5-Minute Home Made Irresistible Dog Treats - Edinburgh Dog Behaviour (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep homemade dog treats from going bad? ›

Airtight containers

And if, as I do, you use preserve jars, leave the lid popped open for a while before sealing. Providing they are fully dried out, most dog treats will happily keep in an airtight container for a couple of months. Always keep an eye on them though, just in case.

There are no chews and treats that are without risk

We recommend that you avoid feeding your dog rawhide chews because the risk is often much greater than the benefits. You can easily swap out rawhide chews for safer alternatives, such as carrots, bully sticks, edible dental chews, or dehydrated animal ears.

Peanut butter banana dog treats

Combine peanut butter, banana, oats, egg and a little flour. Mix the ingredients, roll the dough, cut into shapes and bake.

Just cut up any dog-friendly fruit you have and freeze it. Better still, you can enjoy this cool treat too! Bananas and blueberries work really well, but you could also try apple or melon. Frozen blueberries are also a great option to fill up a treat ball you have if you don't want to be giving them dried biscuits.

Removing moisture from a treat through extended baking time (lower the temperature and lengthen the baking time) or post-baking dehydrating can help to extend shelf-life. It can also create a crisper crunchier treat.

❌ Pupperoni - again, these are not healthy meaty treats. They are toxic sticks of ick made to taste good to our dogs and contain both BHA and Propylene Glycol. ❌ Temptations - these are made with a "meat meal" as with some foods on the market, a meat meal can be "ANY meat that is not used for human consumption".

Some vets may recommend pig ears as a treat for dogs in moderation, while others may advise against it due to the potential risks associated with them, such as bacterial contamination, choking, and digestive issues. It's best to consult with your veterinarian to determine if pig ears are a suitable treat for your dog.

What taste is irresistible to dogs? ›

Tests have shown that most dogs prefer beef and pork over chicken and lamb. They also prefer warm, moist foods over cold, dry foods. Of course, just like people, each dog has individual preferences.

Bone broth's savory aroma and taste are often irresistible to dogs. Just mix it with regular food or moisten dry kibble with it and you likely have a winner. In addition, bone broth is rich in minerals and nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, and can be beneficial for dogs' joint health and digestion.

Many ingredients of our organic dog treats have great nutritional profiles, and some can also help to preserve food. Examples of the natural preservatives that we include in our recipes are ginger, lemon, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, oregano, and star anise.

If you have homemade treats with meat in them, it's important to note that 3-4 days are all they're good for when stored in the fridge. Baked dog treats with peanut butter can last a bit longer when chilled – about a week is good for these.

I suggest putting them in an air tight container or freezer bag and storing them in your freezer rather than adding chemicals. The component of dry dog food and treats that spoils first is the fat content, which go rancid thru oxidation… second by mold growth fueled by a high moisture content.

Pet food that IS healthy for your dog will contain natural preservatives like vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), or rosemary. While these natural preservatives don't offer as long of a shelf-life, they are a much safer choice for your dog.