As a dog owner, you want to ensure that your furry friend is as healthy and happy as possible. One way to do this is by providing them with healthy dog treats. Many commercial dog treats are loaded with artificial ingredients, preservatives, and fillers that can be harmful to your dog’s health. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of healthy dog treats and provide you with a recipe for making your own healthy treats at home.
Benefits of Healthy Dog Treats
Healthy dog treats offer numerous benefits to your furry friend. Firstly, they can help improve your dog’s overall health by providing them with essential nutrients and vitamins. Secondly, healthy dog treats can be used as a training tool to encourage good behavior. Thirdly, they can help maintain healthy teeth and gums by reducing plaque buildup. Lastly, homemade dog treats are often cheaper than commercial treats and can be tailored to your dog’s specific dietary needs.
Avoiding Harmful Ingredients
When selecting or making healthy dog treats for your dog, it’s important to avoid certain ingredients that can be harmful to their health. These ingredients include artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors, wheat, soy, corn, and excessive amounts of sugar or salt.
Homemade Healthy Dog Treat Recipe
Here’s a simple and healthy dog treat recipe you can try at home:
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Mash the ripe bananas in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the unsweetened applesauce, rolled oats, peanut butter, and cinnamon to the bowl and mix well.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough.
- Place the treats on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let the treats cool completely before serving to your dog.
Additional Healthy Dog Treat Ideas
In addition to the recipe above, here are some other healthy dog treat ideas you can try:
- Frozen blueberry treats: Mix plain yogurt and fresh blueberries, then freeze in ice cube trays.
- Carrot sticks: Raw carrot sticks are a healthy and low-calorie snack for dogs.
- Sweet potato chews: Slice sweet potatoes thinly and bake in the oven until crispy.
- Chicken and vegetable bites: Mix cooked chicken, steamed vegetables, and brown rice, then shape into small balls and bake in the oven.
Healthy dog treats can help keep your furry friend healthy and happy. By avoiding harmful ingredients and making your own treats at home, you can provide your dog with essential nutrients and vitamins while avoiding the harmful chemicals found in many commercial dog treats. Try out the recipe above or experiment with other healthy dog treat ideas to find the ones that your dog loves the most.
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2 responses to “Healthy Treats for Happy Dogs: Homemade Recipes Included”
[…] or praise every time they follow the lay down command. Check out our article with recipe about a healthy treat for your […]
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[…] When you move the treat upwards, it’s important to move it in a slow and deliberate motion, so your dog follows it with their head. As your dog’s head moves up, their body will naturally shift back, causing their hindquarters to lower to the ground. This movement is a natural response for dogs, as they tend to sit to maintain their balance when their weight is shifted towards the back of their body. By moving the treat in this way, you are teaching your dog to associate the upward movement of the treat with the action of sitting, which will help them to learn the command more effectively. Additionally, it’s important to make sure the treat is high enough to encourage your dog to sit all the way down on their haunches, as opposed to simply resting their rear end on the ground while their legs remain partially extended. If you need some delicious treats to motivate your pup, check our article here. […]
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