easy homemade dog treats for puppies
How to Make Homemade Dog Treats
When your dog is a picky eater or has a restrictive diet,it can be tough finding yummy treats that are inexpensive. Thankfully, almost anyone can make homemade dog treats from the comforts of their kitchens, including the popular pyramid dog treats that make lots of tiny treats in one batch.
Homemade dog treats have benefits beyond being budget-friendly. With DIY treats, you know exactly what foods your dog is eating. Along with being free from harmful ingredients, homemade dog snacks can make great training treats, especially when made in smaller sizes.But before whipping out your cookie sheet and mixer, be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure your dog has no allergies to any ingredients.
For owners interested in making homemade dog treats, weve put together some of our favorite baking accessories, tips, and must-try recipes.
Homemade Pyramid Dog Treats
Pyramid dog treats are homemade dog treats that are made with asilicone pyramid baking sheet. While these easy-to-clean silicone baking sheets werent originally made for dog treats, theyve become popular among dog lovers because they can make big batches of small treats appropriate for training sessions. The recipes for these kinds of treats usually call for tapioca flour, which helps the treats stay together without crumbling. Tapioca flour is an ingredient that agrees with most dogs.
When you flip over the baking sheet, you can fill it with a range of recipes that will easily pop out from the silicone sheet once youre finished. Some molds can make up to 500 treats in one batch! Along with the basic pyramid mold, there are also a lot of fun different shapes of silicone sheet molds to try. Here are some baking sheets to try out.
This simple, pyramid-shaped mat will make treats that pop out easily and clean up quickly.
If youre looking for something a little more traditional, these mini dog bones are perfect for DIY dog treats.
These paw molds are safe to use in the oven, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher. Plus, the silicone material means wet ingredients wont stick to the mold.
Want to have a lot of fun shapes and sizes? This pack comes with a range of molds, including hearts, bears, stars, and shells.
Key Ingredients for Homemade Dog Treats
Another great thing about making homemade dog treats is that you probably already have most of the key ingredients in your house. Many recipes require things such as oatmeal, eggs, flour, water, or broth. Add some flavor as well as vitamins, protein, and fiber with peanut butter (free of artificial sweeteners likexylitol), pureed pumpkin, apples, carrots, sweet potato, and cheese to create delicious cookies any dog would love.
Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Once you order a pan, try out some of these popular recipes. From bacon treats to peanut butter, here are some popular pyramid dog treat recipes for beginners to try.
Bacon Pyramid Pan Treats
Does your dog love bacon? Try this simple bacon dog treats recipe by Michelle Taylor. With just four ingredients, this is a great homemade treat for beginners, one that your dog is sure to love.
Ingredients:
- package of bacon
- 2 eggs
- 150 grams ofgluten-free flour
- Water (to thin)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Blend the bacon and eggs.
- Add flour. Stir in water if the batter needs to thin.
- Smooth the batter over the baking mat and bake for 8 minutes.
- Once cooled, cut the treats into bite-sized pieces or dump out.
Baked Chicken Treats
For an easy, no-fuss recipe, try these baked chicken homemade dog treats from Eileen Anderson. Once baked, you can refrigerate or freeze the treats.
Ingredients:
- 110-ounce can of chicken, including liquid
- 2 eggs
- 1 cuptapioca flour
- cup of white flour
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Blend chicken and eggs in a food processor.
- Pour the mixture into a bowl, and stir in flour and oil. This batter should be a little thicker than pancake batter but still pourable.
- Spread the batter onto the silicone mold on a cookie sheet, making sure its in the holes, and then scrape it off the dividers.
- Bake for 12 minutes.
- Once cooled, turn over the mold and dump the treats out.
- You can bag up the treats and refrigerate or freeze.
Peanut Butter Treats
Peanut butter is a favorite for many dogs, and a common, tasty ingredient in homemade dog treats. If your dog loves that nutty flavor, give these peanut butter treats from Eileen Anderson a try.
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- cup peanut butter powder
- cup white flour
- cup tapioca flour
- cup water
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Mix the ingredients until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into the pan.
- Bake for 12 minutes or until the treats are soft but still drawing away from the side of the pan.
- Once cooled, stretch the pan and dump the treats out.
Apple-Cheddar Dog Biscuits
To make something a little different and mix in some unique ingredients, take a look at this recipe for apple-cheddar dog biscuits from Martha Stewart.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups barley flour
- cup old-fashioned oatmeal
- cup shredded cheddar cheese
- cup grated Parmesan cheese
- cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients and about 3 tablespoons water to form a dough. Roll out mixture between two sheets of plastic wrap to -inch thick. Remove plastic wrap and cut out biscuits with a 3-inch bone-shaped cookie cutter. Re-roll scraps and continue cutting out biscuits.
