Freeze-Dried Minnows: Tiny Fish, Big Training Value

The best training treat is one you can feed fifty of without wrecking dinner. That's the minnow's whole pitch: a complete, whole-prey fish that happens to arrive pre-portioned at training size.

Why Trainers Love Minnows

• Naturally tiny: no cutting, no crumbs in your pocket — each fish is one reward.
• Low calorie per rep: run long sessions of rapid-fire rewards while staying inside the 10% treat rule.
• Whole-prey nutrition: like sardines, a whole minnow includes soft bones and organs — minerals and omega-3s included.
• Scent that cuts through distraction: fishy enough to hold attention at the park, dry enough not to stink up your treat pouch.

The Cat Angle

Minnows might be the single most feline-approved treat we make. A whole small fish is essentially the ancestral cat snack — crunchy, aromatic, and sized for paws. If you share a house with both species, one bag serves the whole crew (find them in our shared favorites collection).

Training Uses

• Recall practice: high-frequency rewards for check-ins — the foundation of a solid treat-training system.
• Small breeds: finally, a whole-food treat scaled to a 6-pound dog.
• Scatter feeding & snuffle mats: lightweight enough to hide, smelly enough to find.
• Puzzle toys: slides into openings without jamming.

Minnow FAQ

Do I feed the whole fish — head, bones, everything?

Yes. Freeze-dried whole minnows are fully edible; the bones are tiny and brittle.

Are minnows okay for puppies and kittens?

Generally yes once they're on solid food — the size suits small mouths well.

How do they compare to anchovies?

Very similar concept; minnows run smaller, making them the pick for training reps and small pets, while anchovies suit bigger single rewards.

Stock the Treat Pouch

Our freeze-dried wild-caught minnows are single-ingredient whole fish, freeze-dried in small batches. Fair warning: the cat will hear the bag from three rooms away.