Our dogs rely on us for their nutrition, and ensuring that your dog is getting the proper Staffy diet is crucial for their health. However, too many commercially-available treats can quickly make your Staffy overweight and lethargic – a far cry from the athletic, energetic dog breed we all know and love.
Making your own dog treats is a great way to show your pup some extra love, and you also get to know exactly what ingredients are going into the treats and that they’re fresh and healthy. Whether you’re looking for an easy way to spoil your pup or just want to give them some homemade treats, here’s how to make your own dog treats at home.
Gather Your Ingredients
First things first: gathering your ingredients! You’ll need flour, rolled oats, baking powder, salt, eggs, peanut butter or yoghurt, oil or butter (optional), and any additional flavourings like honey or dried fruit. If you have a sensitive pup, opt for gluten-free flour instead of regular flour. Additionally, if you’re using peanut butter, make sure it’s unsalted and doesn’t contain xylitol which is toxic to dogs.
Mix the Dough
Once you’ve gathered all of the ingredients, you can start making the dough. In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients: flour, oats, baking powder and salt until combined. In a separate bowl whisk together the wet ingredients: eggs (or egg substitute), peanut butter or yoghurt and oil or butter (if using). Combine the wet ingredients with the dry until everything is well mixed together into a dough. You may need to add more flour depending on how sticky it is. Once combined knead the dough lightly with your hands and then roll it out into a flat surface about ¼ inch thick.
Cut Out Treats
Now comes the fun part – cookie cutters! Take out whatever shapes you have for cookie cutters and press them onto the rolled-out dough to create shapes for your dog’s treats. Once all of your shapes are cut out, place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C for 15 minutes or until golden brown on top. Let cool completely before giving them to your pup!
Optional Toppings
You can also go one step further by adding optional toppings to make their treats even tastier! For instance: melted cheese (make sure it’s low-fat), bacon bits (low-sodium), plain Greek yoghurt (unsweetened), mashed banana or applesauce (unsweetened). Simply spread these toppings over each treat before baking.
Store in an Airtight Container
Once cooled off completely, store these homemade dog treats in an airtight container either in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze for up to 3 months so that they stay fresh longer.
When feeding these delicious homemade treats, moderation is key. Overfeeding a Staffy is always a danger since they tend to love gobbling up anything you put in front of them.
