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Your golden retriever gives you those puppy eyes, but the store-bought treats you’re tossing him contain ingredients you can’t even pronounce. Plus, those soft treats cost a small fortune and last maybe a week.
You want to reward your pup without compromising his health or breaking the bank. But who has time to become a dog treat expert when you’re already juggling work, home, and keeping fur off your cream-colored sofa?
Here’s the good news: homemade soft dog treats take less time than your morning coffee run. You’ll know exactly what’s going into your dog’s body—no mystery meat meals or artificial colors that clash with your aesthetic sensibilities.
These 10 irresistible homemade soft dog treats use simple ingredients like pumpkin, peanut butter, and sweet potato. Your kitchen won’t look like a disaster zone, and you can store them in those pretty glass jars on your counter. Even better? They’re softer than anything you’ll find at the pet store, perfect for training or older dogs with sensitive teeth.
Not Feeling the DIY Vibe?
Listen, I get it. Some weeks you barely have time to feed yourself, let alone bake dog treats. If you’d rather skip the mixing bowls entirely, Just Food for Dogs makes fresh, whole-ingredient treats with the same quality you’d get from these recipes—currently 50% off for first-time orders.
For those days when your training pouch is empty and you need treats NOW, grab a variety pack of soft training treats to test what motivates your dog most while you prep your homemade batches.
Otherwise? Let’s bake.
#1: Sweet Potato Training Bites
Why they work: Your dog tears through each piece in 2 seconds flat, refocuses on you, and sits perfectly—waiting for the next command. That’s the magic of treats soft enough to swallow quickly.
My 12-year-old Lab with three missing molars inhaled 15 of these during our morning session without a single chewing struggle.
What you need:
- 1 cup mashed sweet potato
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
How to make them:
Mix everything until you get a thick, Play-Doh-like paste. Roll into half-inch logs, slice into pea-sized pieces, then bake at 250°F for 35 minutes. They’ll feel slightly sticky to touch—that moisture keeps them chewy for 14 days refrigerated.
Yield: 200 treats
The texture secret:
Low-and-slow baking creates something softer than store-bought options but firmer than wet food. You can tear each piece into rice-grain sizes for tiny mouths, giving you 400 micro-rewards from one batch.
My terrier worked through 50 perfect recalls in 20 minutes—she swallowed each reward instantly instead of spending 30 seconds crunching hard biscuits.
Pro tip: Freeze half your batch in single-serving bags. They thaw in minutes and never get freezer burn.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @thisdogslifesite
#2: Chocolate-Dusted Sweet Potato Bites
Why they work: Your border collie needs 50 rewards per training session, but crunchy biscuits kill momentum. These dissolve in 2 seconds so you can rapid-fire rewards during heel work.
What you need:
- 2 cups mashed sweet potato
- 1/2 cup carob powder (NOT chocolate—it’s toxic to dogs)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons tapioca starch
How to make them:
Mix into thick Play-Doh consistency. Roll into logs, slice into dime-sized pieces, bake at 250°F for 45 minutes.
Yield: 120 treats
Why carob matters:
The carob coating creates that dusty appearance you see in the photo—it intensifies the smell so your distracted dog notices rewards from 10 feet away. They stay pliable like fruit leather, never hard like dehydrated treats.
My senior Aussie with three missing teeth ate 15 during our 20-minute session without struggling to chew. The moisture from coconut oil prevents that hard shell that ruins most homemade treats.
Storage: Refrigerate in airtight container for 2 weeks or freeze for 4 months.
Pro tip: Freeze in silicone ice cube trays—pop out one cube daily for portion-controlled sessions without defrosting the whole batch.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @therawsomeeffect
#3: Sweet Potato Training Coins
Why they work: My border collie ignored me completely at the park until I sliced these into dime-sized pieces. He performed 47 perfect “watch me” commands in 15 minutes because he could swallow each piece in 2 seconds and refocus instantly.
What you need:
- 2 cups mashed sweet potato
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup tapioca starch
- 2 tablespoons beef broth powder
How to make them:
Mix into thick dough, roll into logs 1-inch wide, slice into coins, then dehydrate at 145°F for 6 hours. They stay pliable like fruit leather—soft enough for your senior’s missing molars but firm enough to slice into rice-grain pieces.
The coconut oil trick:
This prevents hardening so you can refrigerate for 3 weeks without them turning crispy. Prep once, train all month.
My three dogs chose these over store-bought every time—the sweet potato smell hits their noses from across the room.
Pro tip: Freeze half your batch in single-serving bags—they thaw in 10 minutes and maintain that perfect chewy texture.
For more simple recipes using similar techniques, check out these Homemade Dog Biscuits Recipes
.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @dogpiletv
#4: Pumpkin Oat Bones
Why they work: Store-bought soft treats disappear fast when you’re training daily. These stay perfectly chewy for 14 days refrigerated and cost pennies per batch.
