Easy DIY Dog Treats

Remember a year ago, when I wrote about how beneficial pets were for kids; Introducing the newest member of the family; BUTTERS.

This three month old, 25lb Husky mix has bounded into our lives unexpectedly recently when it was in need of a home, and BOY has he shaken things up around here!

I thought ONE toddler was a handful, add in a rambunctious, hairy, bouncing baby boy into the mix and you’ve got a recipe for chaos. Luckily, this pupper is proving to be one very sweet boy, and has made leaps and bounds when it comes to his training, which is a reason why I sort of fell off the radar since the 7 Day Vegan Challenge. Between the puppy, the children, the house and my husband, I have had my hands full. Luckily things have started to calm down around here and our new normal is settling in.

He is sweet, and playful and he LOVES people! His second love…TREATS.

I’m trying really hard not to spoil him, you guys, but look at that face!

He is a husky mix, so he is definitely food motivated, which has helped keep him interested in his training, but I also don’t want him over loading on unhealthy food.

Since I have an over-active imagination and I spend WAYYYY too much time on Google, I’ve discovered all of the preservatives and unnecessary additives placed into commercial pet and dog treats. The only true solution to ease my mind, was to make some homemade dog treats, so I could control exactly what my dog is eating.

Enter this DIY Dog treat recipe. It’s simple, it’s quick, and best of all I can attest that it is easy enough on a dogs tummy, that even a puppy of three months can partake. Best of all they are TASTY.

Dogs aren't so different from people and since bacon makes everything on MY table taste better, I figured it couldn't hurt to through a few tbsp worth of diced bacon into these treats. I know some people worry about the amount of bacon fat being consumed, but this recipe makes 32 small treats, so I wasn't too worried about the amount of bacon per treat, also the puree pumpkin is notorious for easing tummy troubles in dogs. This is the second batch that Butters has enjoyed and he has had no stomach issues or change to his potty visits. I substituted some diced ham we had left over from Easter dinner and it went over well ( I presume since it was gone in 3 seconds flat).

Nothing fancy here guys, just mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl, until a dough forms, roll out onto a floured surface and cut out shapes using your favorite cookie cutter. Since he is already surrounded by so many ladies, Butters treats were formed into little girlies. Place on parchment paper or nonstick pan and bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes, flip and bake for 10 more minutes. Let cool completely before letting your dog sample your creation. Store in an air tight container.