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5 Homemade Dog Treats Your Pooch Will Love

By Alina Jumabhoy

5 Homemade Dog Treats Your Pooch Will Love

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Image courtesy of PourquoiPas @ Pixabay

Store-bought dog treats are often filled with nasty additives and chemicals – ingredients that you definitely don't want your dog eating!

While they may take a little more time and effort, homemade dog treats are so much healthier. They also give you the opportunity to get creative and cook up something that your pooch will really love.

Here are five homemade dog treats to try making:

1. Doggy Ice Cream

The hot days of summer can really take their toll on your pooch. What better way to cool your pup down than with a scoop of doggy ice cream?

This frozen treat is so easy to make, and you can really have fun when it comes to adding in different ingredients and flavors.

The method is simple...

Place half a frozen banana, or some plain yogurt, into a blender. Add in a dollop of peanut butter, along with any other ingredients you think your dog may love, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

Once you've blended this all together, it will look just like ice cream!

2. Quick and Easy Baby Food Dog Biscuits

Looking for some homemade dog treats that don't take hours to prepare and make?

This is a recipe that you will love...

All you need is two cups of an organic whole wheat flour, along with two four-ounce jars of pureed baby food. Yes, you can use other flours instead – spelt and wheat germ, and even rolled oats, work well.

When it comes to choosing the baby food...

Pretty much any flavor will do, so long as it doesn't contain any onions or preservatives.

Then, mix the flour with the baby food to form a stiff dough. Roll this out and either cut it into cubes, or use cookie cutters to create more elaborate shapes.

Then, place the treats onto a tray lined with baking paper, and bake them for about 20-25 minutes. Leave them to cool before storing them away.

Want to make these homemade dog treats a little more exciting?

Feel free to add a few other ingredients into the mix! You could try some fresh herbs, grated carrots or even a handful of berries.

3. Liver Cake

Ok, so liver cake probably doesn't sound very appealing to you, but this is something your dog will go crazy for! Liver cake makes a great training treat too, with many dogs considering this to be a high value food.

How do you make liver cake?

You need about a pound of liver (it doesn't matter which animal this comes from). You will then need to blend this up in a food processor.

Then, crack three eggs into a measuring jug, before adding in an equal amount of water. Whisk this together before mixing it in with your blended liver. Add in one pound of flour too, preferably an organic, whole wheat variety. Continue blending until the consistency is similar to that of a sponge cake batter.

Pour your mixture into a greased tray and then bake at 350F for about 40 minutes. Then, remove your cake from the oven, leave it to cool, and cut it up into bite-sized pieces.

Make sure that you don't go overboard feeding this treat to your pup. Too much liver can lead to diarrhea.

Just like with the other treats on this list, you can put your own spin on liver cake too. Add in a crushed garlic clove to give your pooch an immune boost, or some fresh herbs to give it some extra flavor. 

4. Dehydrated Meats

If you prefer your homemade dog treats to be hard and chewy, dehydrated meats are definitely worth considering.

You can pretty much pick any meat you have available to you, whether this may be chicken breast, liver, turkey slices or anything else.

Simply slice these up thinly and then place them into a dehydrator.

How long do they need to dry for?

This varies greatly depending on how thick your slices are. It can take anywhere from three hours to 12 hours. Keep checking on them during the dehydrating process – once they are fully dry, even in the middle, and snap rather than bending, then they are ready.

You can try this method with different fruits and vegetables too – sweet potatoes, apples and bananas all work well when sliced thinly.

Don't have a dehydrator?

You can use your oven instead. Simply turn the heat down to its lowest setting and make sure that you leave the oven door slightly ajar. This will allow the moisture in the meat to evaporate properly.

5. No-Bake Oat and Peanut Butter Balls

Hate baking?

Then you will love these no-bake homemade dog treats. They set in the fridge instead, and stay fresh for up to two weeks. You can prolong this even more by storing them in the freezer.

Wondering how to actually make them?

Mix together the following ingredients:

  • ¾ cup peanut butter (make sure that the peanut butter you use is made from 100% peanuts, without any additives)

  • ¼ cup water

  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (you can add in other beneficial herbs and spices too, from oregano to ginger to mint)

Keep mixing until you have created a thick batter. You may need to add a little more water to get to this stage. Then, slowly add in one and a quarter cup of oats.

You can then use your hands to form your batter into balls. Choose the size of these balls depending on the size of your dog. Then, place the treats into the fridge to set. If you are feeling extra creative, try forming the batter into different shapes, but remember that the setting times for these may then vary. 

Homemade dog treats really are so much better for your pooch than store-bought versions. This is especially true if you are in the midst of training, and need to turn to treats on a frequent basis. Not all homemade dog treats take ages to make – the ones on this list are extremely simple, and your dog will definitely be thanking you once he has a taste of what you have cooked up!

