bedtime biscuits for humans

Charcoal Dog Treats

These homemade activated charcoal dog treats are made with brown rice flour, applesauce, and coconut oil. They are a tasty and healthy treat for your furry friend!

So if you are looking for a great recipe for charcoal dog treats, youve found it! Now you can make your own homemade dog biscuits with simple ingredients.

FYI This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Easy Charcoal Treats For Dogs Recipe

Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you think of charcoal? Grilling? Campfire? Dog treats probably arent what pops up in your mind. Well, now itll be something at the top of the list.

Not only are they a break from the ordinary for your furry best friend, but they are a great way to help them with bad breath and the natural flavors settle an upset stomach.

There are a lot of health benefits of them, too. They are a fantastic source of folic acid, crude fibre, and vitamin b.

The Best Things About These Charcoal Dog Treats

Not only will your furry friend gobble up homemade charcoal dog biscuits, but this easy recipe is a fantastic way to save money too! These natural dog treats cost less than store-bought and have dog-safe ingredients with no preservatives.

It doesnt take a lot of time to make these dental treats. Just a few minutes of prep time to get them in the oven.

These baked charcoal dog treats have a crunchy texture that is good for your dogs teeth. They are full of wholesome ingredients that will help your dog maintain a healthy weight too.

Oh, and these black treats would be great for Halloween! Make a batch so you can share some with 4 legged trick or treaters.

Benefits of Activated Charcoal for Dogs

Activated charcoal is known for its detoxification properties in humans, but it also has several benefits for dogs. Here are a few ways activated charcoal can benefit your furry friend:

• Its a natural blood cleanser.
• Remove toxins and impurities from your dogs body, making it beneficial for dogs with kidney or liver problems.
• Alleviate digestive issues such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
• Freshen your dogs breath and improve oral hygiene by preventing plaque buildup.

Recipe Ingredients

The entire list of ingredients, quantities of each, and the step-by-step directions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post including nutritional information. First, I want to share a bit more information about the ingredients I used in the best homemade dog treats youll ever make.

Heres a list of what you need for this charcoal dog biscuit recipe. If you want to make organic dog treats, make sure you use organic ingredients.

• Brown Rice Flour or Oat Flour The base for the baked treats.
• Activated Charcoal Powder The star of the treats.
• Fresh Curly Parsley A healthy herb that also freshens a dogs breath.
• Unsweetened Applesauce Adds moisture and a little sweetness.
• Egg Adds protein and is a binder to hold everything together.
• Coconut Milk A dairy free milk full of nutrients and adds moisture to the dough.
• Coconut Oil A healthy fat thats great for your dogs brain and skin

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

When you make this easy recipe for charcoal dog treats, here are a few notes to keep in mind:

Be sure to use curly parsley. Do not use Italian flat leaf parsley.

The kind of charcoal you use is important. Be sure to get food-grade activated charcoal powder. You can find it at health food stores, vitamin shops, or online. Its also available in capsule form but Ive found the loose powder to be easier to use for baking.

You can make your own brown rice flour or oat flour by placing uncooked brown rice or old-fashioned rolled oats in a blender and blending until it has the consistency of flour.

If you use any other type of flour, such as all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour, the end results may vary due to the difference in the flour. They will not be gluten-free if using flour made from wheat.

For some fun, top them with some peanut butter or add a bit of chicken fat to the treats for the health benefits.

Equipment Needed

You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make these charcoal treats for dogs. You can use any silicone mold of your choice, but cute ones shaped like dog bones give these treats a fun look.

• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Mixing Bowl
• Mixing Spoon
• Bone Shape Silicone Molds
• Cookie Sheet (helps stabilize the molds for easy transfer to and from the oven.

How to Make Charcoal Dog Treats

These are the recipe steps and photos of the process for making charcoal dog treats. I hope they help you make this healthy dog treats recipe!

You can scroll down to the bottom of this article for a printable recipe card.

1. Place the wet ingredients in a bowl.

1. Stir them until combined and smooth.

1. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture.

