Tips for Making Homemade Dog Treats

Kate Barrington
by Kate Barrington
Bake up some happy tails with these homemade dog treat tips and recipes


Whether you are training your dog or simply want to give him something special once in a while, it is a good idea to have healthy dog treats on hand. Unfortunately, many commercial dog treats are made with artificial ingredients that can be bad for your dog. The good news is that you can make your own dog treats at home! In this article you will receive tips and recipes for making dog treats that are good for your dog right in your own kitchen.


Benefits of Homemade Treats


The main benefit of making homemade dog treats is, of course, that you know what ingredients are going into it. You can always read the label for commercial dog treats, but do you really understand what everything means? For example, you might see ingredients like “chicken byproduct meal” or “hydrolyzed vegetable protein” that don’t give you a true sense of what the product actually is. If you make your own treats at home you can know and control all of the ingredients that go into that product so you can cater the recipe to your dog’s preferences and dietary needs. Another benefit of making your own dog treats at home is that you can customize the size according to your needs. If you are training your dog, for example, you may want very small treats so you can give your dog several of them at a time without having to worry. If the treats are intended as an occasional snack for your pet, you can make them a little bit bigger.


Peanut Butter Applesauce Treat


These treats are like homemade peanut butter cookies – but for dogs!


Ingredients:


  • 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup quick oats
  • ½ cup natural peanut butter
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder


Instructions:


  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Combine the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until well mixed.
  3. Knead the dough on a floured surface for several minutes until it is moist and sticks together well.
  4. Shape the dough as desired and arrange the treats on the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until lightly browned then cool completely before serving.


Chicken Jerky Treat


These treats are easy to make and full of healthy protein – you can also cut them into small pieces which makes them perfect for training.


Ingredients:


  • 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
  • ½ cup olive oil


Instructions:


  1. Rinse the chicken well in cool water and trim the fat.
  2. Cut the chicken into 1/8-inch strips, cutting along the grain of the meat.
  3. Toss the chicken strips with the oil until just coated and arrange them in a single layer on the trays of a dehydrator.
  4. Turn the dehydrator on to 140°F.
  5. Let the chicken strips dry for 10 to 12 hours until fully dried, checking every hour or so until finished.
  6. Store the dried jerky in airtight containers for up to 10 days.


Bacon Peanut Butter Biscuits


These delicious treats combine the flavors of bacon and peanut butter, making for an absolutely mouth-watering biscuit.


Ingredients:


  • 2 slices uncooked bacon
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup ground flaxseed
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ cup natural peanut butter
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 2/3 cup water


Instructions:


  1. Heat the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook until crisp.
  2. Remove the bacon to paper towels to drain then crumble – reserve 1 to 2 tablespoons of the grease.
  3. Combine the flour, flaxseed and baking powder in a mixing bowl.
  4. Add the crumbled bacon.
  5. Heat the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds until slightly melted.
  6. Whisk together the peanut butter and egg in a mixing bowl then stir in the water and bacon grease.
  7. Add the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
  8. Shape the mixture as desired on parchment-lined baking sheets.
  9. Bake at 325°F for 15 minutes then turn off heat and let cool for 2 hours.
Kate Barrington
Kate Barrington

Kate Barrington is the loving owner of two cats (Bagel and Munchkin) and a noisy herd of guinea pigs. Having grown up with golden retrievers, Kate has a great deal of experience with dogs but labels herself a lover of all pets. Having received a Bachelor's degree in English, Kate has combined her love for pets and her passion for writing to create her own freelance writing business, specializing in the pet niche.

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