Tag: homemade dog treats

Homemade Pineapple Dog Treats

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Made with just 4 ingredients, these Pineapple Dog Treats were inspired by leftover cans of pineapple-flavored water from my daughter’s birthday party.

How to make our Pineapple Dog Treats

Pineapple Dog Treat Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup fresh pineapple
  • 1/3 cup pineapple-flavored water, filtered water, or broth
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Chop fresh pineapples.
  2. Add chopped pineapples, egg, and water/broth to mixing bowl.
  3. Mix to incorporate ingredients.
  4. Add whole wheat flour and mix well.
  5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  6. Spray the silicone mold with coconut oil non-stick cooking spray.
  7. Spread the batter over the mold.
  8. Run spatula over mold to make sure the cavities are filled.
  9. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
  10. Let cool, then pop dog treats out of the mold.
  11. Store treats in an airtight container.

Have fun making your very own dog treats!  These molds make perfect size training treats that are also a convenient size to use with treat dispensing toys.  But, you can shape these treats in whatever way works best for you and your dog.

Can dogs eat pineapples?

Yes, dogs can eat pineapples. While pineapples are generally considered safe for dogs to consume in moderation, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

  1. Moderation: While pineapples offer health benefits, they should be given to dogs in moderation. Too much pineapple can lead to digestive upset or diarrhea due to its high fiber content and natural sugars. It’s best to introduce pineapples gradually and observe how your dog reacts to them.
  2. Remove the Core and Skin: Before offering pineapple to your dog, make sure to remove the tough core and prickly skin. The core is difficult to digest and can pose a choking hazard, while the skin is tough and difficult to chew. Only serve your dog the ripe, juicy flesh of the pineapple.
  3. Natural Sugars: Pineapples contain natural sugars, which can contribute to weight gain and other health issues if consumed excessively. Monitor your dog’s overall calorie intake and ensure that pineapples are given as a small portion of their diet.
  4. Allergies and Individual Sensitivities: As with any new food, it’s essential to watch for any signs of allergies or sensitivities. While pineapples are not common allergens, individual dogs may have sensitivities or reactions. Start with a small amount and monitor your dog closely for any adverse reactions.

Please consult with your veterinarian before introducing any new food to your dog’s diet, especially if your dog has specific dietary needs or health conditions.

How to Make Pineapple Dehydrated Dog Treats

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Dehydrated pineapples are the best treats that you and your dog can enjoy! Ruger our Bullmastiff absolutely loves pineapples. But, we only serve these as extra special treats — I don’t make them often, and when I do, she doesn’t get more than half a slice a day. I’m probably guilty of eating these faster than she does! 😂

Tools:

Instructions:

  1. Place a non-stick tray at the bottom of the dehydrator to catch any juices that fall.
  2. Lay pineapple slices on the dehydrator trays
  3. Slide one tray into each slot of the dehydrator.
  4. Set temperature to 165 degrees.
  5. Set time to 7 hours.
  6. Remove the pineapples and enjoy with your canine buddy!

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Pumpkin, Parsley + Mint Homemade Dog Treat Recipe

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Our Bullmastiff absolutely loves these homemade dog treats as can been seen in this YouTube Short!

Our Bullmastiff girl is about to go into heat and has been licking herself quite a bit. I created this pumpkin dog treat with mint to help with her dog breath, and she absolutely loves it! As soon as she hears the bar start to open, she races to the kitchen for a piece.

See the recipe below. You can definitely roll out the dough and cut it into symmetrical shapes with a cookie cutter for a more professional look. But, I wanted to see if these treats could be made without having to pull out a bunch of extra kitchen tools.

PUMPKIN, PARSLEY & MINT
HOMEMADE DOG TREATS RECIPE

Ingredients:

Recipe:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Pour the broth into a measuring cup.
  3. Add the chia seeds, turmeric, parsley, mint, and Sun-Coco oil to the broth.
  4. Mix well to incorporate all of the ingredients.
  5. Add the mixture to a mixing bowl.
  6. Add the whole wheat flour, eggs, and pumpkin to the mixing bowl.
  7. Mix the ingredients until well incorporated.
  8. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
  9. At this point, you can either:

Directions:

  • Roll out the dough to cut into symmetrical, perfect shapes with a cookie cutter, OR
  • Place the batter on a long piece of plastic wrap, then roll it into a tight log before slicing into pieces. This will result in a more rustic, organic, homemade feel of the dog treats (as seen in our images).

Dog Toy for a Big Dog: West Paw Tizzi

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We have gone through several dog toys since bringing home our Bullmastiff. While she loves plush toys, she’s torn open plush dog toys from Kong and Tuffy’s, so we always have hard chew toy, such as a Benebone, available for her to chew on. This West Paw Tizzi dog toy, however, has a specific use.

