Homemade Treats For Your Dogs

Making treats might not be as easy as going into a dog store and picking some up, but it’s filled with goodness, love, and care. Our pups love us, and we love them, so why not put some extra efforts to make them happy. Homemade treats are not just super affordable; they’re hygienic, made with proper ingredients, and really yummy. Also, if your dogs have some issues or digestion problems, you can customize your treats accordingly. 

If you’re still wondering why to go for homemade treats, here are some reasons to go for it :

• It controls what goes into the recipe. By making the recipe at home, you can ensure your pet is getting a wholesome meal. You can also tailor your recipe according to your dog’s taste and preference, as well as keeping in mind any dietary restrictions. 
• It prevents any unhealthy additives. Many dog food brands add preservatives to the product to extend its shelf life. Also, store-bought food is often made with byproducts instead of refined natural ingredients. By making homemade treats, you’ll provide your dog with healthy nutrition and prevent unhealthy ingredients. 
• Homemade food is always tastier. Making homemade treats gives your dog a tastier option than its regular biscuits. 

Contrary to your belief, homemade treats are very easy to prepare. Here we’ve prepared a list of super healthy and yummy treats you can make for your dog.  

Homemade Dog Biscuits

Basic Dog Biscuits

These biscuits are a perfect and healthy alternative for commercial dog treats. Let’s see how to make them :

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. 
• Dissolve the chicken or beef bouillon granules in warm water. 
• Add 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour ( add oat flour if your dog is sensitive to wheat).
• Add on egg and 1 tsp salt. 
• Knead the dough until it forms a ball. 
• With a rolling pin, roll the dough until ½ inches thick. 
• Now shape your biscuits in a bone shape; you can also purchase a bone-shaped cookie cutter. 
• Place the cookies on the greased cookie sheet. 
• Cook for 30 minutes, and you’re done. 

Mini Apple Pupcakes

Looking for a fruity treat for your dog? These mini apple cupcakes will definitely become your dog’s favorite. Let’s jump to the recipe :

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
• Mix 2 ¾ cups water with ¼ cups applesauce, 2 tbsp honey, 1 egg, 1/8 tbsp vanilla extract together in a bowl. 
• Now add 1 cup unsweetened dried apple chips, 4 cups whole wheat flour,  and 1 tbsp baking powder into the mixture and mix well. 
• Pour the mixture into muffin pans.
• Bake for 1 ¼ hour. 

Zucchini, Carrot, and Spinach Dog Treats

These treats are filled with nutrition. This is how to make it :

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
• Beat peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and eggs for 2 minutes. 
• Gradually add oats and 2 ½  cups of flour and beat until well mixed. 
• Add carrots, zucchini, and spinach and mix well until incorporated. 
• Knead the dough until it comes together. 
• Now roll the dough and cut out the desired shapes. 
• Place into the oven and cook for 20 minutes or until golden brown. 
• Let cool completely and pamper your dog with them. 

Doggy Donuts

All you need is just a few ingredients that you probably have at home, and your dog will absolutely love these donuts. 

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Spray cooking spray to a donut pan and set aside. 
• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1 cup oats, 1/3 cup coconut oil, ½ cup peanut butter, and 2 eggs. Mix everything until it forms a dough. 
• Press with your hands to form a donut shape. Make sure each space is tightly packed. 
• Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until cooked. 
• Remove the donuts from the pan after they get cooled. 
• Dip each donut in a bowl of yogurt and sprinkle donut bits. 

Peanut Butter and Banana Treats

This delicious treat is super easy to make and very nutritious for your dog. 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Grind the oats in the grinder until it becomes flour. You can also use oat flour. 
• In a large mixing bowl, mash banana and peanut butter. Add the oat flour and mix with a fork until it forms a dough. Add peanut butter if you don’t get the desired consistency. 
• Roll the dough about ¼ inches and cut desired shapes with a cookie cutter. 
• Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown underneath.
• Wait for the cookies to cool down and share with your pup. 

