Do you ever worry about what, exactly, your dog is eating when you feed them store-bought dog treats? End your worries by making your own homemade dog treats. It’s easier than it sounds.
While dog food and treats are specifically made for dogs, many dogs are allergic to one or more of the ingredients used. Allergic reactions can vary from rashes to hives. Making your own treats lets you leave out any ingredients that may cause an uncomfortable allergic reaction in your dog.
With these recipes, YOU control the ingredients your dog digests. All of the ingredients are puppy-approved for safety and yumminess. But first of all, make sure to check out our article on 50+ Human Food Your Dogs Can And Can Not Eat to avoid feeding your dog anything unhealthy for their health!
Best Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
1. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Treats With Bacon Glaze
Pinch of Yum’s pumpkin peanut butter homemade dog treats combines two of dogs’ favorite people foods. The bacon glaze is made with bacon grease, but some owners may prefer to use coconut oil or another oil.
Be sure, of course, to use a peanut butter that doesn’t contain xylitol, which is fatal for dogs.
2. Chicken and Wild Rice Dog Biscuits
Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen recipe utilizes natural ingredients, such as chicken and rice, for a healthy AND tasty treat for Fido. You can use leftover chicken to whip up these health-conscious treats.
Chicken and rice are easy on a dog’s stomach, making these treats perfect for those pups with sensitive tummies.
3. Heart-shaped Cranberry Cookies
Everyday Dog Mom has a Valentine’s recipe for all the other dog moms out there. Cranberries are safe for dogs to eat, but your pooch may not like the tart flavor. We suggest giving your dog a plain cranberry first.
The heart-shaped cookie cutters can be found at any online retailer.
4. Watermelon Pupsicles
Many dogs come running at the sound of a refrigerator’s ice machine. The cool, refreshing taste of water is irresistible to dogs. Why not make it more flavorful by adding watermelon to the mix?
Grrfeisty recommends using seedless watermelons, as the seeds can disrupt a dog’s digestion. Use a blender to mix the ingredients before freezing in an ice cube tray.
5. Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Homemade Dog Treat
Mom On Timeout gives us another peanut butter and pumpkin homemade dog treat recipe. This one, however, doesn’t have a drizzle on top. The ingredients mention using pumpkin pie spice. However, spices, particularly nutmeg, are bad for dogs.
When making these treats, forego the spices. Your dog won’t miss them.
6. Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potatoes fries are one of the healthiest foods for people. They are also surprisingly healthy for your pup, too. The Beagles & Bargains recipe calls for cinnamon, which is okay for dogs in small amounts.
The website also lists other safe spices that can be used instead of, or in addition to, cinnamon.
7. Crunchy Peanut Butter Treats
Peanut butter is very popular with dogs! This peanut butter recipe from The Cookie Rookie includes honey and natural peanut butter. As always, check the ingredients before using peanut butter. Many brands are now using the artificial sweetener, Xylitol.
The website notes that some dogs are allergic to wheat flour. They suggest rice flour as a substitute.
8. Peanut Butter and Oats Homemade Dog Treat
More peanut butter homemade dog treats, but this time with a twist. Love From The Oven suggests using oats for a flavorful crunch to your homemade dog treats. This quick recipe can be made in 30 minutes, from start to finish.
The tasty treats only have 1 gram of fat for those pups on diets.
9. Peanut Butter and Milk Homemade Dog Treats
While many other peanut butter recipes use oil, Life Family & Fun’s recipe uses milk. You can use cow milk, almond milk or any milk without artificial sweeteners.
The recipe also calls for molasses, making it a perfect treat for fall. Be sure to use peanut butter that’s safe for dogs.
10. Peanut Butter Banana Homemade Dog Treats
In addition to peanut butter, dogs also go bananas for bananas. This simple recipe from Flora & Vino has just three ingredients. Along with peanut butter and bananas, oats are used to give the treats a nice crunch.
The website advises bakers to watch the treats closely, as they can easily burn in the oven. Your dog would probably eat them anyway.
11. Healthy Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Homemade Dog Treats
101 Cooking For Two touts this recipe as a low-calorie homemade dog treat. Using pumpkin and peanut butter dough, the recipe doesn’t need fancy cooking cutters.
