Pup Rewards


Treats are on my list of essential items when I prepare for a photo session. My favorite go-to treat so far is homemade meatballs! I use these when I first greet the dogs, use them to position a dog in a certain spot, and reward them for looking at the camera when they hear the shutter go off.


I always ask the owners ahead of time about any allergies or food sensitivities their dog may have to a certain food but so far, this recipe has been approved unaminously. Now, there are some dogs that are not treat motivated, and that's cool because I have lots of other tricks up my sleeve for them! My bag usually contains about 10 different noisemakers besides the many goofy noises I made myself.

Doggy Meatball Recipe


  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 oz plain low-fat yogurt
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 2 tbsp parsley (to freshen the breath!)


Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pre-heat over to 350 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Then take small scoops of mixture and roll them into meatballs. Bake for 25-30 minutes and that's it!


I usually make a double batch and then freeze a bunch in quart-size ziplock bags.