Homemade Natural Dog Treats

We have been thinking lately that our furry four-legged friends deserve a little DIY love… do they not? Matt and I don’t have pets – yet – but would love to help pet owners with natural DIY ideas. When my friend Andrea offered to pass along a homemade dog treat recipe for the website, we had to share it with you! She says her own dogs go NUTS for these treats, and the lingering smell of peanut butter is a bonus. You most likely have the simple ingredients on hand and the prep time is minimal so let’s make some doggy treats.

Andrea’s Homemade Dog Treats

• 2 tablespoons of your favorite cooking oil (unsweetened applesauce can also be used)
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter (natural is best–no sugar!)
• 1 cup filtered water (find the best water purification systems here)
• 3 cups flour (find easily digestible sprouted flour here)

Andrea says: “Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl – I like to use my hands because it’s pretty thick. Grease a cookie sheet (we used olive oil) and smash the dough onto the sheet. Cut dough into desired shapes before baking. I use cookie cutters for treats I plan to give away, but just a pizza cutter for our dogs. Bake for 20 minutes at 350°, cool, break apart and serve! The recipe is simple, and costs us only $0.40 for a month’s worth (for two dogs)! I also freeze them in separate batches (a week’s worth) so the treats stay fresh longer.”

Don’t you just love the bone-shaped treats?

You can find bone shaped cookie cutters at craft stores, online, or you can make them yourself.

Your Dogs AND Friends Will Love You

These treats are a huge money saver for those who normally buy store bought; and they make cute gifts, even if you’re not a pet owner. Your end result should be a chewy treat. I made a batch for my sister (who just got two new dogs!) and for Matt’s dad and step-mom (who also recently got a dog). Andrea said she gives these treats to family, neighbors, coworkers, and friends, who all swear their dogs go crazy for them.

WARNING: After getting a taste of these new treats, dogs have been known to stalk the area where treats are stored. Bags of unattended treats risk the possibility of being raided and left empty!

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