Chicken livers

[Pam99]

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Can anyone advise the best way to prepare chicken liver for my 13 wk old pup. I've read that dogs love liver and i need a high value treat to do lead and recal training as her regular 'wagg' treats just aren't holding her attention. Can i dehydrate them using the oven? And how much should be given? Im feeding her above the daily amounts of regular food but a few people have commented that she looks skinny but shes just a live wire!

 

[JudyN]

Not all dogs love liver, but by all means give it a go! You should be able to dehydrate it in the oven - I'm not sure of temperatures and timings, but a quick google should help. Be warned, though, that liver can give dogs runny bums - so start with just a little to start off with and increase the amounts gradually.

 

[Finsky]

Can anyone advise the best way to prepare chicken liver for my 13 wk old pup. I've read that dogs love liver and i need a high value treat to do lead and recal training as her regular 'wagg' treats just aren't holding her attention. Can i dehydrate them using the oven? And how much should be given? Im feeding her above the daily amounts of regular food but a few people have commented that she looks skinny but shes just a live wire!

I feed chicken liver for my dogs, but only every now and then and when they get it, it is partially cooked as ours do not like its raw texture. All I do with it is put them into pan with water and boil them for a moment before chopping it into their food.
If you do prepare it to make as treat....livers are minced first and then the gloopy mess is drained/squeezed off to get rid of excess liquid before it is spread on baking sheet and dried off in a low heat. This is best done in fan oven and with door slightly ajar so the moisture and heat is quickly removed OR by using food de-hydrator.

 

[Tinytom]

Try making liver cake ...you can make a big batch and freeze it ....my lot love it .

 

[JoanneF]

I have a recipe for liver cake -

A pack of liver (supermarket packs are usually about 500 grams)
About 250 grams of flour - I use gluten free as some dogs are gluten intolerant
1 egg
A slosh of olive oil or salmon oil for a glossy coat (optional)

Cut the liver into pieces and use a hand blender to blitz it with the egg until it's a sloppy mess. Stir in the oil if using and the flour. It still should be a sloppy mess.

Turn into a parchment lined baking tray measuring about 6"x9". It shold be about an inch deep.

Bake at 170 degrees for about 15 minutes until a knife comes out clean.

When it's cold, cut into kit kat finger sized pieces - half them again for a smaller dog - and freeze them in a freezer bag. They freeze in separate pieces so you can take out one at a time and break into smaller pieces for training.

Dogs love it, it has no sugar, salt or other nasties and lasts for weeks. It also is cheap to make - a recent survey showed some dog treats to be more epensive, ounce for ounce, than fillet steak!

 

[Finsky]

I have a recipe for liver cake -

A pack of liver (supermarket packs are usually about 500 grams)
About 250 grams of flour - I use gluten free as some dogs are gluten intolerant
1 egg
A slosh of olive oil or salmon oil for a glossy coat (optional)

Cut the liver into pieces and use a hand blender to blitz it with the egg until it's a sloppy mess. Stir in the oil if using and the flour. It still should be a sloppy mess.

Turn into a parchment lined baking tray measuring about 6"x9". It shold be about an inch deep.

Bake at 170 degrees for about 15 minutes until a knife comes out clean.

When it's cold, cut into kit kat finger sized pieces - half them again for a smaller dog - and freeze them in a freezer bag. They freeze in separate pieces so you can take out one at a time and break into smaller pieces for training.

Dogs love it, it has no sugar, salt or other nasties and lasts for weeks. It also is cheap to make - a recent survey showed some dog treats to be more epensive, ounce for ounce, than fillet steak!

Oh brilliant...thanks for that! I just took some liver out of freezer..

 

[Hemlock]

How big and what breed/s are your pup? We can't advise "how much" until we know "how big".

A little liver goes a long way, so I'd feed as liver cake when you are training rather than as part of a meal.

I had chicken livers in sherry in Spain. It was beyond delicious. Dog wouldn't stand a chance of getting any if I had some now!

 

[Pam99]

I have a recipe for liver cake -

A pack of liver (supermarket packs are usually about 500 grams)
About 250 grams of flour - I use gluten free as some dogs are gluten intolerant
1 egg
A slosh of olive oil or salmon oil for a glossy coat (optional)

Cut the liver into pieces and use a hand blender to blitz it with the egg until it's a sloppy mess. Stir in the oil if using and the flour. It still should be a sloppy mess.

Turn into a parchment lined baking tray measuring about 6"x9". It shold be about an inch deep.

Bake at 170 degrees for about 15 minutes until a knife comes out clean.

When it's cold, cut into kit kat finger sized pieces - half them again for a smaller dog - and freeze them in a freezer bag. They freeze in separate pieces so you can take out one at a time and break into smaller pieces for training.

Dogs love it, it has no sugar, salt or other nasties and lasts for weeks. It also is cheap to make - a recent survey showed some dog treats to be more epensive, ounce for ounce, than fillet steak!

