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Archive of posts tagged homemade dog treats

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST DOG TREAT, Good vs. Bad Treats Examples


More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Here.
MORE HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES HERE

TIPS ON CHOOSING THE BEST NATURAL DOG TREATS

THE BEST DOG TREATS ARE ALWAYS HOMEMADE. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE WHAT YOUR DOG IS INGESTING. If cooking for your dog is not something that sounds appealing, then there are definitely other choices.

Look for natural or organic dog treats.

These are the best treats of all the commercially made dog treats to buy, and are actually healthy for your pet.

Make sure there are absolutely no additives, chemicals, or artificial preservatives and colouring, as these are extremely unhealthy and unecessary.

Also treats which contain massive amounts of sugar are not good for your dog as this can cause obesity or diabetes.

A treat should have high concentrations of fiber and protein. The best natural dog treats available commercially have human grade ingredients, and reputable companies who make these types of treats will definitely advertise this.

Look on the label and if it sounds as though all the ingredients are something you would eat, then it is a good bet that it is healthy and appropriate for your dog.

BELOW IS A SIMPLE COMPARISON OF A GOOD COMMERCIAL DOG TREAT AND A BAD COMMERCIAL DOG TREAT. Use this to guide you when choosing store bought treats.

Which one of these do you think is edible by both humans and dogs? Which one would you think should be thrown in the garbage?

GOOD DOG TREAT

MA SNAX ORGANIC CRANBERRY APPLESAUCE BISCUITS

INGREDIENTS:

  • unsweetened applesauce,
  • organic rolled oats,
  • unsulphered molasses,
  • flax seed,
  • cage-free eggs,
  • cinnamon,
  • nutmeg,
  • allspice
  • and vitamin E.

THAT’S ALL – Everything in this treat can be found in our own pantry.

Check out the free Dog Treat Recipe Book Available when you order Dog Food Secrets. It has healthy, delicious and nutritious recipes.

CLICK HERE FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO SAVE YOUR DOG'S LIFE

BAD DOG TREAT

PURINA T BONZ PORTERHOUSE FLAVOUR:

INGREDIENTS:

  • corn gluten meal,
  • water,
  • wheat flour,
  • ground yellow corn,
  • sugar
  • glycerin,
  • beef and chicken by-product meal
  • hydrogenated starch hydrolysate
  • corn starch-modified
  • liver,
  • soyben meal
  • salt
  • bacon fat preserved with BHA
  • natural and artificial flavors
  • added color (Red 40 and other colors)
  • gelatin
  • phosphoric acid
  • dried whey
  • sorbic acid (a preservative)
  • animal digest
  • natural poterhouse steak flavor
  • soy protein isolate
  • BHA (a preservative),
  • citric acid

*SEE HERE WHY HIGHLIGHTED INGREDIENTS ARE NOT GOOD FOR YOUR DOG.

Also check the calorie and fat content. They shouldn’t be extremely high.

Salt is necessary in small amounts in a dog’s daily diet, but should not be in their treats.

Use dog treats sparingly, as training props or occasionally just because your dog is so adorable you just can’t help it.

Do not use treats as a meal replacement, or give more than 10% of his daily diet in treats.

Use fresh veggies for treats, as this is the absolute best dog treat option. Use carrot sticks, or green beans (my dog’s fav!). I started with my labradors as puppies giving them carrots and they now get all wiggly and happy when this is offered to them. It is low calorie, low fat, high fibre, healthy and if you start when they are young they will love it.

Table scraps, cookies, ice cream and other “people food” should not be fed as dinner or treats to your dog.

Older dogs may not take to fresh veggies and refuse them altogether. This is okay as you can make your own homemade dog treats and control sugar, fat, etc., and give good healthy treats to your dog.

HERE IS A CHART FOR QUICK REFERENCE:

EXAMPLES OF HIGH CALORIE DOG TREATS WHY CORN AND WHEAT ARE HARMFUL
DANGEROUS DOG FOOD INGREDIENTS HEALTHY DOG FOOD INGREDIENTS


CLICK LOLA FOR MORE DANGEROUS FOODS TO AVOID

FOODS THAT ARE KNOWN TO BE TOXIC TO DOGS!

  • Onions and onion powder
  • Chocolate
  • Coffee and all coffee related products
  • Chocolate covered espresso beans ( extra toxic !! )
  • Tea
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Hops (used in home brewing beer)
  • Grapes and raisins ( including juices or anything with grapes or raisins as the base)
  • Tomato leaves and stems
  • Green part of potatoes (peelings, sprouts and foliage)
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Avocados
  • Pits and seeds from fruits (plum, apricot, peach apple and cherry)
  • Bitter almonds
  • Moldy or spoiled foods

FRESH BAKED CHEESY DOG TREATS – ALL NATURAL AND ORGANIC

BEST HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES! CLICK HERE

CLICK MY LADY GIRL FOR DOG TREAT RECIPES.

