Are you tired of being bombarded by pet food ads? Don’t want to feed your dog treats high in fat, sugar, and preservatives? We know exactly how you feel. First off, like all branded snacks, these treats break the bank. But we also know they’re an absolute disaster for your dog’s health.
There has to be a solution, right?
There is! Just like we love to snack, dogs do too. But you can solve the problem using foods you’ll commonly find in your kitchen. You can even try a few homemade dog treats.
15 healthy, natural treats to keep in your kitchen
Before we start, we should first talk about how often to give treats. We’re all guilty of tossing our dog one, two, or ten too many treats. Even if they’re super healthy, it can still substantially impact a dog’s diet. That’s why vets recommend that treats and snacks should never account for more than 10% of a dog’s daily calories. Otherwise, you’ll end with a rather porky pooch.
Are Woof Crate treats healthy?
All our Dog treats are 100% natural, made by local businesses right here in Canada, as well as just across the border. While some of our treats are… well, a treat (not everything has to be completely healthy), most of our treats are extremely good for your pups.
For example, high protein, all-natural bully sticks are perfect for preventing tartar and plaque buildup. Indeed, when selecting our treats, we consider the health of your dog to be paramount. So, don’t expect month after month of processed high-fat food.
That’s just not us.
Still, there are plenty of healthy dog treats to be found in your kitchen cupboards. Here’s some to consider.
Apples
Your dog will struggle to manage a whole apple a day – even if it keeps the vet away. Still, a few small chunks are a perfect quick and easy snack. Just make sure to keep the seeds and core away from pups.
Carrots
Chock full of vitamins and minerals – including vitamin C – carrots are a cheap dog treat. If you want, cut some carrot chunks and head to the park. They’re ideal if you’re practicing your dog’s training.
Watermelon
Who doesn’t like watermelon? Turns out dogs love it. Give them a slice, and they’ll happily chow down on this delicious and hydrating treat.
The only downside is the sheer number of seeds you need to remove. Oh, and take the rind away before you give your dog a piece.
Green beans
Plain green beans – preferably cooked – are another easy snack. If you’ve got any leftovers from Sunday dinner, just slip a few into your dog’s bowl. They’ll love these dog treats.
Green peas
Don’t stop the green veg at beans. Peas are also an awesome dog treat. Throw a small handful in your dog’s bowl with some carrots. Or watch their funny faces when you give them a few frozen peas.
Banana slices
Bananas are the best. They even come in their own wrapper. Fortunately for dogs, humans are here to peel their bananas for them. They don’t call us best friends for anything. However, as bananas have a high sugar content – making them so delicious – go easy on this dog treat.
If you really want to treat your dog, how about peanut butter and bananas on toast. Now that’s a pretty special homemade dog treat.
Strawberries
Red and delicious. Your dog will go wild for strawberries. Just remember that, like bananas, they’re high in sugar. So, only give them a few at a time. Still, being high in vitamin C, it’s better than any branded treats.
Blueberries
Continuing the berry theme, blueberries are super safe for dogs to eat. Brimming with antioxidants, they’ll battle signs of doggy aging, including in the brain!
Cooked squash or pumpkin
If it’s that spooky time of year again, you’ve likely got a big pile of pumpkins lying around. Don’t let it go to waste. Not when it can make an ideal dog treat. Be careful of the seeds, though. Whether you’re giving your dog butternut squash, zucchini, or pumpkin, seeds are a major danger.
Cooked sweet potatoes
Not the simplest dog treat, but definitely one of the best. Just fire up the oven and give the sweet potato a roast. Or if you’ve got leftovers from a meal, let your pooch use them up. However, don’t feed raw potatoes of any kind to a dog, as they can make them seriously sick.
Broccoli
The benefits of broccoli are simply staggering. The sheer number of vitamins and minerals is difficult to believe. Plus, you don’t have to cook broccoli before giving it to dogs. Though, it does help them digest their meal more easily.
Homemade healthy treats for your dog
Not all dog treats need to be fruit and veg, however. You can even cook them yourself. Here are a few ideas:
Super simple peanut butter and banana dog treat
The recipe is simple:
- Mash a banana in a bowl
- Mix with ½ cup of peanut butter and 1 cup of plain yogurt
- Place mixture into a mold
- Freeze overnight
That’s it. Simple and delicious.
Sweet potato and peanut butter doggy treat
- Preheat oven to 350oF
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper
- Mix 1 cup of mashed sweet potato with ½ cup of peanut butter
- Add ¼ cup of whole wheat flour. Keep adding flour (up to 1 cup), stirring continuously till dough forms.
- Roll out the dough and cut out shapes.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
Thank us later.
Yogurt and berry dog treats
This one’s so simple; we don’t even need to write out the recipe. Just place chunks of strawberries and blueberries into a mold. Cover with yogurt, then freeze overnight.
Wow! And it’s pretty delicious for owners too.
Fancy mint dog biscuits
Alright, this one takes a little work. But we promise it’s worth it.
You’ll need:
- ½ cup of finely chopped fresh mint
- ½ cup of finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp of dill
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup of water
- 3 tbsp of coconut oil
- 2 ½ cups of oats or whole wheat flour
What to do:
- Preheat oven to 325oF
- Blend oats in a food processor until flour-like
- Mix parsley, mint, dill, egg, oil, and water in a bowl
- Add blended oats into bowl and mix
- Knead mixture on a floured surface and then roll.
- Cut out shapes and place on a parchment paper-lined tray
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown
Send us happy photographs of your dog eating his/her healthy natural snacks at happy@woofcrate.ca for a chance to get your dog featured on our instagram!
Have a great day!
