When it comes to treating your dog right, you want to know that what is being put into his body is good for him. Artificial preservatives, additives and coloring may not seem harmful, but there’s no reason why it has to be in your dog’s food or the treats you give him. Not to mention they can start to get pricey after a while. So why continue to make the trip to the pet store when you can learn to make homemade dog biscuits right in the comfort of your home from the simplest ingredients?
Not only is it a rewarding experience for you to try something new, but it is for your dog as well as he sinks his teeth into these wonderfully tasty and healthy dog treats. Here are some of the easiest dog recipes that you can use to treat Fido, whether it’s for a job well done during training or just as a snack in the middle of the day.
Benefits of Making Your Own Dog Treats
So what are some of the reasons for making dog treats from scratch? You may think it’s just a chore, but how would you feel about eating packaged food for every meal? Eventually, you’d become tired of it, and you’d yearn for something fresh and homemade to eat. Well, dogs are no different. There’s nothing wrong with giving them a little variety every now and again, and that isn’t the only benefit they’ll receive.
Firstly, homemade dog treats are a lot safer than the ones you buy in the store. Prepackage treats have a lot of ingredients that they really don’t need, but because of storage purposes, are included to ensure that they remain fresh. Preservatives and artificial coloring have no place in your dog’s diet, as they can lead to serious harm to your dog’s health. So instead of putting your dog’s life on the line, making the treats at home yourself can certainly save you the trouble in the long run. By using fresh ingredients, you’ll know exactly what your dog is eating.
Secondly, they’re just all-around healthier snacks. Instead of feeding your dog crude fat and sugars, homemade dog treats can be made with fruits and vegetables and whole grains that can promote your dog’s health.
Especially without the preservatives, there’s more room for healthier ingredients to be used. You can use ingredients that help to keep his teeth clean, promote good breath, add more protein to his diet, increase his fiber count, improve the quality of his coat, or help him to be more regular when it comes to house training. By keeping your dog’s health in mind, making treats from scratch is certainly a better option.
Thirdly, homemade snacks are easier to customize. If you have a dog that has a particular allergy or sensitivity to a certain ingredient, then you may believe that you’re out of luck in giving your dog any treats. But that isn’t so if you decide to make them from home. You can mix and change ingredients as much as you like in order to accommodate the health of your dog and ensure that he’s still getting everything that he needs in one little cookie.
Fourth, they’re just cheaper. Buying a bag of dog treats can be pricey in comparison to the cost of the ingredients. They’ll last a much longer time, allowing you to make more treats than you would get out of a bag at the store. It may cost a little more elbow grease to make the cookies from scratch, but your wallet will thank you for buying ingredients in bulk instead of bringing home a bag of unhealthy treats that may last you a week or two.
Lastly, homemade treats taste better. In fact, they’re made from ingredients that you can eat, so why not steal a few cookies for yourself? Your dog will appreciate the effort you put into making any of these treats by hand, and your home will smell absolutely wonderful afterwards. And if they taste better, your dog is more likely to work a little harder at his training and tricks to get them.
1. Peanut Butter Dog Cookies
This recipe yields about 36 small cookies, but they can be made bigger for larger dog breeds. The ingredients you’ll need are:
- four eggs
- 1 oz. vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 8 oz. chicken stock
- 10 oz. whole wheat flour
- 5 oz. all-purpose flour
- 3 oz. cornmeal
- 1 cup peanut butter
- cooking spray
Due to the high number of cookies that this recipe can make, you’re left with a lot of treats and many weeks before having to make another batch. First, you’ll need to preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Whisk together two of the eggs, oil, and honey in a large bowl until blended together. Then whisk in the chicken stock. If you want a healthier treat, you can use reduced-fat and/or low sodium stock; beef or vegetable stock will also suffice.
Sift the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and cornmeal into a separate bowl, and then combine until even throughout. While mixing at a medium speed, slowly add the chicken stock mixture in order to avoid lumps. Then add the peanut butter until everything has been blended together, for roughly one minute.
Divide the dough in half and roll each into a ball that’s about one-half inch thick with a rolling pin. Using cookie cutters, cut into shapes and place on a baking sheet covered in cooking spray. Using the two remaining eggs, whisk them together and brush lightly over the cookies with the wash. Allow it to dry for ten minutes and then add another layer of wash. Then bake in the oven for fifteen minutes or until they are golden brown.
