Summer is here, the weather is warm, and dogs are ready to play. Don’t leave your best friend without something tasty this summer! Dog treats are easy to find in stores, but they are also incredibly easy to make at home. Don’t be scared of making treats yourself – with these easy to follow recipes, you can make some amazing treats your dog will love!
Store bought treats
If you are looking to buy treats in a store, there are plenty of options to choose from. However, you may not know exactly what is included in store bought treats. Dental chews are a great treat option for dogs because they help keep teeth clean. Keep in mind, these treats will never be a replacement for a professional cleaning.
Homemade dog treats
If you are feeling adventurous, try making dog treats at home! Homemade treats can be a great alternative to store bought ones. By using natural ingredients that are safe for dogs, you can give your pup something special and tasty to enjoy! Below is a list of some dog-safe foods your pup can safely consume:
- Yogurt
- Peanut Butter (without Xylitol)
- Berries
- Chicken
- Cooked eggs
- Lamb
- Carrots
Although there are plenty of delicious ingredients to add to your dog’s summer treats, it is imperative to also watch out for ingredients that may be dangerous for your pup. The following list of ingredients is a non-exhaustive list of items that should not be including in summer treats:
- Grapes
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Garlic
- Cherry pits
- Alcohol
- Onions
- Yeast dough
You can even add food coloring to your homemade treats to make them more appealing to your dog. Just be sure to use FDA approved colorants so they are safe for dogs to eat.
Cheesy Chickpea Chips
These ultra-healthy and natural treats by Pawsh are sure to make your pup happy.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of drained and rinsed canned chickpeas
- 1/4 cup of rice or almond flour
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1/8 cup of cheddar shredded cheese
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
Directions:
- Set oven to 350F.
- Using a fork, squash the chickpeas.
- Proceed to mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl.
- Roll out the mixture on a flat surface.
- Using a cookie cutter, cut out as many cookies as you’d like.
- Place cookie mixture on a greased cookie sheet within the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Allow the cut-out cookies to cool before feeding to your pet.
Additionally, for added tastiness, you can melt a bit of extra cheese on top of these biscuits if you like.
Strawberry & Blueberry Yogurt
These super easy to make treats are great for a warm summer’s day. Not only are these treats easy to make, they are also healthy.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup whole blueberries
- 1 cup chopped strawberries
- 1 cup plain yogurt
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients until mixed.
- Pour into molds or an ice cube tray and freeze for 4 to 5 hours before serving.
Chicken Pops
This delicious treat includes chicken and is sure to make your dog very happy. Furthermore, the meat inside will give your dog a good dose of protein!
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
Directions:
- Divide your cooked and chopped chicken among small disposable cups.
- Mix the water and dried parsley.
- Divide the water mixture among the disposable cups.
- Freeze for 8 hours.
- Run warm water around the cups to remove the popsicle.
Gluten Free Peanut Butter and Bacon Treats
Tidymom brings us this next treat that is even gluten free. Although these aren’t exactly the healthiest of treats, they are a good summer surprise.
Ingredients:
- 1cup oat flour
- 1 cup brown rice flour (can substitute regular or whole wheat flour)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup water
- 2-3 pieces cooked bacon
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 egg
- 1 shredded carrot
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a bowl, combine all wet ingredients until well blended. Add both the oat and rice flours to the wet mixture to form a dough.
- Roll out the dough between two pieces of parchment paper or lightly floured work surface to 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut out with a cookie cutter.
- Place treats on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Cool in the oven, then transfer to a wire rack.
- Store about a weeks' worth of treats on the counter in a sealed container and freeze the rest.