I have a recipe for liver cake -

A pack of liver (supermarket packs are usually about 500 grams)
About 250 grams of flour - I use gluten free as some dogs are gluten intolerant
1 egg
A slosh of olive oil or salmon oil for a glossy coat (optional)

Cut the liver into pieces and use a hand blender to blitz it with the egg until it's a sloppy mess. Stir in the oil if using and the flour. It still should be a sloppy mess.

Turn into a parchment lined baking tray measuring about 6"x9". It shold be about an inch deep.

Bake at 170 degrees for about 15 minutes until a knife comes out clean.

When it's cold, cut into kit kat finger sized pieces - half them again for a smaller dog - and freeze them in a freezer bag. They freeze in separate pieces so you can take out one at a time and break into smaller pieces for training.

Dogs love it, it has no sugar, salt or other nasties and lasts for weeks. It also is cheap to make - a recent survey showed some dog treats to be more epensive, ounce for ounce, than fillet steak!

Excellent I shall get some in the oven this afternoon! dog treats are super expensive especially when your training and going through them like fun like I am at the moment!

 

[Pam99]

How big and what breed/s are your pup? We can't advise "how much" until we know "how big".

A little liver goes a long way, so I'd feed as liver cake when you are training rather than as part of a meal.

I had chicken livers in sherry in Spain. It was beyond delicious. Dog wouldn't stand a chance of getting any if I had some now!

She is a nearly 14 week old Boxer pup she is about 10 kg at the moment and growing so fast, she wolves her food, i'm giving her kibble and eggs most days along with kongs with frozen yoghurts and banana in and lots of salmon based treats as she seems to love those. People keep telling me she is skinny but i'm giving her slightly over the specified amount on her kibble pack, I think as shes so lively shes just burning it all off...and growing those legs!

 

[Flobo]

Another liver treat I used to make was to boil up the liver, let it cool then cut it into slithers or chunks, I then slow baked it for 3 or 4 hours on about gas mark 3 I think..suitable to freeze too.
Do remember with kibble the amounts written on the packs are only guidelines, if your pups tum is fine with it I'm pretty sure you could increase the amount if you think she needs it or add an extra meal in, though I don't know how often you're feeding her at the mo of course.

 

[Hemlock]

Pups that are growing fast often have skinny phases. I've always fed pups to appetite but none of mine have been greedy eaters - might not work with some breeds! So feed what you think is right - weights on food packs are only a guide, as Flobo says. Never worry about other people's opinions - we get so used to seeing fat dogs that even sensible people can make the mistake of thinking every dog should be fat - and then telling you yours is skinny!

That wasn't your question I know, but as you mentioned it I thought I'd respond.

 

[Pam99]

I have a recipe for liver cake -

A pack of liver (supermarket packs are usually about 500 grams)
About 250 grams of flour - I use gluten free as some dogs are gluten intolerant
1 egg
A slosh of olive oil or salmon oil for a glossy coat (optional)

Cut the liver into pieces and use a hand blender to blitz it with the egg until it's a sloppy mess. Stir in the oil if using and the flour. It still should be a sloppy mess.

Turn into a parchment lined baking tray measuring about 6"x9". It shold be about an inch deep.

Bake at 170 degrees for about 15 minutes until a knife comes out clean.

When it's cold, cut into kit kat finger sized pieces - half them again for a smaller dog - and freeze them in a freezer bag. They freeze in separate pieces so you can take out one at a time and break into smaller pieces for training.

Dogs love it, it has no sugar, salt or other nasties and lasts for weeks. It also is cheap to make - a recent survey showed some dog treats to be more epensive, ounce for ounce, than fillet steak!

Thanks ever so much for the recipe, made some this aft, super easy although the mixture did look like something off a horror film. As you can see Ruby cant wait to try them

 

[JoanneF]

If you like, you can swap tuna for the liver too.

 

[Pam99]

If you like, you can swap tuna for the liver too.

Im guessing salmon could work also? She goes mad for some shop bought salmon treats i buy, id feel so much happier giving her something i knew exactly what was in it.

 

[JoanneF]

Im guessing salmon could work also? She goes mad for some shop bought salmon treats i buy, id feel so much happier giving her something i knew exactly what was in it.

I'm sure it would work fine.

 

[Flobo]

I invested in a dehydrator last year and I reckon it's the best thing ever! I use it to do a variety of meat/liver and salmon strips for my ferrets...but of course it'll do for dog treats. I now spend my Saturday and Sunday mornings cutting fine strips of whatever to load it up, generally listening to The Clash or ACDC... love it!! My family aren't so keen though, for the music, my singing and the smell I suppose

 

[Pam99]

I invested in a dehydrator last year and I reckon it's the best thing ever! I use it to do a variety of meat/liver and salmon strips for my ferrets...but of course it'll do for dog treats. I now spend my Saturday and Sunday mornings cutting fine strips of whatever to load it up, generally listening to The Clash or ACDC... love it!! My family aren't so keen though, for the music, my singing and the smell I suppose

Yes I've read about dehydrators, i think I'll be investing! Although it might have to live in my garage as my kitchen space is limited and that way whatever music im blasting out my other half doesnt have to endure it

 

[SportingLucas]

Sounds delicious