1. Stir until everything is mixed together.

1. Press the dough into the silicone molds.

1. Bake at 350F for 20 to 25 minutes.
2. Remove the treats from the molds and place them on a wire rack to cool.

For a little extra crunch, after you remove the treats from the molds, place them on a baking sheet. Bake them at 350F until they are your desired crunchiness.

If you want to make cutout treats, use to 1 cup more flour and one more tablespoon of charcoal powder. Roll dough out between parchment paper or on a lightly floured surface. Use a cookie cutter of your choice for cutting out the dough.

The number of dog treats this recipe makes depends on the size of your silicone mold cups.

Serving Size and Information

How many homemade dog treats should you give to your canine companion? That depends on what else they ate that day because you need to consider their entire calorie intake as a whole. Being mindful of a dogs food consumption is just as important as it is with a human family member.

It also depends on the size of your dog. Small dogs need fewer calories than larger dogs. Maintaining a dogs healthy weight is important, so keep that in mind when feeding your dog treats in addition to their regular food.

Dogs also shouldnt overeat too many carbs, including healthy homemade dog treats. For this reason, I suggest only giving your pup one treat per day. Or perhaps two on special days.

The best time to give a charcoal treat to a dog is a couple hours after a meal or before bedtime.

How to Store Homemade Charcoal Dog Treats

Place the cooled treats in an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator.

How long do homemade charcoal dog treats last?

These homemade charcoal dog treats will last up to 7 days when stored in the fridge in a sealed container.

For longer storage, place them in a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag and freeze them. They will last up to 4 months when frozen. You can also use a vacuum sealer if you have one.

Can humans eat these charcoal treats for dogs?

They sure can! Everything in these dog treats with activated charcoal is safe for human consumption. However, I doubt folks would like them.

More Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Want to make more tasty treats for your dog? Check these out:

Find lots of easy recipes for dog treats right here on Spoiled Hounds!

Charcoal Dog Treats

These tasty charcoal dog treats are a healthy snack for your furry friend.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes Cook Time 20 minutes minutes Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• cup Unsweetened Applesauce
• cup Coconut Milk
• 1 Egg
• 1 tablespoon Melted Coconut Oil
• 1 cups Brown Rice Flour or Oat Flour
• 2 tablespoons Activated Charcoal Powder
• cup Chopped Fresh Curly Parsley (do not use flat leaf parsley)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F.

• In a medium bowl, mix together the applesauce, coconut milk, egg, and coconut oil.

• Add flour, charcoal powder, and parsley. Stir to combine until a dough forms.

• Place the dough into a silicone tray with mold shapes of your choice.

• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

• Remove the treats from the mold and place them on a wire rack to cool.

• Store the treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes

If you want dough that you can roll out and cut, use to 1 cup more flour and one more tablespoon of charcoal powder.

Nutrition

Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 26mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 62IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Tips for a Dogs Bedtime Routine

Pooches everywhere have problems with anxiety - they are, after all, extremely in-tune with their emotions and very easily pick up on changes in their environment.

There are some scenarios when a dogs anxiety intensifies, however - and one of the most common triggers is bedtime. When a dog senses its time to sleep, they may get zoomies, become hard to control or behave in a somewhat agitated manner, leaving you wondering, Is this how it has to be every night?

Never fear - because no matter how bedtime-averse your pooch is, weve got some great techniques for improving their sleep routine, eventually easing your dog into bed every night without struggle or panic. Read on to learn some smart tips and tricks to settle a dog at night.

How to settle a dog at night

The moon is up, everyones wound down from a busy day, and its time for your pooch to hit their basket, den or wherever they tend to feel most rested. However, your dog has other ideas - and could be particularly excitable, jumpy or defiant.

There could be bigger problems at play, but its likely this bedtime issue can be remedied with a few simple changes. Consider the following bedtime techniques for dogs, and hopefully theyll be catching zeds more readily in no time:

Spend time with your dog before bedtime

Even humans sometimes feel cheated out of a good day when the bedtime hour comes round - What, already? - and it seems dogs can feel the exact same way.