SUGGESTED USE:
We use the West Paw Tizzi to keep our Bullmastiff occupied when we are leaving the house. We fill the pit with her favorite dog treat and give it to her just before we walk out the door. She’s happy…and we’re happy that she’s happy.

The dog treat used in the video is a Carob Apple Pupcake. We used to offer this dog treat when we operated a gourmet dog bakery in Humboldt County, California.

TIPS:

  • Don’t pack the dog treats into the pit too hard, or your dog may not be able to get the treat out.
  • It’s been trial and error, but I find that the homemade dog treats I make for our dog have the best consistency to allow your dog to get to the bottom of the pit, but I have used store bought treats as well.
  • Bananas work very well with the Tizzi!

Looking for some fun games to do with your dog?

Check out Brain Training for Dogs by certified dog trainer Adrienne Farricelli that provides incorporates both trick training and obedience training into this program. This program is also great for eliminating any bad behaviors by tapping into your dog’s hidden intelligence.

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2-Ingredient Dog Treat NO BAKE: Coconut Oil Hearts with Beetroot Powder

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This is the easiest dog treat recipe that only requires two ingredients: coconut oil and beetroot powder!

Can dogs eat beets? 

Yes! In fact, beetroot powder has many nutritional benefits for dogs. Click the image above for our YouTube Short.

According to the American Kennel Club:  

“Beets are loaded with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, including Vitamin C, potassium, folate, and magnesium. The skin contains betalain pigments, which have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. 

In moderation, as a snack or food topping, beets are beneficial to a dog’s skin and coat and their digestion. Your dog should be getting all the nutrients they need in their regular diet, so think of beets as a little something extra.”

Reinsen, Jan. “Can Dogs Eat Beets?” American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-beets/. Accessed 12 February 2023.

COCONUT OIL + BEETROOT POWDER DOG TREAT RECIPE

Ingredients:

Tools:

Instructions:

  1. Melt 1/2 cup of coconut oil.
  2. Add 1/4 tsp. of beetroot powder to the melted coconut oil.
  3. Pour mixture into silicone molds for easy removal.
  4. Let it stand at room temperature to re-harden overnight.
  5. Remove from mold and serve to our dog!

Instant Pot Dog Food Idea #1: Hard-Boiled Eggs for Dogs

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Did you know that eggshell membranes are one of the best sources of nutrition for your dog? 

As shared in the video at the very bottom of this blog post by pet experts, Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib, eggshell membranes provide joint support for our dogs that helps with joint degeneration such as arthritis.

I don’t care for hard-boiled eggs, so I never bothered to learn how to make them.  But, I eventually tried to make them when my two kids, husband, and dog all wanted to eat them on a routine basis…but I always failed!  I always overcooked the eggs when trying to prepare them by stove. It didn’t matter if I boiled them for 6 minutes or 9 minutes, there was always a gray or green ring around the yolk.  I even undercooked them once, which everyone, except for our Bullmastiff, thought was gross.

Then, I was clued in by a friend who had invited us to Thanksgiving dinner last year. She had prepared deviled eggs and used the Instant Pot to hard boil the eggs!  Did you know that the Instant Pot could make perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs?  Knowing that eggshell membranes are an excellent addition to dog food, I was excited to try this new hack! 

I didn’t have an egg holder on-hand, but I did have our mesh steamer basket that I use when making homemade bone broth (post coming soon!)…so I gave it a shot.  While there are various methods recommended, like the 5-5-5 Method (5 minutes cooking in Instant Pot – 5 minutes naturally releasing pressure – 5 Minutes in an ice bath), the process below is what has worked best for me to produce thoroughly cooked hard-boiled eggs with no green or gray ring around the yolk:

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DIRECTIONS FOR INSTANT POT HARD BOILED EGGS

Ingredients:

  • Chicken Eggs
  • Water
  • Ice

Tools:

Instructions:

  1. Pour 1 cup of water in Instant Pot 
  2. Place mesh steamer basket in Instant Pot
  3. Place up to 8 eggs in the mesh steamer basket 
  4. Cover Instant Pot with the lid and secure in closed position
  5. Make sure the knob is set to “Sealing”
  6. Push the “Egg” button and set to 4 minutes
  7. When the Instant Pot is done and beeps, turn knob to “Venting” (NOTE: Please use caution as there is very hot steam and water that sputters out of the vent.)
  8. Use a slotted spoon to immediately remove the eggs from the Instant Pot
  9. Place eggs in an ice bath for at least 5 minutes
  10. Enjoy!

**IMPORTANT: Try to retain as much of the eggshell membrane when cracking the eggs open so you can add it to your dog’s dog food, whether you feed raw or kibble.**

Watch Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib explain why eggs are nutritious for your dog in this YouTube video: