Best Dog Treat Recipes

Friday, June 11, 2021 | By: Pawtraits by Nicole

My Favorite Dog Treat Recipes

Tired of worrying about recalls and which treats are safe for your pet?  Why not make your own? I'll admit, I usually buy treats for my dogs because it's easy and convenient.  But, if I have the time and energy, I make my own.  Cooking is so not my thing, so I'll be sharing my three favorite quick and easy recipes.  Haha, I say that as if I have a giant box overflowing with dog treat recipes and these are the three that are quick and easy when in reality, these are the only three I have ever made. 

Next time I make these, I'll update this post with some photos to go with the treat recipes.  But for now, I'm just sprinkling in a few portraits of my cute Border Collie who likes to eat treats. 

 

Training Treat Recipe

These are great for training because they are small, not mushy or sticky in my hands, and my dogs tell me they are delicious. 

Simple Baked Chicken Treats 

1 10-oz can chicken including liquid (it needs to be packed in liquid or the batter will be too dry)
2 eggs
1 cup tapioca flour
1/2 cup white flour
1 tablespoon oil - I've used coconut and olive oil.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Blend the chicken, its liquid, and 2 eggs in a food processor.
  3. Pour the mixture into a bowl and stir in the flours and oil. The batter should be thick but still pourable.
  4. Spread half the batter (or less) onto the silicone mold on a cookie sheet as described above. Take the time to get the batter into the holes. Scrape it off the dividers, so they don't stick together.
  5. Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees F.
  6. Remove from the oven.
  7. When the silicone sheet is cool enough to handle, turn it over and dump the treats out. This is the best part!
  8. Bag them up and refrigerate or freeze.

I found this recipe here and I've made it several times and can vouch for its awesomeness! 

 

Teeth Cleaning Biscuit Recipe

This next recipe is for larger crunchy treats.  I make them kind of big and thick so that they will hopefully taste delicious and clean teeth.

2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons dry milk
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 cups brown rice flour *
1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)
 
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and pumpkin until smooth. 
  3. Stir in dry milk, sea salt. and dried parsley.
  4. Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough.
  5. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
  6. If the dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.
  7. Roll dough between 1/4 – 1/2″ – depending on your dog’s chew preferences.
  8. If you're fancy, use a cookie cutter to punch shapes.  I'm not fancy, I just cut into rectangles.
  9. Place shapes on a cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary. 
  10. Bake 20 minutes, remove from oven and carefully turn biscuits over, then bake an additional 20 minutes.
  11. Allow to cool on a rack.

I fill up my cookie jar and store the rest in the freezer. 

 

Doggy Birthday Cake Recipe

I know it's easiest to run to the barkery and grab a pretty cake.  But if you're feeling crazy, like I did one year, this is pretty easy to make.

Cake Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/8 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup natural peanut butter (Do NOT use peanut butter with Xylitol as it's dangerous to dogs). 
  • 1/2 cup applesauce go with plain, unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree make sure you use pure pumpkin (not canned pumpkin pie mix).
  • 1 egg

Frosting

  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • Instructions

Instructions

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl, combine flour and baking soda.
  • In a separate bowl mix together vegetable oil, peanut butter, applesauce and pumpkin puree. Once combined, mix in egg and mix until combined.
  • Combine wet and dry ingredients and stir until combined.
  • Pour mixture into an 8" round pan (a square pan can also be used) that has been greased with oil.
  • Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when pressed lightly.
  • Allow to cool on a wire rack prior to removing from pan.
  • After cooling, add frosting if desired.

Frosting

  • Mix Greek yogurt and peanut butter until well combined. Spread over cake. 
  • Refrigerate.

The original recipe can be found here.

 

Border Collie tricks for homemade dog treats

If you're looking for some longer-lasting treats for enrichment purposes, check out my blog on Covid Summer Sanity Tips.

 

To learn more about dog treats and some favorite recipes, follow the blog circle, starting with Dallas - Fort Worth Pet Photographer and Dog Trainer, Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography, who shares her not-so-secret recipe for every dog's favorite treat.

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12 Comments

Jun 18, 2021, 11:16:14 AM

Nicole Hrustyk - haha, I think some dogs don't get it when you cover your face with the camera. I can't take phone pics with him, anytime I try he runs away and grabs a toy to kill. Even just the double click on my phone to turn the camera on triggers him.

Jun 18, 2021, 11:13:33 AM

Nicole Hrustyk - Thank you, Angela! I already have going to you on my travel list! haha

Jun 18, 2021, 8:03:43 AM

Tracy Allard - Your BC is sooo photogenic, right now mine believes the camera is in fact some sort of demonic device that must be avoided at all costs. Cannot make eye contact. Oh, yeah, and the recipes look DIVINE! Can't wait to try them all!

Jun 17, 2021, 1:31:21 AM

Angela Schneider - On board for the teeth-cleaning recipe! Bella's breath is getting a little ... um ... well, you know. Also, either Bella and I need to come visit you or you need to come visit us. Because I need to shoot your perfectly posing baby and I need YOU to shoot mine. Dammit, I love your work.

Jun 16, 2021, 12:08:04 AM

Nicole Hrustyk - Thanks! The cake is so worth the small amount of effort that goes into it!

Jun 15, 2021, 10:27:11 PM

Elaine - Great treat recipes! I have to try the birthday cake. Love the photos to accompany the blog.

Jun 15, 2021, 3:32:24 PM

Nicole Hrustyk - Right?! Thank you!

Jun 15, 2021, 2:58:38 PM

Darlene - Love the idea of a "teeth cleaning" treat that's homemade! Your pictures are beautiful!

Jun 12, 2021, 9:09:33 AM

Nicole Hrustyk - They totally are!

Jun 12, 2021, 4:27:13 AM

Jessica - Ooh, those training treats sound perfect for walk rewards!

Jun 11, 2021, 3:09:02 PM

Nicole Hrustyk - Thank you!

Jun 11, 2021, 6:25:43 AM

Nancy - Oh!! that image of your baby at the fence is so precious. I am not much of a cook either, but will have to give these a try.

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