- Space biscuits 1 inch apart on a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes until nicely browned and firm.
- Transfer biscuits to a wire rack. Turn off the oven and place biscuits on a wire rack in the oven overnight. Remove from oven and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Cheese and Sardine Pyramid Pan Dog Treats
These tasty dog treats by Michelle Taylor only have a handful of ingredients and are easy to make. Sardines are a great single-ingredient source of protein, and many dogs cant resist cheese. Its a win-win.
Ingredients:
1 can of sardines 2 eggs 150 grams of grated Parmesan cheese Handful of roasted vegetables 75 grams of tapioca flour (or plain flour) Water
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 320F.2. Blend all the ingredients in a blender to make a thick batter. Add water as needed to make thicker.3. Smooth the mixture over the baking mat and bake for about 15 minutes or until crispy.4. Once cooled, cut into small pieces.
Remember, you should always check with your vet before giving your dog anything other than dog food, commercial dog treats, and prescribed medication. Once youre in the clear, purchase a fun baking sheet, try a recipe, and rest easy knowing exactly what youre feeding your dog.
DIY Training Treats: 5 Easy Recipes to Make Homemade Dog Training Treats
Recipes Training & Behavior
DIY Training Treats: 5 Easy Recipes to Make Homemade Dog Training Treats
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make homemade dog training treats? Maybe you want to give them a healthier option, they have allergies to a common ingredient, or you just love to bake! No matter your reason, its easy to start making homemade dog training treat recipes whether you have baking experience or not.
To get you started and to help you learn how to make dog training treats, weve collected five simple, delicious, and nutritious recipes for homemade training treats for dogs. Keep reading to find recipes for crunchy, chewy, and soft homemade training treats, plus options for new puppies who are in the process of learning.
1. Super Easy 3-Ingredient Salmon Dog Training Treat Recipe
Prep Time | 5 minutes |
Bake Time | 30 minutes |
Yield | 100150 training treats |
These crunchy treats are easy to makefeaturing just three ingredientsand positively packed with healthy fats that dogs love both for the flavor and their health benefits! Created by Kiki Kane from Rover, this dog training treats recipe whips up in just a few minutes, and features canned salmon which is simultaneously convenient and rich in key nutrients like omega-3s which supports everything from skin and coat health to neurological healthwhich is of course key for training!
If youve been looking for healthy dog training treats recipes, this is the one for you. These homemade dog training treats are going to become a must-have item in your pantry.
Ingredients
- 15 oz canned salmon in water (Salmon should contain no added ingredients other than water)
- 2 cups oat flour*
- 2 eggs
*Note: If you dont have oat flour, you can make your own by putting rolled oats in the food processor and pulsing until well ground.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined into a smooth, thick paste that can be formed into balls. If the mixture is too dry, try adding a tablespoon of water at a time. If it is too wet, add a tablespoon of oat flour.
- Add the dough to a piping bag and pipe 1-inch rounds onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Bake treats for about 30 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through. Treats should be dry and crunchy and may require additional bake time depending on your climate and oven.
2. Banana Bread Soft Dog Treat Recipe
Prep Time | 15 minutes |
Bake Time | 35 minutes |
Yield | ~30 soft treats |
If youve ever had the urge to slip your dog a slice of banana bread, now you can! If your dog is missing teeth, is super small, or just gets a little nervous around crunchy foods (Chihuahua owners get it) you need to make homemade dog treats soft and easy to chew. Unfortunately, many soft dog treat recipes make messy treats that just fall apart and dont work at all for training. This recipe for homemade soft dog treats not only holds together well and wont get super crumbly, but is also still soft enough for dogs with no teeth.
Created by Proud Dog Mom, this recipe for homemade soft dog treats for training includes just six ingredients certain to make any dog go nuts for these banana bread bites.
Ingredients
- cup coconut flour
- 1 TBSP ground flaxseed
- cup pumpkin puree (If using canned, be sure it is 100% pumpkin with no added ingredients like sugar or spices.)
- 2 eggs
- 1 banana, mashed until almost liquid
- 1 TBSP coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Combine wet ingredients (pumpkin puree, eggs, banana, and coconut oil) in a large bowl and mix well. Add the dry ingredients (coconut flour and ground flaxseed) to the wet ingredients and stir well until you have a thick but runny batter.
- Pour the batter into a parchment paper-lined 913-inch baking dish in an even layer about -inch thick. Leave the mixture to sit undisturbed in the baking dish for about 15 minutes. The batter will thicken and set slightly.
