How To Make Homemade Dog Treats
Our dogs are our best friends, and making homemade dog treats is how we show them what they mean to us. I love trying new recipes and seeing how much Riley and Wynter get excited to see what I've made for them.
There are many “not so good” pet treats on the market that have ingredients that can actually make your dog sick and shorten their lives. So we only feed our dogs high-quality dog food made with wholesome ingredients. And I like to make them yummy treats with ingredients that I feel good about feeding my furbabies.
We know that as pet lovers, you love discovering new ways to improve your pet's quality of life, and I hope you'll love these all season treats!
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What ingredients should I stay away from when making dog treats?
We know that it can be tempting to feed your dog “People Food,” but dogs have sensitive diets, and some foods can be deadly!
Chocolate in all forms is a GIANT NO!
But did you know that some peanut butter contains a sugar substitute called Xylitol or “xyx” that is fatal for dogs? Xylitol can also be found in most chewing gum, so make sure you keep that out of your pup's reach!
Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream for Dogs
Ice cream for dogs! Bananas, peanut butter, and plain yogurt combine to create these delicious treats for any puppy friend! A tasty way to cool down on a hot day. ( Click above for the recipe )
Foods we won't feed our dogs:
I'll admit it, after losing a dog due to a terrible incident with a popular dog food company, I'm meticulous in what we feed our dogs. I'll often make a batch of fresh food for our dogs right out of ingredients I'm using for our own dinners like salmon, peas, rice, and pumpkin.
We won't feed our dogs anything made with “animal by-products” or “meat meal” that's often made with diseased or euthanized animals. We also don't feed them anything with corn, soy, or ingredients we have no idea what they are.
We feed our dogs only farm-fresh foods, and that goes for treats too!
Some dogs, like Riley, are sensitive to wheat.
After years of fighting terrible rashes, hot spots, and irritability, we discovered Riley is very sensitive to wheat and all bird products. After we changed his diet to a bird and wheat free diet, he's lost weight and feels great!
Even though we include some dog treat recipes that include wheat or flour, they aren't for every dog.
peanut butter pumpkin dog treat recipe
These peanut butter pumpkins dog treats are Fido-approved! They’re full of dog-friendly and dog-safe ingredients like pumpkin and peanut butter! (Click above for recipe )
Our Favorite Dog Food:
What do we feed our sensitive dog and our senior dog? We love Bixbi for all of our dog food.
Every morning, our dogs like a dry kibble that's a mix of trout, red lentils, whole yellow peas, eggs, and no grains, soy, corn, or wheat. Liberty Fisherman's Catch from Bixbi is the USA made and sourced and comes in two sizes for small bread or large breed dogs.
Dog popsicles
Dog popsicles are a delicious and safe frozen treat your pup can enjoy during the warmer months. There pupsicles will help your pooch cool down on a hot day and are made with just a few everyday ingredients that are healthy for dogs to enjoy in moderation.
Choose the best for your pet.
When our family was younger, just starting out, we struggled with finding extra cash for luxuries. But just like with our kids, the food we feed our dogs matters.
You don't have to spend a fortune feeding your dog expensive food. You can make delicious dog treats at home for much less than you would buy it for. Making healthy choices for your dog can be a matter of life or death.
Our dog, Arwyn, passed away at age 5 after we fed her a common popular dog food often found in the grocery stores. It wasn't made in the USA, where the standards are higher for what goes into pet food. We thought we were giving her yummy food, and instead, we were slowly destroying her liver with harmful pesticides and poisons.
Honestly, I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for what happened. But I won't make that mistake again.
When we chose to adopt Wynter after Arwyn's death, I was so scared to feed her. I cooked her food for a long time and was terrified that it would happen again. Since then, I've learned a lot about what goes into dog food and dog treats, and it is truly shocking what big companies will do to the pets we love just to save money.
Choose the best that you can afford for your pet. Learning how to make dog food is easy, and it is even bonding with you and your furbaby!