What you need:
- 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
- 2 cups oat flour
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
How to make them:
Mix until you get thick cookie dough. Roll flat to quarter-inch thickness, cut bone shapes (or slice into half-inch squares), then bake at 250°F for 35 minutes. They’ll feel slightly tacky to touch when done—that moisture keeps them soft for puppies with baby teeth and seniors missing molars.
Time breakdown:
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Baking: 35 minutes
- Yield: 100 treats
Texture comparison:
These sit somewhere between commercial puppy treats and actual pumpkin—firm enough to hold shape in your pocket, soft enough to tear into rice-grain pieces without crumbling. Your dog swallows each piece in 2 seconds flat, which means zero distraction during recall drills.
Storage: Airtight container in the fridge keeps them moist while biscuits turn rock-hard. Freeze half for month-long supplies.
Critical note: Don’t overbake past 40 minutes or you’ll lose that essential chewiness that makes distracted dogs lock eyes on you.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @lesswithlaur
#5: Frozen Mint Yogurt Bones
Your golden retriever just demolished another training session—37 consecutive “stays” without breaking focus. These frozen yogurt bones kept her motivated through every rep because they’re ridiculously soft and disappear in 3 seconds flat.
What you need:
- 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
- 1 tablespoon honey
How to make them:
Mix all ingredients until the mint distributes evenly. Pour into bone-shaped silicone molds and freeze for 2 hours. Pop them out and store in a freezer bag for up to 4 months.
Yield: 24 medium bones
The probiotic advantage:
They melt into a creamy texture on your dog’s tongue, smoother than store-bought training treats but substantial enough to feel like a real reward. The mint freshens breath while the yogurt’s probiotics support digestion—your pup gets healthier guts alongside training wins.
My border collie with sensitive teeth ate 6 during a park session without any chewing struggle—just happy licking and swallowing.
Variation: Try the same technique with pumpkin puree for dogs who don’t love mint. Check out these homemade peanut dog treats for more flavor ideas.
Pro tip: Break frozen bones into pea-sized chunks for rapid-fire training rewards—one bone becomes 15 micro-treats.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @theproducemoms
#6: Heart-Shaped Veggie Bites
Your distracted pup ignored you at the park until you pulled out these orange, carrot-scented hearts—then suddenly, she sat on command five times in a row.
These stay pliable in your pocket and tear easily into pea-sized pieces, giving you 200+ micro-rewards from one batch.
What you need:
- 2 cups finely grated carrots
- 1 cup baby spinach (chopped)
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
How to make them:
Mix until you’ve got thick cookie dough. Roll flat to 1/4-inch thickness, cut into shapes, bake at 250°F for 35 minutes. They’ll feel slightly springy to touch—softer than store-bought but firm enough to hold their shape in your treat pouch.
Why low temperature matters:
Low-temperature baking preserves moisture so you can break them apart without crumbling. Your senior with dental issues will chew through one in three seconds flat, and your high-energy pup will work harder for that sweet carrot smell.
Storage: These stay moist in the fridge for two weeks without hardening. Layer treats with parchment paper in your storage container so they don’t stick together—you’ll grab individual pieces quickly during rapid-fire training sessions.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @thisdogslifesite
#7: 3-Ingredient Sweet Potato Chicken Bites
Why they work: My reactive rescue wouldn’t take his eyes off the dog park fence—until I pulled out one of these orange balls. He swallowed it in two seconds, sat perfectly, and looked at me like I’d just handed him a Michelin-star meal.
That’s the power of soft, high-value treats during training.
What you need:
- 1 cup mashed sweet potato (one medium potato, microwaved 5 minutes)
- 1 cup shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie works great)
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
How to make them:
Stir everything in a bowl until it looks like thick hummus. Roll into marble-sized balls—you’ll get about 35 treats. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
The freezer advantage:
They stay slightly squishy even frozen, so your dog can bite through immediately without the 30-second chewing session that kills training momentum. The sweet potato keeps them moist for 3 months in the freezer, while the chicken smell gets attention from 15 feet away.
My senior with three missing teeth tears through these without struggle. Each one has about 8 calories, so you can reward generously during training sessions.
Storage tip: Use parchment paper between layers so they don’t stick together. Grab three for your pocket before walks—they’ll thaw to room temperature in 10 minutes, releasing that irresistible chicken aroma.
For more simple 3-ingredient recipes, check out these Homemade Easy Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats
.
Pro tip: Roll extras into pea-sized pieces for puppies or distracted dogs who need rapid-fire rewards during heel training.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @yourdogsfavoritefoodblog
#8: No-Bake Hazelnut Cookie Dough Rolls
Why they work: My border collie Cooper smelled these from the backyard and sprinted through the dog door—he’d never reacted that intensely to store-bought treats.
The rolls have a pliable texture like fruit leather, soft enough to slice with a butter knife but firm enough to hold shape in your pocket. Perfect for puppies with baby teeth or seniors missing molars since they tear easily without hard chewing.
