strict diet of my homemade healthy dog food that is very low in carbs and high in protein so this little treat does not hurt them.
I use one large can of salmon (14 3/4 ounce) and one small can of tuna (7 ounce) with water. There is no need to drain the tuna. You can easily use any combination of salmon and tuna and even add sardines if you like. The two cans that I used equals 2 1/2 cups, so you can go by that. Either way, your baked treats will be pliable, yet not crumbly. They cut and then break easily.
Preparation and Storage Tips
Stir the treat mixture by hand. There is no need to use a mixer. Spread them evenly on a 13 x 16 inch baking pan (cookie sheet pan) and make sure the pan is lightly greased. They will be golden when baked and are very easy to transfer from the pan to the cutting board. Forty minutes at 350 degrees works well to produce a perfect dog treat.
I cut the treats into 1/2 inch squares, but you can make them any size you want. When training we will even break the 1/2 inch treat into smaller pieces since that usually requires rewarding for repetition and too many of the treats at one time could cause a digestive issue. We put about 50 in a plastic bag. One bag hits the refrigerator and we freeze four other bags for later use. One bag will last us about a week, but our “furry daughters” are very good and love their rewards. The Homemade Fishy Dog Treats will freeze perfectly.
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Homemade Fishy Dog Treats – Ready for A Treat?
If you are looking for a healthy treat for your dogs that is easy to make with simple ingredients then give my “Fishy Treats” a try! Just like my homemade healthy dog food, I consider this a “labor of love!” I know they enjoy the taste and they appreciate the effort. Most of all, I know I am giving them a tasty treat with healthy ingredients!
Homemade Fishy Dog Treats – Salmon and Tuna
Course: Low Carb EssentialsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy250
10
minutes40
minutes6
kcal0.8
g50
minutesEasy 4 ingredient homemade dog treats – healthy and delicious for your treasured dog!
Keep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
14 ounces 397 g Salmon 1 can
7 ounces 198 g Tuna 1 can (with water)
4 4 Eggs beaten
2 cups 250 g Flour whole wheat
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine the salmon and tuna in a medium bowl. No need to drain. Add the beaten eggs followed by the flour. Stir well to thoroughly combine.
- Spread evenly in a lightly greased 12 x 16 baking pan.
- Bake for 40 minutes and cool briefly. Cut into 1/2 inch squares and divide into 5 storing bags.
Chef’s Notes
- Treats can be broken in half when rewarding or training.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 6kcal
- Carbohydrates: 0.8g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Fat: 0.1g
- Cholesterol: 3mg
- Sodium: 3mg
- Potassium: 7mg
- Vitamin A: 5IU
- Calcium: 1mg
- Iron: 0.1mg
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These fishy treats look amazing and super easy to make too. We can’t wait to feature them on an upcoming article!
Cheers,
Lulu
Thanks for the comment! Pups love them . . . Joanie.
I am so happy I found this recipe! I’ve been going CRAZY with enrichment toys for my babies (a 2 year old black lab and a 5.5 year old yellow lab) and this looks SO easy and healthy! Will definitely be trying this weekend! thank you!!
Hope it works well for you! Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
Instead of canned tuna can I use anchovies most likely yes
Sure, just make sure they hold together after baking. You can adjust accordingly with the flour. Thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
how long should you bake it if you are making 60 servings
Presuming you follow the recipe and use a smaller pan and still have the same thickness of your bake, then the time should not vary. As the pictures show, the treats are to be cut into small bite size pieces. Either way, start with the normal baking timer and watch that they do not get too dry or dark when baking. As I indicate in my post, you can easily freeze the treats. I usually keep 1/4 of them out and freeze the rest. Good luck, and thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
This is amazing, I can easily replicate this at home. Thank you for sharing! I never thought of making them fishy treats, will give them a little and see if they actually enjoy it.
We have had so many folks who react positively to the simple “fishy treats.” We also recommend our Homemade Healthy Dog Food. Please check out my recipe at -> Healthy Homemade Dog Food. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
We love these treats but we need to make treats with Duck now vs fish which so far I am having a hard time finding duck. Do you have thoughts for making similar consistency (soft and pliable) treats like this with canned dog food. I can still add eggs and flour but we have to restrict the protein source now.
