Homemade Dog Treats Your Dog Won’t Be Able To Get Enough

Dogs love it when it’s snack time. They come running up to you as bundles of joy, all too eager to have something to eat. But have you considered that it may have gotten stale, having to eat the same food, day in and day out?

Don’t get me wrong. Commercial dog food is entirely satisfactory. It contains all the nutrients a dog needs to be healthy. But that’s the problem. We tend to look at food for our pets as a mechanical, mathematical equation. 

While sure, some commercial dog food varieties, particularly the more expensive ones, might taste more appealing to your dog. It still means your dog has to eat the same food all the time. 

Imagine if you had to eat nothing but your favorite food, it would get old fast, no matter how healthy it is or how much you used to like it. 

I think it’s a similar story with dogs. They should get a taste of variety daily. They certainly love it when it’s time for some lovely homemade dog treats. 

We, dog owners, tend to call our dogs our children. Well, let’s treat them as if they are, with some healthy, delicious treats that you’ll have no problem whipping up at home. 

Before that, let’s cover a few common questions on the subject. 

Can You Use Regular Flour For Dog Treats?

Can dogs have regular flour, can dogs have white flour, etc., are common questions people have when it comes to using flour in treats. There’s a simple answer, any is fine. 

In the same way, any type of flour is acceptable for regular use. Its different types are also acceptable across dog treats. There is no best flour for dog treats. However, I tend to use whole wheat flour for the added nutritional value, but anything works. 

[READ MORE] Your Yorkie Needs Food High in Nutritional Value

Is Peanut Butter OK For Dogs?

Generally, peanut butter is safe for dogs and makes for some easy homemade dog treats, dogs find it delicious, and it’s easy to use. 

Something to be very careful about, though. Xylitol. Recently, some peanut butter manufacturers have begun adding Xylitol instead of sugar. The chemical is incredibly toxic to dogs, and you should always read the ingredients to ensure that your dog does not ingest any.

[READ MORE] Nutrition 101: Finding the Perfect Food for your Yorkshire Terrier

How Long Do Homemade Dog Treats Last?

How long homemade dog treats last obviously varies between treats. However, you can have a general ballpark. Most homemade dog treats will last a couple of weeks or more in an airtight container. 

That’s not how you want to store them, though. You can extend how long the treats last by a month or so by putting them in the fridge.

[READ MORE] Top Dog Foods To Feed Your Yorkie for Optimal Health and Nutrition

Apple Carrot Pup Biscuits

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

•     2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
•     One apple, grated and cored with the peel left on
•     ½ cup carrots, grated and peeled
•     ½ cup oats
•     ⅓ a cup of vegetable oil
•     ¼-½ cup water, only if necessary
•     One egg

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and apply grease to a cookie sheet.
2. Peel and grate the carrots; Core and grate the apples.
3. Mix the oats and flour in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and mix in the carrots, apples, oil, and water. Mix well and add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients bowl.
4. Roll the dough out and cut it into shapes with a cookie cutter.
5. Bake the biscuits for 40-45 minutes or until the biscuits are firm.
6. Serve them to your dog when they cool down. 

Blueberry and Banana Dog Treat

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

•     One banana
•     ½ cup blueberries, frozen or fresh
•     ¼ cup ground flaxseed
•     Two tablespoons of dehydrated goat’s milk
•     ½ cup applesauce, unsweetened
•     2 ½ cups buckwheat flour
•     Water, as much as is needed

Instructions:

1.   Preheat your oven to 350 F. Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2.   Make a puree out of the blueberries, the banana, and the applesauce in a food processor or blender.
3.   Pour the applesauce, blueberry, and banana puree into a mixing bowl.
4.   Mix in the ground flaxseed, dehydrated goat’s milk, and buckwheat flowed, and knead until it’s a stiff dough. Add water if it’s necessary.
5.   Roll the dough out on a floured surface until its thickness is about a quarter of an inch. Cut it into desired shapes with a cookie cutter.
6.   Place biscuits on the cookie sheets and bake for about 30 minutes or until firm.
7.   Serve tasty homemade dog treats when they cool down.

Coconut, Peanut Butter Summer Treat

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: None (only freezing)

Ingredients:

•     1 cup peanut butter (no Xylitol)
•     One teaspoon cinnamon
•     One teaspoon of coconut oil

Instructions:

1. Ensure that coconut oil is in a liquid state. If it isn’t, place it in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until melted.
2. Mix in the cinnamon and peanut butter. Stir the mixture until it is completely and thoroughly mixed and smooth. The mixture will be thick, but not enough not to be pourable.
3. Pour the mixture into a shaped tray and freeze until it sets.
4. Remove the frozen treats from the tray and store them in an airtight container in the freezer to prevent them from softening.
5. Serve these simple homemade dog treats for your dogs to enjoy.

Frozen Chicken Treats

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: None (only freezing)

Ingredients:

•     1 cup cooked, well-diced chicken
•     One tablespoon parsley
•     ½ cup cooked rice
•     1 cup chicken stock

Instructions:

1. Add the chicken, rice, stock, and parsley into a food processor or blender and blend all the ingredients.
2. Pour, or really, spoon the blend into a tray with molds.
3. Place the tray in a freezer, and keep it there until the treats are entirely solid.
4. Serve these simple, nutritious, meaty treats to your dogs. 

