healthy treats for dogs homemade

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

How to Make Homemade Dog Treats

When your dog is a picky eater or has a restrictive diet,it can be tough finding yummy treats that are inexpensive. Thankfully, almost anyone can make homemade dog treats from the comforts of their kitchens, including the popular pyramid dog treats that make lots of tiny treats in one batch.

Homemade dog treats have benefits beyond being budget-friendly. With DIY treats, you know exactly what foods your dog is eating. Along with being free from harmful ingredients, homemade dog snacks can make great training treats, especially when made in smaller sizes.But before whipping out your cookie sheet and mixer, be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure your dog has no allergies to any ingredients.

For owners interested in making homemade dog treats, weve put together some of our favorite baking accessories, tips, and must-try recipes.

Homemade Pyramid Dog Treats

Pyramid dog treats are homemade dog treats that are made with asilicone pyramid baking sheet. While these easy-to-clean silicone baking sheets werent originally made for dog treats, theyve become popular among dog lovers because they can make big batches of small treats appropriate for training sessions. The recipes for these kinds of treats usually call for tapioca flour, which helps the treats stay together without crumbling. Tapioca flour is an ingredient that agrees with most dogs.

When you flip over the baking sheet, you can fill it with a range of recipes that will easily pop out from the silicone sheet once youre finished. Some molds can make up to 500 treats in one batch! Along with the basic pyramid mold, there are also a lot of fun different shapes of silicone sheet molds to try. Here are some baking sheets to try out.

This simple, pyramid-shaped mat will make treats that pop out easily and clean up quickly.

If youre looking for something a little more traditional, these mini dog bones are perfect for DIY dog treats.

These paw molds are safe to use in the oven, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher. Plus, the silicone material means wet ingredients wont stick to the mold.

Want to have a lot of fun shapes and sizes? This pack comes with a range of molds, including hearts, bears, stars, and shells.

Key Ingredients for Homemade Dog Treats

Another great thing about making homemade dog treats is that you probably already have most of the key ingredients in your house. Many recipes require things such as oatmeal, eggs, flour, water, or broth. Add some flavor as well as vitamins, protein, and fiber with peanut butter (free of artificial sweeteners likexylitol), pureed pumpkin, apples, carrots, sweet potato, and cheese to create delicious cookies any dog would love.

Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Once you order a pan, try out some of these popular recipes. From bacon treats to peanut butter, here are some popular pyramid dog treat recipes for beginners to try.

Bacon Pyramid Pan Treats

Does your dog love bacon? Try this simple bacon dog treats recipe by Michelle Taylor. With just four ingredients, this is a great homemade treat for beginners, one that your dog is sure to love.

Ingredients:

package of bacon
2 eggs
150 grams ofgluten-free flour
Water (to thin)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Blend the bacon and eggs.
Add flour. Stir in water if the batter needs to thin.
Smooth the batter over the baking mat and bake for 8 minutes.
Once cooled, cut the treats into bite-sized pieces or dump out.

Baked Chicken Treats

For an easy, no-fuss recipe, try these baked chicken homemade dog treats from Eileen Anderson. Once baked, you can refrigerate or freeze the treats.

Ingredients:

110-ounce can of chicken, including liquid
2 eggs
1 cuptapioca flour
cup of white flour
1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Blend chicken and eggs in a food processor.
Pour the mixture into a bowl, and stir in flour and oil. This batter should be a little thicker than pancake batter but still pourable.
Spread the batter onto the silicone mold on a cookie sheet, making sure its in the holes, and then scrape it off the dividers.
Bake for 12 minutes.
Once cooled, turn over the mold and dump the treats out.
You can bag up the treats and refrigerate or freeze.

Peanut Butter Treats

Peanut butter is a favorite for many dogs, and a common, tasty ingredient in homemade dog treats. If your dog loves that nutty flavor, give these peanut butter treats from Eileen Anderson a try.

Ingredients:

2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons canola oil
cup peanut butter powder
cup white flour
cup tapioca flour
cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Mix the ingredients until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the pan.
Bake for 12 minutes or until the treats are soft but still drawing away from the side of the pan.
Once cooled, stretch the pan and dump the treats out.

Apple-Cheddar Dog Biscuits

To make something a little different and mix in some unique ingredients, take a look at this recipe for apple-cheddar dog biscuits from Martha Stewart.

Ingredients:

2 cups barley flour
cup old-fashioned oatmeal
cup shredded cheddar cheese
cup grated Parmesan cheese
cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients and about 3 tablespoons water to form a dough. Roll out mixture between two sheets of plastic wrap to -inch thick. Remove plastic wrap and cut out biscuits with a 3-inch bone-shaped cookie cutter. Re-roll scraps and continue cutting out biscuits.
Space biscuits 1 inch apart on a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes until nicely browned and firm.
Transfer biscuits to a wire rack. Turn off the oven and place biscuits on a wire rack in the oven overnight. Remove from oven and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Cheese and Sardine Pyramid Pan Dog Treats

These tasty dog treats by Michelle Taylor only have a handful of ingredients and are easy to make. Sardines are a great single-ingredient source of protein, and many dogs cant resist cheese. Its a win-win.

