🐟 Roo Bites (aka Sardine Specials): Homemade Dog Treats That’ll Make Tails Wag

I started making my own dog treats because I was working with more and more dogs who had food allergies—or whose humans just weren’t sure what was causing the issue. One thing I noticed? When you’re buying factory-made treats, even the ones labeled “simple” or “natural,” you don’t really know what’s in them. There’s always something hidden in the fine print.

When I make treats myself, I know exactly what’s going into them. No preservatives, no weird fillers, no mystery ingredients—just stuff I’d feel good feeding my own dog. And Bagheera? She’ll eat just about anything, but that makes her an even better taste tester. If she really perks up for something, I know I’ve got a winner.

These Sardine Specials are soft, simple, and super high-value—exactly what I want when I’m training or working on something tricky. Bonus: they smell better than you’d expect. The graham crackers mellow out the sardines, and if I’m being honest... I’ve tasted them. Not bad! A little bland, sure—but nothing you’d be embarrassed to keep in your pocket.

🧑‍🍳 Sardine Specials (Roo Bites)

• 3 raw eggs

• 1 can sardines in olive oil

• 1 sleeve of graham crackers (just the sleeve—not the whole box)

Instructions:
Blend until liquified. You might need to add a bit of water—do it a little at a time. You’re aiming for a pancake batter-like consistency. Spread on a silicone baking mat. Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes. When using a silicone mold (like this one), you’ll start to see the treats rise up out of the mold when they’re done. Bake a little longer for a crispier, harder treat—or a little shorter if you want them soft and chewy. Let cool, then portion for training.

Trainer Tip: Silicone mats make cleanup easy and help you portion things cleanly. I use these silicone baking mats from Amazon—they give me a consistent thickness and perfect bite-sized portions for training. You can also freeze these treats—just defrost a handful at a time before a session.

🧊 Storage Tips

Since there are no preservatives in these, I recommend keeping them in the fridge so they last longer. Left out too long, they’ll go moldy—especially in warm weather. You can also freeze a portion of the batch and just defrost a few at a time for training sessions.

Why I Keep These in My Treat Rotation

They’re not for everyday snacking (unless you really love the smell of graham crackers and fish), but when you need a high-value treat that works for sensitive stomachs or picky eaters, this one’s hard to beat. Bagheera will drop her ball for one of these—and that’s really saying something.