Healthy Homemade Dog Treats

A lot of us consider our pooches to be our babies. And, as with any baby, you might want to occasionally spoil yours. One way you to show that love might be cooking up a batch of homemade goodies. Check out these recipes if you get the urge to indulge that four-legged buddy.

  1. Doggie biscuits

    • Bow-Wow Biscuits

      2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
      1/2 cup wheat germ
      1/2 cup nonfat powdered dry milk
      1/2 tsp. salt
      1/2 tsp. garlic powder
      1 tsp. brown sugar
      8 tablespoons meat, bacon drippings or margarine
      1 egg beaten
      2 tablespoons beef or chicken broth
      1/2 cup ice water
      crumbled bacon or grated cheese if desired

      In a large bowl, combine flour, wheat germ, dry milk, salt, garlic powder, and brown sugar. Cut meat or bacon drippings, or margarine into mixture until it is crumbly. Add egg and broth and mix thoroughly. Add crumbled bacon or grated cheese if desired. Add ice water as needed to form mixture into a ball. Pat or roll out dough on floured surface to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into bone shapes or any other desired shapes. Place on cookie sheet lined with foil and oiled lightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes about 18 large biscuits.

      Peanut-Butter Dog Biscuits
      1 1/2 cup water
      1/2 cup vegetable oil
      2 eggs
      1/4 cup peanut butter
      2 tablespoons vanilla
      2 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
      3/4 cup all purpose flour
      1 cup cornmeal
      3/4 cup rolled oats

      Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the water, oil, eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla. With an electric mixer, combine the whole-wheat flour, all purpose flour, cornmeal, and rolled oats. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and beat with the electric mixer until smooth. Roll or pat dough to a thickness of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Cut the dough with a cookie cutter and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave biscuits in the oven for one hour.

    Pooch Pops

    • You furry pal might enjoy this frozen treat on a hot day:

      1 quart fruit juice (e.g., apple juice or lemonade)
      1 ripe banana, mashed
      1/2 plain yogurt

      Blend juice, banana and yogurt thoroughly in the blender. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and/or popsicle containers and freeze.

    Turkey Jerky

    • 1 lb. ground turkey
      2 tsp. low-sodium teriyaki sauce
      2 cloves garlic, minced
      1/2 tsp. ginger

      Mix all ingredients and spread thinly across a cookie sheet. Bake for two or more hours at 170 degrees. Using paper towels, blot grease from jerky. Slice into 1-inch strips, turn over, and return to oven. Bake for two or more hours at 170 degrees. Cool and store in the freezer.