Homemade Dog Treats

Is your dog’s treat jar empty again? Who said dog treats have to be store-bought? You can easily make them yourself using your dog’s favorite ingredients!

Homemade Dog Treats: The Benefits of DIY Treats

The main advantage of making your own dog treats is that you always know exactly what’s in them. Store-bought dog treats can sometimes contain dyes and preservatives. Flavor enhancers, sugar, and artificial flavorings are also not uncommon. With homemade dog treats, you’re 100% in control of what goes into them, allowing you to cater to your pet’s individual needs, preferences, and potential allergies.

What Ingredients Should You Use in Homemade Dog Treats?

When you bake dog treats yourself, your imagination is practically limitless. As with any other aspect of dog nutrition, you should avoid foods that are harmful, unnecessary, or toxic to dogs. These include chocolate, alcohol, cocoa, grapes, and sugar. Aside from that, you can use virtually any food that’s healthy for your dog and that they enjoy.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to creating recipes. It’s essential that you mix the ingredients well enough to bake them. Some of the most popular ingredients often found in recipes include:

• Fish, like tuna
• Cottage cheese
• Beef
• Poultry
• Ground beef
• Oatmeal
• Cream cheese
• Carrots
• Bananas
• Eggs
• Spinach
• Whole-grain flour

How to Store Homemade Dog Biscuits?

A significant benefit of homemade dog treats is that they don’t contain preservatives. Unfortunately, this also means they don’t have a long shelf life. So, it’s best to make small batches that your dog can consume quickly. However, there are a few steps you can take to extend their shelf life.




The basic rule is simple: the drier the homemade dog biscuit, the longer it will stay fresh. Moist dog treats can quickly mold, which should be avoided as mold can be toxic!

To maximize shelf life, you can:

1. Let the biscuits dry in the oven after baking (with the door open and the temperature set to 50–100°C). Don’t store them in a jar right after they cool down; let them “rest” in the open air for half a day to a full day before storing.
2. Store dog treats in traditional cookie tins or cloth bags to prevent moisture buildup inside. Avoid airtight plastic containers.
3. Choose ingredients with longer shelf lives.

Whole grains and oatmeal last longer than meat and fish. Homemade dog treats can stay fresh for 3-4 weeks. In the fridge, their shelf life can be extended by several weeks as long as no moisture gets in. When frozen, they can last for several months!

DIY Dog Treats: 4 Simple and Tasty Recipes

You don’t need a lot of ingredients or special equipment to make delicious homemade dog biscuits. They’re easiest to make with a good blender. A rolling pin will certainly help, but you can just as easily form the biscuits by hand. Check out the following recipes and pick your favorite! Experiment, add ingredients your dog loves, and change up the shapes, texture, and portion sizes. Find the perfect biscuit your dog will love!

Here are 4 unique recipes for homemade dog biscuits.

Tuna Delights

35 minutes and you’re done!
Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 can of tuna (in its own juice)
• 130g oatmeal (or alternatively, whole-grain or potato flour)
• Parsley or rosemary

Instructions: Mix all the ingredients with a mixer or whisk. Add enough oatmeal or flour to form a firm but flexible dough that can be shaped into biscuits. Form treats of any size and bake them in an air fryer at 150°C for about 30 minutes. Baking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the biscuits. Let the tuna treats dry in the turned-off oven.
Storage: In the fridge or freezer.

Cheese Chips

Takes about 35 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients:

• 100g grated yellow cheese
• 100g cottage cheese
• 1 egg
• 50g crushed crispbread (or granulated oatmeal)
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• A little water if the dough is too stiff

Instructions: Blend all ingredients and form small balls from the dough. Place the cheese balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and flatten them into small discs with a spoon. Bake the biscuits at 180°C for about 25 minutes and leave them to dry overnight.

Liver Pâté Biscuits

About 40 minutes total.
Ingredients:

• 125g liver pâté
• 250g oatmeal
• 1 egg
• 150g cottage cheese
• 5 tablespoons sunflower oil
• Flour for dusting

Instructions: Mix all ingredients until creamy. Chill the dough in the fridge for about an hour, then roll it out on a floured surface (about 1cm thick). If the dough is too wet, add more oatmeal. Cut the homemade biscuits into shapes and bake for about 30 minutes at 150°C (or 180°C with top and bottom heat). Let the biscuits dry overnight.

Ground Meat Snacks

About 25 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 carrot
• 200g ground beef
• 5 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 120g oatmeal (or alternatively, whole-grain or potato flour)
• 20g cheese for sprinkling

Instructions: Mix all ingredients until you get a firm, flexible dough. Use a tablespoon to form small balls and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake the treats for about 20 minutes at 180°C (top and bottom heat). Let the treats dry overnight. Store the finished biscuits in the fridge for a longer shelf life. You can also freeze them for up to several months if needed.




Of course, you won’t feed your pet these treats every day, but occasionally you can spoil them with tasty and healthy alternatives to regular food. Your care will be rewarded with love and affection from your furry friend!