Homemade Dog Treats That You And Your Pup Will Love
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Even if your cooking has friends and family running for the hills, there’s one food enthusiast who will always consider you the world’s greatest chef. Of course, it can only be your canine companion. Like most dogs, they probably won’t hesitate to devour anything you put in front of them. Chances are they’ll even take seconds. Thirds, too.
Endearing as that may be, we still acknowledge that a healthy diet is paramount to a pup’s well-being. What you choose to feed your dog can build or break the foundation for their long-term prosperity. So, what if you want to spoil them with a well-deserved treat?
The best approach is to make it yourself. This way, you can have peace of mind knowing exactly what’s going into your dog’s precious body. Here are some ideas for homemade treats to help you get started. Some treats are from US recipes, so you might need to convert the measurements, but they’re easy to make wherever you are in the world!
Oat and Apple Pretzels
This quick and simple recipe provides 15 servings in less than an hour of work. You only need four ingredients:
- 2 cups of gluten-free oat flour
- ¾ cup of gluten-free rolled oats
- 1 free-range egg (beaten)
- 1 cup apple sauce
Start by preheating the oven to 350F before beating your egg and setting it aside. Keep a baking sheet lined with parchment paper close by. Mix together all of the ingredients in a large bowl but keep a tablespoon of egg separate. Stir until a tacky dough begins to form.
Then, roll two tablespoons of the mixture into a 10-inch long string. Create a ‘U’ shape, twist the ends together and fold back to the top for a classic pretzel look. Repeat and place onto the tray for baking. Around 30 minutes in the oven should leave you with browned and crispy pretzels.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Serve up a healthy dose of vitamins, fibre, magnesium, iron, and potassium with this dog-friendly latte. While a Starbucks cup makes for a more aesthetically-pleasing look, any old bowl will do. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup coconut milk (you can substitute with goat’s milk)
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- Top with organic whipped cream (optional)
Put it all in a blender and mix for around a minute before serving. If you choose to use whipped cream, make sure that it’s free from xylitol, which is harmful to dogs. Avoid pumpkin pie mix as well. It has to be pumpkin puree. In fact, you should always keep in mind potential poisons or allergies when using new ingredients at home.
Thinking about dog insurance is a good idea as it can help offset the cost of treatment if your pup eats something they shouldn’t, as well as if any injuries or complications arise in the future. You can use everypaw.com to get a quick dog insurance quote. Be sure to check out the perks such as a free activity tracker that come with taking out a policy through their service.
Baked Chicken Treat
Here’s a meaty treat that you can probably make with your eyes closed. Chicken is the main ingredient, but you can substitute with any other lean meat if your pup has allergies. You’ll need the following:
- 1 cup cooked chicken diced into fine pieces
- ½ cup cooked and mashed rice
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 egg
- A suitable mould for shaping
All you need to do is mix the ingredients together while preheating the oven to 350F. Stir well and place the mixture into your moulds. Within 20 to 30 minutes, the tops will begin to appear golden brown. Cool and serve. You can refrigerate these treats for up to a week and freeze for three months.
Peanut Butter and Coconut Oil Chews
Treat your pup in a pinch with this healthy recipe. The following measurements are based on a serving made for dogs in the 10-15-pound range. You can add a teaspoon of coconut oil for every additional 10 pounds of body weight.
Only three ingredients required here:
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
If your coconut isn’t in liquid form, place it on a pan with low heat until it melts. Then combine the ingredients to stir a smooth and pourable mixture. Place into a suitable tray (ideally one with separate compartments) and freeze until solid. That’s it! Just remember that they soften quickly, so keep them cool in an airtight container for long-term storage.
Sweet Potato Fries
Another quick and simple baked recipe, sweet potatoes are a healthy treat that your pup will love. You only need a tablespoon of coconut oil (melted as usual) and the sweet potatoes themselves. Spice is a considerable addition. Some dog-friendly spices include:
- Basil
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Turmeric
Oregano, parsley, and tarragon will also work. This is a great time to experiment! Once you’ve picked a spice, preheat your oven to 425F and peel the sweet potatoes after washing. Cut into appropriate sizes (based on your dog) fries. Coat them with oil, place on a baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes before flipping and baking for another 15 minutes.
Bonus Treats
Let’s end things off with a few bonus treats.
- Apple carrot treat: A cup of wholewheat flour, one egg, some grated carrots and apple sauce baked for 30-40 minutes is all that’s required for this healthy treat.
- Peanut butter biscuits: This recipe calls for flour, rolled oats, parsley dry milk and salt. Around an hour of baking, time is required.
- Banana almond puppy treat: One egg, a third of a banana, some unsalted almond butter, and a teaspoon of cinnamon baked for 10 minutes, makes this soft delight.
So, there you have it – never again will the kitchen be boring. Plus, your lucky pup will have an endless supply of healthy treats to look forward to.
Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash.