You should be able to substitute for the Salmon and Tuna; however, duck is protein. If you have trouble finding duck, Amazon can be a source. I would not suggest canned dog food – too many unhealthy additives and lesser quality meat and meat by-products. Take a moment a read our Healthy Homemade Dog Food Post to learn more about processed dog food.
Do you use salmon with the bones or can I use the salmon with no bones?
I use Salmon with bones for calcium. They are soft and will present no problems. Thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
Thank you so much for this recipe! I’m trying to get my dog some better treats and this will be perfect!
Thanks for the comment – take a look at my healthy homemade dog food, on our site . . . Joanie.
Do you think you could substitute canned turkey-same amt with water instead of fish? Turkey seems safe here and I would love my house not smelling of fish!
It should work fine. You may be on to something. Thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
Do you have more dog redipes. Where can I fime them. Thank you
Our most viewed recipe is our Healthy Homemade Dog Food. Just click the words and you will go straight to my recipe. It is balanced and offers what I feel is the perfect blend for a healthy dog. My recipe contains healthy ingredients, no sugar, and no fillers. Best of all, we never found a dog who did not love it. Thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
Can we get more recipes!! I heard tapioca flour helps with falling apart?
Cassava flour will not hurt dogs. But, it is used as a filler in many commercial dog foods and that scares me, on the surface. I am working on another treat recipe –> stay tuned . . . Joanie.
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve made these treat because my dog loves them so much! Thanks for a great and easy eecipe!!
So nice to hear! I hope your dog gets a chance to try my healthy homemade dog food recipe. Thanks for the kind comment . . . Joanie.
Hi, I made your homemade dog food. It didn’t go as smooth as I thought. My food processor died and my pot for the meat was not big enough it just took longer that’s all. Can I ask what size pot do you use for cooking the meat? Also for some reason the food smells spicy like I cooked sausage?
My Chihuahua is 8yrs. and is 5lbs. overweight and my Maltese is 5 yrs. and 4lbs. overweight. I have been feeding them two onces twice a day of Freshpet. Can you recommend how much of the homemade food I should feed them? My dogs love it so I’m hoping it’s going to help them loose weight. I can’t wait to make the treats! Thanks
So good to hear that your dogs love my recipe. I use a 7 quart stainless pot. There is nothing spicy in the recipe so I am not sure why you had that experience. Generally, a mature moderately active dog should get about 30 calories per pound of weight. So, first determine their optimum weight. Ours weigh 9 pounds, and I use 9 X 30 to get 270 calories needed per day. My recipe yields about 260 calories per 1/2 cup, so that is what they get each day. You just have to do the math. Continue to weigh them to see their progress toward their goal weight. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
Thank you. I found these looking for a decent training treat. While they turned out perfect, our girl wasn’t too into them at first. One night in the fridge and she looses interest in anything else.
I hope she continues to enjoy the treat and will train well for you. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
The recipe sounds delicious. My little girl likes soft treats. Is this treat hard or chewy? Thanks for all the wonderful dog food recipes.
It is a soft treat, I used to break them apart with my fingers to make them smaller for training purposes when our girls were pups. Thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
I used the trimmings from some salmon I caught and fileted. Cooked it in a instant pot then used a immersion blender to combine it with the cooking water. Measured 2.5 cups followed the rest of the recipe turned put great, didn’t waste any of the catch and our dog loved it
Fantastic! Nothing like fresh . . . pleased that your dog loved the treats. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
Do I keep them in the refrigerator and take them out right before I feed my dog? Or can I leave it in an air tight container for a day at room temperature and give it that day? Also do i have to use tuna or can i just use salmon?
You can stick with Salmon, no problem. I would recommend refrigeration – that is what I always do. I used to take some and keep them in a pocket for training, but otherwise keep them refrigerated. Thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
My German Shepard is allergic to chicken,so besides the eggs which I don’t want to use in case she has a reaction,what else could I use ?
I know some people have bird-egg allergies. People use apple sauce or smashed banana in place of eggs, but I would doubt it will hold the treats together and too much banana can upset a dogs stomach. If you do give your dog apple sauce make sure there is no Xyltol. That is toxic to dogs. Peanut butter and pumpkin puree are often used in dog treats, but that then is a whole different recipe. You could try 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup pumpkin puree and 1/4 cup beef broth, and a teaspoon of cinnamon – bake it at 350 for 20 minutes. Your dog may like that one, without the fish . . . Joanie.
