4 Must-Try Homemade Dog Treats: Easy, Healthy Snacks to Make ‘Em Drool

This week’s blog is from Helen Merino—dog handler, trainer, writer, SEO expert, fellow dog-lover, and person with a great sense of humor. We came across each other on LinkedIn, a place I have found to be a good venue for meeting professionals with common interests.

Thanks, Helen, for sharing these great recipes with us!

Martha

PS
Interested in being a guest-blogger? C ontact me.

Happy White Akita Inu Dog pokes her face expectantly between the breakfast table and her owner. He’s holding a cup of black coffee while a croissant sits invitingly on the table. — Photo by Zen Chung

Homemade Dog Treats Can Solve This Problem

Never thought of making homemade dog treats, you say? Well, how about this scenario? You feel a paw on your knee.

You look down and see those pathetic eyes.

“I’m so cute,” the eyes say, “and I’m such a good doggie. How’s about a treat?”

You know you shouldn’t. But it’s soooooo hard not to.

Of course, you want to indulge them. But you want your pup to live a long, healthy life too. Store-bought treats are crammed with calories, fat, and lots of weird additives that are terrible for your dog’s health.

It’s a tough clash of priorities. But never fear! Homemade dog treats are the answer.

Making your own homemade dog treats is a great way to show your furry friend some love – even spoil them a bit – and still check all their health boxes.

With healthy homemade dog treats, you can:

Monitor your dog’s calorie intake
Avoid unwanted additives and fillers
Accommodate any dietary restrictions
Customize snacks for the picky eater
Support their long-range health needs But still…making them.

I know. I get it. You want things to be quick. And easy would be good too.

Well, you’re in luck. I sourced four great recipes for homemade dog treats. Each one’s a snap to make. And – bonus – your dog will love them!

So wash your hands. Put on your apron. Let’s dive in!

1. Pumpkin Oatmeal Dog Treats

This recipe is brought to you by the cooking whizzes at Good Housekeeping. These are delectable homemade dog treats featuring pumpkin puree as the star ingredient.

Aside from being a taste that dogs love, pumpkin is packed with nutrients, not calories.

Pumpkin’s a rich source of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, and E. It’s got zinc. It’s got iron. This potent goody can help your dog’s gut flora, digestion, and immune system. It can, also, promote skin and coat health.

Ingredients:

1 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling! Seriously – just the puree.)
- ¼ cup NATURAL peanut butter (Ingredients should be just peanuts and salt, period.)
- 2 ½ cups rolled oats (Plus a little extra in a dish for coating the treats)
- ¼ cup water

Directions:

Stir all four ingredients in a large bowl.

Form one-inch balls with your hands.

Then, roll each ball in the “extra” oats. You know, the ones you set aside in that dish.

Refrigerate the treats on a rimmed baking sheet until firm, usually about an hour.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

2. Watermelon and Yogurt Frozen Dog Treats

I was so excited when I found this recipe for watermelon-flavored dog treats (courtesy of the Baking Mischief website). Dogs LOVE watermelon. They also swoon over yogurt. So this is a perfect combo.

Watermelon is a great source of vitamins A, B6, and C. It’s got potassium too. And yogurt? It has protein of course – great for muscle growth. The calcium in yogurt promotes bone and heart health too. And it’s rich in probiotics! That helps immunity and digestion.

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped seedless watermelon
- 15 tablespoons (just under 1 cup) of plain, unsweetened yogurt *

*To be clear there shouldn’t be ANY sweetener in the yogurt, especially NOT XYLITOL. Xylitol is toxic to dogs!

Directions:

Puree the watermelon until smooth. You can do this with a blender, immersion blender, or a food processor.

Add one tablespoon of yogurt into each pocket of an ice cube tray. You can also use mini silicone molds.

Fill each pocket the rest of the way with watermelon puree.

Freeze until solid, about 4 hours.

Remove treats from molds.

Store in the freezer in an airtight container.

3. The Fitnessista’s Home Made Dog Treats

The Fitnessista website doesn’t really have a name for these homemade dog treats. I just call them “Chickpea Power!” Because these savory DIY dog snacks are made with nutritious chickpea flour.

Don’t worry. Chickpea flour isn’t as hard to find as you may think. You can probably find a bag at your supermarket. Check out the baking or breakfast aisle for the Bob’s Red Mill products.

You can also use whole wheat flour if that’s all you have. Still, we recommend picking up the chickpea flour because it’s so good for dogs.

