From puppy age till adult, treats are something that every well looked after pet occasionally expects and thinks they are entitled too. Treats though are a blessing and a curse. Often, your dog will obey you, but expect a reward of a treat in return. Commercially available treats may not have the best ingredients for your dog’s health, and may even harm your dog by handing out too many. To much treats may also affect your dog’s weight. It can be a difficult balancing act working out exactly how many treats are enough without piling the pounds on your dog. This is why wholesome homemade treats are a great alternative to shop bought. You can tailor them to your dogs specific needs using only ingredients that you know will be nutritious and healthy and not endanger your dog.
By making your own dog treats you will delight your dog, and know exactly what you are feeding them. So, let’s talk about why home-made treats are a great nutritious option, and discuss some tips for making them and some easy recipes to start with.
Introduction to Home-Made Dog Treats
Home-made dog treats, are treats that you make yourself in your own kitchen, with a few simple ingredients. They are delicious and nutritious, your dog will love them, and they will be far better for your dog than store-bought treats. They are a great way to reward and spoil your dog, without worrying about dodgy ingredients or additives that may affect your dog’s health. They’re also a lot of fun to make.
Making dog treats in your own kitchen is not complicated or messy. All you need are a few basic ingredients. With a bit of practice, and patience, you will soon be making professional looking, and tasting, dog treats, in no time.
What Are the Benefits of Home-Made Dog Treats?
There are a range of benefits to making your own dog treats. You may wonder why you have never done it before, especially when you see the appreciation in your dog’s face in expectation of their next home-made treat.
- You can be sure they are healthy and nutritious.
- No artificial preservatives or sweeteners.
- Tailor the treats to your dog’s specific needs.
- Guaranteed the ingredients are safe for your dog to eat.
You can experiment as you go, trying a variety of ingredients, and different flavours and textures, till you discover what your pet loves most. Making treats is also an excellent way to build a better bond with your dog. When your dog senses you are making treats, they will be impatiently waiting at the kitchen door for the freshly make treats to be ready!
Some Tips for Making Home-Made Dog Treats
- Be organized: Make sure you have all the ingredients you need, tools, and supplies, before you start.
- Read the recipe: Make sure you read and understand the recipe before you start.
- Measure carefully: It’s important to measure all the ingredients correctly. Too much of certain ingredients can affect the taste or make the treats unhealthy, so make sure you measure accurately.
- Don’t over mix: Too much mixing can make the treats tough and dry. Make sure to mix just enough to combine all the ingredients.
- Bake evenly: Pre-heat the oven, and make sure you bake the treats evenly, so they’re cooked through.
- Let your treats full cool: Allow the treats to cool completely before giving them to your pup. This will ensure that they don’t burn their mouths.
- Store safely: Make sure you store the treats in a cool, dry place. This will help them stay fresh longer.
Some Dog Treats Recipe Ideas
Now that you are ready to start making your home-made dog treats, here are a few easy recipe ideas to begin with:
Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats:
- These treats are easy to make and are sure to be a hit with your pup. All you need is some natural peanut butter, mashed banana, flour, and an egg. Mix all the ingredients together, roll into small balls, and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F.
Cheese and Carrot Dog Treats:
- These treats are a great way to get your pup to eat their veggies. All you need is some shredded cheese, grated carrots, flour, and an egg. Mix everything together, roll into small balls, and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F.
Sweet Potato Dog Treats:
- Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamins and minerals and are a healthy treat for your pup. All you need is some cooked sweet potato, flour, and an egg. Mash the sweet potato, mix with the other ingredients, roll into small balls, and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F.
Apple and Oat Dog Treats:
- Apples are a great source of fiber and are a healthy treat for your pup. All you need is some applesauce, oats, and an egg. Mix everything together, roll into small balls, and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F.
Shortcuts for Making Home-Made Dog Treats
Whether you like to bake or not, making home-made dog treats needn’t take you much time, the treats above are quick and easy to make, but here are some shortcuts in case you are pressed for time:
- Use pre-made dough: Buying pre-made dough will save you time and effort, as all you have to do is mix with the other ingredients and shape the dough into the desired shape and bake.
- Use a food processor: A food processor can be a great time-saver when it comes to making home-made dog treats. You can use it to quickly and easily mix all the ingredients together.
- Use a cookie cutter: If you don’t have time to shape the dough yourself, you can use a cookie cutter to make the treats. Just roll out the dough and use the cookie cutter to cut out the desired shape. You can even purchase cookie cutters in the shape of dog bones or paw prints to especially customize them for your pet.
- Use a baking sheet: Using a baking sheet will help you bake the treats evenly and quickly. Just spread the dough out on the baking sheet before baking.
Nutritional Considerations for Home-Made Dog Treats
Make your dog’s nutritional needs the top priority when making your home-made dog treats. Always choose ingredients that will be safe and healthy for your dog to eat. Some things to keep in mind:
- Avoid artificial sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners can be bad for your dog’s health, so make sure you avoid them when making treats.
- Don’t use chocolate: Chocolate can be toxic for dogs, so make sure to also avoid it when making treats.
- Avoid spicy ingredients: Spicy ingredients can be bad for your dog’s stomach, so make sure to avoid this as well.
- Only choose healthy ingredients: Try to pick ingredients that are high in protein and low in fat. This will help also to keep your dog’s weight in check.
How Do I Store Home-Made Dog Treats?
Once you have made a batch of home-made dog treats. If you are like me, you have probably made around a few weeks supply! Please don’t overfeed your dog with treats just made, no matter how much you love them, and your dog loves the treats. Better to ration them and only use them for rewards and good behavior. Therefore, it is important to store them properly to keep them fresh. Some tips for storing home-made treats:
- Keep them in an airtight container: This will keep them from getting stale and will help preserve their freshness.
- Avoid humidity: Store the treats in a cool, dry place. Humidity can cause the treats to spoil faster, so keep them away from moisture.
- Refrigerate: If you want the treats to stay fresh for longer, you can store them in the refrigerator. Just make sure to store them in an airtight container.
- Freeze: If you want to keep the treats for even longer, you can store them in the freezer. Just make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap before freezing, and of course, make sure they thaw out fully again before feeding them to your dog.
See Also: My Fussy Dog Won’t Eat – What to Do?
And: Why Will My Dog Only Eat Cat Food?
Troubleshooting Home-Made Dog Treats
Making home-made dog treats for the first time can be tricky. It may take a bit of practice and perseverance before you become an expert. Some easy to remedy mistakes to look for and what you can do to have perfect treats next time:
- The treats are too dry: Try adding a bit more of the wet ingredients next time. This will help make the treats moister.
- The treats are too soft: Try adding a bit more of the dry ingredients. This will help make the treats firmer.
- The treats are too hard: Try baking them for less time. This will help make the treats softer.
- The treats are burnt: Try baking them at a lower temperature for a little longer. This will help ensure that the treats are cooked through without burning.
Conclusion
Making dog treats at home need not take up much of your time, and can be a fun and rewarding experience. It can also save you a great deal of money on buying treats at the store. You will strengthen the bond between you and your dog while you create delicious and nutritious treats for them to enjoy.
Once you are in the habit of making treats, you can experiment with different recipes and flavors until you have perfected the favourite treat for your dog. Your dog will love your delicious home-made treats, and love you even more.
