My Favorite Dog Cookie Recipes

I enjoy making made-from-scratch dog treats for our canine friends. They always receive a "paws up" from the pooches in the neighborhood so I thought I would share my favorite recipes.

These are a labor of love and so worth the effort! Especially with recent dog food recalls, pet allergy awareness, and stale, non-descript store bought treats...making your own pup cookies gives you peace of mind knowing what your dog is ingesting. Tasty, fresh and no chemicals or preservatives since you control the ingredients. It's so satisfying to watch the dogs enthusiastically devour the homemade treats!

This lens is dedicated to our dear Daisy dog...our wonderful hound / lab mix. She so loved made-from-scratch dog biscuits. It was a joy to watch her gobble them up. I placed a photo of her and one of her favorite toys snoozing on our bed in the "Dog Treat Poll" module below...

Caution: Once your lucky pet tries them they may stick their nose up at the boxed varieties! ; )

Photo: Rupert, Naperville Humane Society, www.napervillehumanesociety.org

My All-Time Favorite Recipe! Always a Huge Hit With Our Furry Friends!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup rolled oats

1/3 cup margarine

1 cup boiling water

3/4 cup cornmeal

2 teaspoons white sugar

2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules

1/2 cup milk

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 egg, beaten

3 cups whole wheat flour

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a large bowl combine rolled oats, margarine, and boiling water. Let stand 10 minutes. Grease cookie sheets (I spray with Pam).

2. Thoroughly stir in cornmeal, sugar, bouillon, milk, Cheddar cheese, and egg. Mix in flour, 1 cup at a time until a stiff dough has formed.

3. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, mixing in additional flour as necessary until dough is smooth and no longer sticky. Roll or pat out dough to 1/2" thickness. Cut with cookie cutters and place 1" apart onto the greased cookie sheets.

4. Bake 35 to 45 minutes in preheated oven until golden brown (check at 35 minute mark to make sure they are not burnt on bottom). Cool on wax paper before serving. Store in a covered container (does not require refrigeration)

(You can substitute chicken bouillon for the beef if you - or your dog - prefer)

Drool worthy indeed!

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup cornmeal

1 cup rolled oats (uncooked)

1 cup hot water

1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil

2 eggs - lightly beaten

3 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter - smooth variety

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets.

2. Combine wet ingredients: peanut butter, hot water, oil, and eggs in a bowl. Mix until smooth. Set aside.

3. Combine dry ingredients: flour, cornmeal, and oats in a separate bowl. Mix well.

4. Pour the bowl of the wet ingredients into bowl of dry ingredients. Mix well with a hand mixer until dough forms.

5. Knead dough on a floured surface until no longer sticky (add flour as needed). Roll out dough to about 1/2 " thickness and cut into desired shapes.

6. Place on prepared cookie sheets and bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes (or firm to the touch). Remove from oven and cool until hard. (I transfer cookies to wax paper and cool on counter) Store in an airtight container.

What I've Learned Through Trial & Error

* Use fresh, quality ingredients. Take stock before you start so you don't need to run out to the store for a missing item.

* Keep an eye on the cookies near the end of the bake time. They can burn quickly...especially a second batch in a hot oven.

* Tailor your treats to the size of dog you'll be serving. For example small bone cookies for pugs and toy breeds, and larger bones and other shapes for big breeds like mastiffs and great danes.

* These recipes are very easy to adjust to what you have in your pantry or your dog's food preferences. If you make substitutions, keep an eye on dough consistency. If it's too wet, add more flour. If it's too dry, add some water.

* Let the treats cool and harden on the countertop then place in covered containers. When I give them as gifts I use festive, dog-themed tins (last Christmas I used bone shaped tins I found at Walmart) or cute gift bags with pawprints or dog images (picked those up at Target)

Photo: Babydoll, Naperville Humane Society, www.napervillehumanesociety.org

Dogs love turkey and sweet potatoes too!

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cup oat flour

1 1/2 cup brown rice flour

1 cup oat bran

1 cup mashed, cooked sweet potato

1 cup raw ground turkey

1 egg

1/2 cup water

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the sweet potato then mash. (I bake one large sweet potato for 1 hour at 400 degrees...let cool. It will slide right out of its skin. Place in bowl and mash pulp)

Combine all the ingredients and thoroughly mix until a dough forms. Roll the dough into 1" balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (much easier clean up!). Treats can be placed close together as they don't spread while baking.

Bake for 22 - 27 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

(Recipe taken from the "Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook")

1. ) BIRTHDAYS!!!

2.) CHRISTMAS!!!

3.) ADOPTION ANNIVERSARIES!!!

4.) BE KIND TO YOUR PET WEEK

5.) DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

6.) MONTHS THAT HAVE 28+ DAYS!!!

7.) DAYS OF THE WEEK THAT END IN "Y"!!!

OK thanks Bella - we get the idea! Geez, any day is good for homemade dog cookies...; )

We can eat these, but they can cause distress, illness, or even death in dogs

1.) Chocolate

2.) Alcohol

3.) Avocado / Guacamole

4.) Macadamia Nuts

5.) Grapes & Raisins

6.) Onion, Garlic, Chives

7.) Salt

8.) Xylitol

9.) Hops

10.) Fruit Pits and Seeds

For more details please go to: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.aspx

Paw Licking Good with Carob and Peanut Butter!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups oat flour

1 1/2 cups brown rice flour

1/4 cup carob powder (You cannot substitute with chocolate which can be toxic to dogs)

1/2 cup carob chips (You cannot substitute with chocolate which can be toxic to dogs)

1 egg

1/2 cup peanut butter (unsalted)

1 TB. honey

1/2 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients together and mix thoroughly. Roll into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place on an ungreased cookie sheet (they can be rather close together since they don't spread while cooking). Press each one down with a spoon or your hand to flatten the cookies.

Bake 18-22 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Store at room temperature in a loosely covered container.

(Recipe taken from the "Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook")

Perfect for the Dog Days of Summer!

Help your pooch cool off on hot days with a refreshing, homemade frozen treat!

Just mix together 16 ounces of plain yogurt, two mashed bananas, and a tablespoon of organic peanut butter and spoon into ice cube trays. Freeze for several hours then let sit on the counter about 5 minutes...so they are easier to remove.

You can also use other types of fruit such as blueberries or apples. Your dog will thank you for the cold, tasty snack!

Carrots make a great, healthy treat for your dog!

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

1/2 cup ground flax meal

1 cup steamed mashed carrots

4 TB applesauce

4 TB olive oil

1 tsp molasses

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Combine wet ingredients separately. Add wet to dry and stir just until dough comes together.

Drop teaspoon-sized balls of dough on a greased cookie sheet and flatten with a fork. (I make criss-cross patterns). Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until crunchy. Cool before serving. Store in a covered container.

(Recipe taken from "Dogscaping - Creating The Perfect Backyard & Garden For You and Your Dog")