The only sure way to make certain your dog eats healthy foods, made from the best, safest ingredients is to make your own food and treats at home. There are many great recipes for dog treats and dog food that can be found all over the Internet, and in this article, we will list a few of our favorites for you. When making your own doggie treats, you should keep in mind that there are certain ingredients that really aren’t safe for dogs, and keep in mind as well your own dog’s particular digestive system, as well as any allergies he may have. Gather your ingredients, print off some of these recipes, and have fun!

Yummy Apple Treats

What You Will Need:

• 2 cups of whole wheat flour
• ½ cup of unbleached flour
• ½ cup cornmeal
• 1 apple, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 smoothly beaten egg
• 1/3 cup pure vegetable oil
• 1 packed tablespoon of brown sugar
• 3/8 cup of water

Once you have gathered your ingredients, you will start heating up your oven. For this recipe, it should be set at 350 degrees, and you will need to allow it to pre-heat. Find a cookie sheet, and lightly spray it with a vegetable baking spray, so your treats won’t stick. Next, in a large bowl, blend your flours and cornmeal together. Add the remaining ingredients, and mix them well.
Flour your counter, table, or cutting board, and roll out your dough until it is approximately 7/8 of an inch in thickness. You can use cookie cutters, or anything round, to cut out your treats with, and then put them on your cookie sheet so that they don’t touch each other.
Leave them in the over for about 40 minutes, and then turn the oven off, but leave the door closed, so that the treats will get crispy. This usually takes about an hour.
This recipe will make about 24 treats.

Doggie Cakes

What You Will Need:

• 2 ¾ cups of water
• ¼ cup pure, unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 egg
• 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract, for flavor
• 4 cups of whole wheat flour
• 1 cup of fruit, preferably dried
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder, for fluffy cakes

Your oven should be allowed to heat up to 350 degrees for this recipe. Start by blending your applesauce, water, vanilla, honey, and egg together. Then add your flour, fruit, and baking powder, again mixing well. Once everything is blended together, you will want to spray your muffin pan with non-stick baking spray, and then put the mixture into the cups, just as you would if you were making cupcakes. The cakes will need to bake for about 1 hour and fifteen minutes.
This recipe will make about 14 doggie cakes.

Meaty Stick Treats

What You Will Need:

• 3 ½ cups of flour
• 1 cup of cornmeal
• 1 pack of non-flavored gelatin
• ¼ cup of milk, whole is best
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup of pure corn oil
• 1 jar of meaty baby food, pureed beef
• 1 cube of beef bouillon
• ¾ cup of beef stock, or boiling water

Take your beef bouillon cube and allow it to completely dissolve in water. Using a sifter and large bowl, mix your dry ingredients together, until thoroughly mixed. Next, add in your egg, milk, beef, bouillon, and oil. Mix completely. Flour your counter or cutting board and roll the mixture out flat using your rolling pin. Cut this into approximate 3 inch sticks, and twist a few times so they stay together well. Heat your oven to about 400 degrees, grease a cookie sheet, place the sticks on the sheet, and allow to bake for about 40 minutes. Removed baked sticks and place in the fridge to cool before giving them to your canine pal!

Irresistible Puppy Cookies

What You Will Need:

• 2 cups of rye flour, sifted please
• ½ cup of pure vegetable oil
• ½ white flour, also sifted
• 2/3 cup heated water
• ¼ cup of cornmeal

Blend all ingredients together well in a large bowl. You may add vanilla or some other extract for flavoring if you wish. Flour your work surface, and roll your dough out onto it. Cut out the cookies with your favorite cutter, and place them onto a sparingly greased cookie sheet. Your oven will need to heat to 350, and the cookies will bake for about 30 minutes. Allow them to cool before giving them to your pup!

Hot Day Treats

What You Will Need:

Approximately 32 ounces of plain, vanilla yogurt
1cup or so of peanut butter, creamy or crunchy

In a glass bowl, melt the peanut butter in the microwave, so you can blend it with the yogurt well. When the peanut butter is completely melted, add in the yogurt, and blend together. Pour the mixture into an empty ice cube tray, or other freezer container, and allow to freeze. When your puppy needs to cool off on a hot day, whip one out as a special treat!

by Cristy & David Giacomini - Holistic Dog (www.holisticdog.com)
For your dog’s mind, body & soul.

This article may be reprinted as long as it’s reprinted in its entirety including the signature line.