HOMEMADE CHEESY DOG TREATS
 

  • 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup margarine
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 cups wheat germ
  • pinch salt
  • 2 TBS milk
  1. cream cheese and margarine together using electric mixer.  Add egg.  Stir in flour, wheat germ, salt (if using) and milk.  Cover and chill for up to one hour.
  2. Roll dough out to approx. 1/4 ” thick and cut into desired shapes.
  3. Bake at 350 F for 15 – 18 minutes
  4. Cool and store in air tight container.

There are many nutritious, organic healthy TREATS also available that you can buy.

THESE ARE LADY AND LOLA’S TOP TEN FAVOURITE ORGANIC DOG TREATS.

HOMEMADE BACON FLAVOURED DOG TREATS


More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Here.
MORE HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES HERE

My old girl Lady loves these treats.  As with all treats these are given in moderation as they are not extremely healthy.  But just like us we adore our treats occasionally. This takes a few meals of bacon and tomatoe sandwiches for my husband and me, and saving the strained bacon grease in the fridge until I have enough.

BACON FLAVOURED DOG TREATS

  • 5 cups whole wheat flour
  • 10 TBS. bacon fat – melted
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cut water
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Mix well – drop from teaspoon onto ungreased non stick cookies sheet, and flatten with bottom of a glass. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

DON’T FEEL LIKE MIXING, COOLING, BAKING OR DON’T HAVE THE TIME?

Check out my top 10 healthy and delicious dog treats HERE.

ANOTHER HOMEMADE CRUNCHY BACON FLAVOURED DOG TREAT

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 3/4 cup cornmeal
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef broth (canned – no sodium)
  • 8 pieces of bacon cooked till crispy and crumbled – drain off extra grease.

Combine first 4 ingredients – mix well and add liquid broth

Add crumbled bacon bits.

Mix to make stiff dough (I use my food proccesor).

Roll out on a floured surface about 1/4 inch thick.

Cut into bite sized squares.

Bake in preheated 300 degree oven for 30 minutes.

*NOTE: you can use any flavour low sodium clear broth or soup as the liquid.

These turn out really crunchy and crispy and can be kept in a sealed container for a week or so.

Peanut Butter Dog Treats, Organic Dog Treat Recipes

BEST HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPE BOOK HERE CLICK HERE

To be used as occasional treats, not part of your dogs nutritional daily requirement.  This is just like us having a snack between meals.  Try not to overdo it!      

The following homemade peanut butter dog treat recipes are all natural healthy treats that are chemical and preservative free. I use all natural organic unsweetened peanut butter from the health food store, or Justins Organic Peanut Butter

FAVORITE PEANUT BUTTER DOG TREAT

JUSTINS NUT BUTTER - Made from the highest quality natural and organic ingredients, this might be the most delicious peanut butter you and your pup will ever taste!  No Salt, No Sugar, No Sweeteners, No Hydrogenated Oils,  -  ONLY ORGANIC INGREDIENTS - ORDER HERE

  • 1 1/2 cups of water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 Tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups flour
  • 3TBSP peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup cornmeal
  • 1/cup oatmeal

Whisk dry ingredients into wet , and form into ball of dough.  Roll out about 1/2 inch thick piece and cut into desired shapes with cookie cutter if you want. 

 I just cut into bitesize squares. 

Bake on ungreased, non stick baking sheet at 400 degress F., for about 20 minutes.  Shut oven off, leaving cookies in cooling oven until crispy. Store in airtight container.

DON’T FEEL LIKE MAKING YOUR OWN DOG FOOD – CLICK HERE FOR MY FAVOURITE TOP 10 ORGANIC DOG TREATS!

PEANUT BUTTER CRISPS:

 LOLA LOVES HOMEMADE DOG TREATS

I break these into small pieces and use them as training treats. I carry them my pocket and my girls always listen to me because they love the smell and taste of peanut butter.

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 TBSP peanut butter
  • 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Mix all 3 ingredients together until well blended and spread dough evenly on a cookie sheet. (I spray a scant amount of calorie free non stick spam or other brand on the cookie sheet first.)

Cut the dough into squares, triangles or whatever shape you prefer – making about 24 treats.

Bake for 30 minutes until crispy. Keep for a week or two in a tupperware container, if they last that long. When I use them as training treats I break them into smaller nibble size portions, after baking.

 

ORGANIC TREATS WITH MOLASSES

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes (until firm)

Molasses is a healthy sweetener that has a variety of trace minerals, including manganese, which is good for your dog. Don’t forget this not a meal or meal replacement, and should not be used to fill you pooch up with too many a day. Lady's smile gets a treat every time -  Silly girl, CLICK LADY FOR TREAT RECIPES

  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 4 TBSP. blackstrap molasses
  • 1 cup water
  • 6 TBSP vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour

Mix  the molasses, peanut butter, water and oil until blended.

Combine the oats and flour in a separate bowl, then slowly add to the wet ingredients. Mix thoroughly (I use my blender and pulse until it forms a ball around the side of the bowl.), but this can easily be done with a hand mixer, or even by hand.

Drop approximately 36 teaspoon sized portions onto a baking sheet. I flatten them with the bottom of a glass, and bake as stated above.

These are sturdy and will keep in an airtight container for about 2 weeks.