Homemade Dog Treats Recipe
Are you concerned about what’s in your dog’s treats? Maybe, you want to make sure that your dog is only eating the best, high-quality ingredients in their treats?
In today’s post, we share an easy, delicious, and healthy dog treat recipe that you can make at home in less than 20 minutes. This homemade dog treat recipe is made with organic ingredients that are great for your dog’s health! Unlike some dog treat recipes, this dog treat excludes flour, which is a bonus because flour doesn’t give our pups any nutritional value.
Read on to learn more about this healthy pumpkin and peanut butter homemade dog treat.
How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats with Pumpkin
The following homemade pumpkin dog treat is a delicious, healthy option for a pet parent looking to provide their pup with healthy alternatives to store-bought treats. This homemade soft dog treat includes pumpkin, peanut butter, and yogurt, which provides your dog with many nutrients.
According to the American Kennel Club, pumpkin is a fiber-rich food filled with powerful vitamins and minerals, including potassium, iron, and vitamins A, C, and E. Pumpkin is especially helpful for dogs with sensitive stomachs and can help with digestion.
On the other hand, yogurt has high amounts of protein and calcium. It also works as a probiotic, which is beneficial for your pup’s digestive system. When choosing a yogurt to use in your homemade dog treats, pick a plain yogurt free of added sugars or sweeteners, as these are not good for dogs to consume.
Lastly, peanut butter is a beloved ingredient in many dog treats. Not only because our dogs love the taste but because peanut butter is also rich in protein, healthy fats, niacin, and vitamins E and B. We recommend looking for unsalted peanut butter that does not contain added sugars or sweeteners when making these delicious homemade peanut butter dog treats.
Details
Prep time: 15 to 20 minutes
Freeze time: 12 hours
Total time: 12 hours 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain yogurt (unsweetened)
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 1 can 100% pure pumpkin puree (avoid cans labeled “pumpkin spice,” which may contain harmful spices)
Directions
- Gather your supplies: a bowl, measuring cups, spatula, ice cube tray, and electric mixer.
- Using your electric mixer, combine all ingredients in your bowl.
- Pour into the ice cube tray, using the spatula to scrape all the batter out of the bowl.
- Freeze for 12 hours.
- Pop the homemade dog treats out of the ice cube tray and feed your pup one!
FAQ About Homemade Dog Treats
You’ve decided to try your hand at making delicious, nutritious homemade dog treats for your pup, but you still have some questions. Our FAQ can provide you with added direction when you’re looking to make healthy homemade dog training treats safely.
Are Homemade Dog Treats Better?
There are many benefits to making homemade dog treats. For starters, you’ll know exactly what is in your dog’s treat and what isn’t. Good food, including healthy treats, can provide your pup with the exact nutrients they need to live a healthy and long life, as well as short-term benefits, such as a shiny coat, better poops, and more energy.
Many homemade dog treats lack the preservatives, chemicals, and fats that typical store-bought dog treats have, which is a massive benefit for your dog! Your homemade dog treats will also be fresher and contain more natural ingredients for your dog to enjoy. When you make your dog treats, you won’t have to worry about suspiciously sourced ingredients or hidden chemicals.
Plus, I think we can all agree that there is something special about eating a homemade treat that someone made just for you! Your pup is sure to feel the love when you provide them with a healthy, tasty treat.
What Are the Best Natural Treats for Dogs?
There are many amazing ingredients that you can use to make your homemade dog treats or even give to your dog as a treat all on their own.
Please make sure that all of the following ingredients are given to your dog free of seasoning, as many spices can irritate your dog’s stomach or even be toxic to them. We also recommend monitoring how much fruit you give your dog because fruit is high in sugar, which isn’t ideal for dogs. However, dogs can benefit from moderate amounts of certain fruits like berries because they contain antioxidants, phytonutrients and vitamins.
Here are some vet-approved suggestions for foods that make excellent treats or homemade dog treat ingredients:
- Apples (remove the seeds and core first)
- Carrots (chop into bite-sized pieces first)
- Green beans
- Bananas (give in moderation, due to high sugar content)
- Broccoli (cooked is ideal for easy digestion)
- Green peas (try freezing these and giving them to your pup)
- Watermelon (remove the seeds and rind first)
- Sweet potatoes (cooked)
- Squash (cooked)
- Blueberries (easy to incorporate into a treat recipe or give on their own)
- Strawberries (same as blueberries)
What Should You Not Put in Homemade Dog Treats?
Making your dog’s treats at home gives you control over what your dog is eating. So, what should you not include in your dog’s homemade dog treats?
The following ingredients are things that you should never feed your dog:
- Corn syrup
- Artificial colors
- Brewer’s rice
- Propylene glycol
- Nitrates or nitrites
- Vegetable oil
- Excessive amounts of salt
- Xylitol (found in some peanut butter)
- Sweeteners
- Added sugars
- Spices (avoid pumpkin pie spice, which often contains nutmeg, which are harmful to dogs)
- White flour (if a homemade dog treat recipe asks for flour, swap it out for a whole grain flour or oat flour or find a different recipe entirely)
We also recommend not overfeeding your pup. Giving your dog too much of anything can be detrimental to their health if it makes them exceed their caloric needs. Too many calories can lead to weight gain and a variety of other health problems.
As a general rule, your dog’s treats should never make up more than 10% of your pup’s daily caloric intake.
Want more recipes? Check out our method for making homemade beef dog food!
Supplement with Healthy Dog Treats from PetPlate!
Homemade dog treats are a fantastic way to provide your dog with delicious treats while controlling the ingredients that your dog is consuming. Many store-bought treats are laden with added sugars, fillers, artificial colors, too many calories, and more, which are all things that are best avoided when choosing treats for your furry pal.
Feeling overwhelmed or a little too busy to make all of your dog’s food from scratch? Check out our vet-approved Chicken Apple Sausage Bites, which contain four simple, but nutrient-packed ingredients: organic chicken, organic apple, organic pumpkin, and organic rosemary. As well as our Tummy Ticklin’ Digestive Cookies and Joint Jumpin’
Mobility Cookies.
Our digestive supplement cookies deliver a full dose of probiotics to help improve your pup’s overall digestion and stool quality. Our yummy mobility cookies are baked with wholesome organic ingredients and fortified with glucosamine and chondroitin to help repair damaged cartilage and provide arthritic support.
Our veterinary nutritionist oversees all of our treats and PetPlate meals, where they are crafted in our USDA-approved kitchens. Don’t hope for the best when you purchase a store-bought treat for your best friend. Know you’re getting the best with our delicious, healthy treats made from 100% human-grade ingredients.
