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How to make your own dog treats

How to make your own dog treats

 

We all know how much our dogs love a treat, especially when they have had a long, tiring day of chasing sticks and snoozing. So why not get creative and make some treats of your own? Your dog will love these simple and delicious homemade snack recipes we have selected to tickle your four-legged friends' taste buds.

Before feeding any treats to your pets, always stick to the 10% rule unless you have been advised otherwise. Although we love to give our dogs a nice homemade treat every now and again, always make sure it does not exceed 10% of their daily food consumption. Overfeeding your four legged friend could cause potential problems later on in life, so make sure it is only kept as a 'treat' for them to enjoy.

Read more: 8 signs that your dog is overweight 

Try out these tasty flavours

Banana and BlueberryBanana and Blueberry

Banana and Blueberry

  • 1 chopped banana

  • ½ cup of blueberries

  • 1 egg

  • 1 cup of flour

  • ½ cup of oats

  • 1/3 cup of peanut butter

Put all the above ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. Shape the mixture into the desired treat shape and then bake for around 13 minutes at 325 degrees F. Once the treats have cooled, they can be enjoyed by your little friend.

Parsley & ChickenParsley & Chicken

Parsley & Chicken

  • 2 ½ cups of flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 chicken stock cube
  • ½ cup of hot water
  • 2 tablespoons of Parsley

First dissolve the chicken stock in the hot water and stir until the stock cube has completely dissolved. Then, in a bowl, mix the flour, egg, salt, parsley, and the dissolved stock until combined. Roll out the dough and create a shape of your choice or cut out with a biscuit cutter. Bake the biscuits in the oven at 350 degrees (F) for 30 minutes and save them for your dog after they have cooled.

 Super Easy Sweet Potato Chews Super Easy Sweet Potato Chews

Super Easy Sweet Potato Chews

  • 2 sweet potatoes

Yes, that's right - you only need 2 sweet potatoes for this delicious treat. Begin with washing the sweet potatoes and then cut them lengthwise into quarter-inch slices. Then bake the potatoes for 3 hours at 250 degrees F. Remember to turn them after 1 ½ hours. After baking, let them cool and then your dog (or even you) can enjoy these chewy snacks.

Sweet potatos are highly nutritious for dogs, as they are rich in manganese, fibre, potassium, and vitamins C, B6, and B5. But always make sure the sweet potato is cooked before treating as they can be more difficult to digest when fed raw.

CheeseCheese

Cheese

  • 1 ¼ cup of grated cheddar
  • ½ cup of vegetable oil
  • 2 cups of whole wheat flour
  • 4 tablespoons of water

Combine the cheese, flour and oil in a bowl and knead well to form a dough, adding water where needed. Once the mixture has become a firm dough, roll it out and cut or shape a pattern of your choice. Place into the oven at 400 degrees (F) for 15 minutes and then let it cool. Your dog will wag his tail after tasting these cheesy treats.

Peanut butterPeanut butter

Peanut butter

  • ½ cup of peanut butter
  • ½ cup of water
  • 2 cups of flour
  • 2 eggs

Mix the peanut butter, flour, and eggs together until combined. Gradually add the water until the mixture is moist enough to form a dough. Shape the dough mixture into a pattern of your choice and bake in a preheated oven (350 degrees F) for about 20 minutes, until the treats are soft. Let them cool and then your four-legged friend can enjoy.

 Pumpkin biscuits 

  • 1 cup of mashed pumpkin
  • ½ cup of peanut butter
  • 1 cup of whole wheat flour 

Mix the peanut butter and the mashed pumpkin in a bowl until combined. Then while stiring, add a quarter of the flour at a time until a dough is formed. With your hands, create a ball with the dough and then roll out and cut into your desired treat shape. Finally, place into a preheated oven of 350 degrees F for 10 minutes and then enjoy once cooled. 

Remember: Peanut butter is a great source of vitamins B and E, healthy fats, and protein, but the healthiest type of peanut butter you should add to your treats is homemade, dog-specific, or unsalted peanut butter. These will contain reduced levels of sugar and little or no additional additives for your dog to safely enjoy their homemade snack.

Reasons why making homemade treats is a good idea

It may be easier to buy treats for your dog but making them yourself is just as good and just as healthy. When you are in the kitchen mixing the ingredients together, you know exactly what is going in the oven and you can decide the portion sizes yourself. We may not always have the time to prepare a five-course meal in the kitchen, but if you take some time, you can make a great supply of simple treats to put aside for your four-legged friend; your dog will love you and your kitchen will smell great!

So when your supply of treats is running low and you can't make it to Wynnstay to grab a new pack, get creative and fill the cupboards with your own homemade goodies.

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Growing up on a small beef and sheep farm in mid Cornwall, Charlotte has always had an interest in livestock and agriculture, but her interest was peaked with the agricultural marketing sector.

Charlotte is currently studying a degree in BSc Hons Agriculture at Harper Adams University and is completing her 12-month placement with Wynnstay and the marketing Team. Based in the Helston Depo, Charlotte is able to have a great insight with the inner workings of the company and broaden her marketing knowledge with the Team.

Charlotte will be returning to Harper Adams in September 2023 to complete her final year.

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