Healthy Dog Treat Recipes

Every dog deserves to be happy and spoiled with delicious yummy treats! Want to spoil your pup with some healthy homemade dog treats? They are easy to make, and there are many benefits as to why this would be a better choice than to buy at a store. Here are some healthy dog treat recipes.  

Benefits to homemade treats 

• Peace of mind knowing what ingredients your dog’s treats are made up of

By creating and making homemade dog treats, you will ensure that your dog is eating a healthy, nutritious, and wholesome snack. You can put in specific ingredients that you know your dog enjoys tasting. It will also help to control what goes in their treats if there are any dietary restrictions.  

In addition to knowing what goes into your dog’s treats, making homemade dog treats can also be a great way to cater to any specific health needs that your furry friend may have. For instance, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, you can make treats that are gentle on their digestive system. Alternatively, if your dog is overweight, you can make low-calorie treats that will still keep them satisfied. By having control over what goes into your dog’s treats, you can ensure that they are getting exactly what they need to maintain a healthy and happy life.

• Prevent your dog from eating unhealthy additives:

Many brands of commercial dog treats are packed with preservatives to help extend their shelf life. Homemade treats are made with fresh ingredients that are not only better for your dog’s health but also taste better. Moreover, homemade treats do not contain any additives, so you can be sure that your dog is not consuming any harmful chemicals or artificial preservatives. This can go a long way in ensuring that your dog has a long and healthy life.

• Cost-effective

Buying dog treats at the store can surprisingly be a bit pricey. Making treats in the comfort of your home will not only be fun but much more cost-effective.

In addition to being cost-effective, making homemade dog treats can also be a sustainable option. When you make your own treats, you can reduce the amount of packaging waste that is generated from store-bought treats. You can also use locally sourced ingredients, which can help reduce your carbon footprint. By making homemade dog treats, you can contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. It’s a win-win situation – your dog gets a tasty and healthy treat, and you get to help the environment!

Get ready to have some fun in your kitchen, and try making some of these easy recipes for your loving pup! You can get creative and make the treats into fun shapes like paw prints and dog bones! 

* It is recommended that you consult with your vet to check if your dog has any allergies to certain foods before making any homemade treats.

Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats 

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs 
• ½ cup canned pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter 
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as needed, but the dough should be dry and stiff. Roll the dough into a ½ inch thick roll. Cut into ½ inch pieces.
3. Bake in preheated oven until hard (about 40 minutes).

Frozen Apple Dog Treats 

Ingredients

• 2 apples 
• 1 cup greek nonfat plain yogurt
• water 

Instructions

1. Slice the 2 apples into small pieces but remove the seeds and the core.
2. Mix the apple slices, yogurt, and a splash of water in your blender until you get a liquid consistency.
3. Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze for a few hours or until hard.

Pumpkin Carrot Dog Treats

Ingredients

• ¾ cup canned pumpkin
• 1 egg, slightly beaten 
• ¼ cup shredded carrots 
• 1 cup whole wheat flour 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Stir pumpkin, egg, carrots, and flour in a large bowl until moistened.
3. Roll the batter into small balls and place it on a baking sheet.
4. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Salmon and Sweet Potato Dog Treat 

Ingredients

• 1 can of salmon
• 1 medium sweet potato, baked in the skin
• 2 large eggs 
• 1/3 cup of coconut flour
• coconut oil, as needed to grease the pan

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until fluffy.
3. Fold in the coconut flour and salmon.
4. Allow the mixture to rest for 10 minutes while the coconut flour absorbs the mixture.
5. Remove the sweet potato from its skin and mash it until it is smooth.
6. Fold mashed sweet potato.
7. Grease a 9×9 cake pan with coconut oil.
8. Press the mix into your pan.
9. Bake for 60-70 minutes until the mixture is firm, edges are golden, and a toothpick comes out clean.

Chicken and Wild Rice Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 6 oz. Boneless chicken breast, boiled or grilled; cooled
• ½ cup cooked wild rice; cooled
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour 
• ¼ tsp. Salt 
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine chicken, rice, and chicken stock in a blender and pulse until paste forms.
3. Add the flour, salt, egg, and chicken paste into a bowl and mix well.
4. Sprinkle a little flour on a flat surface and knead the dough until it is no longer sticky; then roll it out with a rolling pin about ½ inch thick.
5. Cut into desired shapes and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes until light brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Spinach, Carrot, and Zucchini Dog Treats

Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup old fashioned oats
• 3 cups whole wheat flour, or more, as needed
• 1 carrot, peeled and shredded
• 1 zucchini, shredded
• 1 cup baby spinach, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and eggs on medium-high until well combined, about 1-2 minutes.
3. Add old-fashioned oats and 2 ½ cups flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add ¼ cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky. Add carrot, zucchini, and spinach, beating just until combined.
4. Knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to ¼-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
5. Place into oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes until the edges are golden brown.

Let your dog enjoy tasting the special treats you made for them! Give these treats to your furry lover during training sessions or just simply because they are your paw-fect best friend! A bonus to this; what’s better than knowing that your dog sees you as the world’s best chef!