Easy Bake & Freeze Tuna Training Treats

Mae’s Mastery Morsels - the high-value bites behind a champion Doberman’s success

Mae’s Story

Each dog writes a different chapter in our lives. Mae’s was filled with joy, brilliance, and a spark all her own.

Mae was my spirited red Doberman Pinscher who thrived in so many places - from Conformation, where she earned Best Puppy in Show under a breeder judge, to Obedience, Agility and Barn Hunt. But she especially shined in Rally, finishing as the #7 Rally dog in Canada in 2017, later earning her Rally Master title in the U.S., with multiple High in Trial and High Triple Combined placements, including at the Doberman Pinscher Club of America National events.

Her work ethic was matched only by her joy for treats. I remember one scent work class where Mae raced down a row of boxes, only one of which held the target odor. Halfway through, she suddenly flipped mid-air and landed squarely in front of the correct box — and of course, claimed her treat. That was Mae: smart, stylish, and utterly food-motivated.

Mae had her own philosophy about treats: too much was just about right. And this easy homemade dog treat recipe that I came to call Mae’s Mastery Morsels was always at the top of her list

The Recipe: Easy Bake & Freeze Tuna Training Treats

These smelly little squares are the kind of high-value rewards dogs will do backflips for (sometimes literally). They’re perfect for focused training sessions or for rewarding those everyday adorable moments — like when your dog tilts their head just so, or insists on sitting squarely on your foot.

Ingredients

• 2 cans tuna (water and all)
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
   
   
2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl (a stand mixer is easiest, but a hand mixer works too).
   
   
3. Spread the batter evenly in a greased or parchment-lined 8×8 or 9×9 pan. (Parchment makes cleanup easy and allows you to flip the baked sheet onto a cutting board before slicing.)
   
   
4. Bake for 20–30 minutes, depending on thickness:
   -  Thin layer (¼–½ inch): ~20 minutes
   -  Thicker layer (¾–1 inch): closer to 30 minutes
   
   
5. Cool completely. Flip onto a cutting board and cut into bait-sized squares. A pizza cutter makes the job quick and clean.
   
   
6. Freeze in small batches, taking out only what you need for each session.

Tips:

• If you prefer shaped treats, add a little extra flour, roll out, and cut with mini cookie cutters.
• Don’t be shy about the smell — that’s what makes them irresistible in training.
• This is a very forgiving recipe - I have yet to make a batch that my dogs didn’t love! 🤣
  
  

Training Notes

High-value rewards are the secret to consistent training. What makes these treats so effective is that they are:

• Smelly enough to hold a dog's focus, even in busy or distracting settings.
• Small so you can reward often without overfeeding. Much to Mae's dismay, I would often pinch off what I needed from the square treat.
• Soft for quick eating between repetitions.
• Freezer-friendly so you can prep once and have a week(s) worth of training fuel.

Whether we were heeling in Rally or practicing scent detection, Mae knew when I had these in my pocket — and she always gave her best.

Reflections

During those years, when Mae and I were spending our days training and trialing, I was also quietly searching for Doberman products that felt true to the breed I loved so much. It wasn’t easy. Elegant, accurate breed-specific designs were rare, and I often wished for pieces that reflected Mae’s elegance, drive, and spark.

Those searches planted seeds I didn’t recognize at the time. While Mae worked for her homemade dog treats, I was unknowingly beginning the journey that would one day lead me to create art and home décor that celebrates animals with authenticity and heart.

Mae may have been the champion in the ring, but she was also my teacher — reminding me that hard work pays off, food is a great motivator, and that sometimes, too much is just about right. Especially when it ends in a well-earned nap.

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