The Six Best Dog Treat Recipes for a Happy Best Friend

No matter the occasion, homemade dog treats are a wonderful present for your dog, a gift for the furry members of the family, or a fun activity to make with the family. Homemade dog treats can be made with any ingredients that are safe for dogs, and help you control what your dog is eating. The treats are also great for dogs with food allergies or special medical needs. Here are five amazing recipes to get you started!

Why Make Your Own Dog Treats?

While making your own treats may seem daunting, most treats are very fast and easy to make. They are a great alternative to store bought treats as you can control the ingredients that go into them, and add supplements to boost your dog’s health.

Control Ingredients: Many commercial dog treats contain additives, preservatives, and fillers that may not be very healthy. If your dog has food allergies or special medical needs, commercial treats may not be appropriate or even harmful for your dog. By selecting homemade recipes that feature ingredients your dog enjoys and can eat, you can control what your dog eats, preventing itchy allergy outbreaks or worsening of illness symptoms.

Add Supplements: In addition to controlling potentially harmful ingredients, you can add in supplements, vitamins, and minerals as you see fit. Some recipes contain fish oils for an added coat boost, while others have natural ingredients that can provide proteins for muscle, carbohydrates for an energy boost, and other great nutrients.

Recipe 1: Peanut Butter Cookies

This recipe is the ultimate “basic cookie”. Crunchy, delicious and filled with great ingredients, it’s a perfect alternative to commercial treats.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of Flour (can substitute with rice or potato flour if your dog has allergies)
• 1 cup Rolled Oats
• ⅓ cup smooth Peanut Butter (be sure it is 100% natural peanut butter)
• 1 TBS Honey
• ½ TBS Fish Oil or your favorite oil supplement
• 1.5 cups Water

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
• Mix flour and oats, then add 1 cup water and blend
• Add in peanut butter, honey, and oil supplement and mix until blended
• Slowly add remaining water until mixture is doughy
• Roll out dough on a floured surface until ¼ inch thick
• Use a cookie cutter or free form into the shape of your choice
• Bake 40 minutes (until crunchy)
• Let cool and enjoy! Store in an airtight container

Recipe 2: Pumpkin Wafer Dog Treat

Pumpkin is a great additive to boost digestive health. If your dog is feeling a little stopped up, or you just want some extra fiber in your dog’s routine, this treat is perfect.

Ingredients:

• One 15 oz can Pureed Pumpkin (100% pumpkin)
• ¾ cup Cream of Wheat or Cream of Rice uncooked
• ½ cup dry Powdered Milk

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
• Mix all ingredients together
• Drop tablespoon sizes of dough onto baking sheet
• Bake 15-20 minutes, until crunchy
• OPTIONAL: You can make these into bite-sized pieces with small sizes, however, be sure to decrease baking time to avoid burning

Recipe 3: Wheat and Gluten Free Carob Crunchers

(IMG Source: [4])

Since dogs can’t have chocolate, carob is a great sweet alternative. These treats offer a great crunch with a sweet flavor that can’t be beaten. Perfect for holidays or special occasions.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Rice Flour
• ½ cup Carob Powder
• 1 TSP Cinnamon
• 1 TSP Vanilla Extract
• ¾ cup Water

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper
• Mix all ingredients and knead until dough is smooth
• Roll onto a floured surface until ¼ inch thick
• Cut into your favorite shape and place on baking sheet
• Bake 10-15 minutes or until crunchy
• Cool, and enjoy! Be sure to refrigerate any leftovers

Recipe 4: Gourmet Dog Biscuits

(IMG Source: [2])

Another great go-to basic biscuit, these treats are sure to satisfy. They do pack a bit more flavor than your regular biscuit, which your dog may just love! These make a lot of treats and are filled with wholesome, energy-giving grains.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Flour
• 3 cups Whole Wheat Flour
• 2 cups Cracked Wheat
• 1 cup Cornmeal
• 1 TBS Garlic Powder
• 1 TBS Brewer’s Yeast
• ½ cup dry Milk Powder
• 3 cups Beef Broth
• ⅛ cup Milk

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
• Grease cookie sheet
• In a large bowl, mix flours, wheat, cornmeal, garlic powder, yeast and powdered milk
• Stir in two cups of broth and mix well. Continue adding broth until doughy consistency
• Roll into preferred shapes and place on cookie sheet. Brush tops with milk
• Bake 45 minutes, then turn off oven. Let biscuits stay in oven overnight until crunchy
• Enjoy, store leftovers in an airtight container

Recipe 5: Frozen Yogurt Pops

A great snack for a warm day or just a fun activity to chew on. These yogurt treats add a little flavor and a lot of fun for your dog! Perfect for placing into Kongs or other treat dispensing toys.

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces of nonfat plain Frozen Yogurt (Be sure to avoid products with artificial sugars as they can be harmful to your dog)
• 1 cup no sugar added Fruit Juice
• ½ cup minced Carrots

 Directions:

• Mix all ingredients until smooth and well-blended
• Place into ice cube trays of your favorite size and shape
• Freeze 3-5 hours, or until solid
• Serve and enjoy

Recipe 6: Chicken Jerky

The final recipe is a super easy single-ingredient jerky. This jerky is the perfect training treat, and great for dogs with severe GI upset or ingredient sensitivities. You can even taste this jerky yourself if you’d like!

Ingredients:

• 2 to 4 chicken breasts

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit
• Remove any excess fat from the chicken
• Using a paring knife, slice chicken into ⅛ inch thick pieces
• Place strips on a baking sheet and bake for 2 hours or until dry and crispy
• Pieces should not be soft and chewy, make sure they are dry and crunchy and all moisture is removed
• Let cool, and then serve
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks

No matter what your dog desires, these treats are sure to hit the spot. Whether starting simple with basic jerky or going gourmet with fancy biscuits, your dog is sure to love all of these recipes. Mix and match ingredients to suit your dog’s tastes and needs, and be sure to check out the source links for more recipes. You can even add your favorite fish oil supplement to any recipe for an added nutrient boost! “Bone” Appetit!

Sources:

All photos provided by Creative Commons/Pixabay for commercial use.

[1] Colley, Angela. "10 Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes and Organic Treats." Money Crashers. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. http://www.moneycrashers.com/homemade-dog-food-treat-recipes/

[2] Juanita. "Gourmet Dog Biscuits." Allrecipes. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/11470/gourmet-dog-biscuits

[3] "This Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipe is a Health Boost for Your Dog: Pumpkin Wafers Dog Treat Recipe." All-Natural-Dog-Treat. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. http://www.all-natural-dog-treat.com/dogtreatrecipe.html

[4] "Wheat and Gluten-Free Carob Crunchers." Doggy Dessert Chef 01 Nov 2010. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. http://doggydessertchef.com/2010/11/01/carob-crunchers/