2. Carob Cookies
These cookies were designed for dogs with sensitive tummies in mind. Many dogs can develop an allergy to wheat, making it difficult for them to find anything tasty to snack on during the day. But with these homemade cookies, they’ll never have to worry about upset stomachs again. This recipe makes roughly three to four dozen cookies. The ingredients you’ll need are:
- 1 cup white rice flour
- 1/2 cup of carob powder
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup of water
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This is to ensure that the cookies won’t stick. If you don’t have parchment paper, cooking spray will do. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl and then knead with your hands until the dough is smooth and can be formed without crumbling. If your dough is a little on the dry side, don’t be afraid to add a little more water to make it more pliable.
Cover a working surface with some flour and roll with a rolling pin until the dough is 1/4-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on the baking sheet. It’s best to use smaller cookie cutters in order to prevent crumbling. Bake for roughly ten to fifteen minutes; baking any longer can result in them cracking. Allow the cookies to cool before serving, and place any extras in the fridge for keeping.
3. Mint Cookies
This recipe makes about 5 dozen cookies, which will definitely last you a long time. Mint has been known to help dogs with stomach issues, and can also serve as a breath freshener, along with the parsley that is being included in this recipe. It has also been known to work as a flea repellent, so your pooch won’t have to deal with as many fleas this summer. The ingredients you’ll need are:
- 1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups of whole wheat flour
- 1 1/4 cups cornmeal
- 1 1/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into tbsp pieces
- 1 cup + 1 tbsp. water
- 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- 1/2 cup chopped mint leaves
- 1 egg
- cooking spray
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the flours, cornmeal, oats, wheat germ, baking powder, brown sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse together until it has been combined. Add the butter and pulse together until a coarse meal has been created. There should be lumps, about the size of a pea.
As one cup of water and pulse the mixture together until a dense dough forms. Sprinkle some flour onto a working surface and place the dough in the middle. Knead in the parsley and mint until they are well distributed. Break the dough in half and roll into a flat 1/3-inch disk using a rolling pin. If the discs become too soft, wrap them in plastic and place them in the fridge to chill until they become more firm.
Grease two large baking sheets and place the dough halves in them. Cut out as many as needed with cookie cutters and place them 1/4-inch apart from each other during the baking process. Whisk together one egg and 1 tbsp. of water, and brush the wash over the eggs. Place the baking trays on the bottom and middle racks for roughly 35 minutes.
Switch the baking sheets halfway through the time in order to ensure that they have all been baked evenly, or until the tops are golden brown. Turn off the oven and allow the biscuits to dry in the oven overnight.
4. Homemade Dog Treats
This recipe makes about twenty-four dog cookies and is a good way to use that leftover bacon fat. Instead of allowing your dog to beg, give him a reason to behave for some bacon-flavored treats. He might start to like them even more than your morning breakfast. This recipe is extremely easy to make, and you may already have most of them already in your home. It can even be added to and modified to your dog’s personal tastes. The ingredients you’ll need are:
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup wheat germ
- 1/2 cup melted bacon fat
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup cold water
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine all of the ingredients by hand in a very large mixing bowl until a dough forms. If it’s too soft and not sticking together well, add a bit more flour. If it’s too dry, then you can add a little more water and/or bacon fat.
Once combined, place the dough on a floured working surface, and roll to about a 1/2-inch thick. Using a knife, cut the dough into one-inch by four-inch bars. Place the bars on a cookie sheet that is covered in parchment paper or has been sprayed with cooking spray. Using the end of a chopstick, poke divots into the tops of the bars and bake in the oven for roughly 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, flip the bars over, and return to the oven until it has cooled. Then remove and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
5. Homemade Flaxseed Dog Biscuits
Flaxseed has been known to provide a wide range of health benefits, and the same can be said for your dog as well. Not only does it improve the quality of your dog’s coat, but it is also rich in Omega-3 oil, which is great for joints.
This can minimize the pain your dog may experience from arthritis or other joint problems and can promote overall joint health. So invest some time into making these delicious and healthy dog treats. Your dog will certainly thank you for them in his own way. The main ingredients that you’ll need are:
- 12 oz. whole wheat flour
- 12 oz. bread flour
- 2 oz. wheat germ
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 3-4 tbsp. flax seed
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 oz. powdered dry milk
- 1 cup water
Preheat your oven for 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the flours, wheat germ, salt, brown sugar, and flax seed together in a bowl until even throughout. Then stir in the eggs and vegetable oil. In a separate contained, dissolve the powdered milk in the water and then add to the mixture. Mix together until a dough is created, and that it is smooth throughout. Flour or water can be added in small increments in order to adjust your dough to the right consistency. Once you’re done mixing, cover the dough and set to one side for about 15 to 20 minutes to allow it to relax.
