Home » Dog Food & Nutrition » Simple Homemade Dog Treats: Easy Recipes and Benefits

My easy homemade dog treats are just that….easy.  I don’t know about you, but I start to glaze over when a recipe calls for a long list of ingredients that I’ve got to buy, assemble, chop, dice and measure.  Let alone one that calls for any kneading, blanching, or sautéing.  Forget that, sometimes I just want to keep it simple to make.  That’s why I’ve put together these easy homemade dog treats that focus on limited ingredients, minimal preparation and let’s not forget, easy to clean up.

There’s a variety of easy homemade dog treats that you can make, that are going to be more cost-effective. Everyone likes to save money, I certainly do! Making your treats at home, allows you have the freedom to make quick and simple treats or go the extra mile and get creative with the ingredients. Many dog owners hear ‘Homemade Dog Treats’ and think it is going to include a lot of work, time, and money – when actually it is the complete opposite.

If you have a dog that has allergies, diabetes, or other health problems where you have to look at the ingredients before buying treats – then homemade is the way forward. You can make easy homemade dog treats that don’t contain any ingredients that are going to upset your furry companion. All of the recipes on my website can be adapted to suit any dog that has health problems.

What Is The Average Cost To Make A Homemade Dog Treat?

Many dog owners think that making easy homemade dog treats at home is going to be expensive, but this is not true. You don’t need to spend a lot to make a healthy, great-tasting dog treat. The average cost to make an easy homemade dog treat depends on the type of dog treat you’re thinking of making. If you’re making a meaty treat, then you will find that the price all depends on the type of meat your purchase in your local store.

I always recommend buying organic meat for reassurance that it is free from pesticides, herbicides, sewage sludge, or radiation, but you can certainly purchase cheaper meats or even use what you already have in the freezer. I always look out for discounts on meat in my local store and then freeze them when I get home. You can get some really good deals on high-quality meats. Many homemade dog treats can cost a few dollars, while others featuring high-quality ingredients can cost more money. Overall, homemade made dog treats cost less to make and are healthier than store-bought dog treats.

Benefits To Making Your Own Dog Treats

Making your own easy homemade dog treats is very fun and rewarding for you and your dog. There are three main benefits to making homemade dog treats:

1. It allows you to control what goes into the recipe. You can ensure that your dog is getting a high value nutritious and wholesome treat. Easy homemade dog treats can be tailored to suit your dog’s taste preferences as well as cater to any dietary restrictions that your dog may have.
2. Many store-bought dog treats contain unhealthy additives and preservatives, which help extend their shelf life in the store. Not to mention the number of fillers and byproducts they can include.
3. Homemade dog treats are an exciting and tasty alternative for your dog. I couldn’t eat the same snack every day as I would get bored, this is the same with our dogs!

Tasty Meat Treats Recipes

Meat-based dog treats are very popular, and it is important to include meat in your dog’s diet as it contains ‘Protein’. There are loads of easy homemade dog treats that you can make, which contain meat. The amino acids in proteins are what are vital to your dog’s diet. Amino acids help build and replace boy tissue, organs, and hormones and support your dog’s immune system.

It is a great feeling to feed your dog a homemade ‘meat’ treat, as you know it is helping their overall health. If you’re looking for easy homemade dog treats, which are high value and great for training treats, I would highly recommend checking out the Liver Treats page.

1. Dehydrated Marinated Chicken Strips

I will always recommend purchasing organic meat as it is much healthier and doesn’t contain any pesticides or artificial fertilizers. Don’t ever be embarrassed to u the meat that is on offer or on discount, and this helps keep costs down. You can buy discounted meats that are coming to their end of the sale date and freeze them until you are ready to make a new bunch of treats.

Ingredients:

• 3 Large Chicken Breast
• 1/2 Cup of Water
• 1/2 Cup of Chicken Stock
• 1/2 Cup of Honey
• 1 Tablespoon of Fresh Chopped Basil (If you don’t have fresh, dried will be fine)

Method:

1. Thinly slice the chicken into strips.
2. Mix together the water, chicken stock, honey,, and fresh basil.
3. Place the chicken strips in a shallow bowl or plastic bag and cover the chicken with the marinade that you have just made.
4. Place the chicken in the fridge and marinate overnight.
5. Place the chicken strips into the dehydrator at High/160F for 6-12 hours. Dehydrating times will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken strips.

Tip: Cut a chicken strip in half to test for dryness. The chicken is done once there is no moisture in the center of the treatment and it is the same color throughout.

2. Beef and Potato Chunky Patties

Ingredients:

• 6 oz of ground beef
• 1/2 Cup of Grated Carrots
• 1 Cup of Instant Potato Flakes
• 4 Tablespoons of Powdered Milk

Method:

1. Preheat our oven to 350F.
2. Puree the beef and carrots in a blender, until smooth.
3. Add the powdered milk and potato flakes into the mixture and mix them all together.
4. Roll the mixture into small-sized balls, press into patties, and bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until firm.

