Dogs are delighted when you prepare something just for them. Since a dog’s digestive system is different from a human being’s it’s not always good to feed them the same type of goodies people enjoy. Making treats at home offers you the confidence of knowing exactly what ingredients your dog is eating. Having some homemade treats on hand for rewards or special occasions lets you dog feel appreciated as well as satisfied. A number of great snacks and delicious wholesome treats are easy to prepare, and will keep your dog healthy and happy.
Recipe #1: 15-Minute Recipe for Peanut Butter Balls
Making Peanut Butters is simple, and with this recipe there’s no need to use the oven. This recipe combines the love pups have with peanut butter with the appeal of dried apricots and the crunchiness of granola.
Peanut Butter Balls Ingredients:
60 grams of Unsalted Butter
¼ Cup Honey
1 Cup Desiccated Coconut
1 Cup Dried Apricots
2 Cups of Plain Granola (Only plain with no additions of raisins or grapes)
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
It’s important when getting the ingredients together that the granola used has no additives containing grapes or raisins as this fruit isn’t good for dogs even in small amounts. To make this treat melt the butter on low heat then pour the butter together with the granola, apricots, and honey into a food processor or blender. Blend for at least three minutes. The mixture is ready when it has a consistent texture. Next, fill a shallow dish or pan with the coconut. Scoop out a spoon sized portion of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Coat the ball with the coconut, and then repeat this process with the entire mixture. This recipe makes about 25 dog treats depending on how large you make each piece.
Recipe #2: Sweet and Savory Dog Biscuits
Like human beings, dogs love the taste of sweet things combine with a few savory flavors. The taste of sausage and potatoes is a great combination, and blends well with pumpkin. This recipe combines pumpkin, sausage and potato for a dog treat that will fill a canine up quickly. These treats do take time for preparation, but the effort is worth it in seeing how happy they make your pet.
Ingredients for Sweet and Savory Dog Biscuits
2/3 Cup of Pumpkin puree—not pumpkin pie filling
1 cup of grated raw potato
1 cup of sausage
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 tbsp cooking oil
1 Egg
Shelled, Unsalted Pumpkin Seeds
How to Make Sweet and Savory Dog Biscuits
Preheat the oven to a moderate 180 degrees Celsius or 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You will need to beat the egg first. Clean and grate the potatoes using a fine grate. The potatoes do not need to be skinned. Place the potato, pumpkin, and sausage in a medium bowl and stir carefully to avoid clumping. When the mixture is free of clumps, add the flour and egg. Once all ingredients are combined completely add the oil and stir once more until the mixture is the right to knead it. Remove the dough mix from the bowl and knead it until it is the right consistency for baking. Scoop an inch of the dough out at a time and roll each piece into a cookie shape. Place these pieces on a non-stick pan, or spray a pan with non-stick spray. Place a few pumpkin seeds on top of each one for a little crunchiness with each cookie. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool for 2 hours before serving to your pet.
Recipe #3: Cheese Burgers
This is a treat to have when your dog is envying your meal. This recipe excludes those items in many human dishes such as onions, which are dangerous for a dog. This is a satisfying treat your treat will enjoy while remaining healthy. It does call for ground meat, but in a smaller amount than you might think is necessary.
Ingredients for Cheese Burgers
1 cup of lean ground beef
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1 egg
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tbsp dried parsley
3/4 cup of water
1 6 oz can tomato paste
2 tbsp sesame seeds
How to Make Cheese Burgers
Grill and drain the beef, then set it aside. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius or 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the flour and dried parsley together with a wire whisk. Mix in the cheddar and beef. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and then mix it with the water and tomato paste. Place this second mixture with the first and combine until it reaches a dough-like consistency. Scoop out the number of patties you want and place on a baking pan. Coat one side of each piece with the sesame seeds. Heat for 25 minutes, and let cool for an hour before serving to your pet. These will keep fresh for days in the refrigerator.
Recipe #4 Fast and Easy Banana Treat
All you need for this dog treat is a large banana, peanut butter, and toasted pumpkin seeds. Even youngsters in the family can make this treat for their canine friends easily. Cut the banana into round slices, then coat one side of each piece with peanut butter. Place a few the seeds on the peanut butter side and this treat is ready to serve to a happy canine immediately.
Recipe #5 Frozen Fruit Yogurt
Dogs might not be interested in ordinary yogurt, but almost all pups will wolf down this frozen treat on a hot day.
Ingredients for Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats
4 cups of plain yogurt
2 tbsp of honey
1 piece of fruit such as a ripe banana, orange, a slice of watermelon, or 2 strawberries—do not use grapes or raisins.
Making a Frozen Treat
Place all the ingredients together in a blender and mix until smooth. Pour the mixture into the individual slots on a regular ice cube tray. Let the mixture freeze completely Remove one treat at a time for your dog and let the rest remain in the freezer. It might be necessary to go around the edges of the individual slots with a butter knife in order to remove the frozen yogurt from the tray, but your dog will appreciate this icy treat immensely.