All dogs love treats, but not all treats are the same.
Many store-boughtdogtreats are filled withingredientsthat are either unpronounceable or questionable. (Do you really want your puppy tosnackon Potassium Sorbate or Propylene Glycol?)
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And while there are healthy commercial treats available, even the best on the market undergo a manufacturing process that reduces their nutritional punch and increases the potential for contamination.
The solution? Put on your chef’s hat and make your own healthy dog treats at home!
You’ll know exactly what’s in them and can tailor them to your ownpet. If you’re a culinary novice, makinghomemade dog treatsis a great way to learn; cooking for dogs is much less stressful than sweating over a four-course meal for an important client or someone you’re trying to impress. Not to mention, a dog will always give you a glowing review in the form of a wagging tail or even a tippy-tappy happy dance.
But before you put on your apron, be aware that the followingingredientsaretoxicto dogs:
Chocolate
Grapes/raisins
Xylitol (a.k.a., Birch Sugar)
Macadamia nuts
Onion
Coffee
Raw yeast dough
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Pet food safety
Can my pet eat...
Enjoying a slice of watermelon and wondering if your dog or cat can have a bite? Check out our food safety database. We're adding new foods weekly!
Treats not only show your dog how much you love them but are also an essential component of training. Don’t get carried away, though. After too many treats, you may have too much dog. Treats should only make up so much of adog's food—around 10% of their daily caloric intake. Ask your vet how many calories your particular dog should eat daily.
The following fiveeasy homemade dog treat recipespass the caninetastetestandare simple to make with healthyingredients.
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Peanut butterandbananabiscuits
Filled with good-for-youingredients, these dog-approvedbiscuitsprovide enough protein and carbohydrates to power yourpupthrough his or her next trip to the dog park.
Peanut butteris an excellent source of protein and good fats, while the egg adds more protein and healthy fat along with a powerhouse punch of iron, folate, riboflavin, selenium, and vitamins A and B12, and thebananaprovides potassium, fiber, and biotin. (Just so you know,peanut butteralso mixes well with a variety of other fruits andveggies, like apples,carrotsand evenzucchini.)
Eachpeanut butterandbananabiscuithas approximately 128 calories.
Ingredients
1 egg
½ cup mashedbanana
1/3cup peanut butter(no Xylitol or birch sugar)
1 tablespoon honey
½ cup wheat germ
1 cupwhole wheat flour
1 egg white, lightly whipped
By the way, it's perfectly fine in manydog treat recipesto substitutegluten-freeflours likeoatflour,riceflour, orcoconut flour.
Preparation
Preheat theovento 300°F. Lightly grease abaking sheet. In a medium-sizedbowl,stirtogether the egg,banana,peanut butter, and honey, andblenduntil smooth. Add the wheat germ andcup of flour, and mix until it becomes doughy. Turn thedoughout onto a lightly floured board and roll it out into a ¼” thick sheet. Cut out shapes usingcookie cutters, then put them on abaking sheetand brush with the egg white.Bake foraround 30 minutes, until golden brown. Let it cool on a wire cooling rack.
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Pumpkin andpeanut butterbites
Perfect for the holiday season, these treats are so full offlavor thatyou’ll have to restrain yourself from eating them. They are easy to make and require nobaking. Pumpkin is a dog’s superfood, with tons of fiber, vitamins A, C, K, and E, and minerals including iron, copper, magnesium, and potassium. According to the AKC, plain, canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) contains a higher amount of nutrients and fiber than fresh pumpkin (who knew?). Pumpkin is also good for your dog’s digestion. These treats have 59 calories each.
Ingredients
1 cup canned, organic pumpkin
½ cup organicpeanut butter
3 tablespoons honey
1tsp.cinnamon
2½ cups rolledoats
Preparation
Line abaking sheetwith parchment paper (available at the grocery store). Mix together the pumpkin,peanut butter, honey, andcinnamonuntil fully blended. Slowly add theoats. If the mix is too wet, add a pinch ofoatsuntil thoroughly combined. Take small amounts, shape into bite-sized balls, and place on acookie sheet. Then pop thecookie sheetin the refrigerator. Once the bites have hardened slightly, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for around 3 weeks or in thefreezerfor up to 3 months.
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Sweet potatodog biscuits
With only fouringredients, this recipe is easy to make and healthy, too. Thesweet potatois a fat-free superfood rich in fiber, potassium, vitamins A, C, and B6, and the minerals iron, calcium, and magnesium.The sweet potatoalso helps regulate digestion. This recipe uses acookie cutter, so you can choose the best size for your dog (a little dog might get small hearts, while bone-shapedbiscuitsare perfect for gentle giants). These dog treats have around 43 calories each.