Hi, my dog has multiple allergies. If I use corn flour as a substitute, do I need to change anything else? Also I would like to use fresh fish instead of cans, would that tend to make the treats crumble apart? Thks, Marlise Switzerland
The flour will hold things together, corn flour should work. I use canned salmon and tuna and do not drain, so my only concern would be the moisture content of using fresh fish. Try a small batch and add some water, if needed. Good luck and please let men know. I always like to help . . . Joanie.
Hello, how many of these treats per day would you recommend for a 55lb dog?
I use the treats as a reward for behavior. Started out as a potty training tool. Our Havanese Sisters still get a treat whenever they go out to do their business, to go to bed in the evening, when we go out and return, and teaching tricks. So, there is no quantity per weight. The size of the treat does not matter. Too often, folks think that the bigger the dog the bigger the treat.Dogs are just happy to get a reward, regardless the size. Tie the treat to desired behavior. Thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
My pup absolutely loves these… I did mine with coconut flour like one of the comments suggested. How long are they fresh in the fridge?
Coconut flour will work well. Never saw a pup who didn’t enjoy these. Ours usually last a week, but you would be fine for ten days. They do freeze well and thaw quickly. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
Is this ok for an 8 week puppy?
The treats are easy and fine for pups. We used them to train our pups. When they were little we just broke them in half- they only need a little bit for training. Thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
During the coronavirus, do I need to wipe the whole can before opening?
We suggest following all CDC guidelines. We believe everyone should take precautions to ensure their own safety and the safety of others. Stay safe . . . Joanie.
God bless you for sharing this. We have an almost 12 week old Zuchon puppy and I want to give her healthy natural as possible foods. I am currently low carb myself and it was reassuring to see in the comments that this recipe will work well with coconut flour as well. Although I am willing to try the regular flour version first. Thank you again!
Best of luck with your puppy. I hope she loves my food as much as our Havanese. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
Thank you so much for this recipe, my dog has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy and we have been trying to treat with a keto diet. I have been looking at different treats and came across your recipe. I replaced the flour with coconut flour, added an extra egg and water and they came out amazing. So much so my dog spent all night staring at me to get another treat!
Coconut flour will work and the extra moisture was a good idea since coconut flour will require more. So pleased that the recipe worked for you. I hope it helps you treat your dog. Try our Homemade Dog Food recipe. It is low in carbs and dogs love it. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
This sounds like a great recipe for my hairy nephew who loves tuna. Now I’m from the uk and our cans of fish comes in grams I’ve just done of conversion for 21 ounces which comes to 595 grams, which sounds a rather large amount!! Does this sound right to you? Thank you in advance (ps 2 cups equals 250 grams of flour if that helps with a reference!)
Thank you so much for the question. Your calculations are correct. Our post shows pictures of the cans I use – one large and one small. I did change the wording of the recipe to ounces so you can click the Metric button in the actual recipe and it will convert for you. It comes out to 595g. They make a large baking sheet full of treats. I so hope your nephew enjoys them . . . Joanie.
Hey, how long can these be stored for?
We store them in our fridge for up to two weeks. Our Havanese love them, as you can see from our post . . .Joanie.
Your recipe looks so good and healthy. My standard poodle Gaia, is allergic to just about everything: beef, chicken, turkey, pork, wheat, dairy. Even Kangaroo!
I can not use eggs or wheat. I’ve read all the comments and see people have used coconut flour and asked for egg substitutes. Both my dogs love peanut butter and apples. So those would work for them instead of the egg. I was thinking of oat flour. What do you think?
I was also wondering if you have a recipe for treats & dog food using fish and any of these add-ins: pumpkin, squash, spinach, peanut butter, berries, apple, (banana is ok. My toy poodle Mr. Merlin, is 15 1/2 and under weight by 3lbs. He has severe kidney disease and I want to keep his weight up. With that, I need to have His treats low in protein, and they must be soft. He has no teeth). I’ve been looking for food/treat recipes that incorporate fruits as well as veggies. I haven’t looked at your recipe for dog food yet, but will do.
I’m hoping you have more recipes or can come up with some.