Ingredients:

1 can of sardines 2 eggs 150 grams of grated Parmesan cheese Handful of roasted vegetables 75 grams of tapioca flour (or plain flour) Water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 320F.2. Blend all the ingredients in a blender to make a thick batter. Add water as needed to make thicker.3. Smooth the mixture over the baking mat and bake for about 15 minutes or until crispy.4. Once cooled, cut into small pieces.

Remember, you should always check with your vet before giving your dog anything other than dog food, commercial dog treats, and prescribed medication. Once youre in the clear, purchase a fun baking sheet, try a recipe, and rest easy knowing exactly what youre feeding your dog.

Healthy Homemade Dog Treats in 10 Minutes Or Less [NO-BAKE RECIPE]

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If you are looking for a quick and easy homemade dog treats recipe that is both nutritious and delicious a frozen, no-bake summertime snack your dog will love you are in the right place!

Dogs love treats. Even picky dogs love treats. And for most dogs, homemade dog treats are superior in every way.

The following are just a few of the benefits of making your dogs treats at home:

More nutritious
Less expensive
No preservatives (or natural ones)
Better taste
Easy to make
Tailored to your individual dogs health needs

Since transitioning Junior and Sulley back to their raw diet this year, I have made it one of my goals to develop some new recipes for homemade dog treats.

Why would I go to the tremendous effort of feeding a balanced raw diet only to add less-than-optimal, preservative-laden commercial dog treats into the diet?

I wouldnt. I wont.

In the coming weeks and months, I will be sharing a series of new and original homemade dog treats recipes for large and giant breed dogs.

Since it is summertime, I wanted to share a frozen DIY dog treat recipe that is both nutritious and delicious!

And bonus you can make it in less than just a few minutes!

I call them Gut Power Pops frozen pops of GUT power.

Homemade Dog Treat Recipe Health Benefits

There are just six ingredients in my Gut Power Pops recipe. I will help you tailor this recipe in the next section.

For now, lets discuss the benefits of each of the ingredients in this dog treat recipe for your dog.

Raw Goat Milk

Raw goat milk is packed with nutrients!

With a chemical composition similar to that of breast milk, raw goat milk provides a range of health benefits for dogs.

First, and foremost, it is a terrific source of probiotics, prebiotics, and important digestive enzymes.

Because raw goat milk is not pasteurized, the naturally occurring good bacteria thrive contributing to improved digestion and immune system benefits.

Nutritionally, raw goat milk is full of vitamins and minerals your dog needs. Among these are vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin C.

And lastly, raw goat milk is a wonderful source of protein, fatty acids, and contains only A2 casein, which produces none of the inflammatory effects found in cows milk. (1)

While it is a fantastic addition to the diet of most dogs, raw goat milk may not be a great option for all dogs. (2)

For example, while raw goat milk contains significantly less lactose than cows milk, for dogs who dont produce enough lactase to break down the lactose, any milk in the diet can potentially cause digestive upset. If your dog is lactose intolerant, you may want to omit the raw goats milk from this recipe.

Watch for diarrhea, gas, bloating, abdominal pain, or vomiting as a sign that your dog may be lactose intolerant.

Organic Plain Greek Yogurt

Provided your dog is not lactose intolerant, plain greek yogurt is included in this dog treat recipe as a source of probiotics and protein.

The brand I used contains six live active cultures, including S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, Bifidus, L. paracasei, and L. rhamnosus probiotics that aid digestion and keep the helpful bacteria in the gut balanced.

And with its specific straining process during manufacturing, greek yogurt is a great source of concentrated protein and calcium without all of the processed sugars (sweeteners) and flavor additives.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are a terrific source of omega-3 fatty acids so I try to include them in my Mastiffs diet.

Not only do chia seeds provide 3 times the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids as salmon, but they are also an excellent source of phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, and zinc and are non-allergenic.

According to Dogs Naturally Magazine, Each seed is potent enough to prevent infections, with 19-23% protein, which is gluten-free, 34% oil and 25% fiber. Chia seeds offer an excellent source of B vitamins and they are loaded with important Omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acids and antioxidants. (3)

Put simply, chia seeds are a powerhouse of nutrients housed in a tiny package.

Blueberries

My Mastiffs LOVE blueberries! So much so, I often use them as treats for obedience training.

Nutritionally, blueberries are a low-calorie fruit packed with vitamin C, fiber, and important phytochemicals and antioxidants, which help to fight free radicals responsible for cellular and molecular damage in dogs. (4)

Some studies have revealed that adding antioxidants to a dogs diet reduces the effects of cognitive degeneration, important for those of us with senior dogs.

