Homemade Dog Treats: Simple Recipes and the Ingredients to Avoid

Never in the bowl

Xylitol, which appears in peanut butter and baking products as a sweetener and causes a catastrophic drop in blood sugar. Chocolate and cocoa. Raisins, sultanas and grapes. Macadamias. Onion and garlic in any form. Check peanut butter labels every time, because manufacturers reformulate without announcement.

Three-ingredient biscuits

Mash two ripe bananas with about a cup of rolled oats and a heaped tablespoon of xylitol-free peanut butter. Roll into small balls, flatten, and bake at 180°C for about 15 minutes until firm. They keep a few days in an airtight tin, or freeze well.

Frozen ones for hot days

Plain unsweetened yoghurt blended with a little pumpkin purée or banana, spooned into an ice tray and frozen. Useful in a South African summer and useful as a way of slowing down a dog who eats too fast. Small portions — dairy in quantity upsets plenty of dogs.

Dried liver

Cheap, and the highest-value training treat most dogs will ever meet. Slice liver thinly, bake low at around 120°C for a couple of hours until dry and brittle, and store in the fridge. Feed sparingly; liver in large amounts causes vitamin A problems over time.

Keep the maths honest

Treats should stay under roughly a tenth of daily calories, and homemade ones are easy to over-give precisely because you made them. Reduce the main meal slightly on heavy training days. A dog who gains weight on healthy homemade treats is still a dog who gained weight.