- Using a sharp knife, score lines in the batter to create perforations to break apart the treats after baking.
- Transfer the treats to an oven and bake for 35 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool the entire baking dish on a wire rack for a few minutes before removing the sheet of treats to cool on its own.
- Once cooled to room temperature, break apart or cut up the treats for storage. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
3. Healthy Soft Dog Treats Recipe with Sweet Potato & Peanut Butter
Prep Time | 20 minutes |
Bake Time | 20 minutes |
Yield | 24 3-inch treats |
Mass-produced recipes for soft dog treats are full of questionable ingredients and preservatives that help them keep their chewy texture, but theyre not very good for dogs. When you make soft dog treats homemade, you get full control of your ingredients and can make sure all of them are safe for dogs.
A little larger than standard training treats, this is one of our favorite homemade dog treat recipes for medium and large dogs. Created by Deb of Hungry Dane Kitchen, this recipe isnt just healthyits delicious, too! Peanut butter dog training treats are always a hit, and these also include yummy sweet potato plus other wholesome ingredients. Lets get into how to make soft dog treats with just a few ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweet potato, cooked, skinned, and mashed
- cup quick oats (cannot substitute rolled or old-fashioned oats)
- cup peanut butter (All-natural peanut butter is best, but no matter what, be sure the peanut butter you use is free from xylitol.)
- 1 egg
- cup whole wheat flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Combine sweet potato, peanut butter, and egg in a large bowl. Mix until just combined.
- Add quick oats and whole wheat flour to the mixture and combine until the dough holds together.
- Dump dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to about -inch thick. Use a cookie cutter or shape of your choosing to make biscuits. The original recipe makes 3-inch treats.
- Place treats on a lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Flip the treats, then bake for another 10.
- Cool completely before serving, and store in the refrigerator for up to a week, or the freezer for up to a month.
4. Liver Training Treats for Dogs Recipe
Prep Time | 10 minutes |
Bake Time | 30 minutes |
Yield | A lot! |
If youre looking for a recipe for DIY dog training treats made from high-value ingredients your dog wont be able to resist, try this recipe for liver training treats from Paris Permenter from Dog Tipper.The strong smell and flavor of liver mean these treats are perfect for pups who ordinarily turn their noses up at snacks.
As youve been learning how to make training treats for dogs, youve probably noticed that the best recipes are made in large batches and can be whipped up in under an hour. This particular dog treats recipe can be dumped into a baking dish, then sliced into bite-sized pieces after baking so you dont have to do any shaping or forming.
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw beef or chicken liver, trimmed and rinsed
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 egg
- cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Add liver to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth with no visible chunks.
- Combine blended liver, whole wheat flour, egg, and water in a large mixing bowl. Mix well with a spatula until you have a uniform batter.
- Pour batter into a lightly greased (using vegetable or olive oil) baking sheet with a -inch lip and smooth with a spatula to create an even layer.
- Bake for 30 minutes, then turn off the oven.
- Remove treats from the oven and score them into bite-sized pieces, then return the treats to the oven (turned off) and allow them to sit with the door slightly cracked to dry out while the oven cools.
- Once the treats are at room temperature, break them apart into individual treats and store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
5. Peanut Butter Puppy Training Treats Recipe
Prep Time | 30 minutes |
Bake Time | 30 minutes |
Yield | ~100 training treats! |
When you bring home a new puppy some of the most essential items to have on hand are training treats! Your new canine best friend has a lot to learn, and training treats are a great way to motivate learning and help training stick as a positive reinforcement tool. You can also make homemade puppy treats for training, which means you have full control of what your pup is eating, and you can whip up a fresh batch whenever you run out.
This recipe for homemade puppy training treats was created by Kaitlin from The Woks of Lifeand includes simple, safe ingredients your puppy will love. Enough ramblinglets learn how to make puppy-training treats!
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 eggs
- cup pumpkin puree (If using canned, be sure it is 100% pumpkin with no added ingredients like sugar or spices.)
- 3 TBSP peanut butter (All-natural peanut butter is best, but no matter what, be sure the peanut butter you use is free from xylitol.)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium to high speed until ingredients are well combined and can be molded easily but not isnt too sticky. If the dough is too dry, add cold water 1 TBSP at a time. If the dough is too wet, do the same with flour.
- Dump the dough onto a clean, lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes until the dough is smooth.
- Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until the sheet is around -inch thick.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into squares about -inch in diameter and place the treats on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake treats for 2530 minutes, or until the treats are dry and crunchy. This may take slightly longer or shorter depending on the thickness of your dough.
- Cool treats completely and store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeksthough we doubt theyll last that long!