Strawberries

Like blueberries, strawberries are a healthy, low-calorie, sweet treat for your dog, full of antioxidants, high in fiber and vitamin C. (5)

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an oil extracted from coconuts and is high in saturated fat and medium-chain triglycerides. These fats serve to increase energy levels, improve skin and coat, improve digestion, and reduce allergic reactions in dogs. (6)

These concentrated fatty acids are also helpful in cognitive function, potentially slowing cognitive dysfunction as a dog ages.

There are many ways to feed coconut oil to your dog adding them to healthy dog treats made at home is one of them.

In addition to simply adding a tablespoon of coconut oil directly into a bowl of food, this thick and tasty oil can be used as a coating on pills to help dogs swallow them, which is a strategy I use often with all of Juniors medications.

And if your dog suffers from dry or dull skin and coat, you can apply coconut oil topically as well.

Keep in mind that you only want to use organic, virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil.

For dogs with pancreatitis, you may want to omit coconut oil due to its high-fat content. Other than that, most large dogs can benefit greatly from a small amount of coconut oil each day.

Optional Ingredients To Make the Best Dog Treats

Banana

My big dogs LOVE bananas, so this nutrient-rich fruit would make a great addition to this dog treat recipe.

Bananas are a rich source of vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium, but they are very high in sugar, so I feed them in moderation.

Adding in one banana to this DIY dog treat recipe would provide a healthy energy booster without upsetting the balance too much.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is a staple for nearly all dog treats because most dogs love it and it is an inexpensive way to add a quality source of protein and healthy fats, vitamins B and E, and niacin to your dogs diet.

While in the future I will share how to make dog treats using peanut butter, I wanted to make this version without it for ease and simplicity.

With the yogurt, raw goat milk, and chia seeds, I am packing more than enough protein into these frozen Pup Power Pops!

Watermelon

Watermelon is another amazing fruit that could easily be added to this dog treat recipe.

Watermelon is a low-calorie source of vitamins A, B6, and C, and potassium. And at 92% water, watermelon freezes perfectly for a yummy frozen summer treat for your dog!

If your dog loves watermelon, consider adding cup to this recipe.

How To Make Homemade Frozen Dog Treats

Gut Power Pops No-Bake Dog Treat Recipe

These are the molds I used in this recipe, however, there are many other varieties to choose from.

Directions For How To Make Gut Power Pops

Warm your raw goat milk slightly so that it is between 75 80 degrees, room temperature or slightly above. I use a bowl of hot water underneath to gently warm my goat milk, but you can use other methods as well. **Pasteurization doesnt occur until the milk hits about 165 degrees, so slightly warming shouldnt denature any of the probiotics.
Mix in coconut oil by hand and stir until melted.
Add organic greek yogurt and stir until blended.
Pour into a blender (I use a Vitamix).
Add fruit to the blender and blend for a few seconds until all of the fruit is broken down.
Pour into a medium size bowl and add your chia seeds. Let the chia rest in the liquid for about 5 minutes to allow them to rehydrate.
Spoon into freezer-safe silicone molds and place in the freezer for about an hour.
Once frozen, pop out the dog treats and store in the freezer in a container or Ziploc bag.
Feed 1-2 Gut Power Pops per day for a happy, healthy dog!

VIDEO: How to Make Healthy Homemade Dog Treats in 10 Minutes or Less! [EASY NO-BAKE RECIPE]

DIY For the WIN! Say Goodbye To Store-Bought

Honestly, making homemade dog treats couldnt get any easier.

This no-bake recipe takes less than 10 minutes to prepare with ingredients you likely have in your refrigerator. And in less than an hour, your dog will be enjoying his delicious Gut Power Pops!

Stay tuned to BigDogMom.com and our YouTube channel for more unique and healthy dog treat recipes.

What are your favorite recipes for easy homemade dog treats? Please share in the comments below.

References

Goat Milk Benefits Are Superior to Cow Milk
Is Goat Milk Good For Your Dog?
Chia For Pets
Can Dogs Eat Blueberries?
Can I Feed My Dog Strawberries?
Coconut Oil For Dogs: Understanding the Benefits and Risks

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Freeze:1 hour hr

Total Time:1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

2 cups Raw Goat Milk
1/4 cup Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 cup Blueberries
1/2 cup Strawberries
2 tbsp Chia Seeds

Warm raw goat milk to room temperature (75 F).
Mix in coconut oil and stir until melted.
Add organic Greek yogurt and stir until blended.
Pour mixture into a blender and add fruit. Mix until smooth (5-8 seconds)
Pour mixture into a medium-sized bowl and add chia seeds. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes to allow the chia seeds to rehydrate.
Carefully pour into freezer-safe silicone molds and place in the freezer for at least 1 hour. Consider using a piece of parchment paper under the silicone molds to prevent spills and make releasing the treat easier.
Once frozen, pop treats out of the molds and put them into a Ziploc bag or container, and store them in the freezer.

Servings: 2 dogs

Calories: 90kcal

Author: BigDogMom

Cost: $15