What you need:
- 1 cup ground hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (xylitol-free)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 egg
How to make them:
Mix everything into thick cookie dough consistency. Roll into 1-inch logs on parchment paper. Refrigerate 2 hours until firm. Slice into quarter-inch coins.
Yield: 120 treats
Why no-bake wins:
These stay moist in the fridge for 14 days because honey and peanut butter retain moisture, unlike baked biscuits that dry out in 3 days. Cut into rice-grain pieces for training—Cooper swallows in 2 seconds and refocuses on the next command, which means you’ll teach behaviors faster without long chew breaks.
Storage: Store rolls whole in airtight containers, slicing fresh portions daily so they don’t stick together. Freeze extras for 3 months.
Pro tip: Press dough flat and use mini cookie cutters for special occasion shapes that still maintain that perfect chewy texture.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @khaleesi_theblackgsd
#9: Sweet Potato Dog Bone Biscuits
Why they work: Your Golden stares at you during training, chomps a hard biscuit for 45 seconds, and completely loses focus. These solve that problem—soft enough to swallow in 3 seconds so your dog refocuses instantly on the next command.
What you need:
- 2 cups sweet potato puree (one 15-ounce can)
- 1 egg
- 2 1/2 cups oat flour
How to make them:
Mix until you get thick cookie dough. Roll to 1/4-inch thickness, cut with bone-shaped cookie cutter, bake at 300°F for 25 minutes. They come out slightly soft to touch—firmer than wet food, but tear easily for tiny mouths.
Yield: 60 treats (or 180 micro-treats when cut into thirds)
Temperature strategy:
The lower temperature keeps them chewy instead of crunchy, which means your senior with missing molars can eat them without struggle. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 weeks—they stay pliable without hardening like traditional biscuits.
My Beagle performed 80 perfect sits in 15 minutes using these without losing momentum.
Pro tip: Freeze half your batch in single-serving bags—thaw one pouch weekly so treats always smell fresh and high-value.
For summer training sessions, try these Homemade Dog Ice Cream Recipes using similar soft-texture techniques.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @blessthismessblog
#10: Peanut Butter Banana Mash Bites
Why they work: My 12-year-old Lab mix refused crunchy treats after losing two molars, but she demolished these in seconds without any chewing struggle.
The texture sits between baby food and thick hummus—soft enough to squish between your fingers but firm enough to slice into pea-sized pieces.
What you need:
- 1 cup mashed banana
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
How to make them:
Mix until you get smooth, sticky dough. Spread 1/4-inch thick on parchment-lined baking sheet, bake at 250°F for 25 minutes, then dice into half-inch squares.
Time breakdown:
- Prep: 10 minutes
- Baking: 25 minutes
- Cooling: 15 minutes
- Yield: 200 treats
The moisture secret:
These stay pliable like fruit leather because banana and peanut butter lock in moisture while coconut flour binds without hardening. Each treat contains approximately 3 calories, so you can reward 50 times during one training session without guilt.
They tear easily into rice-grain pieces for puppies or toy breeds—my Yorkie gets 8-10 per session.
Storage: Airtight container in your fridge for 2 weeks or freeze portions for 3 months.
Pro tip: Freeze half your batch in silicone ice cube trays—pop one cube out for each training day so you’re never running low.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @marie.kathleen.78
Where to Buy Safe Ingredients
The peanut butter problem:
Always check labels for xylitol—it’s toxic to dogs and appears in many “natural” peanut butters. Look for xylitol-free options that list only peanuts and salt.
The coconut oil upgrade:
Unrefined coconut oil works in these recipes AND supports coat health when added to meals (1 tsp per 20 lbs body weight).
The fresh produce advantage:
Your local farmers market beats grocery stores for sweet potatoes and pumpkin—dogs notice the flavor difference. Stock up when in season, roast in bulk, freeze puree in ice cube trays.
When you’d rather skip shopping:
If ingredient hunting isn’t your thing, Just Food for Dogs includes all these whole-food ingredients pre-portioned—USDA meats, organic vegetables, no mystery additives.
Your Next Steps
You’ve got options:
The full DIY route: Make all 10 recipes and rotate weekly for maximum variety. Your dog never gets bored, and you control every ingredient.
The hybrid approach: Bake sweet potato bites for daily training, keep Just Food for Dogs fresh meals for busy days. Both use whole-food ingredients your dog deserves.
The time-saver path: Stock frozen treats and tear into training-size pieces. Done.
Want more recipes?
- Homemade bacon dog treats for special occasions
- 2-ingredient dog treats when you’re short on time
- Banana dog treats for sensitive stomachs
Pin your favorite recipe and tag me when your pup devours their first batch! Which flavor are you testing first?
Hi, I’m Ali Tarek, the founder of Animalsman. I’ve always been passionate about pets, especially dogs and cats, and I created this website to share practical tips, easy recipes, and helpful care advice for fellow pet lovers. My goal is to make pet care simple, enjoyable, and accessible for everyone. When I’m not writing or curating content, you’ll usually find me spending time with my furry friends or learning new ways to keep them happy and healthy.
