A homemade dog biscuit can be a great treat for your dog. There are some simple recipes available that allow you to utilize high-quality, human-grade ingredients. Then you know exactly what your pet is eating.
Meaty Treats
The most high-quality homemade treat can simple be cooked meat. For a special reward treat, which may be too rich to give too frequently, buy liver meat, cut into pieces and cook on the lowest setting of your oven for 5 to 6 hours or until dry. Leave out overnight to further dry so that it isn't greasy in your pockets. You can also boil it and freeze it in your freezer to make freeze-dried liver at home.
You can also make treats out of cut up hot dogs. Since hot dogs have a lot of salt, soak them overnight in water before microwaving them for 30 seconds to a minute. Dry them with a paper towel, and they are ready for the bait bag.
You can make treats out of almost any kind of meat cut by cutting it into thin strips and microwaving it for 3 to 4 minutes. Then you can cut it into pieces and dry them on a paper towel.
Kong Stuffing
Make natural interactive treats by stuffing homemade ingredients in a Kong. Good ingredients include peanut butter, cream cheese or wet food. After you have stuffed it, freeze it so your dog has to work at it longer.
You can also layer different types of treats in the Kong so your dog doesn't overload on one ingredient. You can put his kibble in there in place of a meal as long as it is blocked with a layer of cream cheese or peanut butter. You can also alternate layers of kibble and cheese and then microwave for a minute before freezing. The cheese helps keep the kibble inside so your dog has to work at it.
Natural Dog Biscuit Recipes
Mix 3 cups wheat flour, 2 cans dog food, 1 egg and 1 to 2 cups of broth, depending on desired consistency. Mix, drop on a cookie sheet and cook for 12 to 14 minutes at 375 degrees for a natural dog food biscuit.
If your dog likes peanut butter, mix 2 tablespoons corn oil, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1 cup water, 1 cup wheat flour and 2 cups white flour for peanut butter biscuits. Mix oil, peanut butter and water and then mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead the dough, roll it out and cut with a cookie cutter. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
For a recipe that uses less flour, use a 15-ounce can of salmon, 2 teaspoons of salt and one teaspoon of baking powder. Add a little flour for consistency. Mix, spread onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
For a fruity alternative, mix 3 cups oatmeal, 1 1/4 cups flour, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup oil, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup milk and two mashed bananas. Mix liquid ingredients before adding flour and oatmeal. Spread into a well-greased pan and bake for 25 minutes at 325 degrees.
If your dog has a particular allergies, there are many varities of homemade treats available. The web is full of suggestions, and there are even canine cookbooks! Enjoy cooking for your pet.