When I adopted my dog a few years ago, I fed her the same commercial brand of dog food she had eaten in the kennel. A few months later she began to develop heat rashes and dry skin. In a desperate attempt to make my poor girl stop scratching, I started reading dog food recipes and learned that most commercial dog food contains meat by-products, fillers, and general garbage that I did not want to eat.
After that, I switched to organic dog food and treats, but that was very expensive. For example, the treats cost about $10 for just a small bag.
To save some money, I started to process various homemade dog foods and 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 prepare for my dog is much healthier than commercial dog food. Most homemade treats last for a week or more and you can freeze homemade dog food so you always have a few cheap, healthy alternatives for your puppy at hand.
Below are my favorite homemade organic dog foods and treats recipes that you can try at home.
Organic Dog Treat Recipes
These goodies have a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and meat that your dog will love. By buying organic ingredients and sticking to low-sugar and low-fat foods, you can keep your dog healthy.
- Peanut butter cookies
- Chicken Jerky
- Frozen Yogurt Pops for Dogs
- Fruit and Vegetable Strips
- Beef and Vegetable Balls
- Turkey and Vegetable Dinner
- chicken casserole
Let’s discuss
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 and makes it shiny, soft and healthy.
Look for organic peanut butter in your grocery store. Many commercial brands of peanut butter have unhealthy hydrogenated oils and additives. Better yet, make your own peanut butter with raw peanuts and peanut oil, and process the mixture in your food processor.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of flour (white or wheat, if your puppy has no wheat allergies)
- 1 cup of oatmeal
- 1/3 cup of smooth peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1/2 tablespoon fish oil
- 1 1/2 cups of water
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix flour and oats in a large mixing bowl. Pour a cup of water and stir everything smoothly. Add the peanut butter, honey, and fish oil and mix until all ingredients are well mixed.
- Slowly add the water until the mixture has a thick and doughy consistency.
- Easily mix a cooking surface. Roll the dough on the cooking surface to get a 1/4 inch thick sheet.
- Use a cookie cutter to create shapes. Place the biscuits on a baking tray and bake for 40 minutes.
- Allow cooling completely before feeding.
Chicken Jerky
I give my puppy these Chicken Jerky treats as an alternative to the raw hides bought in the store. The jerky is tough and tough, so it keeps my dog busy 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 excess fat from the chicken. Turn the chicken breast on its side and cut the chicken breast into 1/8 inch thick strips with a paring knife.
- Lay the strips on a baking sheet. Bake for 2 hours.
- Check the chicken before removing it from the oven. It should be dry and hard, not soft or tough. Allow the chicken to cool completely before serving.
- Keep the Jerky in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Professional Tip: You can substitute sweet potatoes for the chicken in this recipe. Sweet potatoes make a healthy, vegetarian alternative.
Frozen Yogurt Pops for Dogs
If your dog loves ice cubes in the kitchen, he’ll love those frozen treats. Made from human ingredients, they contain fruit juice and carrots that give your puppy an extra vitamin boost. Yogurt has calcium and protein and can help your dog to digest food.
Keep in mind that this recipe for fat-free yogurt is a much healthier alternative to other types of yogurt, especially if your dog is overweight.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces. Container with normal, fat-free frozen yogurt
- 1 cup of sugar without added sugar
- 1/2 cup carrots, chopped
Directions
- Add the yogurt, fruit juice and carrots to a medium bowl. Stir until the ingredients are smooth and well mixed.
- Add the mixture to the ice cube trays with a spoon.
- Freeze until the ingredients are firm.
Pro Tip: Use hard plastic shells instead of the softer rubber shells to make the treats. The treats are easier to remove from a hard tray.
Fruit and Vegetable Strips
These strips work as a cheaper alternative to organic chewing products sold at pet stores. They also break apart easily, so you can serve smaller pieces as training rewards. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C, which can boost your dog’s immune system.
Ingredients
- 1 small sweet potato
- One medium banana
- 1 cup of carrots, chopped
- 1/2 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
- 2 cups of whole wheat flour (knows if your dog has allergies)
- 1 cup of oatmeal
- 1/3 cup of water
Directions
- Cook the sweet potato in the microwave for 8 to 10 minutes or until the inside is soft. Set aside and let cool.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Purée the banana and sweet potato in a large mixing bowl with a hand-held pestle until smooth. Add the carrots, flour, and oats. Slowly add the applesauce and water while mixing.
- The ingredients will form a soft dough. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface until the dough is 1/8 inch thick.
- Cut the dough into strips.
- Bake on a baking tray for 25 minutes.
- Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Pro Tip: Do not worry about overcooking the sweet potato. Softer potatoes will be easier to puree.
Beef and Vegetable Balls
Some dogs prefer meaty treats over sweet ones. These treats have a hearty meat flavor and a good aroma that all dogs love. When I did this, my dog was standing in front of the oven door, not waiting patiently for the treats to cool.
Ingredients
- 2 6-ounce jars of organic beef and vegetable baby food
- 1 cup wholemeal flour (or white substitute)
- 2 cups of dry milk
- 1 cup of water
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Put the mixture in large spoons on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
- Allow the treats to cool completely. Keep leftovers of beef and vegetable balls in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Professional tip: These treats are not as good as others. Try cutting the recipe in half if you only have one dog.
Healthy dog food recipes
Homemade dog food is healthier than the mass-produced dog food brands and significantly cheaper than most organic dog food brands. Making your own dog food takes a little time, but you can make it extra and keep it in the freezer.
Feeding your dog’s homemade dog food can reduce the risk of skin allergies, strengthen your immune system, improve your digestive system and give you new energy.
Turkey and Vegetable Dinner
This basic dog food recipe includes turkey for protein and vegetables for added vitamins and minerals. Turkey has less fat than beef, making it an ideal recipe for puppies who could lose a few pounds.
Ingredients
- 4 cups of water
- 1 pound of ground turkey
- 2 cups brown rice
- 1 cup of carrots, chopped
- A cup of green beans, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fish oil (optional)
Directions
- Fry the ground turkey over medium heat in a non-stick pan until cooked.
- Put the brown rice, turkey, and water in a large saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium to low and cook for another 15 minutes or until the rice is tender and tender.
- Add the carrots and green beans and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- Allow cooling before serving.
- Store additional dinners in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Professional Tip: Do not use heavy oil to brown the turkey. The high-fat content of the oil can upset your dog’s stomach.
Chicken Casserole
This recipe uses chicken, which is a good source of protein, and lots of vegetables to create a tasty blend. Green beans help your dog to feel full and vegetables promote a healthy intestinal tract.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breast
- 1/2 cup of green beans, chopped
- Half cup carrots, chopped
- 1/2 cup of broccoli, chopped
- Half cup of oatmeal.
- 4 cups of low-salt chicken broth
Directions
- Remove excess fat from the chicken breasts and cut the breasts into small pieces of nickel-sized chunks.
- Cook the chicken breast in a pan with a non-stick coating over medium heat until it is no longer pink.
- Put the chicken, vegetables, oatmeal, and chicken broth in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat until the carrots are tender – about 15 minutes.
- Allow cooling before serving.
- Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to five days.