Have you purchased treats for your dog lately? If you’re like me, you are conscious of all the scary ingredients that can go into common brands of dog treats. Some of the ingredients in well-known dog treats are hard to pronounce—with names like Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxytoluene or Ethoxyquin. While they are hard to say, they are even harder on your dog’s body and digestive system.
High quality dog treats are expensive! Natural treats have real ingredients that we can understand and avoid common allergens like corn, wheat, grains and more. After my own sticker shock at the treats I was buying, I wanted to explore how easy it would be to make my own dog treats at home. Whether your dog has a food allergy or you just want to avoid nasty ingredients and their consequences, here are some great examples of natural DIY dog treat recipes.
Our Favorite DIY Natural & Organic Dog Treat Recipes
1Spinach, Carrot and Zucchini Dog Treats – Damn Delicious
Treat your dog to a vegetable feast with these dog treats! These DIY bones are loaded with delicious things like peanut butter, pumpkin, carrots and more. Your dog is sure to love them and you are sure to love the ingredient list.
2Homemade Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Coconut Oil Dog Treats – Moments with Mandi
Coconut oil isn’t just for humans. Dogs love it, too! It has tremendous benefits for their skin and coat. These delicious treats also feature banana and peanut butter for extra flavor. This recipe makes a great frozen treat for summertime snacking or any time of year!
We’ve got you covered if you need to buy some organic coconut oil or organic peanut butter.
3Frosty Watermelon Dog Treat Recipe – Pet Guide
Looking for more frozen dog treats? Try making frozen watermelon for your pooch! While this looks like it would be difficult to do, the process is really quite simple and something your dog will love!
4Frozen Coconut Oil and Blueberry Dog Treats – Hello Nature
Did you know that coconut oil goes great with blueberries? It’s true! The ingredients for this cool treat are simple—just blueberries and coconut oil. Your dog will love them, and you can try them, too!
5Apple Cinnamon DIY Dog Donut Cookies – Proud Dog Mom
Donuts are a yummy treat for everyone, but the ingredients aren’t always so great. Try making these donut cookies with real ingredients like apple and cinnamon to give your dog a sweet treat! These are even made with icing from Greek yogurt.
You can get the ingredients like whole wheat flour, oat flour, cinnamon and coconut oil through Swanson Health Products!
6Peanut Butter and Apple Sauce Cookies for Dogs – The Lazy Pitbull
For a quick treat with a small ingredient list, try these peanut butter and apple cookies. They will have your dog running to the oven to check out what smells so good!
Try a classic creamy peanut butter for this DIY cookie!
7Sweet Potato Dog Chews – Sophie in the Kitchen
Looking for a substitute to the messy and scary “pig ear”? Try Sweet Potato Dog Chews. There is just one ingredient—sweet potatoes! This makes a wonderful chewy alternative for your dog to savor instead of a rawhide treat.
8Carrot Oat Applesauce Treats for Dogs – Baking Mischief
For dogs that don’t like peanut butter, consider these simple ingredient DIY dog treats. They’re made with oats, applesauce and carrots, making them simply delightful!
Baking Mischief recommends using quick rolled oats for this recipe. Find those here!
9Doggie Green Bean Crunchies – SkinnyMs.
Give your dog an antioxidant boost by making these DIY Doggie Green Bean Crunchies. Antioxidants are known for their free radical fighting power. They also help strengthen the immune system as well as your dog’s skin and coat. Plus, they are grain free for dogs with allergies.
10Pumpkin Carrot Bites for Dogs – Pawsitively Pets
Pumpkin is often a go-to for dogs to soothe an upset tummy. You can keep these on hand for upset stomach days or give them as a treat every day!
You can use whole wheat flour and canned pumpkin from our store for this recipe.
11Oat and Apple Pretzel Dog Treats – The Cookie Rookie
Take out your old fashioned rolled oats and whole grain oat flour to make these crunchy pretzels. While they may look difficult to make, you’ll find them a quick and easy hit with your dog.
12Zucchini Chews Dog Treats — Homemade Dog Treats Now
Zucchini Chews are a tasty treat for your dog that also delivers nutritional value. These summer squashes contain beneficial nutrients like beta carotene, B vitamins and potassium. The ingredient list for these chews is short and simple to put together!
13Chicken Biscuits – DogVills
This DIY recipe is sure to please any chicken-loving dog! Designed with allergies in mind, this hypoallergenic dog biscuit recipe is easy to make. Rice flour is often used in dog treat recipes in place of other wheat flours which are sources of common allergens for dogs.
14Cinnamon Bites – Babble
Don’t let your pup miss out on a delicious cinnamon roll breakfast! These DIY cinnamon bites are a delicious snack addition to your dog’s morning or any time of day. Even better, you can get many of the ingredients right here with Swanson Health Products. Check out our selection of honey, nuts and more!
15Homemade Flax Seed Dog Biscuits – White on Rice Couple
Give your dog a nutrient filled treat with these homemade flaxseed biscuits! You dog will go crazy for these tasty bites that are made with simple ingredients. Get your flaxseed, bread flour and other ingredients on our website!
16Strawberry Dog Treats – Homemade Dog Treats Now
Satisfy your dog’s sweet tooth with these strawberry DIY treats. Free from artificial ingredients, this recipe uses whole wheat flour, oatmeal, fresh strawberries and other natural ingredients to ensure your furry friend gets the best possible snack.
17Apple Crunch Pupcakes – Miss CandiQuik
Dogs shouldn’t have to miss out on the delightfulness of cupcakes! Make your dog a special treat with Apple Crunch “Pupcakes.” Made with great ingredients like honey, vanilla extract and apple sauce, you may actually want to sneak one of these for yourself!
18Kombucha Treats – Cultured Food Life
If you’re a fan of kombucha, you know that you get a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast) as the after product. Most people either throw these away or plant them in their gardens, but you can also use them for probiotic dog treats!
19Buckwheat, Basil and Blueberry Dog Treats – Good Dogs Co
These are an interesting and colorful treat to make! If you find yourself wanting to treat your dog to something special, give these treats a try. You can get the buckwheat flour and whole wheat flour right on our website!
20Carob Peanut Butter Dog Treats – Hello Nature Blog
Chocolate for dogs? That’s right! These treats combine carob with delicious peanut butter to make a tasty surprise for your dog. The ingredient list is short and simple, too! Get the whole wheat flour, carob powder and peanut butter from Swanson.
21DIY Herbal Dog Treat Recipe — Mountain Rose Blog
If you’re looking to supplement some herbs into your dog’s diet, consider making these treats. Mix a variety of herbs with other simple ingredients for a unique, delicious snack.
22DIY Dog Treats: Homemade “Natural Greenies” – Swanson Health Products
Do you love what Greenies® do for your dog’s teeth but hate the high price? Our own dog mom, Courtney, made DIY “Natural Greenies” treats for her dog. She used ingredients like organic brown rice flour, liquid chlorophyll and charcoal to make her treats. Chlorophyll is a wonderful supplement that helps freshen breath by eliminating odors as well as promoting healthy digestion. These Homemade Natural Greenies were a hit with her dog, Buddy!
Let us know your dog’s favorite DIY treats in the comments!
