Who doesn’t love treats? Well, your dog loves them and might try to sneak in to have yours if they have just some dog food. You might also be aware that it is not suitable for their health to eat human snacks and treats that you savor. There are chances of health complications as they are allergic to it. So why not try your hand at personalizing their treats? Follow these few tips and recipes for homemade dog treats to get started.
How to Make Homemade Dog Treats?
Cooking is a survival skill that many might not have honed. Your human friends and family might run away at the sight of your cooking, but your dog won’t. Dog treats are easier for those with zero or no baked dog treats and cooking skills. Just follow the instructions to bake some goodness for your pet. If you are new to cooking and don’t know how to make homemade dog treats, you can start with a few easy dog treat recipes.
#1 Peanut Butter Banana Cookie
Preparation Time:20 minutes
Ingredients
- Super ripe banana- 1
- Peanut Butter with no oil and added sugar -1 to 2 tbsp.
- Gluten-free Oats- 1 ½ cups
How to Prepare Peanut Butter Banana Cookie?
- Mash the ripe banana using a fork or masher until it forms a smooth paste
- Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter according to the moisture content needed in the dough. You can add a little water for a smooth dough, but extra peanut butter might make your furry friend happier.
- Add in the oats according to the size of the banana. Add until it forms a soft-to-touch consistency dough.
- Roll out the dough on parchment paper or sprinkle some flour on the surface. Cut out different-sized cookies from them. You can use your hands to shape or a cookie cutter for a better presentation. Your dog might not care either way.
- Line the tray with parchment paper and place the freshly shaped cookies on them. Bake for around 10 to 15 minutes until the crust looks golden brown.
- Take the peanut butter dog treat recipe out and serve them after they are completely cool.
#2 Meat Love
Preparation Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- Cooked Rice- ½ cup
- Rice Flour- 3 tbsp.
- Any favorite meat of your dog’s choice-diced
- Parsley- 1 tbsp.
- Egg-1
How to Prepare Meat Love for Pets?
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. It is preferred to have meat that is diced into small cubes.
- Spread out the mixture on a surface and shape them according to your desire
- Place shaped cookies on a lined or greased tray.
- Bake them for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the golden color is achieved
- Cool them for half an hour before serving them to your dog.
#3 Puree Delight
Preparation Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- Baby Food- 2 jars
- Organic Whole Wheat Flour- 2 cups
How to Prepare Puree Delight?
- This recipe is easy and handy if you already have baby food at home. You can substitute baby food with any pureed vegetable, like pumpkin.
- Mix the puree and wheat flour. Add the wheat flour until playdough consistency is achieved.
- Roll them out on a surface and cut them into the desired shape. You can use your hands if a cookie cutter is not available.
- Place them on a lined tray and bake them for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Cool them before serving.
#4 Icy Treats
Preparation time-4 hours
Ingredients:
- Fresh-cut fruits like raspberry, blueberry, mango, banana, or any seasonal dog-friendly fruits
- Plain yogurt
How to Prepare Icy Treat?
- Any dog-friendly fruit in season or simply your dog’s favorite can be used as icy treats for dogs. However, not more than two fruits are advised.
- Take an ice tray and place the diced fresh fruits in it. Make sure to dice the fruits to the size your dog can eat safely.
- Pour plain yogurt into the tray after placing the fruits. Give the tray a gentle tap to release any air bubbles in the mixture.
- Freeze them for about 4 to 5 hours until they are firm.
- Serve these best dog treats during summer.
Tips For Successful Dog Treats
Every dog has a different personality and preference as we do. Serving them according to their preferences and keeping their health in mind is quite important. While showering them treats either for their excellent behavior or breaking monotony is fine. But remember, calming treats for dogs never replace their Food. It can always be served, as the name suggests, as a treat, not too often, and you might welcome health conditions that might arise if they had human Food. Anything more than the need can always become toxic. So keep these pointers in mind the next time you serve them with a treat.
#1 Knowing their Likes
Every dog has its own free will. Some might accept the offer you are putting forth. Some might look away from that appetizing treat. Knowing your dog is important, as are their likes and dislikes, what keeps them going, and what they value most. Select treats according to their demeanor and preferences. Always double-check the labels of any off-the-shelf treats, as they might contain anything your dog is specifically allergic to. When it comes to homemade treats, ensure that they do not contain anything toxic to them like sugar, chocolate, xylitol, etc.
#2 Treat Size
Dogs are prone to choking because of gobbling their Food. To avoid such circumstances, it is always better to break down their Food into easy to eat dog food, bite-sized Food. The ideal bite size should be the size of an eraser.
#3 Portion
The size and quantity or portion you are serving them at a time are important. Most homemade treats are pre-cooked, aid in digestion, and are easily absorbed by their bodies. But anything in more quantity can upset their stomach.
#4 Healthy Treats
Ensuring you cut off toxic foods from their diet and sight is one of many steps. Take a step forward to enrich their diets with healthy dog treat recipes. Provide them with Food and treats rich in antioxidants and essential vitamins. Not just sugar and other known harmful foods and substances should be removed, but also never give them treats or Food with additives like color, sugar, preservatives, and other similar chemicals.
#5 Variety
Feeding the same treat repeatedly might seem like something other than rewarding for your pet. Make sure to master a few more recipes and use them rotationally. Use a different snack every time to keep them interested in training.
How To Store Dog Treats?
Assuming you have already made your homemade dog treats, the next thing you need to do is store them properly. Here are a few tips on how to store dog treats? Treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. You can also store them in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. If you want to keep your treats fresh for even longer, you can store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Just make sure to thaw them before giving healthy frozen treats for dogs. When storing treats in the fridge or freezer, be sure to put them in a container that’s labeled with the date so you know when they were made.
Frozen Treats for Dogs
Yes, dog treats can be frozen! In fact, freezing is a great way to extend the shelf life of your homemade dog treats. Just be sure to wrap them tightly in freezer-safe packaging to prevent freezer burn. When it comes to thawing frozen treats for dogs, you have a few options. You can let them thaw naturally at room temperature, or you can place them in the refrigerator overnight. If you’re in a hurry, you can also microwave frozen dog treats for a quick thaw.
Conclusion
Surely every dog goes gaga over some little snacks and treats. Although one might be too tempted to give in some human snacks from time to time, it is not advised. Food meant for humans contains many additives and sweeteners that are lethal to your dog’s health. Before making any of the treats, consult your doctor about their diet and potential health hazards with any particular ingredients. Always remember that treats should not replace their dog food and should only make up 10 percent or below of their diet.