The Healthier (& Delicious!) Way to Homemade Dog Treats and Cookies
Homemade dog treats and cookies are an excellent alternative to commercially produced treats. By making your own goodies, you know exactly what you put into them (normally fresh, wholesome ingredients instead of chemicals and preservatives), and you can custom-tailor the dog treats and cookies for your canine pal - especially handy if he has allergies to certain types of foods.
It's not difficult to produce these gourmet dog treats at home. Most of them require ingredients that you'll probably already have at home... and as a bonus, dogs love the smell (and taste!) of delicious homemade goodies.
Before you start baking, be aware that some types of foods are not good for your dog (and may even be downright dangerous). These include, but are not limited to:
 
Dog and Bone Cookie Cutters |
- Chocolate and cocoa (make carob dog treats instead);
- Grapes and raisins;
- Onions;
- Macadamia nuts;
- Alcohol;
- Coffee grounds;
- Potato leaves & stems, as well as any sprouts/growths or green spots.
When baking, feel free to be creative and use different shapes or sizes. For example, we often shape cookies or biscuits into long "fingers", and lightly score them with a knife (before baking). This makes it easy to break the biscuits into pieces to use as training treats.
Store baked cookies in a tightly sealed jar for maximum freshness.
And if you're feeling particularly creative, you
can even make up "dog goodie jars or baskets"
for your friends with dogs of their own. Use a cute
dog-themed cookie cutter