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Is Your Dog a Picky Eater?

By Alina Jumabhoy

Is Your Dog a Picky Eater?

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Image courtesy of Daria @ Pexels

Is your dog a picky eater?

This can be so frustrating to deal with, and is something that can affect dogs of every age, size and breed.

So, how do you encourage a picky eater to eat?

Here are a few tips...

Establish a Routine

Dogs thrive on a routine, and this includes mealtimes too.

Since your dog is a picky eater, you may want to feed your pooch just once a day. This can actually be better for your dog's digestive system than being fed more than once.

Try to stick to the same times when it comes to your dog's meals too.

Put your dog's food out at the same time each day, and leave it down for half an hour.

What do you do if your dog hasn't eaten it after half an hour?

Remove it and feed it to your dog again at his next mealtime.

This may seem like tough love, especially if your dog scavenges around for treats after not eating his meal. However, your dog won't let himself go hungry, making this one of the best strategies for encouraging a picky eater to eat his meals.

Don't Feed Table Scraps to Your Dog

It may be tempting to share a small bite of your meal with your pooch, but this will only encourage his picky eating. Not only will this mean that your dog won't be quite as hungry when it comes to his own mealtime, but human food always tends to be more appealing to a dog than dog food.

This is something that the whole family needs to get on board with...

The whole household needs to be consistent about this. You need your dog to learn that human food is for humans, and the only food that your dog should be eating is his own food.

Cut Back on the Treats

Does your dog get treats throughout the day?

If so, this could be why he has become a picky eater...

He simply isn't hungry!

Try cutting back on the number of treats you feed your dog.

What if your picky eater is in training?

You can always use some of your dog's food as part of his training treats. This is easy if your dog is fed on a kibble. If your dog is on a raw or home-cooked diet, you can still use part of his meal allowance as treats. This could be in the form of cooked meat, dehydrated meat or vegetables.

Make Sure That Your Dog Isn't Dining Elsewhere

Picky eater bulldog stealing food
Photo by Show 131/ CC

Do you have a cat? Or how about any other pets?

Dogs can be sneaky and clever, and often end up eating other types of pet food behind their owner's back.

If you do have other pets around the house, make sure that your dog is not able to access their food. This will not only help with your dog's picky eating, but will also prevent the whole host of health problems that could arise from your dog eating unsuitable food.

Add in Some Variety

This can be tricky, and is only something that you should do if you are willing to carry this on in the long term.

Would you like to eat the same food every single day?

Chances are, you'd get bored pretty quickly.

Well, the same applies to many dogs!

If you feed your dog a kibble, it could be worth trying some different flavors, alternating these with each mealtime.

You could also add in some fresh foods, whether this may be fresh meat, vegetables, eggs or anything else that would be beneficial to your dog.

Topping off a meal with some bone broth will usually encourage even the pickiest eater to eat, and will also provide your dog with so many health benefits.

If your dog is only eating the extra additions that you are adding in...

It may be worth considering a food change. It could be that your dog simply isn't gaining the nutrition he needs from the food that you are feeding, or maybe he just doesn't enjoy it. Many kibble-fed picky eaters often find their love of food when switched to a raw or home-cooked diet.

Make Sure That You Are Feeding the Right Amount

Do you know how much food your dog should be eating?

This not only depends on your dog's breed, but also his weight, age and energy levels. The amount of food that you should be feeding your dog will change as your dog progresses through life.

Many owners often end up over-feeding their dogs. If your dog is eating, but doesn't finish his meals, this could be because you are feeding your dog too much food.

Make Mealtimes Fun

If a dog is stressed, he will find it difficult to eat.

One way to overcome this is by making mealtimes fun.

How?

Try turning the meal into a game of hide and seek. Hide small portions of food around a room and let your dog sniff these out and eat them. This will appeal to your dog's instincts of having to work for his food.

Of course, you don't want to have to be doing that every day...

Fortunately, it doesn't take long for a dog to realize how much fun eating can be with this method. You can slowly hide smaller amounts of food, ending the game with the rest of your dog's food in his bowl.

When to Go to the Vet

Sometimes, there can be a medical reason behind a dog who has suddenly become a picky eater.

How do you know if a vet visit is in order?

Here are a few signs:

  • If your dog refuses to eat anything, and hasn't eaten anything for more than 24 hours

  • Your dog has suddenly lost weight

  • Your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea

  • If your dog is sluggish or lethargic

It can be difficult to know how to deal with a dog who is a picky eater. Rather than giving into this, try some of the above tips to encourage your picky eater to eat his own food, as this will be so much better for your dog's health in the long run.

