Need Ideas for Homemade Dog Treats?

Jul 22

It’s summer time, WOOHOO!

But we are still in our Shelter-in-Place orders. Restrictions seem to be easing at times, but a lot of us are still staying home as much as we can. It was super trendy at the beginning of the ordinance to make food from scratch, but with all the events that have transpired, it seems most of us have lost our steam for at-home creations. To be 100% honest: it happens. Times (and the world) are stressful right now, and sometimes you just need a break - even from things that used to bring you joy.

But if you still itch to get into the kitchen and make some yummy concoctions, why not create a culinary masterpiece for your dog! Afterall, they’re often tempted by the yummy smells we make in the kitchen for ourselves. They may appreciate something being made for them!

However, there may be some general concerns about what to make for our furry best friends. What kinds of foods are healthy, and what will my dog even like?

Dogs take pretty easily to peanut butter, broth, or meats. Our recommendations are to use bone broth, or any other kind of stock that does not include onions and garlic. For making treats, creamy peanut butter works best, and natural peanut butter is always safe since it’s free of added sugars and artificial sweeteners like xylitol.

Other add-ins to consider are fruits and veggies. Most dogs like strawberries, blueberries, and bananas - you know, those things that a lot of humans love too. For veggies, a good source of fiber is pumpkin puree and sweet potatoes, but you can also add mint and parsley for breath freshening, and green beans and carrots for some extra flavor and crunch.

We provided several recipes below which also call for yogurt or applesauce - but be sure to stick with unsweetened plain greek yogurt and unsweetened applesauce.

Frozen Treats

It’s summertime, so we are going to begin with some tasty frozen treats we’re pretty sure your pup will absolutely love! Plus, they get the extra benefit of being cooled down a bit - what could be better?

There are several ways to form a frozen dog treat. The cutest way is with silicone ice trays, you can get a ton of cute shapes and in sizes you prefer. Another option is a standard ice cube tray or silicone lined muffin tins. When freezing dog treats, generally 2 to 4 hours will freeze the liquid but not make it too solid like an ice cube. If you’re concerned about the mess, serve your dog outside, or opt for a smaller treat size (about the size of a quarter).

Pupsicle mixtures

Yogurt and Blueberry

Mix 4 oz. water with 4 oz. greek yogurt, pour into mould, add blueberries to fill almost to brim, freeze, and serve

Strawberry Mint

Blend 4 oz. water, 4 oz. greek yogurt with 4-6 strawberries and 3-4 leaves of mint. Pour into mould, freeze, and serve

Doggy Nice Cream

Watermelon Sherbet

Freeze 2 cups of fruit for about 4 hours (dogs love watermelon and cantaloupe). Blend frozen fruit with 1/4 c. greek yogurt, and serve

Peanut Butter and Chicken Ice Cream

Mix 1/2 c. each of peanut butter, greek yogurt, and chicken broth with a mashed banana, pour into mould, freeze for 2-4 hours, and serve

Baked Treats

Dogs love that perfect crunch, and the best way for them to have it is baking a nice crispy biscuit. Feel free to get creative with cookie cutter shapes (it will be more fun for you, your dog just wants to munch on the goodies!) and once you figure out the right texture for your biscuit dough, you can start mixing in any idea you have for flavors for your dog’s treats.

How to make a crunchy dog cookie

First we have the standard ingredients list for the biscuit dough, then we have some flavor combo add ins to make it more interesting, and lastly we have the instructions on how to bake:

Dough Ingredients:

3/4 c. of warm water or milk plus and extra tbs. if dough seems too dry

1 large egg or 1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce

2 tbs. vegetable oil

2 c. whole wheat flour

1/3 c. rolled oats

1 tsp. baking powder

Flavor Combos

Peanut Butter and Bacon:

2 to 3 strips of cooked chopped bacon, and 1 cup creamy natural peanut butter

Pumpkin and Flax:

1 cup canned pumpkin, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 3-4 tbs. flax seed

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease cookie sheet, or line with silicone mat
Combine dough ingredients in a food processor or mix by hand, then stir in your favorite flavor combo
Roll or press dough into a 12” x 6” rectangle, or to desired thickness. Cut out cookies, and place on cookie sheet
Bake for 1 hour for dark biscuits, less time for lighter (important: consult with your dog for their preference. A simple head nod will suffice)
Turn off oven when cookies are to desired doneness. Allow cookies to cool in oven for several hours, or even overnight
Let your dog enjoy…in moderation! These delicious bites aren’t designed to replace their meals, but a snack every now and then is always appreciated

No Cook Treats

Want to avoid the mess of a defrosting frozen treat, and turning that excessively warm oven on? No cook treats are just for you! The base ingredient for all no bake treats is peanut butter, because it’s sticky and works great as a binder. For the rest of the ingredients, the sky is the limit: you can get as creative as you want!

Chicken and Peanut Butter

Combine 1 tbs. each chicken broth, peanut butter, and flour. Mix with a fork, form into a ball or disc, and serve. Refrigerate to store

Sweet Potato and Oat

Mix 1c. softened sweet potato with 1 1/2 c. oats and 1/2 c. peanut butter. Form into a ball or disc, and serve. Refrigerate to store

Let’s Get Mixing!

Well there you have it, some basic ingredients and instructions to get started on making your very own dog treats. This could be fun for the whole family, or you could take some much needed alone time to whip up your dog some tasty munchies that we know will be loved! Check out the sources below for some of the inspiration on flavor combos, and also some links to even more kinds of dog treats that you could try to make at home! Something fun about homemade dog treats is you know exactly what you put in it. There is no shame if you want to taste test those treats right along with your pup (no judgement here!). Leave comments below on what your favorite treat was, and which one your dog liked the best too!