There’s no better way to reward your best friend than with a tasty treat. If you’re focused on providing only safe, natural products for your pooch, you may want to consider making them yourself to keep your dog treat container full.

This way you know you’re avoiding potentially harmful ingredients that can hurt your dog and be confident you’re providing them with yummy snacks made with love.

Dog-Safe Ingredients

Understanding what can go into a dog treat makes it easy to give your dog something delicious and safe. Fresh fruits and veggies are a good place to start. Here’s a list of pet-safe people food you can share with your buddy:

Bananas

Bananas have lots of vitamins, fiber, and potassium, ideal for boosting your dog’s heart health and reducing their intake of empty calories. You can toss them a few banana slices for a quick treat or freeze them for a nice, cool treat on a hot day.

Don’t be too free with bananas though – save them for an occasional snack. Bananas have a lot of sugar and can make your dog hyperactive or sick if you give them too much.

Blueberries

Blueberries are a superfood, full of antioxidants and fiber which can be great for disease prevention. Hand out a few berries at a time or place them in water in ice cube trays and freeze for a delicious treat on a hot day.

Carrots

Carrots are a great way to give your dog fiber and vitamin A without extra calories. You can give a few raw carrots as a treat, which also work like a toothbrush, removing plaque and debris from your pup’s teeth.

Cucumber

If your pal could stand to lose a few pounds, cucumbers are a good treat choice. Low in calories and unhealthy fats, cucumbers also give your dog plenty of vitamins and a little added hydration.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is filled with necessary vitamins and minerals that promote good health. Pumpkin also contains fiber and is a great choice for puppies with an upset stomach or diarrhea, as it can firm up the stool.

It’s important that you only feed cooked or canned pumpkin – never raw. You also need to give only the meat of the pumpkin and keep your dog away from the stem, seeds, and skin because of toxins.

Watermelon

Watermelon without the seeds is a favorite treat for many dogs. Not only is it a sweet snack at any time, watermelon also gives your dog extra water during hot summer days. This melon is loaded with potassium and essential vitamins, giving your pup extra energy throughout their day.

Homemade Treat Recipes

If you’re looking for a little something extra in the treat department, consider these simple recipes to get you started:

Sweet Potato Jerky Strips

Scrub clean a few sweet potatoes before slicing them into strips. Heat your oven to 225 degrees and bake the strips for three to four hours. Store in an air-tight pet treat container.

Iced Yogurt Snacks

Combine a cup of plain yogurt with your dog’s favorite fruit, like bananas or blueberries. Mix together, add to an ice cube tray and freeze.

Diabetic-friendly Liver Snacks

If you have a diabetic dog, you can make a safe treat using:

• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ pounds beef liver, chopped

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees. Add all ingredients to a food processor until smooth and spread evenly on a pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes and let cool before cutting into squares.

Baked Pumpkin Treats

An easy to make treat recipe includes:

• 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix the egg, pumpkin, and cinnamon in a large bowl, while slowly adding in flour. When the dough is stiff, roll out to ¼ inch and use your favorite cookie cutter to make treat shapes. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes and let cool before passing out treats.

Carrot Apple Treats

For this quick treat recipe, you’ll need:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup grated carrots
• 1 egg
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix ingredients to form a dough. Roll dough pieces into small balls and add to cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Press lightly on dough balls then bake until golden brown. Let cool before serving to your dog.

Any of these tasty, dog-safe treats are easy to make and relatively inexpensive. If you need durable, food-safe solutions for storing your dog’s treats or to sell your creations to the public, browse through the extensive collection of pet-friendly treat containersavailable at BottleStore.com.

https://mygbgvlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Simple-Pumpkin-Cookies.pdf

https://www.puppyleaks.com/simple-dog-treat-recipes/

http://digest.thefarmersdog.com/top-14-dog-friendly-snacks/

https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/6-healthy-treat-ideas-dogs

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/88806/diabetic-dog-treats/?evt19=1