However, the site advises dog owners not to use “low-calorie” brands of peanut butter because they often contain the toxic ingredient xylitol.
12. Yogurt and Berry Homemade Dog Treats
Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking has a peanut butter dog treat recipe. However, what caught our eye – and our dogs’ taste buds – is the yogurt and berry treat. The recipe calls for a mix of plain yogurt and dog-friendly berries.
The website recommends strawberries and blueberries for this tasty treat.
13. Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats
This all-natural peanut butter recipe is simple and delicious. Your pup will enjoy the tasty, yet healthy treat. Chica and Jo recommend using all-natural peanut butter with just peanut butter and salt for ingredients, nothing else.
Your dog will be able to enjoy these treats twenty minutes or so.
14. Peanut Butter and Coconut Oil Homemade Dog Treats
Live Laugh Rowe brings us peanut butter dog treats mixed with coconut oil. As you may know, coconut oil has many health benefits for dogs, including a shiny coat. The recipe suggests unprocessed coconut oil.
Rather than a cookie cutter, they use a paw print tray that can easily be found online.
15. Keto Dog Balls
Castle In the Mountains has created the perfect blend of pumpkin puree, eggs and peanut butter with their Keto Dog Balls. Remember that peanut butter used in dog treats must be Xylitol free!
There are no sugar or grains in this wholesome recipe. Spoil your fur baby with nibbles that are good for them. A quick glance at many store-bought dog treats ingredients reveals that snacks often have not so healthy ingredients in them.
16. Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats
This recipe from Garlic Head contains only three ingredients: rolled oats, peanut butter and banana. Your dog will drool for them every time. How adorable are those dog-shaped cookies?! No preservatives, coloring or anything else icky in DIY snacks!
Your dog might not care about the shape, but there are lots of fun dog cookie cutters for human enjoyment.
17. Sweet Potato Dog Chews
Happy Money Saver offers up sweet potato dog chews that you can share with your pooch–all of the DYI treats are human-grade. These chews are as healthy as they are delectable and will satisfy your pup’s need to gnaw.
You can stir up the ingredients quickly, then the chews bake for a while.
18. Peanut Butter Coconut Oil Dog Treats
House Fur has kicked up the nutrition level by including coconut oil in their peanut butter treats. These snacks are great for your pooch’s health, and your dog won’t be able to resist the peanut butter.
These treats bake for five minutes and then freeze for a couple of hours.
19. Chicken and Parsley Dog Treats
The Flying Couponer recipe for chicken and parsley treats brings us to meatier delights. Doggies love chicken and parsley is very healthy (sneaking in the vegetables), so these snacks are like tiny nutritious meals that Rover will do tricks for.
These are another easy to make and yummy delicacy that’s good for your furbaby.
20. Dried Banana Dog Treats
The Crazy Dog Mom has created dried banana dog treats that give your fur child more healthy deliciousness. Just slice up some bananas. Lemon juice is optional to prevent browning.
You can dehydrate the bananas with a dehydrator or in the oven. Easy to make and your dog will love them.
21. Crunchy Carrot Dog Biscuits
Bitz N Giggles brings you and your fluffball these ground kibble, carrots, applesauce and yogurt treats. Healthy ingredients in a chops-licking snack.
Lots of nutritious ingredients, crunchy and delish. What’s not to love?! You might not want to sample these personally due to the kibble.
22. Strawberry and Banana Dog Treats
The Cozy Cook shows us how to whip up fruit treats that your doggy will enjoy till the last crumb. These tasties also have peanut butter, oats and eggs. Another DIY treat packed with nutrition that your pooch will be eager and delighted to eat.
Do You Have a Homemade Dog Treat Recipe to Share?
Homemade dog treats are a simple way to provide your dog with healthier treats. We’ve provided the best homemade dog treat recipes for now, but we’re always on the lookout for more.
If you have a homemade dog treat recipe you’d like to share, contact us at Leo(@)cyberpet.com. In the meantime, use one of the above recipes to make your dog a tasty treat.
These all look amazing! Thanks so much, for the feature!