10 Easy Recipes Of Healthy Homemade Dog Treats

Our dogs deserve the most delicious treat there is! It is a great prize to give after learning a new trick or for simply being a good, behaved dog.

There are a lot of commercially produced dog treats out there that dogs would truly enjoy but really, I prefer to make my canine pets some homemade ones. Besides, everything is much tastier if it’s made with love.

So today I’m going to share with you 10 recipes of healthy homemade dog treats which you can actually make yourself! Save yourself the time to drive to the pet store and just follow these quick recipes.

Ready? Let’s start.

Why Skip Commercially Produced Dog Treats

There is a wide array of selection when it comes to commercially produced dog treats. You could actually get lost in the pet section of the groceries!

And while they can easily be purchased in your local store, we should be wary of what we buy for our beloved canines. These dog treats may sound like the most delish doggy crunch, but the real question is, are they healthy?

Well, a lot of doggy treats may not pass the standard for nutritious canine food. Here are the reasons why it is a good idea to skip mass produced dog food and just invest time and effort in making some home-cooked doggy treat:

1. A lot of dog treats contain soy, wheat and corn.

These are all fillers, which means they add a lot of calories and fiber, making your dog feel full when in fact, it does not carry any nutritional value.

Some of these ingredients are actually harmful to pets. Soy, wheat, and corn are some of the most common food allergens. Dogs are not designed to digest these grains, too.

These ingredients also contribute to obesity and diabetes because they are high in carbohydrates. Fillers like these add substance to a food that typically lacks appropriate protein, fat and other nutrients.

Making healthy homemade dog treats guarantee that the stuff put into our dog’s bowl is nothing but quality ingredients.

2. Dog treat manufacturers use meat by-products.

These might sound healthy because they come from meat, but they are not exactly what you’d expect. Meat meals and by-products are essentially the leftovers of animals slaughtered for human consumption.

When an animal is processed for humans, the lean muscle meat is butchered and created into human-grade food. What’s left is the bones, organs, blood, beaks, feet, etc. that go into pet foods.

Expired meats from supermarkets, restaurant grease, and the bodies of dead, diseased, dying and disabled animals not fit for human consumption are also processed into pet foods.

These are the meat meals and by-products you see listed in some ingredient labels. These are low-quality meat products that cannot be sold to people.

If you wouldn’t eat it, why feed it to your dogs?

A lot of homemade dog treat recipes are also fine for human consumption! You won’t even get uncomfortable with the idea of eating your dog’s meal since you yourself know what’s in it.

3. A lot of dog treats contain preservatives.

Many people are trying to eat more natural foods that are free of preservatives and there’s good reason for it. Unfortunately, many of these harmful ingredients are also found in pet foods.

The most common preservatives in dog food are BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin and Propyl Gallate. These are known carcinogens in animal studies and are possibly linked to human cancers as well.

There are few studies on Propyl Gallate, so there’s no way to tell if it is safe. Ethoxyquin has been associated with the development of kidney and liver damage, cancer (liver, spleen, stomach, skin), immune deficiency syndrome, blindness, and leukemia.

Whatever the reason for adding these ingredients, they should be avoided at all costs.

One way to avoid it is simply to make your own dog treat with nothing but fresh, natural ingredients. Sounds good?

4. Commercial Pet Food is Loosely Regulated

You may not be aware that unlike the food you eat, there’s very little government regulation of pet food quality. The USDA doesn’t control it, nor does the FDA or the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

Not one of these agencies watches over what private pet food manufacturers put in their products.

Pet food quality control is governed by each state, and while certain regulatory codes exist, they do not pertain to the absorbability, digestibility or overall quality of commercially prepared foods for pets.

What this all means is you must place your trust in the companies that make the pet food you buy, and you have to count on the accuracy of the labels on the packaging as well.

For many people — especially those of you who’ve had a bad experience feeding commercial foods to your dog or cat — this is just not good enough.

Even the pet food brands many veterinarians endorse don’t live up to their marketing claims and have caused health problems in pets.

