Commercially mass produced dog treats have been known to cause various health issues in dogs. As such, many dog owners are looking for alternative sources.
Organic dog treats are expensive
While organic treats may be an option, but they are rather expensive. Moreover, sometimes, most dogs do not find them tasty enough.
We cannot do away with treats for our dogs as they are one of the best ways to train them. Dogs treats are commonly used to reinforce good behaviors during dog training.
Homemade dog treats to the rescue
So, what can dog owners do?
One great option is to make these treats yourself at home. Then, you can have delicious and nutritious treats for your dog without costing you too much.
Homemade dog treats have several advantages.
Because you have full control over the ingredients used in the treats, you will be better able to manage your dog’s weight. Owners with dogs with weight issues will be happy with this.
Another advantage of homemade dog treats is that your dog will be less prone to allergies. Your dog can avoid many of the common dog allergies that are triggered by commercially produced dog treats.
You can eliminate fillers and other items that are used in mass produced dog treats that offers no nutritional value but can cause allergies.
This is especially beneficial for puppies as they are more susceptible to allergy problems because their immune system is not fully developed yet.
Ideas for making dog treats at home
It is not difficult to make dog treats at home. You can get as creative as you want with the ingredients.
You can mix and match different foods to come up with a great tasting recipe. Even some human food can be used as they are nutritious for dogs too.
When making homemade treats, you should focus on baking natural ingredients.
Making treats from chicken
For example, creating jerky treats from chicken. Simply cut thin chicken strips and bake at a low temperature until you get the texture of jerky.
Using sweet potatoes
Treats can also be made from sweet potatoes. Thinly slice the sweet potatoes and put them in a dehydrator until they become chewy or crispy, depending on what you dog prefers.
Liver treats
Liver treats is another treat you can make at home with your dehydrator or oven. Simply put thinly sliced beef liver in the oven or dehydrator and cook until it is done. You will need to adjust your cooking time based on how thick is your meat slice.
Peanut butter treats
You can also make peanut butter treats from flour, peanut butter, salt, baking soda and honey or molasses.
But, you need to be careful with this as some dogs are allergic to peanut butter or flour. Make sure that your dog do not have these allergies before making this treat for him.
Other ingredients
Dried out banana slices and tuna chunks also make great treats for dogs.
There is no limit to what you can create. They are only limited by your imagination. Do not be afraid to experiment to see what your dog likes.