Thank you
I think you are on the right track. I find the first feature of healthy dog food and treats is to find the mix that your pups will eat. When you have so many limitations due to allergies, you obviously change the nutrition mix each time you substitute. So, I encourage folks to experiment a bit. The ingredients you mention are all healthy for dogs and should be enjoyable. My dog food recipe is heavy on meat and protein and low in carbs, but the meat limitations you note would cause a problem. The oat flour should work for the treats and since they are fish based you should be fine. They are soft and would be easy to break apart and would be good for dogs with missing teeth. Try substituting apple sauce for the eggs. You will just have to experiment with the portions to keep it formed in your pan – make small batches until you get it right. Thanks . . .Joanie.
Hi! I don’t have wheat flour in the house. I have oats. Is that a safe alternative? Also, would this be a great great for a dog with diabetes or do you have another recipe? Thanks!
I have never tried using oats. However, even though oats are lower in carbs than wheat, they are still very high in carbs and that would not be good for a diabetic dog. Our homemade dog food is low in carbs, but I would suggest good old fashioned cheese. I often cut very small tidbits of cheddar cheese and use that to reward our two dogs. They love it and there are virtually no carbs.Would love to see you try our dog treat recipe, but I would stick with cheese.Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
Amazing treats!!!! My dogs loves them and make them all the time for her. Perfect high reward treats for training and all my friends now have the recipe ?? Any other fish treat recipes you have will be greatly appreciated as my dog has allergies to food and these fish treats are brilliant!!
Thanks so much! I often use sardines in the mix – they go crazy for that, and it is so healthy. Looks like I will get back in my kitchen and see what else I can come up with, thanks . . . Joanie.
I have a biewer female she is 21/2 yrs old and weighs about 3lbs 11oz. I would like to try to make your homemade dog recipe but not sure how to break down how much she would need each day. She has a sensitive stomach been trying to find a diet that she would do good on and having a hard time. Any advice of tips would be greatly appreciated.
We can certainly relate to the sensitive stomach. Our “girls” are so used to my homemade dog food that anything else may yield digestive issues. As, we only feed them our food, we have had no issues at all. They are so regular and healthy. A small dog needs from 30 to 40 calories per pound to maintain their weight. If she is a good weight to start she will likely need from 110 to 140 calories per day. Our dogs weight around 9 1/2 pounds and we feed them 1/4 cup of our food twice a day. I would start with 1/4 cup for the day. Break it into two servings and see how she does. We use a postal scale to weigh ours. It is a good investment to check her weight. Always introduce new food gradually mixed with the old food. That will help with adjustment. We hope she loves the food. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
Hi thank you so very much for responding and helping me with the amount to feed her. May I ask where did you get your postal scale to weigh your dogs. Can coconut flour be used to make your treats rather than the wheat or white flour.
We have not tried coconut flour as a substitute. However, the literature says it is good for dogs. Easy to digest and can lower cholesterol. We do know that coconut flour will absorb more liquid than wheat flours. So, you may have to experiment with a small batch to make sure you get the right amount, so they hold together. We love our scale since it allows us to put a box on first, then subtract its weight, then place our dog in the box, and it will register correct weight in pounds and ounces. Otherwise the scale platform would be too small for their feet. You can find the exact scale we use by clicking -> scale. Thanks for the comments and let us know about the coconut flour . . . Joanie.
What type of flour do you use? It is whole wheat / white? You don’t specify.
We usually keep a small bag of whole wheat flour on hand. We do not use flour ourselves; however the amount is so small and our pups only eat low carb food, so the flour is tolerable. You could also use almond flour instead. Raw almonds are not good for dogs, but most say almond flour is okay. The flour holds it all together. Thanks for the question. I clarified in the recipe. Joanie.
We had a puppy party introducing our new pup to our community. I made these and put them in little treat bags, like at a little kid party. They were such a hit. Everyone loves them. Thank you for the recipe!
So glad the party crowd enjoyed the treats. We have used those for years to train our puppies and reward good behavior. So simple to make, and they love them. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
Can I add some cheese on it?
My only concern would be that some dogs are lactose intolerant. Our little ones are not and they love cheese. We often just use cheddar cheese as a snack. Try that and if you do not have any issues, then certainly adding a bit of cheese or topping with a little would be tasty. Let me know . . . Joanie.
Could you use sardines instead of tuna & salmon? Also, are they soft enough to hide pills in.
Yes, sardines will work well. I add them often. A real healthy treat. I usually cut the treats fairly thin so, although they are soft, a pill may still be too exposed. I have also used cheese for a snack and a pill can be hidden in a small bite of cheddar. Our pups love cheddar treats, also. Thanks for the question . . . Joanie.
