Dogs are our best friends and loyal companions, and it’s natural that we want to give them the best care possible. One of the ways we can show our love and appreciation for our furry friends is by making homemade dog treats. Not only are homemade dog treats easy to make, but they are also healthy and nutritious for your dog. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of homemade dog treats, share some easy-to-make recipes, and offer some tips for making the best homemade dog treats.
Benefits of Homemade Dog Treats
There are several benefits to making homemade dog treats. Here are just a few:
- You control the ingredients: When you make homemade dog treats, you know exactly what’s going into them. You can choose high-quality ingredients that are healthy and nutritious for your dog.
- No preservatives or additives: Homemade dog treats are free from preservatives and additives that can be harmful to your dog’s health.
- They’re easy to make: Making homemade dog treats is a simple process that doesn’t require any special skills or equipment.
- Cost-effective: Homemade dog treats are often less expensive than store-bought treats, especially if you use ingredients you already have at home.
Easy Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Here are three easy-to-make homemade dog treat recipes that your furry friend is sure to love.
Peanut Butter and Banana Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 egg
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, mash the ripe banana until it’s smooth.
- Add the oat flour, peanut butter, and egg to the bowl and mix well.
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface until it’s about 1/4 inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough.
- Place the treats on a lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until they’re golden brown.
Chicken and Sweet Potato Treats
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1 egg
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, mix together the cooked, shredded chicken, mashed sweet potato, oat flour, and egg.
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface until it’s about 1/4 inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough.
- Place the treats on a lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until they’re golden brown.
Apple and Cinnamon Treats
Ingredients:
- 2 cups oat flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oat flour, unsweetened applesauce, egg, and ground cinnamon.
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface until it’s about 1/4 inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough.
- Place the treats on a lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until they’re golden brown.
Tips for Making Homemade Dog Treats
Here are some tips for making the best homemade dog treats:
- Use high-quality ingredients: Choose ingredients that are high-quality and nutritious for your dog. Avoid using ingredients that are harmful to dogs, such as chocolate, raisins, and grapes.
- Follow the recipe:
Homemade Dog Biscuits
Cinnamon Oatmeal Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 2.5 C Whole Wheat Flour
- .5 C Quick Oats
- 2.5 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 3/4 C non-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 C honey
- 5 tbsp water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix with a rubber spatula until it begins to come together and looks clumpy.
- Use your hands to knead for a minute, trying to incorporate any dry ingredients at the bottom of the bowl.
- Add water, a tablespoon at a time, until dough forms into a ball and isn’t falling apart.
- Use a rolling pin to roll out dough to about ⅜” thick.
- Use a bone-shaped cookie cutter to cut out dough.
- Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Once there is no more room to cut out shapes, ball the dough up and proceed to roll out and cut again.
- Bake for 18 minutes on the center rack.
- Allow to cool and give to your pup.
Nutrition
Tips/Tricks/Notes:
If you want softer treats, bake for 10-15 minutes.
If you want crunchier treats, bake for 20-25 minutes
Give them a special collar like this that wont jingle as they walk to avoid extra noise when baby is sleeping. It has been a life saver in our house.
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Hello! I am Camille, a wife, mother of four, Disney obsessed, certified teacher, and believer in creating your best momlife the way you see fit. Motherhood comes with its ups and downs, my hope is you’ll find something here to make your life a little better/easier. Let’s be friends on social!