Given the lack of regulation and the questionable quality of many commercial pet foods, more and more dog and cat owners have become leery of serving them to their furry family members.

This is not to say there aren’t good quality pet foods on the market, but many people have simply lost trust in the pet food industry and are eager to learn how to make their own pet food at home.

Benefits of Homemade Pet Food

• You have complete control over the ingredient list and the ability to eliminate all additives and preservatives
• You can pick just the right veggies for your pet’s particular needs, including those with higher antioxidant or medicinal properties, for example
• You can decide which meat sources to feed your pet, which is especially important if you have a cat or dog with an allergy to certain types of protein
• Another benefit of switching to homemade is you can save money by buying large quantities of meats and vegetables when they are on sale. You can prepare, package and freeze your homemade pet meals weeks or even months ahead of time.
• You can also pair up with friends who have pets to buy ingredients in even larger quantities. It can be both economical and a time saver if you can spread the expense and meal prep work among the entire group.
• Another wonderful benefit of preparing a homemade diet is that when you follow a recipe for balanced meals, which is what I’m about to recommend, you’ll know for a fact you’re doing the best job possible in nourishing your pet. You’ll be:
• Fulfilling your dog’s or cat’s vibrant, living food requirement
• Providing nutrient balanced, species-appropriate food that is rich in omega fatty acids and contains vitamin-mineral supplements in the correct proportions

All in all, homemade dog treats are a lot healthier compared to commercially produced canine goods – that is, if you do it properly (wink).

10 Homemade Dog Treats

Preparing homemade dog treats may be a little intimidating especially if it’s the first thing you’re doing so. But worry no more! Below are easy-to-follow, balanced recipes that even a complete novice can handle. Get your ingredients ready and let’s start.

1. Red Velvet Pup Cakes

This easy to follow recipe by Tastemade is a nice treat to start up the list. Celebrate your dog’s achievements with a bite of this delicious canine dessert. This cupcake is just the thing to keep your pet motivated!

Ingredients:

• 3 medium-sized beets, peeled and quartered
• ½ cup hot water
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• ½ cup sunflower seed oil
• 2 large eggs
• 141g (5 oz) can of tuna in water, drained
• 2 cups cream cheese, room temperature

Directions

1. Place the beets in a pot and cover with water.
2. Bring to a boil and cook for 45 minutes, until the beets can be easily pierced with a knife.
3. Drain and place in a food processer and pulse until smooth. This should make about 2 cups of puree. Set aside.
4. Add the hot water, flour, oil, tuna and eggs and mix until well combined.
5. Dollop into a greased mini muffin tin. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes until golden brown on top. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack and cool completely.
6. Once the cupcakes have fully cooled, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy.
7. Place the cream cheese in a piping bag fitted with a large, star-shaped piping tip.
8. Pipe a dollop of cream cheese onto each cupcake.
9. To store, cover these with aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

This recipe makes at least a dozen pupcakes!

Health Benefits

Beets are high in immune-boosting vitamin C, fiber, and essential minerals like potassium (essential forhealthy nerve and muscle function) and manganese (which is good for your bones, liver, kidneys, and pancreas). Beets also contain the B vitamin folate, which helps reduce the risk of birth defects.

2. Easy Homemade Dog Biscuits

Skip the store-bought dog treats and go homemade with these healthy, yummy dog treat recipes. With just a few key ingredients, you can make homemade dog treats right in your kitchen. From dog biscuits to Martha’s special dog food, your dog will love these tasty treat recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup brewer’s yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1/2 cup low-sodium canned chicken stock, plus more for brushing

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, wheat germ, yeast, and salt; set aside
3. Place oil in a large bowl. Add stock and flour mixture in three alternating batches, beginning and ending with stock. Mix well.
4. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to about 3/8-inch thick.
5. Shape biscuits using a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter or by cutting around a store-bought dog bone with a butter knife. Remember: Make biscuits that are appropriate for your dog’s size.
6. If desired, you can spell out your dog’s name or a holiday message in the dough with a toothpick (wet the toothpick first so it won’t stick).
7. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
8. Bake biscuits 10 minutes.
9. Brush with stock; rotate baking sheets, and bake 10 minutes more.
10. Turn off oven, leaving door closed.
11. Let dog biscuits stand in oven to dry completely, about 1 1/2 hours.
12. Wrap as a gift, or store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Your dog won’t be able to resist chowing down on these edible bones. Personalize them with decorations and by writing his or her name on the dough before baking.