To ensure your pooch feels rested and satisfied once its time to sleep, spend some quality time with them in the hours beforehand. This could be cuddling, playing with toys or just sitting with them for a nice head scratch. The mental stimulation should exert their energy just enough to have them all tuckered out for bed. Time spent together can also be a great option if your pooch suffers from separation anxiety at night, as theyll feel safe and secure in your close proximity.

Go for extra walkies before bed

Theres nothing like physical exertion to release those powerful sleeping endorphins, so try heading out for an extra walk with your dog in the evenings. Your pooch will likely love the outdoor time and the extra stimulation should wear them out within minutes of getting home, ready for a good nights sleep. A bonus point - it should tire you out, too!

Give your dog a calming treat

Some tasty dog calming treats could be the ticket if your pooch has a habit of getting angsty before bed. Treats to calm your dog generally contain naturally soothing ingredients, such as chamomile, hemp or valerian root - giving them a boost of relaxation that should lull them into sleep mode. Treats can come as supplements, calming dental sticks or dog bedtime biscuits, meaning there are plenty of ways to try and engage their appetite.

Provide them a secure, comfy place to sleep

A healthy sleep environment is key to a deep, restful sleep - and that applies to dogs just as much as humans. If your pooch doesnt have their own sleep spot, this is an essential - whether it be a comfy basket, blanket, dog house or cool, dark room they like to retreat to. It should be cool, dry and quiet in their sleep spot, with no chance of sudden interruptions or lights causing them to feel nervous.

Crate train your dog

Though its easier to crate train a puppy, you can still crate train a dog at any age to improve symptoms of anxiety and unease. Dogs are naturally drawn to being in a den-like environment, so a crate should instil in them a sense of safety and security. Get in touch with your vet or a behavioural expert about gradually introducing crate training into your poochs night-time routine, and as they begin to associate the crate with sleep, it could significantly improve your bedtimes.

If youre wondering how to calm a puppy down at night, they are more susceptible to crate-training, so this could work wonders for their night time over-excitement.

Use cuddly toys or comforters

Dogs are much like children when it comes to feeling safe and comfortable, so be sure they have many self-soothers available, such as familiar blankets, favourite cuddly toys and comforters to snuggle up to. Sometimes it helps to have a dog toy you only bring out at bedtime, so when it appears, your pooch knows its time to be calm and settle down for the night. You can even get cuddly toys with a heartbeat inside. The sound and subtle pumping motion of the heartbeat helps them feel like theyre snuggled up to their favourite hooman, or pooch mama from the puppy days.

Use calming scents and sounds

Like cuddly toys and comforters, familiar smells that indicate bedtime can be a good way to get a dog into sleep mode. Some pooch parents use air diffusers or a room spray that emanate special dog-soothing pheromones (a subtle lavender or soft night time scent), while others find putting on some soft, unobtrusive music in their dogs sleeping area helps. On the other hand, just making sure there are no sounds at all in your dogs sleep space is another fail-safe route.

Rule out anything health related

If your dog is usually trouble-free at bedtime, but suddenly behaves differently when its time to sleep, this could be an indicator of a health issue. Keep note of your dogs changed behaviour, along with any other symptoms such as diarrhoea, a suppressed appetite or increased anxiety, and take them to the vet for a check-up.

When to seek help from a professional

If, after trying all the above techniques, your pooch is still suffering from agitated nerves every bedtime, it could be worth seeking the help of a professional. This especially applies if your dog experiences severe anxiety at other times of the day, or generally struggles to get by day-to-day without feeling high levels of stress.

With some professional input, your dog could relearn some old behaviours that will significantly improve their quality of life, and hopefully improve bedtimes for the whole family.

What your dog eats each day has a huge impact on their mood and behaviour. If youre thinking What can I give my dog for anxiety? and are on the lookout for some tasty calming feeds, try some of the products from our Calming Range.