Dog treats are a great way for you and your pooch to bond. Unfortunately, a lot of cheaper dog treats you buy at the local grocery store contain a wide array of artificial ingredients and the best dog treats can be relatively expensive. Plus, there is just something so beneficial when you choose to make something in the comfort of your own home. At-home dog treats aren’t just easy to make, they’re lots of fun and can wind up saving you tons of money. Plus, your pup will absolutely love the delicious flavor combinations you can create.
Why Make Treats for Pup at Home
For one, making your dog his own treats at home is easy, quick and fun. It’s even better when you get the kids involved, as they will enjoy creating delicious treats for the pup as a family project. What’s more, a lot of people are finding that it saves them quite a bit of money when they begin to create these treats at home. You get larger batches of dog-delicious treats without having to fork over lots of cash. Most of the ingredients needed you may even have in your pantry right now, making it even more cost-effective and efficient.
Different Ways to Make Delicious At-Home Dog Treats
One of the most popular recipes available for at-home dog treats involve pumpkin and peanut butter, both of which are safe for your dog. For this recipe, you will need wheat flour, canned pumpkin, eggs, peanut butter, cinnamon and salt. Combine all ingredients and roll out into a small roll. Cut the roll into tiny discs and bake for roughly an hour. The dog biscuits come out crisp, delicious and will be a wonderful addition to the dog pantry.
Other ingredients that are most popular in dog treats include oats, cornmeal and all-purpose flours. Steer clear of anything containing chocolate and avoid any peanut butter containing xylitol, which is harmful to pets if consumed. For an added bonus, use cookie cutters in the shape of bones and other dog-related items so that you have something totally different from what you could buy at the store. The longer you bake the cookies in the oven, the harder and crisper they will become. The hardness of the cookie is dependent on what your dog prefers, so try several options and see what they will like the best.
What to Know
Because dogs can safely consume most foods without adverse effects, it is fun to mix and match different cookies for fun and inventive new ideas. However, dogs cannot properly digest chocolate and the xylitol found in many sugar-free products can be harmful to them as well (1). For this reason, it is always a good idea to be aware of the safety of the ingredients before you simply make the decision to create a new dog treat. By making sure that the treat is fully safe for them to consume, you’ll have fun each week coming up with different recipes for them to try.
There is absolutely no reason for you to spend a small fortune on dog cookies and treats out in the supermarket when it is just as easy to make them at home. Plus, a lot of the ingredients found in these homemade recipes are items you probably already have, so it makes it even easier for you to get started right away. You’ll be saving tons of money in the process and your dog is going to love the new flavors and recipes that are being made for them. They might even want to steal a lick before the treats are fully made and baked in the oven. Be sure to get the kids and whole family involved so that everyone can have lots of fun doing the recipes and making delicious at-home dog treats that will become an absolute favorite among your beloved canine family.