Health Benefits

Low sodium dog food is the most critical dietary consideration for dogs experiencing heart conditions such as congestive heart failure. High sodium intake may cause your dog to have an increased thirst accompanied with higher intake of water. This treat is perfect for dogs suffering from kidney disease, liver disease or a heart failure.

3. Izzy’s Apple-Cheddar Dog Biscuits

Associate food producer Courtney Knapp shared this recipe from her mother, Marcia Knapp. Marcia bakes these and her blueberry biscuits for Izzy, the family’s chocolate Labrador retriever.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups barley flour
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1/3 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients and about 3 tablespoons water to form a dough.
4. Roll out mixture between two sheets of plastic wrap to 1/4-inch thick; remove plastic wrap and cut out biscuits with a 3 1/2-inch bone-shaped cookie cutter.
5. Reroll scraps and continue cutting out biscuits.
6. Space biscuits 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet.
7. Bake for 30 minutes until nicely browned and firm.
8. Transfer biscuits to a wire rack.
9. Turn off oven and place biscuits on wire rack in oven overnight.
10. Remove from oven and store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

This is a great treat to feed your dog and to make together as a family. If it weren’t made for canines, I would take a bite to taste myself but for now, I think Mr. Wiggles want it more!

Health Benefits

Oats are a great source of soluble fiber, which can be especially beneficial to senior dogs with bowel irregularity issues. It is also a great alternate grain for dogs allergic to wheat. Make sure to cook oatmeal before serving it to your dog.

4. Paw Print Dog Treats

These homemade biscuits are sure to make an impression. You don’t even have to be an expert in order to be successful with this bake!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 cup brewer’s yeast
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 1/2 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
3. Combine flour, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, and salt in a large bowl.
4. Place canola oil in a large bowl.
5. Add flour mixture to oil in 3 additions, alternating with 1 cup stock; mix until combined.
6. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 2 minutes (dough will be sticky).
7. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
8. Cut out rounds using a 2-inch fluted cutter.
9. Transfer to baking sheets.
10. Make an indentation toward the bottom of 1 circle using your thumb, then press dough to make an arch of 4 small circles on top of the thumbprint using the tip of your pinky.
11. Repeat with remaining rounds.
12. Freeze for 15 minutes.
13. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating sheets and lightly brushing with remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock halfway through.
14. Turn oven off, and let stand in oven for 40 minutes.

This is a wonderful recipe for dog parents who promise to give their dog a well-balanced and healthy food. These treats can be stored in room temperature for up to one month! That means you can safely reserve some for the weeks to come.

Health Benefits

Canola Oil contains some omega-3’s in the form of LNA, along with a substantial amount of monounsaturated fat-62% in total. It’s no secret that dogs love the taste of chicken. This a simple treat can provide your dog low-sodium, quality protein.

5. Blueberry Dog Biscuits

Show your devotion to your pup by making these wholesome biscuits. Filled with blueberries, flax, and oats, they’re nothing to bark at!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour
• 2 1/2 cups quinoa flour
• 3/4 cup flax meal
• 1/2 cup frozen, organic, unsweetened blueberries
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 large egg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients with 1 cup water to form a dough.
3. Roll out mixture between two sheets of plastic wrap to 1/4-inch thick; remove plastic wrap and cut out biscuits with a 3 1/2-inch bone-shaped cookie cutter.
4. Reroll scraps and continue cutting out biscuits.
5. Space biscuits 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet.
6. Bake for 30 minutes until nicely browned and firm.
7. Transfer biscuits to a wire rack. Turn off oven and place biscuits on wire rack in oven overnight.
8. Remove from oven and store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

Health Benefits

All the antioxidants, fiber and phytochemicals blueberries boast provide the same benefits for your dog’s body that they give yours. Blueberries are rich in various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fibers with many health benefits. Since dogs don’t have stomach issues eating blueberries, they can be used as a healthy dog treat, both fresh and frozen.

