Easy Homemade Dog Treats

Dogs treats! But with so many store-bought options loaded with artificial ingredients, making homemade dog treats is a great way to monitor what goes into your pup’s snacks. These dog treat recipes are nutritious, delicious, and easy to make in your kitchen. Your furry friend will be begging for these tasty bites!

As a dog owner, you want to give your pup lots of love, attention, exercise and, of course, tasty treats! Store-bought treats can contain preservatives, artificial flavours and colours that aren’t good for your dog. The best solution? Make your own healthy homemade dog treats!

Homemade treats allow you to control exactly what ingredients you use. You can choose real, whole foods that provide nutritional value. Things like peanut butter, carrots, apples, pumpkin and Greek yoghurt are nutritious and dog-approved treats. You can whip up a tasty batch of snacks your pup will go wild for with a few simple ingredients and steps.

This article will provide 15 drool-worthy dog treat recipes made with wholesome ingredients. We’ll also review some tips and guidelines for baking safe, nutritious treats your dog loves. Let’s get started!

Benefits of Homemade Dog Treats

Here are some of the main advantages of making your homemade dog treats:

• Control ingredients – Avoid preservatives, artificial flavours, colours, and other additives commonly found in store-bought treats.
• Use wholesome ingredients – Real foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and peanut butter are nutritious and appealing to dogs.
• Customize for your dog – You can cater recipes to your dog’s dietary needs, allergies or preferences.
• Save money – Homemade treats are often cheaper than high-quality store-bought varieties.
• Bond with your dog – Your pup will be excited to see you making goodies just for them!
• Make fun shapes – You can mould dough or cut out fun cookie shapes from bones to hearts.
• Avoid recalls – You don’t have to worry about recalls associated with mass-produced treats.
• Appeal to picky eaters – Some finicky dogs may prefer homemade treats over bland commercial ones.

Tips for Making Dog Treats

Follow these tips to whip up tasty, nutritious homemade treats your dog will love:

Choose Dog-Safe Ingredients

Some human foods can be dangerous for dogs. Avoid using ingredients like chocolate, onions, grapes/raisins, macadamia nuts, xylitol or excessive salt or sugar. Stick to dog-safe foods like:

• Peanut butter (no xylitol)
• Shredded carrots
• Pumpkin puree
• Bananas
• Sweet potatoes
• Greek yoghurt
• Oats
• Eggs
• Apples
• Blueberries

Check for Allergies/Sensitivities

If your dog has food allergies or sensitivities, avoid using those ingredients. Common dog allergens include dairy, wheat, chicken and beef. Stick to foods you know your dog can tolerate.

Pick Simple Recipes

Look for straightforward recipes with just a few main ingredients. This avoids an overly complicated treat-making process. Simple treats are often healthier, too.

Make Small Bite Sizes

Dogs don’t need big treats, so aim for small bite-sized pieces. Treats that are too big present a choking hazard. Aim for pea-sized to around 1/2-inch pieces.

Use Canine-Safe Seasonings

Skip garlic, onions, salt and other seasonings that can harm dogs. Stick to dog-friendly herbs and spices like parsley, basil, cinnamon or turmeric.

Bake at Low Temperatures

Dogs have sensitive stomachs, so baking at low temps (300°F or less) helps maintain the integrity of the ingredients. High temps can destroy nutrients and make treats harder to digest.

Store Properly

Store treats in a sealed container in the fridge or freezer. This helps them maintain freshness and prevents spoilage. Fridge treats can last 1-2 weeks, while frozen treats keep 2-6 months.

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15 Tasty Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Here are 15 drool-worthy dog treat recipes to make your pup happy:

Peanut Butter & Apple Dog Treats

Dogs go nuts for peanut butter and sweet apples for flavour and nutrition.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (no xylitol)
• 1/4 cup shredded apple
• One egg
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp water

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the flour, oats, peanut butter, apple, egg, honey and water in a bowl. Knead until a dough forms.
3. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
4. Arrange shapes on a baking sheet and bake for 14-16 minutes until lightly browned.
5. Let treats cool completely before giving them to your dog. Store extras in the fridge.
6. Pumpkin & Greek Yogurt Treats

This recipe combines vitamin-rich pumpkin with probiotic Greek yoghurt for a tasty immune-boosting treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• One egg
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the pumpkin, yoghurt, egg, flour, and cinnamon until a dough forms.
3. Roll out the dough 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface and cut it into desired shapes with cookie cutters.
4. Arrange shapes on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes until firm.
5. Cool treats completely before serving. Refrigerate to store.
6. Carrot & Oat Cookies

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Sweet carrots and hearty oats make a fibre-filled, low-fat treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shredded carrots
• One large egg
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups oats
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor, pulse carrots, egg, and peanut butter until well combined.
3. Add oats and flour and pulse until the mixture forms a dough.
4. Scoop dough by the tablespoonful onto a prepared baking sheet. Flatten slightly.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly browned.
6. Cool completely before serving. Store extras in the refrigerator.
7. Beef & Cheddar Bites

Savoury bites made with lean ground beef and sharp cheddar cheese.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• One egg
• 1 tbsp parsley

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine beef, cheese, flour, egg, and parsley in a bowl. Mix well.
3. Roll the mixture into quarter-sized balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 15 minutes until cooked through.
5. Cool completely before serving. Refrigerate extras.
6. Sweet Potato Biscuits

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The sweet potato adds vitamin A, fibre and flavour to these crunchy biscuits.

