10 Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes and Organic Treats - Pt 1

In a desperate attempt to get my poor girl to stop scratching, I started reading up on dog food ingredients and learned that most commercial dog food contains meat byproducts, fillers, and general junk I didn’t want my dog eating. After that, I switched to organic dog food and treats, but that started to get very expensive. For example, the treats cost about $10 for just a small bag. To save some money, I started looking into different homemade dog food and treat recipes and found that I could save money by making my dog’s meals and snacks. In addition to the cost savings, the food I make for my dog is much healthier than commercial dog food. Most homemade dog treats keep for a week or more, and you can freeze homemade dog food, so you always have some cheap, healthy alternatives on hand for your pup. Below are my favorite homemade organic dog food and treat recipes that you can try at home. Organic Dog Treat Recipes These treats have a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and meat your dog will love. By purchasing organic ingredients, and sticking to low-sugar and low-fat options, you can keep your dog healthy as well. Peanut Butter Cookies Dogs love peanut butter, and these cookies are a great way to sneak some fish oil into your dog’s diet. Fish oil improves your dog’s coat, making it shiny, soft, and healthier. Look for organic peanut butter at your grocery store. Many commercial brands of peanut butter have unhealthy hydrogenated oils and additives. Better yet, make your own peanut butter using raw peanuts and peanut oil, and processing the mixture in your food processor. Ingredients 2 cups of flour (white or wheat, if your pup has no wheat allergies) 1 cup of rolled oats 1/3 cup of smooth peanut butter 1 tablespoon of honey 1/2 tablespoon of fish oil 1 1/2 cups of water Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the flour and oats together in a large mixing bowl. Pour in one cup of water and blend until smooth. Add in the peanut butter, honey, and fish oil and mix until all the ingredients are well blended. Slowly add the water until the mixture has a thick and doughy consistency. Lightly flour a cooking surface. Roll the dough onto the cooking surface to create a 1/4 inch thick sheet. Use a cookie cutter to create shapes. Place the cookies onto a baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes. Allow to cool completely before feeding. Pro Tip: If the dough is too sticky to roll, slowly pad more flour onto the dough ball. Chicken Jerky I give my pup these chicken jerky treats as an alternative to the store-bought raw hides. The jerky is tough and chewy, so it keeps my dog occupied for a while, and the chicken has a good amount of protein, which is good for a dog’s muscle structure. Ingredients 2 to 4 chicken breasts Directions Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove any excess fat from the chicken. Turn the chicken breast on its side and use a paring knife to slice the chicken breast into 1/8 inch thick strips. Set the strips on a baking sheet. Bake for 2 hours. Check the chicken before removing from the oven. It should be dry and hard, not soft or chewy. Allow the chicken to cool completely before serving. Store the jerky in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. Pro Tip: You can substitute sweet potatoes for the chicken in this recipe. Sweet potatoes make a healthy, vegetarian alternative.