Tasty Tuna Crackers

Ingredients:

• 1 Can of Tuna (in water)
• 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Cup of Cornmeal

Method:

1. Preheat our oven to 350F.
2. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
3. Mix the cornmeal, flour, and can of tune (including the juice) altogether.
4. Place the dough on a floured surface, and roll out to a 1/4″ thickness.
5. Using a pizza cutter, cut the cracker shapes out and place them on the parchment paper.
6. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Healthy Fruit and Vegetable Recipes

Fruit and vegetables are great low-calorie treats. If looking for new, fun, and cheap ways to rev up your furry companion’s diet, adding fruit and vegetables can be a healthy way to do just that. Check out the table below for the 10 best fruit and vegetables to give to your dog, consider adding them to your dog’s meal routine. Of course, some dogs are going to prefer certain fruits and vegetables to others.

Every dog’s taste buds are different, the same way as we humans are! Scroll down to find easy homemade dog treats that contain a variety of fruit and vegetables – If the recipe includes a portion of food that you know your dog doesn’t like, it is easy to substitute it for something else.

3. Frozen ‘Bad’ Dog Breath Mints

Not only do these treats cool your dog down in the summertime, but they can help with any nasty bad breath smells too!

Apart from Parsley being a great breath freshener, it also contains large amounts of vitamin K, along with healthy amounts of vitamins C and A, and iron. There are so many health benefits of giving your dog parsley. Modern Dog Magazine lists the herbs that are safe for our dogs and explains the benefits of each herb. You will be amazed what herbs can help with common dog health problems.

Ingredients:

• 1 Fresh Apple (low protein, high fiber, antioxidant snacks for dogs)
• 1 Cup of Water
• 2 Sprigs of Fresh Parsley Leaves (curly or flat)
• 2 Sprigs of Fresh Mint Leaves

Method:

1. Peel and core the apple.
2. Place the apple into a blender and add water, blend until you have a smooth texture.
3. Add the fresh parsley and mint to the mixture, and mix with a wooden spoon. You don’t want the parsley and mind full blended into the mixture.
4. Pour the mixture into our choice of ice cube molds and freeze overnight.

Optional: If you fancy being more creative and having an extra day on your hands, you can turn to make these treats have a two-toned effect. Wait until the treats are frozen, remove them from the freezer, and add water on top. Then place the molds back into the freezer again.

4. Dehydrated Peach and Parsley Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 2 Sweet Potatoes
• 2 Fresh Peaches
• 1 Teaspoon of Parsley (optional)

Method:

1. Cut the sweet potatoes into strips (the skin can be kept on)
2. Cut the peaches into slices, and ensure you do not include the pit. (The pit is bad for dogs)
3. Place them onto a dehydrator rack and sprinkle parsley over the sweet potatoes.
4. Set the dehydrator to 135F and allow the sweet potatoes and peaches to dehydrate for 6 hours or until your desired texture.

Tip: You can use other fruit and vegetables that our dogs enjoy. This recipe allows you to play around with the ingredients and textures of new treats. This recipe is 100% human-safe.

5. Dehydrated Apple and Cinnamon Chips

Ingredients:

• 2 Fresh Apples
• 1 Tablespoon of Ground Cinnamon

Method:

1. Cut the apple into thin slices – make sure you do not include the apple pit.
2. Place the slices onto a dehydrator rack, and lightly sprinkle with ground cinnamon.
3. Set the dehydrator to 135F and allow the apple slices to dehydrate for 6 hours or until your desired texture. My dog prefers them when they are extra crispy.

As these treats are human-safe, you and your dog can share them. I normally share this snack with my dog in the evenings, and it’s very healthy for you and your dog.

6. Beetroot and Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup of cooked beetroot, unseasoned and pureed
• 1 Medium-sized egg
• 4 Tablespoons of smooth peanut butter
• 1 Cup of rice flour (approx.)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Puree the beetroot, then add the egg and peanut butter and mix together.
3. Gradually add the flour to the mixture, until the dough has a nice working consistency. If you find that the dough is dry, add a little bit of water. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour.
4. Roll your dough out onto a floured surface. Then cut out the shapes using your choice of a cookie-cutter.
5. Place the cookies on parchment paper and put them into the oven for 15 minutes. Cooking times will vary n size, so keep an eye on the oven.

Optional: With the dough that is leftover, roll into small-sized balls and place on parchment paper. Gently press with a spoon and bake for 12-15 minutes.

To Sum Up Easy Homemade Dog Treats

Easy homemade dog treats are not only for dogs that have health problems. Everyone likes to save money each month, right? Store dog treats are highly-priced and have a lot of questionable ingredients in them. Many of us take for granted that dog treats are pre-packed and can easily be purchased while in the grocery store, but they don’t need to be. Especially when you are looking to save money and be in charge of your dog’s health – who doesn’t want those two things?

There is no shortage of easy homemade dog treats. These types of treats are made to suit everyone. If you have a busy lifestyle and don’t have much time on your hands these are great. If you want to have some fun and get creative, get the kids involved in some baking.