How much should I feed my 17 lb. 11 year old dog. The vet wants her to slowly lose 3 lbs.
Of course, we do not know what you feed your dog, now. However, we know our Healthy Homemade food has all the nutrition a dog needs, your dog will love it, and will lose weight if you adjust his food accordingly. Normally active dogs need about 30 calories per pound to maintain weight. So, if the ideal weight is 14 pounds then your dog would need approximately 420 calories each day. Our dogs get 1/4 cup of our recipe twice a day so that is 260 calories (they are only 9 pounds). If we do the math, it would indicate that about 3/4 cup each day would be a good starting point. That would provide about 390 calories. Try 1/4 cup 3 times a day. Control the portions and do not let the dog graze. Weigh your dog at the beginning and then every other day to see the progress. We use a postage scale so we can measure in pounds and ounces. If he eats twice a day, then cut the 3/4 cup in half for each meal. If he is hungry an extra spoonful would be fine. We would love to hear how it works, ours love the food and we feel great knowing they are healthy and with a controlled weight. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
The last for your reply. I’m making them. Is and I’m sure our Sadie (yellow Lab) will love them but I have chicken of the sea in water and it’s only five ounces. After reading your response I just decided to use both cans this time and see if it’s too watery. Thanks again!
Sadie will enjoy the treats. They are easy to make and I am sure you will be fine changing the recipe a bit. One thing we learned is that big dogs do not need any larger size for the treats than a small dog. It should be a reward, a training tool, and make them healthy and happy. They break apart easily to use a smaller size and they freeze so well. I make larger batches and always have a bag ready to thaw. Thanks so much for your comments . . . Joanie.
Tuna comes in 5 oz cans. Do I need 1 1/2 cans? Thanks for this yummy smelling treat for my Sadie.
We use Chicken of the Sea tuna in a seven ounce can, but you can use a five ounce can. While most recipes we create are such that amounts really matter. For our “fishy treats” you can be less stringent. For example, I just made a batch using not only the seven ounce tuna, and 14 3/4 ounce salmon, but also added a four ounce can of sardines (including liquid). I just mixed them together with a fork. I often use less egg, as well. I used three for the latest batch and the two cups of flour. It is difficult to mess up these wonderful little treats. They were extra-fishy and the girls love them. It provides them with a lot of nutrients they might often miss. Have fun, and enjoy. Thanks for the comment . . . Joanie.
Thanks for the recipe! My dogs love them. Do I need to refrigerate them?
We are so glad your dogs feel the same about our “Fishy Dog Treats” as ours do! Our Havanese sisters have been craving them for years now. They are so easy, and for them – TASTY! Yes, you need to refrigerate them. Even though fully cooked, remember it is basically people food and we wouldn’t let baked salmon or tuna out without refrigeration. we also make large batches – they freeze so well. Thanks for letting us know . . . Joanie.
Can you suggest an alternative for the flour? We are a low carb household and don’t have flour in the house. Will almond flour work? Or is there another combo of flours?
There are dog treats on-line that use almond flour and rice flour. We do know that almonds are not good for dogs and can cause digestive issues and even pancreatitis. But that means raw almonds. We are not fans of changing anything in our dog food or treat recipes. We have a lot of almond flour and coconut flour in our house, as we are low carb foodies. But, we do keep a small bag of wheat flour for the “girl’s” treats. Hope you try the treats – our Havanese sisters love them!
can I substitute banana, apple sauce or peanut butter for the eggs? My dog is on a Limited Ingredient Diet and cannot have chicken or eggs…
The short answer is yes. We have not tried these egg substitutes so you may have to experiment to see which ones bind the best. A single egg equivalent should be 1/4 cup of applesauce, or 3 tablespoons of peanut butter, or 1/2 medium banana mashed. Normally bananas have too much sugar for dogs, but they can tolerate small amounts (as in our treats). Good luck and thanks so much for the comment.
Thank you so much for this and your dog food recipe!
Thank you so much for the comment and interest. The healthy homemade dog food and the treats are all we feed our Havanese sisters and they love it. Enjoy!
Thank you for this recipe. I think my dogs are gonna love this
We know they will. Our Havanese darlings enjoy these daily and we love knowing that they are healthy and void of harmful ingredients. Thanks for the comment.