My dogs love homemade dog food and homemade treats. They still love their kibble and regular treats, but they know how to search the grocery bags for the good stuff. I wanted to share 5 of my favorite homemade dog food recipes and some homemade dog treat recipes too.
Chicken, Rice, Veggies & Apples
I started making this for my shih tzu, Hayleigh, (RIP) when she was a puppy. She was a picky eater and would eat this when she wouldn’t eat anything else. She always got this on her birthday along with a special doggie cake and ice cream.
- 5 cups water
- 2 pounds mixed bone-in chicken
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- wings, legs, thighs
- 1 head fresh broccoli
- 6 large carrots
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- or a bag of baby carrots
- 3 apples
- 2 cups brown rice
Cut broccoli, carrots, and apples into very small pieces. I usually grate the carrots and apples, and cut the broccoli into extra-small pieces.
Boil the chicken until it’s all fully cooked. Remove and place in a bowl to cool.
Add the broccoli, carrots and apples into the boiling water, let boil for about 10 minutes.
Add the rice to the boiling water, let boil 7 or 8 minutes, then cut the heat to medium.
Remove all bone from the chicken! I usually strip each piece of chicken to very small pieces to make sure I leave no bone to hurt their tummies.
Add the chicken back into the mixture and stir. Make sure the rice, veggies, and apple are completely cooked.
I usually have an audience at my feet from the moment I start cutting the veggies, because they know if they smell the chicken, and I’m cutting veggies, I’m cooking for them.
Even if I’m not haha
Ground Turkey with Veggies
This recipe is very quick and easy! You can change up the type of meat occasionally, or add apple for extra vitamins and nutrients.
It actually tastes very good with chicken and apple. Yes I do taste test.
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 6 cups water
- 2 cups brown rice
- 1 packet frozen broccoli, cauliflower, carrots
- 1 tsp rosemary
Put everything together in a single cooker and stir often. Cook until all veggies and the rice are fully cooked.
Homemade Dog Treats
Enough with the healthy stuff, let’s move on to treats! That’s the best part of the day anyway, right? At least Xavier thinks so!
Flea Fighting Cookies
Garlic is a natural repellant of fleas. Adding garlic powder to these cookies gives them a great flavor that your dogs will love, while freshening breath, and repelling fleas.
- 3 cubes beef bouillon
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 2/3 cup brewers’ yeast
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 egg yolks
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Dissolve beef bouillon cubes in boiling water and set aside.
Grease the cookie sheet.
Stir the following together in a large bowl: whole wheat flour, cornmeal, brewers’ yeast, garlic powder.
Add yolks and slowly stir in the cooled bouillon water until a firm dough is formed.
Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut using a knife or cookie cutters.
Bake for 20 minutes, turn the oven off, and let the cookies set in the oven for at least 3 hours to harden. You may leave them overnight.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Doggie Sweet Potato Sweet Treat
- 1 large sweet potato
- 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 eggs
Preheat oven to 350 F. Stab sweet potato several times with a fork to vent. Heat it in the microwave for about 6 minutes, or until tender. Discard the skin and mash with a fork. Transfer about half of the sweet potato to a large bowl.
Mix in the whole wheat flour, applesauce, and eggs until a nice stiff dough forms. Roll out on to a flat, floured surface to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut shapes using a knife, pizza cutter, or cookie cutters. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until crisp.
Peanut Butter-Vanilla Cookies
- 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3 tbsp low-sodium peanut butter
Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly grease (or spray) 2 large baking sheets. Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Slowly mix in the water, applesauce, and vanilla. Stir in the eggs and peanut butter.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until it isn’t sticky. Roll out to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into 75 equal pieces and place on baking sheets.
Bake for 15 minutes, turn the oven off and allow them to set for another 30 minutes. Remove and allow to cool completely.
Why You Should Feed Homemade Dog Food and Homemade Dog Treats
I don’t feed my dogs homemade dog food or homemade dog treats exclusively. There are vitamins and minerals they may miss out on if you don’t balance out their meals with healthy kibble or other types of dog food. I do recommend feeding homemade dog food on special occasions and any time your dog feels down.
Like humans, dogs often refuse to eat if they feel bad or are depressed. A nice healthy homemade meal makes everyone feel better, and you know your dog’s special treat comes from the best place on earth; you.
