Dog food and treats can get really expensive, and who knows what mystery ingredients are in those brown little bits? Luckily, there are many easy ways to make your own homemade dog treats! And as an added bonus, even if you add a little too much flour to your treats or leave them in the oven a little too long, your dog will never complain!
Before Getting Started
There are some foods you will need to avoid. Some foods are perfectly safe, or even considered healthy for humans to eat, but are dangerous for dogs. Most of us have heard about the dangers of chocolate, but also avoid any other sources of caffeine, such as coffee or tea. Here is a list of foods to avoid:
Fruits & Vegetables: Avocado, Apple seeds, Persimmon, Peach, and Plum Pits, Grapes & Raisins, Onions & Chives, Garlic, Corn on the Cob, Rhubarb & Tomato Leaves.
Animal Products: Raw Meat, Fat trimmings, Liver, Milk & Cheese (not dangerous, but can cause digestive distress in some dogs), Fish, Cat Food, and Cooked Bones.
Other Foods: Salt, Sugar, Xylitol, Candy, Chewing Gum, Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Tobacco, Alcohol, Hops (Beer), Marijuana, Yeast, and Macadamia Nuts.
From that list, you can see how feeding dogs human leftovers could be problematic! I can’t think of a meal I’ve eaten lately that didn’t have Salt, Sugar, or Onions.
Below are some simple recipe ideas for homemade dog treats that are sure to get your pup drooling… more than normal… wait, is that a good thing?
Frozen Treats
Puree 2 cored apples with 1 cup Greek nonfat plain yogurt and water, Freeze in ice cube tray, and serve as a naturally sweet and healthy snack. Makes about 2 trays worth of cubes.
Blend 1 cups cooked chicken, 1/2 cup cooked rice, 1 cup chicken stock (ideally homemade unsalted), 1 tablespoon parsley, freeze in ice cube tray, and serve as a savory protein packed snack.
Baked Snacks
Cut sweet potatoes into fries/wedges and bake on parchment at 425F for about 30 min, flipping halfway through the cooking. These things are tasty enough for humans to enjoy!
Mix two cups flour, 1/2 cups peanut butter, 2 eggs, and a little bit of water. Cut using cookie cutters or knife, and bake at 350F for 20 min.
Meal Prep
Think of making this in conjunction with your weekly human meal prep. You will need. 1 1/5 cups brown rice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 pounds ground turkey, 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped, 2 carrots, shredded, 1 zucchini, shredded, and 1/2 cup peas. Boil your rice and set aside. Cook turkey in a pan with olive oil for 3-5 minutes crumbling, then add the veggies and cook another 3-5 min. Mix in rice, cook, and serve in 1 cup portions.
Speak with your veterinarian about your dog’s dietary needs, and you can create recipes for your own homemade dog treats! Your furry friend will love you for it – I mean, more than he already does!
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