Homemade dog treats are healthy, budget-friendly, and if your pup could talk, we’d bet they’d agree that homemade treats are just as tasty (if not more so) than store-bought dog biscuits. Plus, you don’t need to be a gourmet chef to make them—nearly anyone with an oven, fridge, or both can make homemade dog treats at home. With that being said, here are three vet-approved DIY dog treat recipes to help you get started. 

Sweet Potato Bites 

If you’re looking for a dog treat that’s versatile and filled with nutrients, you may want to give this Sweet Potato Bites recipe a try. These tasty treats can be made in one of three ways: cubed (quick-and-easy training treats), rounds (standard dog treats), thin cuts (crunchy jerky treats). 

“​​One of our favorite homemade dog treats are sweet potato bites,” says Daniel Caughill, co-founder of The Dog Tale. “The best part is that there’s only one ingredient! This means they’re free from the nasty preservatives and fillers you’d find in most dog treats,” Caughill continues. “Additionally, sweet potato is a healthy source of fiber and other vitamins for dogs.”  

Ingredients: 

• 2–3 sweet potatoes

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 250º Fahrenheit. 
2. Cut the sweet potatoes into one of the three shapes listed above.
3. Spread the sweet potatoes across one-to-two baking sheets. 
4. Bake for three hours.

Pro tip: Keep half of your treats in an airtight container (they should last one-to-two weeks) and store the other half in the freezer for when the first half runs out.

The Un-Omelet 

Have you ever dreamed of enjoying brunch with your dog? Well, now you can! The Un-Omelet is a deconstructed omelet treat made with one egg, spinach, and spirulina.  

“The Un-Omelet is an amazing three-ingredient treat for dogs,” says Johnna Devereaux, a clinical pet nutritionist for Bow Wow Labs. “It’s good for your dog and good for their bodies. They are going to love licking that bowl clean.” 

Ingredients: 

• 1 egg
• spinach
• 1 tbsp. spirulina 

Instructions: 

1. First, put your spinach in the blender. (If you have a dog who has had calcium oxalate stones in the past, Devereaux suggests leaving the spinach out of this recipe.)
2. Break down the cell walls. 
3. Add one teaspoon of spirulina and one egg yolk. (If your eggs didn’t come from the grocery store, Devereaux recommends tossing the shell in too! The shell is rich in calcium and the membrane in the shell supports joint health.) 
4. Blend and serve!

Frozen Apple Treats  

If your dog appreciates gnawing on an ice cube on a hot summer day, then they’ll love this next dog treat recipe. Made with apples (probably red, but if your pup can tolerate green apples, go for it!) and Greek yogurt, this frozen treat is perfect for 

Ingredients:

• 2–3 apples 
• Greek yogurt 

Instructions: 

1. Blend apples to make a puree. 
2. Sieve to remove any seeds.
3. Combine equal parts of Greek yogurt and apple puree into a small bowl and mix. 
4. Pour mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze. 
5. Let the treats freeze overnight. 

Pro tip: According to Corinne Wigfall, BVM BVS, BVMedSci, and veterinary spokesperson for the online dog training resource SpiritDog Training, frozen dog treats can last up to six months. So it’s OK to make these treats in advance! 

FAQ 

If you’ve never made homemade dog treats before, you probably have a few questions that need to be answered before you get started in the kitchen. We reached out to Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS, and veterinary surgeon and veterinary consultant for FiveBarks, for answers to the most common questions about homemade dog treats and she filled us in. 

How long do homemade dog treats last? 

How long a dog treat will last depends on the ingredients. Most dog treat recipes include oats, eggs, bananas, flour, peanut butter, honey, and/or sweet potato. When kept in a sealed container and refrigerated, these types of treats will usually last about three days before going bad.

Can you use regular flour for dog treats?

Regular flour can be used unless your dog is on a grain-free diet. A grain allergy, while often touted as the cause for a dog’s skin issue or digestive upset, is actually not that common. It is more common for dogs to be allergic to dairy than grains. So, if you are suspicious of your dog

having allergies, stay away from milk and butter when you bake.

Are bananas good for dogs?

Bananas act as a good binding ingredient and are nutritious. They contain a range of vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. Bananas provide a sweetness to a recipe, which many dogs enjoy.

Are peanut butter cookies safe for dogs?

Peanut butter is also very nutritious and is a favorite of many pooches. High in protein and fats, it is a great option after a long walk or hike. However, if your dog is prone to pancreatitis, you may want to give this high-fat treat a miss.