Dog owners love spoiling their pets, including giving them yummy treats. However, many mass-produced treats on the market aren’t all that great for your dog. If you feed your dog high-quality pet food or raw food, you may be sabotaging your pup’s healthy diet if you’re giving him Milk Bones or other high-calorie, low nutrient dog biscuits. The solution is DIY dog treats!

Don’t be intimidated – we’ve rounded up some recipes that are easy to follow and chock-full of tasty, healthy ingredients. So, when you’re ready to give your dog a training treat or just a little something extra for being the bestest boy, try out a few of these treats. We’ve chosen these five recipes because they’re simple to make and use common ingredients. Happy baking!

Bacon and Peanut Butter DIY Dog Treats

Dogs love bacon. Dogs love peanut butter. (Smart dogs!) What could be better than combining the two in a crunchy treat that’s high in protein and healthy oils?

Combine the following ingredients in a mixing bowl:

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that’s toxic for dogs) 
• ¾ cup skim milk
• 1/3 cups raw oats
• 2 strips chopped, cooked bacon
• ¼ cup applesauce (unsweetened)
• 2 cups flour (whole wheat is best)
• 1 T baking powder

After mixing, turn out the dough on a floured surface and roll to about ¼”, then use a cookie cutter to cut out the cookies, placing them on a baking sheet. Bake for about 18 minutes in a 350-degree oven for 12-15 minutes, then turn over and bake 8 minutes more. Let cool before serving. 

Sweet Potato Homemade Dog Treats

If you’re baking a few sweet potatoes for the family, set one aside after baking so you can make these simple, yummy treats. The sweet potato is healthy and low-calorie. This recipe is a snap to whip up with ingredients you probably already have.

Mash the cooked sweet potato up after peeling, add two eggs, ¼ cup of applesauce (unsweetened), and 2-1/2 cups of whole wheat flour. When thoroughly blended, roll out on a flour-dusted surface and cut into shapes. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. They should be dry and crispy when done. Cool completely.

Honey Pumpkin DIY Dog Treats

These tasty little cookies have a few more ingredients, but every single item is healthy for your dog in some way. The eggs provide protein, the oils are excellent for healthy skin and coat, and the pumpkin is full of vitamins. Pumpkin is also easy on sensitive stomachs.

Ingredients are:

1 cup wheat germ

2-1/2 cups flour (whole wheat is best)

2-3 eggs, depending on size

½ cup olive oil

½ cup packed pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)

½ cup applesauce, unsweetened

1 T honey

½ cup almond meal

Combine the dry ingredients first, then mix the wet ingredients separately. Add the wet mixture to the dry and blend thoroughly. Roll out the dough, cut into shapes, and bake in a 350-degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until lightly browned and crunchy. Cool before serving to your bestie.

Homemade Banana Dog Treats

Your dog will love the slightly sweet taste of these treats. Bananas are a great source of potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C, all crucial to your dog’s health. They’re also made with oats, which are a good choice for homemade dog treats if your dog is gluten sensitive (yep, some dogs are!).

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas (verging on overripe)

1 T brown sugar

1 egg

2 cups rolled oats

2 cups oat flour

1 T coconut oil

Thoroughly mash the bananas, then mix in the egg and melted coconut oil. Blend in the other ingredients and mix. You may have to use your hands to blend, as the dough will be stiff. After rolling out and cutting into shapes, place on a greased cookie sheet (or use parchment paper) and back at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool before serving.

Cheesy DIY Dog Biscuits

Dogs love cheese (don’t we all?), and these simple dog biscuits are packed with it. These are a slightly chewy drop biscuit rather than a shaped, crunchy treat. The ingredients are simple, but you’ll have to chill the dough before baking, so give yourself some extra time.

Mix together ½ cup grated cheese (use a hard cheese like cheddar for the best results), 3 T applesauce, 3T olive oil, and one cup of flour. Slowly add milk, a teaspoon at a time, until it forms into a sticky ball. Chill in the fridge for an hour, then dust your hands with flour and roll the dough into bite-sized balls. Place on a baking sheet and cook for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Do you have a favorite recipe for homemade dog treats you’d like to share? We’d love to find some more easy ways to make yummy dog treats for our babies!

Not a Great Chef? Try These Treats From Small Businesses!

https://www.littlebigdogtreats.com– This sweet little company was created to give a young adult with Down syndrome a wonderful career doing what she loves…helping dogs! Their treats are all natural and made with non-GMO ingredients. Check them out!

www.anniespoochpops.com– With 20 years experience this homegrown company has treats that will make your pup’s tail wag! Made with the finest ingredients, and a whole lot of love. They work with many community shelters and are always giving back to their community! They have some of the cutest products from “Doggie Fries” to Peanut Butter Cannoli’s to Pup Picnic baskets, seriously they are baking up cuteness!