Easy Homemade Dog Treats

We now have three (yes three) big dogs in the house! One of our main concerns as pet parents is what they eat! These easy homemade dog treats let me reward them with something that I know is safe and healthy.

We recently added another pup to our gang here at Charlie and the Pips. Lincoln is a Bernese Mountain Dog who has quickly wiggled his furry little bear shaped butt into our furniture and our hearts. Along with Oscar, our resident senior and Burton our 8 month old German Shepherd we have quite the pack of hungry boys.

We’ve tried everything from traditional dry dog treats to soft treats, grain free treats, and everything in between. It just seems that every time we settle on a treat we like and they like something happens and there’s an alert that products are recalled or bad for dogs or causing some sort of problem.

I recently decided that enough was enough! These easy homemade dog treats are so quick to make and all the ingredients are relatively inexpensive and easy to come by!

Are these grain free homemade dog treats?

No. These are not grain free. I’m not a fan of grain free diets for dogs that do not need them for actual dietary needs. I’ve talked to our vet extensively about this topic and there’s plenty of research out there for you to find.

The long and short of it is that dogs who have been feed an unnecessary grain free diet are showing more signs of heart problems. Grains are not all bad for dogs and they’re not a problem for most dogs.

Can I make different flavors of these homemade dog treats?

Sure! I’ve made couple different varieties. I use this peanut butter recipe as the base and then I add in ingredients that I think the pups will like. I’ve used venison, chicken, and even beef.

If you are adding meat to the recipe you may need a bit more binders like cornmeal or flour. You can add them little by little until you get the consistency you want.

I’ve also used pumpkin in place of the peanut butter. Pumpkin is great for dogs

Do I need to refrigerate these dog treats?

No. Once they’re baked you can leave them on the counter in a sealed container. I just put them in a plastic Glad / Tupperware kind of container with a lid. They don’t last long enough in our house to really have a chance to get stale.

We now have three (yes three) big dogs in the house! One of our main concerns as pet parents is what they eat! These easy homemade dog treats let me reward them with something that I know is safe and healthy. — Lincoln Tested, Lincoln Approved!

What do I need to make dog treats at home?

You’ll need a few simple ingredients and then whatever kind of add in’s your might want to include.

1 Cup Cornmeal
1 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 Cup AP Flour
1/2 Cup Oil
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Natural Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Water
Cookie Cutter

I’m admittedly a bit of dump and pour baker. When it comes to these treats I use these as general guidelines. If they’re not wet enough I add water or more peanut butter, if the dough is too wet I usually add more cornmeal, whole wheat flour, or even powdered peanut butter.

The good news is that you can’t really screw these up! Just add a little bit at a time of wet or dry ingredients until you get the right consistency!

What do I bake these dog treats on?

I use regular baking pans with a silicone baking mat. I makes it nearly impossible for anything to stick or make a mess. They’re great. The ones I use are technically for making macaroons but they work for everything! I can fit a batch of these one two baking trays which is nice for baking and finishing everything at once.

How do I make these easy homemade dog treats?

They’re really easy to make! I throw everything into my stand mixer with the dough hook attachment but you can make them by hand.

Wet ingredients go in and get mixed up first and then you can slowly add all of the dry ingredients and mix until everything comes together in a dough ball.

Add extra whole wheat flour a few tablespoon fulls at a time until you get the consistency you want. Different peanut butter, temperatures, etc. can change the batter.

Once it’s a non-sticky dough you’ll want to roll it out to 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Use a cookie cutter to press them out or cut them into squares with a knife. Either will work!

Baked at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Flip them over and bake for another 10 minutes. Shut off the oven and let them in there for a final 15-20 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool before packing up to store or serving them to your dogs!