Recipe for Hot Dog Training Treats

With the Fourth of July right around the corner, I had to feature hot dogs in this week’s recipe. Not only are they synonymous with July 4th celebrations but they’re on sale right now…and, of course, the dogs love them!

This treat is great as a training treat; once cooked, the treats shrivel up to about the size of a dime, are dry, and have the consistence of jerky. And, best of all, you can make them in the microwave! (I say this as the thermometer nears triple digits here…hooray for the microwave!)

Ingredients

1 package hot dogs

Actually I bought two package of hot dogs: one package of turkey hot dogs and one package of all-beef hot dogs. As if you were buying them for yourself to eat, purchase the best hot dogs you can afford. Look for ones without nitrates and nitrites, artificial colors, etc. if at all possible. (Remember: hot dogs are on sale now! Buy them up and put them in the freezer until you need them.)

Cut the hot dogs into about 1/4-inch pieces. (Line up the hot dogs side-by-side and cut three or four at a time to speed things up.) Put the hot dog medallions on about six layers of paper towels.

Next, pop everything (including those paper towels) in the microwave. (I cooked mine in two batches.) Set the microwave for five minutes. At the end of five minutes, you should see plenty of grease on the paper towels; take another paper towel and dab off all grease on top of the hot dogs. I flipped the hot dogs over (just move the paper towel around a little and they’ll roll around) then returned them to the microwave for another three minutes, checked them again, then microwaved them an additional two minutes.

NOTE: Microwave times will vary depending on your microwave. When some darken around the edges, they’re done.

Here’s how they’ll look when they’re done and right out of the microwave:

After they cool completely, they’ll shrivel up (especially the turkey hot dogs which are drier):

Whether you include them in a Fourth of July picnic with your dog or use them as everyday training treats, your dog will definitely celebrate these treats!

About Paris Permenter and John Bigley

DogTipper publishers Paris Permenter and John Bigley are a husband-wife team of full-time writers. The couple has authored over two dozen books and 2,500+ magazine articles.

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