Cheddar Bacon Dog Treats

These treats are even human friendly. Let’s see the recipe.

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
• Add oats, cheese, and bacon to the bowl of a food processor and mix until you get crumb-like consistency. 
• Add two eggs to the food processor and process until you get a sticky dough. 
• Sprinkle finely grounded oats onto a wooden cutting board and roll the dough about ¼ inches thick. 
• Cut out the dough in the desired shape and transfer the cookies to the baking sheet. 
• Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. 
• Cool the treats and store them in an airtight container. 

Wild Rice and Chicken Dog Treats

Treat your furry friend with these wild rice and chicken treats. 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a mini food processor, add rice and chicken stock in the blender and blend until you get a thick paste. 
• Mix flour, salt, and chicken mixture in a bowl. 
• Knead the dough until you get the perfect texture. 
• Roll the dough ½ inches thick and cut desired shapes. 
• Bake until golden brown or for 30 minutes. 
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool it completely. 

Cranberry Cookies

These yummy little cookies are great all year-round. Also, cranberries are superfoods and have a lot of antioxidants. 

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. 
• Beat 2 eggs and set aside. 
• Mix almond flour, dried cranberries, and coconut oil in a bowl. 
• Add the eggs and knead the ingredients using your hands. The dough should be wet and sticky.
• Roll the dough and cut the desired shapes. 
• Place the cookies on a baking tray. 
• Bake for 20 minutes or until crisp. 
• Allow to cool down and share with your pup.

Cinnamon Bun Dog Treats

Cinnamon is non-toxic to dogs, but just like humans, you just need to give them a pinch of it as a flavor and not a tablespoon. 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
• In a bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking powder. 
• In another bowl, mix water, oil, and egg. Add it to the dry ingredients and mix well until you get a soft dough. 
• On a flat surface, roll and pat the dough in a rectangle. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up jelly-roll style and pinch the edges. 
• With the help of a sharp knife, slice half an inch thick slice and place the sliced side down on a cooking sheet. 
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. 
• Store the buns in an airtight container. 

Dog Treat with Flax Seeds

Flax seeds are good for maintaining the bowel system, and if your dog isn’t sensitive to it, it’s a great option. 

• Mix 340 gm wheat flour, 55 g wheat germ, 340 gm bread flour, 30 g brown sugar, 3 tbsp flax seeds, and 5 gm salt.
• Stir eggs and vegetable oil. 
• Dilute dry milk powder in water and incorporate this into the mixture. 
• Combine everything to form a firm dough that is workable. 
• Cover the dough and set aside to set for 20 minutes. 
• Roll out the dough to 1.2 cm thick. Cut out the biscuits in bone shape or any desired shape. 
• Transfer the cookies to a baking tray. 
• Bake the cookies at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until biscuits are brown and hard. 
• Allow the cookies to cool and store in an airtight container.

Is Peanut Butter Safe for Dogs?

This has been a topic of discussion on whether or not peanut butter is safe for dogs. Your concern is legit; researching before feeding anything to your dog is vital. Peanut butter is always a healthy food for dogs as it has more vitamins and healthy fats. But as always, moderation is the key. Keep in mind any allergies your dog might have before incorporating ingredients into your recipe. If you’re skeptical about using peanut butter, other alternatives are sweet potato and pumpkin. 

Is It Fine To Use All-Purpose Flour In Peanut Butter Dog Treats?

Yes, you can, if your dog isn’t allergic to gluten found in wheat flour. Wheat flour has some more healthy nutrients, which are very beneficial. You can use oat flour or coconut flour if you don’t want to use wheat flour. It’s always best to give a sample to your dog before giving them lots of treats. This way, you can see if your dog is allergic to something. 

The Bottom Line

These homemade treats will make your pooch fall in love with you even more. This isn’t just for increasing the nutrition value but also adding a new taste to their boring dog food. This way, you can also keep full control of what goes into their food without any worries. Just store everything in an airtight container in the fridge. They are good to go for 2 months. Offer a sample to your dog to see if it is sensitive to any of the ingredients.