Frozen Strawberry and Coconut Oil Treats 

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: None (only freezing)

Ingredients:

1. ¼ cup of strawberries
2. ¼ cup unrefined extra virgin coconut oil

Instructions:

1. Cut the strawberries until they are finely diced.
2. Fold them into the coconut oil and stir until they are well combined.
3. Place the mixture into molds of your choice.
4. Freeze for an hour or until the treats are frozen.
5. Let them sit for 3-5 minutes after removing them from the freezer to make freeing the treats easier.
6. Place the treats in an airtight container in the freezer to store.

Ginger Apple Treat

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

•     1 cup brown rice flour
•     ⅔ cup plain greek yogurt
•     ½ cup apple, finely diced
•     ½ teaspoon fresh ginger root(minced, otherwise one teaspoon ground ginger)
•     One tablespoon of coconut oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a cookie sheet.
2. Stir the brown rice flour, greek yogurt, diced apple, and ginger together in a large bowl until the mixture is thoroughly mixed into a dough.
3. Sprinkle a little bit of flour onto a flat surface. Move the mixture onto the surface and roll it using a rolling pin until about a quarter of an inch thick. You may also use a drinking glass as an alternate option to a rolling pin.
4. Use a cookie cutter to cut the treats into any shape you prefer.
5. Place the treats onto the cookie sheet and bake for about 25 minutes, or until they are firm, with a golden-brown color, you can also make them extra crispy if you prefer.
6. Let them cool down and serve tasty homemade dog treats to your dogs. 

Hypoallergenic Chicken treats

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

•     One ¼ cup of rice flour
•     ½ a teaspoon of salt
•     ⅓ of a cup of chicken broth (water if your dog is allergic)
•     Three tablespoons of vegetable or canola oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Mix the rice flour, salt, broth, and oil into a large mixing bowl until it is thoroughly mixed. It should have the same consistency as play dough and may require some additional broth/water to get it.
3. Knead the dough until it is smooth, then roll it out onto a lightly floured surface until about a quarter of an inch thick.
4. Use a cookie cutter to cut the treats into your preferred shapes, or make squares with a knife.
5. Place the treats onto a cookie sheet and bake them for about 15-20 minutes or until they are firm, with lightly browned bottoms.
6. Serve some homemade dog treats for dogs with allergies after they cool down. Store any extra in an airtight container. 

Meaty Treats

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

•     2.5 ounces of chicken, turkey, ham, or beef-flavored baby food
•     Four teaspoons of dry Cream of Wheat
•     Four teaspoons of dry milk powder

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease your cookie sheet.
2. Mix the three ingredients in a small bowl thoroughly. The mixture should be shapeable, with the right consistency to form a ball. If it is too thin, you should add more dry milk powder and cream of wheat in equal amounts. Let it sit for 15 minutes at room temperature.
3. Wet your hands and form small balls out of the dough. Place the balls on the greased cookie sheet. Wetting your hands will make this process easier. The balls do not have to be perfect, don’t worry too much about their shape.
4. Use a fork dampened with water to press the balls into a flat disc. They should be about an eighth to a quarter of an inch thick.
5. Bake the treats for 15 minutes or until they are firm.
6. Cool them down and serve some delicious homemade dog treats.
7. Store any excess in an airtight container. Keep the treats in the fridge for a month or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that the type of baby food you used determines their staying duration.

Spinach, Carrot, and Zucchini Dog Cookies

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

•     ¼ cup peanut butter
•     1 cup pumpkin puree
•     One carrot, shredded and peeled
•     One zucchini, shredded
•     Two eggs
•     3 cups of whole wheat flour
•     ½ a cup of oats
•     1 cup of baby spinach, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Meanwhile, line parchment paper on a baking sheet and set it aside.
2. Beat the eggs, peanut butter, and pumpkin puree in the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix for about 1-2 minutes until well combined.
3. Gradually add 2 ½ cups of flour and the oats, beating until incorporated. Add the flour slowly, adding another ¼ cup just as the dough stops being sticky. Add the carrot, spinach, and zucchini, beating until incorporated.
4. Lightly flour a surface and knead the dough a few times till it comes together. Use a rolling pin or drinking glass to roll the dough until it is a quarter of an inch thick.
5. Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes as you prefer them and place the treats onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the treats are firm.
7. Cool them down before serving, and store excess in an airtight container.

Winter Cinnamon Dog Biscuits

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

•     1 ½ cups of whole wheat flour
•     One teaspoon of cinnamon
•     Two tablespoons of honey
•     ½ a cup of milk

Instructions:

1. You know the drill by now. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line parchment paper on a cookie tray.
2. Add the whole wheat flour, cinnamon, honey, and milk into a large bowl and mix until it’s well combined.
3. Roll dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead a few times gently until it comes together. Use a roller to roll it until it is a quarter of an inch thick.
4. Use a cookie cutter or a knife to cut out the shapes you prefer. Place the treats on the cookie tray lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the treats are light brown on the edges and firm.
6. Remove from the oven, and wait until the treats are cool to serve to your dogs.
7. Store the excess treats in an airtight container, and freeze them to make them last months.

Some Things to Watch Out For

Now. You should have a pretty good idea of what you’re going to be making and how you’ll make it. There are a few things I’ll tell you to watch out for when preparing homemade dog treats, though.

• Keep allergies in mind. If your dog has reacted poorly to any ingredient on this list, do not include it. Find an alternative online.
• If experimenting, avoid making large batches, instead treat your dog to small quantities first to prevent waste if the experiment is a failure.
• When you make large batches, store excess treats in the freezer by putting them in an airtight container.
• When it’s time to use them again, leave them to thaw for about 10 to 20 minutes.
• A batch can last up to half a year by using this method, perfect for people who might struggle with finding the time to make treats.