Ingredients
1sweet potato
¼ cup unsweetenedapplesauce
2 ½ cupswhole wheat flour
2 eggs
Preparation
Preheat theovento 350°. Use a fork to puncture thesweet potato,and microwave for around 6 minutes until tender. Or puncture with a fork and pre-bakethesweet potatoon a foil-linedbaking sheetin theovenat 425° until tender, around 40 to 50 minutes. Once done, cut in half and scoop out the insides into abowl. Mash the potato until smooth, using afood processor, a potato masher, or a fork. Using one cup of the mashedsweet potato, mix in flour,applesauce, and eggs and work until it forms adough. Turn out onto a hard, well-floured surfaceand roll out until around ½-inch thick. Cut out shapes withcookie cuttersand place them on a drybaking sheet.Bakeuntil crisp, around 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool on thebakingsheets for 10 minutes, and then transfer them to wire rack to finish cooling.
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Strawberry andbananapupsicles
Frozen treats are perfect for hot summer days or relaxing in the afternoons in warm climates. There are so many different ways to make pupsicles for your dog, so you can chooseingredientsyou know your dog loves (as long as theingredientsare dog-safe).
You can use a popsicle mold or just plainice cube trays, but skip the stick, which is a potential choking hazard. If you’re making popsicle-shaped treats for larger dogs, use adog biscuitinstead of a stick; for small breeds, get some paw print or bone-shaped silicone molds. Always supervise your dog when they're snacking on these frozen treats.
Pick a recipe based on what your dog craves. This one is for dogs that favor sweet, fruity treats. You can swap out fruit, but only use fruit that isdog-friendly. Both strawberries andbananasare healthy choices. Strawberries have both fiber and vitamin C, with an added bonus: They contain an enzyme that will whiten your dog’s teeth. Fruits contain sugar, so give these in moderation.
Ingredients
2 cups strawberries, sliced (either fresh or frozen)
1banana
1 cup plain orGreek yogurt(if yogurt upsets your dog’s tummy, use a non-dairy yogurt)
2 tablespoons honey
¼ cup water
Preparation
Blendall theingredientstogether in afood processororblender. Put paper towels or abaking sheetunder the silicone molds, and pourmixturein. For larger treats in popsicle shape, use a dog bone instead of a stick. Freeze for around 30 minutes or until hard. Empty treats into afreezer-safe container or bag. Makes approximately 56 treats using both smaller and larger-sized molds. Around 8 calories per treat.
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Beefliver treats for diabetic dogs
Even if your dog has been diagnosed with diabetes, they can still enjoy special treats. In this case, though, be careful you don’t overdo it. (And always ask your vet before introducing new foods into your dog's diet!)
Dogs with diabetes often experience increased thirst, a ravenous appetite while losing weight, and lethargy. By giving your dog daily insulin injections under the skin (which sounds scarier than it is once you get used to it), their body will be able to convert insulin to energy, so they can live a fairly normal life.
Besides insulin treatment,managing your dog’s dietand providing sufficient exercise play an important role in your dog’s well-being. Liver is an excellent source of lower-fat protein and nutrients, including vitamins A and D, folic acid, iron, and other minerals. (Just FYI,beefliver is lower in fat thanchickenliver.) Whole wheat flourhas a low Glycemic Index of 51 (stick to foods that have a GI of 0-55), and stone-ground flour is less processed. These treats are healthy for diabetic dogs, and your dog will love them (and you).
Ingredients
1½ poundsbeefliver, cut into small pieces
½ cup stone-groundwhole wheat flour
2 eggs
Preparation
You’ll need a 10x15-inch jellyroll pan or abaking sheet lined with parchment paper. Preheat theovento 350°. Put the liver pieces in afood processorand pulse until chopped finely. Add the flour and eggs and process until smooth, or if yourfood processoris too small, empty the processed liver into abowl, add the flour and eggs, and using a wooden spoon, mix thoroughly. Spread themixtureout evenly in the pan.Bakefor about 15 minutes, or until the center is firm. When cooled, the consistency should be spongy. Let cool, then cut out shapes or squares using a pizza cutter. These treats can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator. You can freeze any treats that won’t be eaten within a week in a zip-lock bag.
There you have it! Easy, simple dog treats that you can make in your own home. Remember to follow proper food safety practices and ALWAYS tell your vet before you introduce a new treat or food into your dog's diet.
