Homemade Dog Treats Recipe
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Homemade Dog Treats are so much easier to make than I would have ever thought a few years ago.
For a while now, whenever the notion strikes me, I like to bake a couple of batches of dog treats for our dogs as a special little goodie.
Let me just tell you, my dogs love these homemade dog treats so much more than any store-bought treat I’ve ever given them!
I’m very particular about what my pets eat, too. I only feed them the dog food that was recommended by our veterinarian and a few extra little things occasionally that he told me was okay to feed them.
So, when I found a recipe from Cesar Milan, even though I trusted him as a great resource, I still checked the ingredients against those that I’d been told by my veterinarian were safe for my dogs before I made it.
I modified the recipe for simplicity of ingredients as well as for things that I knew I’d have on hand in my pantry and refrigerator.
Homemade Dog Treats How To
Four ingredients are all you need for these homemade dog treats.
Simple, right?
Oats, salt, beef bouillon or beef broth, and an egg. If you use salted beef broth, then you could cut the ingredients list even more and remove the additional salt.
And the instructions for making them are just as easy, making these dog treats simple enough to make on a regular basis or for giving to friends over the holidays for their pets or for celebrating.
You can use whatever cookie or biscuit cutter you have to make these, but I loved using a bone shaped cutter. The mini cutter yields about 30 dog treats and the large yields about 8. It’s great to make a variety of sizes and shapes.
Here’s the recipe for my homemade dog treats. Be sure to let me know how your pooch loves them!
Homemade Dog Treats Recipe
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups rolled oats divided
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup beef broth unsalted, low-fat or unsalted, low-fat chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Add 2 cups oats, salt, beef broth, and egg to a large mixing bowl. Combine well. Add remaining 1/2 cup of rolled oat and combine.
- Pour onto wax paper and knead dough for about 3 minutes. Let stand for about 3 minutes to begin to become firmer. Press to 1/2-inch thickness.
- Cut with cutter and place onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for use or store in a ziptop bag in the freezer for later thawing and use.
My Lil guy is … not picky but… snobby about the things he eats, but I can already tell these will be his favorite treats from now on! They are still baking but he keeps circling the oven sniffing in the air. I did change a few things thought, like I used pork broth then added peas and yams to the mix! Then I used a bunny cutter to shape them (Topher likes to sit and trimble at the window while watching the bunnies that often come into our yard, so I thought the bunny shape was fitting) I wish I could post a picture of how they turn ou!
This looks like a great recipe for dog treats! I haven’t made them yet but I will tomorrow. I’m sure my dogs will love them!
I have been making my own dog treats for about a month now. I have made peanut butter, pumkin and peanut butter/banana. All have been a hit with my dog as well as some pickier canine’s I know! So much better than store bought which are expensive and not as healthy. My dog knows now when I am making them and stands by the kitchen waiting for them to be done. I can’t wait to give these beef flavored ones a try!!
I love making my furry demon child homemade dog biscuits, and with all of her food allergies, it’s the only way. The only things I would recommend is omitting the salt and using low-sodium broths. Salt is poisonous to our furry children. “Eating too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination and lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, and seizures. It may even cause death” (Scott, 2011). Plus, dogs can’t actually taste the difference. So while salt enhances foods for us, it does nothing, taste wise, for dogs.
Also, for anyone else whose dog is allergic to eggs like mine, you can replace it with 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (it’s important that it’s unsweetened because sugar isn’t healthy for dogs), or 1/2 mashed banana.
Here’s the reference:
Scott, K. (2011, September 14). Foods your dog should never eat. pets.webmd.com. Retrieved from website: http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat
Just made these for my rescued Pug (from PugPartners, NE) and of course he loves them!!! I make his food also so I can’t see buying any “bad” food!
Thank you.
I made these today for my dogs since we were out of store-bought treats.
They’re still in the oven, so I can’t say how they’ll turn out … But my dogs did love a few little bits of uncooked dough that fell while I was cutting up the treats! Cross our fingers these are a hit so I can quit buying expensive ones at the store!
Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
I made these yesterday and they were a huge hit! The only question I have is whether they are supposed to be chewy or crunchy? Mine may have been too thick because they never got crisp.
If you would like to achieve crunchier treats, dehydrate the biscuits when they are done baking. I simply lower the temperature of my oven to 250*F, crack the oven door open to allow air to ventilate through, and leave them in the oven for about 8 hours. This removes the majority of the moisture in the biscuits, which allows for a crunchy treat. It also will lengthen the shelf life of the treats. So far, I have been able to keep treats in an air tight container up to a month after dehydrating them. Other wise, they are best kept in an air tight container in the fridge for about a week or two.
oh how fun…and I have a TON of rolled oats so perfect to share with our doggy!!!!
I bought steel cut oats and can’t bear to eat them besides I’m too impatient, probably, to cook them properly. How do you feel about using them in dog treats? Thanks
Hi, How long do the dog treats keep safely in an airtight container (not frozen)? Thanks.
-Judy
Hi Judy, I’ve had them in an airtight container on my countertop for about a week before they are all gone. They just don’t last any longer than that around here. I have frozen them and then later thawed them, too.
We’re getting a dog around Christmas– book marking this recipe!
Please consider a rescue…Our fur baby Charlie is a full pug from our local pug rescue. He’s a great dog and there are many wonderful pets in rescues and shelters waiting for a loving forever home.