Steps for Making Dog Treats

Some dogs are pretty picky about their dog treats and absolutely refuse to eat some of those treats you purchased from the store. Making dog treats at home can save you a lot of time and money. With a basic dog treat recipe, you can easily narrow down which flavors your dog likes and which ones he hates. Here are some steps to help you make dog treats:

Step # 1 - Gather all the necessary supplies. Just like baking cookies, you will need a mixer and mixing bowls. You will need a rolling pin, cookie cutters, a baking sheet, parchment paper, a wire rack for cooling the treats, and an air tight container that can fit snugly into your fridge.

Step # 2 - You will want some new or old cookie cutters for the treats. The dough tends to be pretty hard so be sure to get cookie cutters that can get through it. You can find cookie cutters at the store or you can purchase specialized cookie cutters from the internet.

Step # 3 - Find a basic dog treat recipe to get started. You want to select a dog treat recipe that allows you to supplement flavors and ingredients so you can properly determine what flavors your dog likes.

Step # 4 - Avoid using any of the following ingredients:

· Turkey
· Pork
· Chocolate
· Onions
· Salt
· Soy
· Processed Sugar
· Spicy prepared foods

Step # 5 - Use the homemade dog treats within one week of creation. Some homemade dog treats can last longer and can actually be frozen. For the most part, many of the homemade dog treats are good for only a week or less. Always store the treats in an airtight container in the fridge.

Those are the necessary steps you need to follow when you are making dog treats. Here is a basic recipe you can follow:

2 C. Whole Wheat Flour
½ C. Cornmeal
2/3 C. Water
6 T. vegetable oil

This is the basic part of the treat, now you need to add the flavors. You can use bacon drippings, hamburger fat, or other fats instead of the vegetable oil. Substitute the water with whatever flavor your dog enjoys. Your dog may prefer chicken or beef bouillon, so mix a cube in with some water and supplement this in for the liquid. You can also use the broth from your cooked vegetable to make dog treats. Generally the broth will be good for 3 days if it is kept in the fridge. Most dogs love peanut butter. Dissolve ½ C. of peanut butter in warm broth to create a peanut butter flavored treat. Once you have the flavor, you can mix all the ingredients together. Roll the dough to be ¼ inch thick. Cut shapes in the dough with cookie cutters. Like the bakers sheet with parchment paper. Bake the treats at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Allow the treats to cool on a wire rack. Store the treats in the refrigerator in an air tight container.

Here is another simple recipe to try:

The Working Alpha's Doggie Biscuits

Ingredients:

¾ C. Wheat germ
¾ C. powdered milk
1 Egg
1 Jar baby food (beef, chicken, or turkey)

In a small mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients well. Spray the cookie sheet and place teaspoon portions of the mixture on the cookie sheet. Bake the biscuits at 250 degrees for 20 minutes. Allow them to cool, and store them in the fridge.

You can find several dog treat recipes online. There are even books on how to make dog treats that has several different recipes to try.

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