Picking the right dog treat for your dog can be difficult.

Many commercial dog treats contain ingredients and additives that may be unhealthy for your dog.

Below are a list of non-commercial dog treats that my Shiba Inu and Siberian Husky enjoy. Dog treats are especially useful for training my dogs and also during grooming. Sometimes I will also use dog treats for food aggression and bite inhibition exercises.

Make sure you feed your dog a balanced diet.

It is fine to give dog treats, but always exercise moderation. The bulk of your dog's food should be balanced commercial dog food (e.g. kibble, canned food), balanced homemade food, or a balanced raw diet.

Sardines is one of the top food motivators for my Shiba Inu. He will almost always work for sardines including go into his crate, tolerate nail grinding, and much more.

Sardines are also useful for recall. You can even freeze the sardines to make them less squishy and sticky to hold.

Mackerel is a good second alternative to sardines.

Variety, I have found, is important in keeping my dogs motivated. I have also tried salmon and tuna but my Shiba Inu likes mackerel best.

Some dog owners do not think your should give cheese to dogs. After reading many web articles, it seems that cheese is fine as a dog treat, as long as it is given in moderation.

Try and pick a cheese that does not contain too much salt or too much fat. Here is what the Pet Food Report says about cheese.

I am currently using Swiss cheese because it contains less salt than many of the other cheeses. Cheese is extremely useful for training new commands, for dog grooming, and to get my dogs to listen when there are other high level motivators around.

The only other food that my Shiba Inu likes better are sardines and bacon. However, unlike cheese, sardines are difficult to use and carry around.

This is my Shiba Inu's most favorite dog treat.

Even when he is tired, he will rouse himself for some bacon bits. I only use this when I need my dog to do something he really dislikes, e.g. leave him home alone in his crate.

Do not feed your dogs too much of this because it is high in salt and high in fat.

Before using Vienna sausage as dog treats, wash all the brine off the sausage, then cut them into little pieces. Only get the plain Vienna sausage where there is no mustard or other spicy sauces.

I use Libby's Vienna sausage because it contains less salt than regular sausages or hot dogs. Microwaving it briefly before use will enhance its smell and make it more irresistible to your dogs.

Boiled chicken is probably the healthiest of all the dog treats. It is very digestible and great for feeding your dogs when they have digestive issues, are vomiting, or have diarrhea.

Boiled chicken is a very useful evening dog treat. When it is close to my dogs' bedtime, I only give them boiled chicken so that they do not get too thirsty before they go to sleep.

Unfortunately, the bland taste of boiled chicken only makes it a medium level motivator. However, my dogs still like it much more than their regular kibble, and will do good work for it. Because it is such a healthy treat, it is what I use most with my dogs.

Mix boiled chicken, Vienna sausage, and some salad greens. Add some cheese and a small amount of bacon bits. Then, put the whole thing in the microwave so that the cheese melts. The smell of the melted cheese and bacon drives my dogs crazy for this dish.

I use this when I have to apply tick repellent on my dogs.

I used to give my dogs cooked brown rice. My Shiba Inu likes rice, and it is a good source of fiber. However, the rice is sticky and not the best thing for dental hygiene. I have since stopped giving my dogs rice for this reason.

Before giving your dog any new dog treat, make sure to do some research into whether it is safe for dogs. There are a variety of human foods, including onions and chocolate that are poisonous for dogs. Only introduce one new treat at a time, so that you keep your dog's digestive system stable, and can quickly tell what foods your dog is allergic to.

Dogs do not have the same digestive system as we do, thus do not assume that a particular food is safe for your dog just because it is safe for humans.

Do not to give your dog table scraps because it may contain onions or some other ingredients that may cause harm to your dog. In addition, table scraps are frequently too rich for a dog's digestive system, and will often result in an upset stomach and vomiting.

What has worked best for me is to give my dogs a consistent and balanced diet. Make sure that you cut down on their regular food if you are giving them treats, so that you do not overfeed.