Do you want to make your dog fresh homemade dog treats but don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place! This article explores what to consider when picking ingredients and offers one of our favorite simple no-bake dog treat recipes!
Benefits of Homemade Dog Treats
While making your own dog treats may seem daunting at first, it is not difficult at all. As a matter of fact, it can be both rewarding and offer a lot of valuable health benefits to your dog!
One of the biggest, if not THE biggest benefit of making your own dog treats is knowing exactly what your dog is consuming. Dogs, like humans, can have very selective diets or very specific allergies. Making your own treats is a great way to keep your dog safe while spicing up their pallet.
Making your own dog treats can also be significantly more cost-effective than using store-bought treats. When incorporated into a healthy diet, treats can begin to get quite expensive.
Yes, there is the convenience factor in buying treats; however, making your own is just as quick as going to the store and buying them.
Homemade treats, especially our favorite recipe, are made using everyday items that are usually already found in a household pantry.
What to Consider When Picking Ingredients
By choosing what ingredients you use, you can also ensure that your dog gets all the nutrients they need for a well-balanced diet. The science behind dog food has come a long way over the years; however, sometimes, our furry loved ones still need a slight supplement boost.
Adding various fruits and vegetables into a homemade dog treat is a quick, easy way to ensure our dogs are healthy and feel loved.
We have found that if you answer all these questions when selecting the ingredients to use in your dog treats, you cannot go wrong. You may laugh and think some of these are obvious, but you always want to ensure you answer them just in case! Consider:
- Is a certain ingredient safe to give to a dog?
- Is your dog allergic to anything?
- Does your dog need fat in their diet?
- Have you consulted my vet before changing my dog’s diet?
Ingredients to Avoid in Homemade Dog Treats
Knowing what ingredients to avoid is the most critical step in your DIY doggy project. You can have the best intentions in the world and still give your dog something that upsets their stomach.
While many options have substantial health benefits for your dog, some ingredients may potentially be toxic. Please research to ensure you know exactly what you are giving your dog, and consult your vet before altering their diet.
Avoid giving your dog anything containing:
- Artificial colors
- Excessive salt (which is present in some deli meats, including bacon)
- Corn syrup
- Vegetable oil
Garlic and onions are also extremely toxic to dogs. So, if you’re making any treats with chicken or beef broth, check the ingredients before adding.
Our Easy No-Bake Dog Treat Recipe
Now that you’ve read all the great reasons to start making your own dog treats, we’ve got an easy no-bake dog treat recipe for you! This recipe is quick and packs a lot of nutritional value for your dog.
This is a great recipe to try your first-time making treats; all you need is four ingredients and a freezer. No molds are required, but if you feel creative, feel free to use any fun molds you may have.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flavorless yogurt (no sweetness or artificial flavoring)
- 6-8 baby carrots
- ½ cup dog-safe peanut butter
- 1 mashed banana
Directions:
- Mash the banana in a small bowl and set it aside.
- Dice the baby carrots into small pieces. If you have a food processor, this makes this step much faster but is not required! Stir the carrots into the mashed banana. Add the peanut butter and yogurt into the banana and carrot mix and stir until you have a smooth consistency. Take note, some dogs may have trouble digesting lactose after puppyhood. If this is the case, substitute the yogurt for water, and your dog will still love it.
- If you have a mold, spoon the mixture into your mold. If you do not have a mold, shape the mixture into little balls. We recommend sizing your shapes based on the size of your dog.
- Put your shaped treats into the freezer for at least five hours or let them freeze overnight.
- Enjoy!
We all love our pets and want to give them the treats they deserve! Now go out there and start having some fun.