Ingredients:

• One small cooked sweet potato
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• One egg
• 2 cups whole wheat flour

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor, pulse sweet potato, yoghurt and egg until smooth.
3. Add flour and pulse just until combined. The dough will be sticky.
4. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to 1/2-inch thickness.
5. Cut into shapes using a biscuit cutter or knife. Arrange on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned. Cool before serving.
7. Banana Bites

Dogs go wild for these simple, healthy treats made with just two ingredients.

Ingredients:

• One ripe banana
• 1 cup oats

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, mash the banana until smooth. Stir in oats until thoroughly combined.
3. Blueberry & Honey Biscuits

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The addition of antioxidant-rich blueberries makes these biscuits an immunity-boosting treat.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/4 cup honey
• One egg
• 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix flour, oats, honey, egg, blueberries, yoghurt and coconut oil in a bowl.
3. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to 1/2-inch thickness.
4. Cut dough using a biscuit cutter and arrange on prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned. Cool before serving.
6. Chicken & Rice Treats

Shredded chicken and rice make a protein-packed, gluten-free treat.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cooked chicken, shredded
• 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
• One egg
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well until a thick dough forms.
3. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and arrange on prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 14-16 minutes until lightly browned. Cool before serving.
5. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies

This peanut butter and pumpkin cookie recipe is a tasty autumn pup treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• One large egg
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix pumpkin, egg, peanut butter, flour, and spices in a bowl until a dough forms.
3. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and arrange on prepared baking sheets.
4. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern.
5. Bake for 14-16 minutes until set. Transfer to a wire rack to cool before serving.
6. Applesauce Oat Cookies

Applesauce gives these oatmeal cookies a tasty moisture and natural sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• One egg
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well to form a dough.
3. Scoop dough by the tablespoonful onto a prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 13-15 minutes until set. Cool completely before serving.
5. Peanut Butter Banana Bites

Going wild for peanut butter? Your pup will love these frozen, healthy bites.

Ingredients:

• One ripe banana
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup oats

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mash the banana until smooth.
2. Add peanut butter, yoghurt and oats and mix well to combine.
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop spoonfuls of mixture onto the sheet.
4. Freeze for at least 2 hours until firm. Keep stored in the freezer.
5. Bacon & Cheese Biscuits

Savoury bacon and cheese make this tasty biscuit recipe a doggie delight.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 tbsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Three slices of cooked, crumbled bacon
• One egg
• 1/2 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
3. Add cheese, bacon, egg and milk. Stir just until blended.
4. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to 1/2-inch thickness.
5. Cut into shapes using a biscuit cutter and arrange on a prepared baking sheet.
6. Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned. Cool before serving.
7. Sweet Potato Chews

Slice and dehydrate sweet potato slices into chewy, sweet treats.

Ingredients:

• One large sweet potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to lowest setting or dehydrator to 145°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Arrange sweet potato slices on prepared baking sheets in a single layer without overlapping.
3. Dehydrate for 6-8 hours, flipping halfway through, until dried but still pliable.
4. Cool and serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
5. Cranberry Coconut Bites

Bursting with antioxidants, these bites combine chewy coconut with tart-dried cranberries.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• One large egg
• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp honey

Instructions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor, pulse oats until coarsely ground. Add cranberries and coconut and pulse to combine.
3. Add egg, almond butter, coconut oil and honey. Pulse until the mixture starts clumping.
4. Roll them into quarter-sized balls and arrange them on a prepared baking sheet. Flatten slightly.
5. Dehydrate at 145°F for 4 hours, flip, then dehydrate for two more hours until chewy. Cool before serving.
6. Minty Watermelon Bites

Refreshing mint and hydrating watermelon make the perfect summery treat.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cubed seedless watermelon
• Ten fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, blend watermelon and mint leaves until smooth.
2. Add yoghurt and pulse briefly just to combine. The mixture should be thick but spoonful.
3. Drop spoonfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze until solid, about 1 hour.
4. Store frozen bites in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Conclusion

Making homemade treats is a great way to monitor what goes into your dog’s diet while providing a special snack they’ll love. These 15 recipes use wholesome ingredients that provide nutritional value and plenty of tail wags. Peanut butter, pumpkin, apples, carrots and yoghurt are dog-safe foods you can use to craft homemade goodies.

You’ll have a batch of tasty treats ready with a few simple preparation steps, like preheating the oven and lining pans with parchment paper. Pay attention to proper storage in the refrigerator or freezer to ensure treats retain maximum freshness and texture when your pup is ready to indulge.

So the next time your dog gives you puppy-dog eyes begging for a tasty snack, you’ll be ready with a homemade, nutritious treat that will have them drooling in anticipation. Making your treats provides satisfaction in knowing exactly what’s going into your dog’s diet. Just be sure to check for allergies or intolerances before introducing new recipes.

Now get baking and create some special bites your furry friend will surely savour! Save a few for yourself – we won’t judge if you sneak a taste test!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I make dog treats with human foods?

A: Yes, many human foods are safe and nutritious for dogs, but be sure to avoid anything toxic like chocolate, grapes, garlic/onions, xylitol, etc. Stick to fruits, veggies, whole grains, yoghurt, eggs, and peanut butter.

Q: How long do homemade dog treats last?

A: Refrigerated treats can last 1-2 weeks in an airtight container. Frozen treats can last 2-6 months frozen. Dehydrated treats can last 1-2 weeks at room temp in an airtight container.

Q: Should treats make up a large part of my dog’s diet?

A: Treats should only make up about 10% of your dog’s daily calories. Avoid too many treats and overfeeding.

Q: Can I substitute ingredients in recipes?

A: Yes, but substitute with dog-safe ingredients. Be mindful of food allergies. Baking time/temp may need to be adjusted for ingredient subs.