6. Handmade pumpkin dog chips

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• 2-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup wheat germ
• ½ cup ground flax seed
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3 eggs
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup applesauce
• ½ cup pumpkin puree

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, wheat germ, and flax seed. Set aside.
3. In another mixing bowl, combing honey, eggs, oil, water, applesauce and pumpkin puree until well combined. Pour into dry ingredients and stir until well-mixed.
4. Form into a disc and roll out on a well-floured surface until about ¼” thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut out shapes and place on prepared baking sheet about 1″ apart.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until treats are very brown and very hard.
6. Let cool completely before giving them to your pooch to try out. Store in an airtight container out-of-reach of your puppy.

Health Benefits

Honey is extremely useful and nutritious for dogs. Topically it heals wounds. Internally, it provides numerous sources of nutrients, such as vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E and K, plus minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and more. It helps dogs with allergies, fights infections, and helps with digestive problems.

7. Carob Crunchers

This recipe offers a little Carob love for our wheat sensitive doggys. This recipe is wheat and gluten-free! To start, you will need the following:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup White Rice Flour
• 1/2 cup Carob Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 3/4 cup Water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and knead until dough is formed and smooth, you may need to add a little more water as the dough tends to be on the dry side.
3. Roll onto a heavily floured surface 1/4 inch thick and cut with small cookie cutter of your choice.
4. Place on prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or the cookies start to crackle.
6. Cool and refrigerate.
7. Made 3 to 4 dozen hearts.

Tips: Make sure you knead the dough very well, it may take some work to get the dough to come together. The smaller the cookie cutter the better as the dough is very crumbly. To make it easy on yourself it might be better to just cut it into squares with a pizza cutter.

Health Benefits

For older or obese/overweight dogs who are at risk of contracting diabetes, as little as a half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day can help regulate blood sugar and raise insulin resistance. Some studies show that cinnamon can fight the fungus that causes yeast infections.

8. Puppy Pumpkin Pie recipes

Puppies of all ages will find these healthful treats irresistible. We know your pup will eat that cute cat shape right up.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup flax seed
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 large shallow baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine the flour, flax seed, wheat germ and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
3. Whisk together the pumpkin, peanut butter, egg, sugar, water and oil in a separate bowl.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir with a spoon or rubber spatula until a very rough dough forms.
5. Knead the dough in the bowl until the dough comes together; it should be very slightly moist.
6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll out to a 1/4-inch thickness.
7. With a 3-inch dog bone or cat shaped cookie cutter, cut out treats and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
8. Press all the scraps together, kneading once or twice, then roll out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out more treats; repeat if necessary.
9. Brush the top of each treat with the egg yolk.
10. Bake treats until lightly browned and fairly hard, rotating the pans from top to bottom once, about 35-40 minutes.
11. Remove from the oven and cool completely; biscuits will harden as they cool.
12. Store in an airtight container.

Health Benefits

Good for both diarrhea and constipation, pumpkin is loaded with fiber and beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.

Aside from this, supplementing with flax seed can improve his coat, among other benefits. If your dog’s skin and coat could use improvement, flax seed oil could make a difference. These over-the-counter supplements provide omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, necessary for good skin and coat health.

