Venison and Wild Boar Dog Treats -Why They Make the Best Training Treats

Walk into any pet shop and the treat options are almost always the same: chicken, beef, maybe lamb. Most dogs eat those proteins in their main food every single day. So why would they find the same protein exciting as a treat? Venison and wild boar treats exist to solve exactly this problem and they do it better than almost anything else on the market.

Why Novel Proteins Make Better Training Treats

In dog training, a ‘high value’ treat is one your dog finds more exciting than their everyday food. The higher the value, the more motivated your dog is to work for it and the more effective it is in distracting environments like parks, training classes or anywhere with competing smells and stimuli.

The single most effective way to make a treat high value is novelty. A protein your dog has never encountered before or encounters very rarely - triggers a much stronger response than something they eat twice a day. Venison and wild boar are genuinely novel for the vast majority of dogs in Northern Ireland, because they’re almost never used in mainstream dry dog food or wet food.

Venison - The Numbers

Our venison training treats contain 76.8% crude protein at just 9.4% crude fat. To put that in context: most commercial chicken-based treats come in at around 30–40% protein with much higher fat content. Venison is exceptionally lean - wild deer are naturally muscular and low in body fat, which is reflected directly in the nutritional profile of the dried meat.

This makes venison treats particularly well suited for dogs who need a high-value reward without the calorie load. Dogs who are on a weight management diet but still need effective training treats, performance dogs in intensive training who need maximum motivation without disrupting their nutritional balance, and any dog where you need the highest possible treat value without compromising the diet.

Wild Boar - The Ultimate Distraction Treat

Wild boar comes in at 59.8% protein and 12.1% fat - still significantly higher protein than most commercial treats. But its biggest advantage isn’t the numbers, it’s the aroma. Wild boar has a distinctly strong, gamey smell that dogs find extremely compelling - even in environments where other smells would normally distract them.

If you’ve ever struggled with recall in a busy park, or a dog who loses focus the moment another dog appears, wild boar is the treat to have in your pocket. The novelty combined with the strong aroma cuts through competing stimuli in a way that chicken or beef simply can’t - especially for a dog who’s eaten chicken twice a day for three years.

Safe for Dogs with Food Allergies

Because venison and wild boar are rarely used in mainstream dog food, most dogs with food sensitivities haven’t been repeatedly exposed to them - making them excellent choices for allergy dogs who need safe, high-value treats. Both flavours in our range contain only a single ingredient: the named meat, nothing else. No fillers, no additives, no hidden proteins.

This makes them ideal for use during elimination diets, where you need the certainty that every ingredient is known and accounted for, and for dogs on single-protein diets where even treats need to stay within the protocol.

The Full Treat Range

Our Natural Dog Training Treats are available in five flavours: beef (39.1% protein), turkey (37% protein), duck (40.8% protein), venison (76.8% protein) and wild boar (59.8% protein). All 100% single protein. £5.99 per 100g bag, 2 for £10. Delivered throughout Northern Ireland.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is venison protein so much higher than the other flavours? Venison is naturally one of the leanest meats available. Wild deer have very little body fat relative to their muscle mass — so when the meat is dried, the resulting treat is exceptionally protein-dense and very low in fat. It’s the same reason venison is popular in performance nutrition for humans.

Can I use these for recall training? Yes — recall is one of the best use cases. Keep a small pouch of venison or wild boar treats specifically for recall practice. Using them exclusively for recall (not for other commands) maintains their exceptional value and keeps your dog highly motivated to come back when called.

Are they safe for puppies? Yes. All flavours are 100% natural meat with no artificial additives, making them safe from weaning age. The soft texture is also gentle on young teeth.

My dog is on an elimination diet — can I use venison or wild boar treats? Yes, provided venison or wild boar is an approved protein for your dog’s elimination diet. Because each treat contains only one ingredient, there’s no risk of hidden proteins contaminating the diet.

Available from Growing Paws — delivered throughout Northern Ireland from our base in Comber, Co. Down. £5.99 per bag, 2 for £10.