How to Make Dog Treats: The Basics

Many dog owners are turning to homemade dog treats to suit the needs of their picky dog. If your dog doesn't like the treat you have purchased at the store, he will leave it on the floor and never touch it. You obviously will be wasting money at the store going back and forth buying more dog treats for him to try. Instead of wasting money on dog treats at the store, you should try homemade dog treats. Select one basic recipe and find out what your dog craves. You can try several things like peanut butter, chicken, or beef flavors until you find out what your dog likes.

In order to make dog treats, you need to have the essentials ready. You will need to get a rolling pin, cookie cutters, a baking sheet, parchment paper, a wire rack (for cooling), and a sealed container to store the treats in. It is fun to use cookie cutters that are themed for your dog instead of for you. Search for cookie cutters in the same of bones. You can find cookie cutters for dogs online too.

Now you need to select a basic recipe and experiment. Here is the recipe for a basic dog treat:

1 Egg
½ C. Margarine
¾ C. Cornmeal
1 tsp. Garlic powder
1 tsp. Chicken flavor
3 C. Whole wheat flour
½ C Shredded Cheese
1 C. Oatmeal
¾ C. Milk

Combine all the wet ingredients in a large bowl. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and slowly pour them into the wet bowl. Once you have mixed all the ingredients together, place the dough on your counter and roll it out to be ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out the treats, or you can roll them into small balls and place them on the cookie sheet. Bake the treats in the oven for 30 minutes at 375 degrees. Allow the treats to cool and store them in an airtight container.

Making homemade dog treats is as simple as baking cookies. Use the basic recipe above to try different flavors to find which one your dog likes and which one he dislikes. Instead of using the chicken flavor, use beef, turkey, or even peanut butter. You can be pretty creative when you are making your dog treats, but avoid the following items as they are toxic to dogs:

· Raisins
· Grapes
· Walnuts
· Chocolate
· Onions
· Macadamia nuts
· Processed sugar
· Salt

For a complete listing of foods that cause allergens, contact the Animal Poison Control Hotline (ASPCA). If your dog is on a special diet, you need to check with vet about what foods they can and cannot eat. Your vet may veto homemade dog treats altogether. It is pretty simple to make homemade dog treats; here is another dog treat recipe to try:

Liver Drops

Ingredients:

1 C. flour
1 C. Cornmeal
½ C. wheat germ
1 tsp. Garlic powder
1 Pound raw liver (chicken or beef)

Liquefy the liver in the blender. Add all the dry ingredients to the mixture. Drop teaspoonful measurements of the mixture onto a greased cookie sheet. Flatten the treats with the bottom of a glass that is dipped in water and cornmeal. Bake the treats at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Allow the treats to cool and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

You can get creative with your dog treats, make frosting with yogurt. Use food coloring to add special effects to the dog treats. It is even fun to make holiday dog treats to add a little more to your festivities.

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