Easy Dog Treats

Unlike our feline friends, dogs will often eat literally anything, including but not limited to things that are disgusting to us and/or toxic for them. Human treats are very attractive to the puppers, but unfortunately the list of things that can harm dogs includes chocolate, caffeine, xylitol, avocado, onions, garlic, some nuts and nearly all spices except cinnamon so it's best if dog treats are made with canine physiology in mind.

Most owners have dog snacks at hand for training and sanity, but commercial dog treats can contain additives that some dogs are allergic to, so why not try making your own?

We’ve come up with a nutritious treat that is easy to make and contains only things which are good for your furry friend. We’ve added some collagen for their joints and cinnamon to help protect them from diabetes, there are antioxidants from pumpkin and some psyllium powder which can help dogs avoid the embarrassing problem of blocked anal glands.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of pureed or mashed cooked pumpkin
• 1.75 cups of whole wheat flour (or use brown rice, spelt, or white flour)
• ¼ cup of psyllium husks or husk powder
• ¼ cup water
• 2 scoops of Raw Collagen powder
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon

  Optional: You could also use Petifort if you want your kitchen to smell of fish while they cook. Read our Joint Health blog to find out what goes into this specially formulated pet joint health product.

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 180°C

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. You should have a firm but slightly sticky mix.

Form into a ball and set aside for 10 minutes. This allows the psyllium to soak up water.

Flatten the dough between two pieces of baking paper to a depth of about 5 mm. You may need to break the ball in half for this, and do it twice. Another option is rolling it on a floured surface.

Cut the flattened dough into your desired shape, or use a cookie cutter.

Place the shapes on a baking tray.

Bake for 20 minutes, then check. At this point you can make a decision on how hard you want your dog treats to be. If you want really crunchy, turn the oven down to 150°C, flip the treats, and keep cooking on low, checking at 10 minute intervals until they are hard. They will harden further upon cooling.

Store in an airtight container. If completely dry they will store well at room temperature. If still slightly soft, keep in the fridge and use within a week.

Whenever giving dogs a fibrous treat like this, keep in mind that they could need extra water, and of course, these are a treat, not to replace their regular dog food.

Happy baking, dog mama’s and papa’s!