Healthy Home-Made Dog Treats

Store-bought dog treats, as much as they’ll drive your pooch into fits of ecstasy, often contain empty carbs and can be expensive. Why not combine your love of baking with your love for your best friend and create some healthy, home-made treats that are packed full of love?

We’ve searched high and low and found you the best do-at-home doggie treats to spoil your furry fella.

Peanut Butter Bones
•    1 package dry yeast
•    ½ cup lukewarm water
•    1 cup mashed potatoes
•    1 cup milk
•    ¼ cup molasses
•    ½ cup chicken stock
•    1 cup chunky peanut butter
•    1 cup whole-wheat flour
•    ½ cup rye flour
•    ½ cup rice flour
•    1 egg
•    2 cups plain flour

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in water. In a large saucepan, mix together the potatoes, milk, molasses, stock, and peanut butter. Heat, stirring frequently until boiling. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Add yeast mixture. Gradually blend in the egg, wheat, rye, and rice flours. Add enough white flour to form a stiff dough.

Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth (about 3-5 minutes). Shape the dough into a ball and roll to 12 mm thick. Using cookie cutters, cut out biscuits. Place on ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 6mm apart. Gather up the scraps, roll out again and cut additional biscuits.

Bake for 45 minutes. Allow to cool overnight. Makes several dozen bones that freeze well.

Breath-Freshening Mint Treats
•    1 cup ground yellow cornmeal
•    1 tbsp vegetable oil
•    3/4 cup chicken broth (low or no sodium is best)
•    1 egg
•    1 tbsp grated cheddar cheese
•    2 tbsp minced fresh mint

Preheat oven to 175C. Measure cornmeal into a small bowl then, in a saucepan, bring the vegetable oil and chicken broth to a boil. Remove pan from the heat and stir in the cornmeal, then allow the mixture to cool to the touch. Spray the baking sheet with a non-stick cooking spray. Once the cornmeal mixture is cool to the touch, stir in the egg, cheddar cheese and fresh mint. Shape into 2 or 3cm balls, then flatten into cookie shapes and bake for 30 minutes.

Turn off the oven and let the cookies cool and continue to dry in the oven for one hour.

Images by mongol and pietroizzo