Healthy, homemade dog treats

Most people spend a long time picking the right kind of dog food for their pet, but how many people can say the same thing about their dog’s treats? In the UK there is currently very little legislation to stipulate what goes into pet food. By making your own treats you can ensure that you know exactly what goes in to them and save money at the same time. This article looks at four recipes for treats that are tailored to your dog’s needs.

Teeth cleaners/ Breath freshener biscuits

In order to effectively clean your dog’s teeth, these biscuits need to be large enough to take a while to chew. With the addition of a couple of ingredients you can also ensure that ‘dog breath’ will be a thing of the past.

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tbsp. activated charcoal powder
3 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 egg
2/3 cup milk (semi-skimmed or whole)
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 200C. Combine the flour and charcoal then add all the other ingredients. Drop teaspoonfuls about 3cm apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes. When cool, store in airtight container in the refrigerator.

Flea deterrent biscuits

Tackle pest problems with these homemade biscuits which make your dog’s blood unpalatable to fleas.

3 beef stock cubes
1 1/2 cups boiling water
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup polenta
2/3 cup brewers’ yeast
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 egg yolks

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C.

Dissolve the stock in the water. In a large bowl, mix the flour, polenta, yeast, and garlic. Add the yolks, and then gradually stir in the stock. Mix thoroughly to form a firm dough then roll out on to a floured surface until roughly 1 cm thick. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place biscuits 3cm apart onto greased baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. When cooking time has finished turn the oven off, and leave the biscuits inside for at least 3 hours or overnight to harden. Store in an airtight container.

Vegetarian dog treats

2 cups carrots — boiled and pureed

2 eggs

2 tablespoons garlic — minced

2 cups unbleached flour

1 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup wheat germ

Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Roll out on heavily floured surface and cut into bars or desired shapes. Bake at 150 degrees C for 45 minutes. The centres will continue to harden as they cool.

Training treats

Small bits of cooked chicken or cheese work very well for training dogs but if you are looking for a recipe for training rewards, the following one can be cut in to tiny pieces once cooked and used very effectively. Be warned- they smell!

2 x 6oz cans tuna in water, do not drain
2 eggs
1 to 1 1/2 cups flour
2 chopped cloves garlic
parmesan cheese

Blend tuna with water then pour into bowl and add flour, eggs and garlic. Then spread into a greased round Pizza or square cake tin. Sprinkle with lots of Parmesan cheese. Bake at 180 degrees C for 15 minutes until the edge pull away and the consistency is like putty. Use a pizza cutter and slice into teeny squares, store in an airtight box in the freezer.

Finally, with over one third of British dogs classified as obese it is important that you only use these treats occasionally. Dog food is nutritionally balanced and your vet or pet supply shop will advise you as to correct amounts for your dog. Dog treats should only be used occasionally or as specific training aids.