9. Carrot Chia Pet Treats

Chia seeds aren’t just for humans. Add them to this slightly sweet dog treat recipe for a bone that tells your pup, “You’ve been really good today!” Makes about 24-27 (3-inch) biscuits.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/3 cup almond butter
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 carrots, grated

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large shallow baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the flours, wheat germ and chia seeds in a medium bowl.
3. Whisk together the almond butter, water, oil and syrup in a separate bowl then stir in the carrots.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir with a spoon or rubber spatula until a very rough dough forms.
5. Knead the dough in the bowl 6-7 times until the dough is fairly stiff.
6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll out to a 1/4-inch thickness.
7. With a 3-inch dog bone shaped cookie cutter, cut out biscuits and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
8. Press all the scraps together, kneading once or twice, then roll out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out more biscuits; repeat if necessary.
9. Bake biscuits until lightly browned and fairly hard, about 35-40 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely; biscuits will harden as they cool.
10. Store in an airtight container.

Health Benefits

Carrots are packed with Vitamin A which is a very healthy dog vitamin. It can be a remedy to canine constipation while bringing the benefits of fiber. It is also low in fat and calories which makes it a great alternative to store-bought dog treats. Moreover, carrots promote dog dental health by naturally cleaning your dog’s teeth. The beta-carotene improve dog’s coat color and eyesight.

10. Elvis Biscuits

Makes about 86 (1 3/4-inch) treats

A treat your four-legged Elvis wanna-be will howl for peanut butter and banana (with the added goodness of rolled oats and whole wheat flour).

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/4 cup natural creamy peanut butter
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large shallow baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the flour and oats in a medium bowl.
3. Whisk together the peanut butter, banana, egg, sugar and oil in a separate bowl.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir with a spoon or rubber spatula until a rough dough forms.
5. Knead the dough in the bowl 5-6 times until it comes together.
6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll to a 1/4-inch thickness.
7. With a 1 3/4-inch bone shaped cookie cutter, cut out treats and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
8. Press all the scraps together, kneading once or twice, then roll out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out more treats; repeat if necessary.
9. Bake treats until lightly browned and fairly hard, rotating the pans from top to bottom once, about 20-25 minutes.
10. Remove from the oven and cool completely; biscuits will harden as they cool.
11. Store in an airtight container.

Health Benefits

Bananas are a good source of potassium, manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, fiber, biotin and copper. Bananas are low in sodium and cholesterol. As long as bananas are just a snack, not the whole meal, and the dog isn’t allergic to the banana, then there’s no reason not to feed them.

Drawback to Feeding Homemade

Granted, there are some drawbacks to making your dog’s meals yourself such as:

• It takes time and effort to prepare homemade dog treats but it should be worth it!
• Educating yourself on what kinds of foods are safe for your dog to eat may need a lot of effort (some foods like grapes, avocado pits and skin, and chocolate can be fatal if your dog eats them).
• Learning about recipes for dog food and finding ones your dog will eat is going to be a long run of food trial.
• Finally, it is very important that your dog eat a balanced diet as well in order to stay healthy.  It is necessary that you learn about what constitutes a balanced diet for your dog.

But the advantages to making your own dog food far outweigh the disadvantages, in my opinion.

Feeding your dog your own homemade dog food means never having to worry that the food you’re feeding him is going to turn out tainted by some pesticide or harmful chemical.

It also means you know exactly what your dog is eating.

Then again, if you’re going the homemade route, you must do it right. And by right, I mean balanced. A growing problem in my practice is pets with compromised health as the result of being fed an unbalanced homemade diet.

Even with the best intentions, if you switch your dog to an unbalanced homemade diet, you can do a great deal of damage to their health – which is exactly what you are trying to avoid by serving homemade in the first place.

To sum up

Nothing beats the assuring feeling in actually knowing what’s in the food you are giving your dogs. There is nothing like a healthy homemade dog treat prepared with love sold in the supermarket.

Put one of your homemade treats in one hand and a store bought one in the other hand and I’m sure your dog will always go for the homemade over the store bought.

Did you enjoy this read? If you did, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, click share and let other dog-parents know these 10 very easy homemade dog treat recipes. Byeee!