Then place the dough on your working surface area and roll the dough out until it is approximately 1/2 an inch thick. Using cookie cutters, cut out a few biscuits and reincorporate the dough to roll out again so that nothing is wasted. Place the cookies on a sheet lined with baking paper and place in the oven. Bake for about 40 minutes or until they have turned brown. Allow the biscuits to cool before serving, and you can store the rest in covered contained at room temperature.
6. Nutty Bacon Dog Treats
Peanut butter and bacon? Could a dog ask for a better treat? But don’t invest in dried artificial bacon flavor. Spend the time to make this wonderful dog treats yourself, and your home will smell absolutely delicious. This recipe makes about six dozen, you’ll have a lot of treats to use for the weeks and months to come. The ingredients you’ll need are:
- 3 slices of bacon, diced
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter (pick a brand that doesn’t contain xylitol)
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- 3 tbsp. water
- 1/2 cup soy flour (can be substituted if your dog is allergic to soy)
- 1/2 whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 cup wheat germ
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
In a frying pan, fry the bacon until its very crispy. Remove from the oil, but allow for the bacon fat to cool. Add the egg, peanut butter, maple syrup and water to the bacon fat and mix together thoroughly.
Once combined, mix in the flours and wheat germ until a dough has been created. Dice the bacon pieces and add to the dough, then roll out on a floured surface until it’s 1/4-inch thick. Use a 1-inch circular cookie cutter, cut treats out of the dough and placed on the baking trays. Bake in the oven for roughly 12 to 15 minutes until they become a light brown colour. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool.
7. Banana Parsley Cookies
What could be healthier than bananas? These easy-to-make treats are rich in vitamins B and C that your dog may be missing from his diet. Potassium can also help to keep his bones strong, and the parsley works well to keep his breath fresh and clean.
However, take care in offering these treats in moderation. Too much potassium can actually lead to your dog becoming constipated and developing hyperkalemia, which can lead to heart problems. The size of the cookies can be adjusted for the size of your dog in order to avoid this problem.
The ingredients that you’ll need for this recipe of two dozen cookies are:
- 1 peeled banana
- 1 cup oat flour
- 2/3 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup dried parsley
- 3 tbsp. smooth peanut butter
- 1 egg, beaten
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a spoon or a potato masher, mash the banana thoroughly in a bowl until creamy. Add the oat flour, oats, parsley, peanut butter and egg. Stir well until the mixture has been combined thoroughly. Set aside for 5 minutes for it to relax. Using a tablespoon, remove a small amount of dough and roll into a ball until you have 24 cookies, more or less depending on their size. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Using the back of a spoon, flatten each ball into a small flat disc. Place in the oven and bake until they’re golden brown, for about 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before serving.
8. Flea Terminator Dog Treats
Want a better way to fight off fleas? Why not wage the battle from the inside out? Placing insecticides on your dog’s skin may do the trick, but after a time, it can put your dog’s health at risk.
There are certainly safer ways of keeping fleas off your dog’s, and these dog treats can certainly help with the trick. The recipe makes about two pounds of cookies, and the ingredients you’ll need are:
- 3 cubes of beef bouillon
- 1 1/2 cups water, boiled
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 2/3 cup brewers’ yeast
- 2 tbsp. garlic powder
- 2 egg yolks
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the beef bouillon cubes to the boiling water until they have completely dissolved and set aside. Grease some cookie sheets or use cooking spray. In another large bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, corn meal, yeast and garlic powder. Stir them together until the mixture is even throughout. Add the egg yolks and gradually add the bouillon water while stirring. Combine until a dough has formed.
Once firm, place on a floured surface and roll the dough until it is roughly 1/4-inch thick. Cut into the desired shapes using cookie cutters, and place on the cookie sheets. Bake for roughly 20 minutes in the oven. Once they have become a light brown color, turn the oven off and leave them in for an extra three hours to harden and dry out. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
When it comes to making dog treats at home, don’t be afraid to experiment with ingredients as long as you do some research. There are some foods that dogs are not allowed to have, such as grapes and chocolate, as they could end up making your dog very sick.
However, any of the above recipes can be adjusted to take your dog’s particular diet into account so that you’re not risking his health in the process. What’s most important is that you have fun with it, so happy baking!