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How to Choose a High Quality Dog Food

By Alina Jumabhoy

How to Choose a High Quality Dog Food

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Image courtesy of Marek Szturc @ Unsplash

There are hundreds upon hundreds of different dog food options out there, making it no surprise that an increasing number of owners are so confused about what to feed their beloved pooch.

So, how do you figure out the differences between each of these brands to know which one is the best?

Well, there are a few key things to look out for when choosing a high quality dog food...

BEGIN BY IDENTIFYING YOUR DOG'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS

Every dog is different, and that's partly why there are so many different dog food diets out there.

Each dog will have its own unique needs, and these can depend on:

  • Age – puppies require more calories, while senior dogs require less

  • Energy Levels – active dogs will need a higher calorie intake than less active dogs

  • Reproductive Status – pregnant pooches will need a special diet as they near their due date, while lactating mothers will also need an increase in calories

  • Allergies – food allergies are becoming increasingly common in dogs, with many pooches now requiring a grain-free diet

Wondering if your dog's breed makes a difference to the dog food you pick?

No, not really. It can be easy to believe that breed matters, with so many foods marketed towards specific breeds. However, the only real difference between these is the size of each piece of food. Small breed foods will feature smaller pieces to make it easier for small dogs to eat, while large breed foods will feature larger pieces to give the dog more to chew.

ASSESS THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DOG FOOD AVAILABLE

Once you have identified your dog's nutritional needs, you can then start to look at the various dog food types out there.

These are some of the most popular:

  • Dry Food – the most popular and convenient type of dog food, dry foods are processed at high temperatures. This then destroys many of the nutrients within the natural ingredients, requiring several supplements to be added. Dry foods also tend to contain a coating of fats and oils, as well as colorings, to make it palatable to a dog

  • Wet Food – these are usually packaged in pouches, trays or tins. Wet foods are pasteurized, meaning no preservatives are needed, and also contain higher moisture levels

  • Raw Food – the fastest growing dog food trend, a raw food diet is the most natural for your dog. However, it does take a fair amount of research, as well as freezer space, to ensure that you are feeding a balanced raw diet

  • Fresh Food – these are gently cooked in order to preserve nutrients, and are usually found in pouches or trays. Although shelf life is short due to a lack of preservatives, the ingredients used tend to be of a high quality

Of course, you don't have to pick just one of these...

Mixing and matching different options is absolutely fine, so long as you ensure that your pooch is still getting all of the nutrients needed.

READ THE INGREDIENTS

Choosing the type of dog food you want to feed helps to narrow down your options. You can now begin to look at the different versions of your chosen food type, whether this may be dry, wet or anything else.

The key to understanding the difference in quality is knowing how to read the ingredients list.

The ingredients will always be listed in order of weight, meaning that the most prevalent ingredients will be higher up on the list.

Since dogs are omnivores, meat needs to make up the majority of their diet. Make sure that the first ingredient in the food you choose is meat.

How about meat meal?

Meat meal is made by using meat remnants that aren't fit for human consumption. It often contains scraps of meat, bones, fur and feathers that you wouldn't usually choose to feed your dog. While some sources of meat meal can be of a high quality, the majority are extremely low-grade, making meat meal best avoided.

In addition to avoiding meat meal, here are a few other ingredients to stay away from:

  • Wheat and corn gluten

  • Meat by-products

  • Preservatives such as BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin

  • Food dyes

  • Rendered fat

How about fruits and vegetables?

These can provide some fantastic health benefits to a dog. Just make sure that they are used in moderation, and don't consist of the majority of your chosen food.

ALWAYS CHECK THE NUTRITIONAL ADEQUACY STATEMENT

Some dog foods are designed to be complementary. This means that they need to be mixed with something else in order to create a balanced diet.

If you want the food you feed to provide a complete and balanced meal for your pooch, check that it says this on the packaging. It will usually state the words “complete and balanced”, and will also say which stage of a dog's life it is designed for. For example, if you are feeding a puppy, you need a food that provides a balanced diet for pups.

What about foods that are designed for all life stages?

You would be best off avoiding these, because dogs do need different foods for different life stages.

RESEARCH THE BRAND

Think you've found a dog food that meets all of the above criteria?

One last thing to look into is the brand itself...

You need to ensure that the brand you pick makes use of high quality ingredients in their food. Adequate quality control in their manufacturing process is also important. Their websites should provide more information on this, along with exactly where their food has been sourced.

Can't find this information anywhere?

Then you may be best off opting for another brand that is able to be more open about how they source and make their dog food.

The food that you feed your dog is what will determine your pooch's quality of life, as well as length of lifespan. In order to keep your dog as healthy as possible for as long as possible, taking the time to ensure that you are feeding a high quality dog food is so important.

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