Chickpeas, aka Garbanzo Beans, are a terrific source of protein and fiber. But wait! There’s more. They have iron, folate, manganese, chlorine, selenium, phosphorus, and magnesium, not to mention vitamins A and C! Phew!

These nutrients can help with blood pressure, digestion, muscle growth, weight loss, and heart health. They can even help to ward off inflammation and osteoarthritis.

Ingredients:

1 cup chickpea/garbanzo bean flour (or wheat flour in a pinch)
3 eggs (Set aside 1 for the egg wash.)
¼ cup pumpkin puree (Remember, NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
½ cup natural peanut butter (The ONLY ingredients should be peanuts and salt.)
½ cup quick-cooking oats
Some all-purpose (AP) flour, for rolling
1 tablespoon of water
Fun-shaped cookie cutters

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 325° F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine the chickpea flour, two of the eggs, pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and quick-cooking oats in a big bowl.

Stir until a dough forms. It should be a little sticky. But if it doesn’t firm up and form a dough, add more chickpea or AP flour. Go slowly. Remember, if you overdo it you can’t take it out again.

Sprinkle a clean surface with the AP flour. Put the dough on top.

Coat the outside of your dough with the AP flour.

Roll it out to about ½ inch thickness.

Press your cookie cutters into the dough to form your dog treats. You can flour the edges of your cookie cutters if they stick.

Place the treats gently on the baking sheet.

Re-combine the remaining dough, re-roll it, and repeat.

Here’s the fancy part…

In a small bowl, whisk the last egg with 1 tablespoon of water.

Brush the egg wash on each treat with a pastry brush.

Bake for about 30 minutes. Keep an eye on them. You want them hard, but not burnt (obviously).

Let them cool completely before sealing them in an airtight container.

Store them at room temperature or in the fridge to extend their shelf life.

4. Easy DIY Sweet Potato Dog Chews

When I saw this radically simple homemade dog treat, I made a note. I wanted to pay this great idea forward. It came from the top-notch vegan website, It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.

These dog treats are, basically, sweet potato jerky! And it’s oh-so simple. The ingredient list is literally one item – sweet potatoes.

Anyone who’s walked around a pet store knows that this versatile ingredient is used a lot in dog food. It’s because sweet potato is a high-fiber, low-fat ingredient that’s packed with flavor.

It has vitamins A, B6,C, and beta carotene. It has minerals like iron, calcium, and potassium. They’re basically a nutritional super-cocktail.

Your dog’s digestion, vision, muscle development, immune system, skin health, and cardiovascular system can all benefit from the simple sweet potato.

Ingredient:

2 sweet potatoes, washed

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 250°F.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cut the sweet potatoes into ¼ inch thick slices. You can cut them crossways, like coins for smaller chews. If you have a big dog, consider cutting them lengthwise for a bigger treat.

Arrange them on the baking sheets in a single layer.

Bake for 2 ½ to 3 hours, turning them over about halfway through. You want them dried out and sort of shrunken. Some parts will be nice and crispy. Some will be chewy.

Let them cool aaaaaall the way.

Store these delicious homemade dog treats in an airtight container. If you pop them in the fridge, they’ll last for about 3 weeks.

Homemade Dog Treats Are About Quality – Not Quantity

Just because these are homemade dog treats, doesn’t mean you can just go bonkers with them.

Keep portion control in mind. Treats should add up to around 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Consider your pup’s size and activity level. Adapt to that.

Again, be sure to store your treats in an airtight container – refrigerate or freeze batches for longer-lasting snacks. And try rotating your recipes too. That can add variety to your dog’s diet, giving them a range of nutrients and flavors.

Observe your dog’s reaction to new ingredients, by the way. Consult with your vet if you’re trying out something they’ve never tried.

The Best Treat Is This…

I love making homemade dog treats (and cat treats) for my fur family. When I cave into those eyes…when I slip them that snack… I know I’m actually feeding them well.

No weird additives. No unnecessary calories. And lots of stuff that will keep them healthy and happy for years to come.

But remember that cuddles, tossing a ball around, playing tug-o-war…these are treats too. They’re the best treats, actually.

Your attention is the “something” your dog craves the most. It’s the best of all homemade dog treats. No need to watch your portion control, either. When it comes to your love, go ahead and let them binge.

~ Helen Merino

Helen Merino is a dog lover, writer, and SEO expert for “the pet industry.” Learn more on her website.