How to Make Your Own Dog Treats

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We all love to spoil our dogs, but buying them treats at the local pet store can get expensive. Why not save money and make your own? There are many recipes available, and you can customize the treats with various shapes, sizes and flavors. It is possible to select special recipes for dogs with allergies or low-calorie ones for those that are overweight. You can even make healthy organic treats.

Why make dog treats?

Making dog treats can be a fun hobby for children. Baking dog treats can be educational, as children learn about math and measurements. In addition, it gets them involved in caring for their dog. Let them help choose ingredients and cookie shapes.

Homemade dog treats can be a great gift idea for the dog lover in your life, whether it be a family member, friend, neighbor or veterinarian.

For those who love to bake, making dog treats can be a lucrative business, especially since there are more than 77 million registered dogs in the United States. Many dog owners will pay for someone to make unique treats based on their dogs’ dietary restrictions and food allergies. There are dog-friendly icings you can add to make the dog treats even more appealing. You can work out of your home or open a store where you can show off your delicious creations. There are many requirements for starting a business, so be sure to spend time researching what licenses and insurances are needed.

Ingredients to use

The sky is the limit when it comes to making your own dog treats. Although all-purpose white flour is the most common type of flour, you can useuse rice, wheat and barley flour. You can also use various types of meats, including chicken, turkey, beef, salmon, venison and liver. Fruits and vegetables such as berries, apples, pumpkin, green beans and carrots can be used. Peanut butter is a beloved food by many dogs, so be sure to make some treats that include this tasty snack.

Tips for successful dog treat creation

Make the treats in sizes that are suitable for your dog. For example, a Chihuahua will need smaller-sized treats than a Labrador retriever.
You can buy cookie cutters in various themes. However, if you wish to save money, you can use items around the home to cut the dough, such as a biscuit cutter, end of a glass or other round-shaped item.
Although you control how much of a certain ingredient to add, try to follow the same health rules you would set for yourself. This means avoid adding too much salt or sugar. Use organic and all-natural ingredients if possible. It is also important to watch out for foods that are poisonous to dogs, such as raisins, chocolate, garlic and onions.

Chicken jerky

Dog love jerky. If you have a food dehydrator, you can make some of these tasty snacks right in your own home. They are easy to make and require just a few ingredients.

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast strips, cut into ¼ to 1/8-inch thickness

Seasonings, such as sage, rosemary and parsley

Remove any excess fat from the chicken and coat the strips with the seasonings. Place them evenly on the food dehydrator tray, making sure the strips do not touch each other. Place the trays in the dehydrator at 140 degrees. Keep the strips in there until they are fully dry, which could take anywhere from several hours to 12 hours. Check the strips every hour by cutting one open and examining it for moisture. When the strips are fully dry, the chicken will be all one color. When the chicken strips are fully dry, remove and keep them sealed for freshness.

Peanut butter dog biscuits

Here is a recipe to make yummy dog biscuits at home:

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups water

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cups safflower oil

2 medium eggs

3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

1 1/4 cups unbleached white flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cups cornmeal

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all ingredients with a mixer. Place dough on a surface covered with flour. Roll it out and make shapes with cookie cutters. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes.