For the DIY Pet Parent: Recipes to Make Your Own Healthy Dog Treats

Today we're bringing you a guest post by Paige Weaver, an animal activist, artist and mom originally from Florida. She provides some great suggestions for homemade treats below... which we'd try if we had the inclination to actually cook something! We also like raw veggies and some tasty made in the USA treats and chews... so there are plenty of options for everyone!

There have already been 23 recalls or expanded recalls on pet foods and treats so far this year, the Humane Society reports. You just can't be sure what you're giving your beloved pet is safe, and one vet told WebMD that more pet owners are experimenting with homemade dog food as a result.

But food safety isn’t the only reason to make your dogs homemade treats; as Americans learn more about the importance of a fresh, healthy diet, we’re inspired to provide our best friend with the same.

What to Avoid

A 100 percent homemade diet requires a time commitment that few pet owners are prepared to make, but supplementing nutritious commercial food with homemade snacks provides a good balance. Preparing your own treats reduces the possibility of your dog eating unsafe food and gives you an opportunity to experiment without completely changing Fido’s diet. However, as you practice being your dog’s personal chef, be sure to stay away from this list of doggie-toxic foods provided by the Humane Society:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Pits and seeds, such as apple seeds
• Chocolate and candy
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Macadamia nuts and walnuts
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Potato leaves or stems and tomato leaves or stems
• Raisins
• Tea and coffee

Recipes

There are lots of safe and healthy recipes for dog treats. Here are a few tasty snacks to get you started:

Yam and Turkey Meat Balls

Mix one pound ground turkey, one egg, one-half cup oat bran and one large yam that’s been baked until tender, cooled, peeled and smashed. Form the mixture into meatballs about the size of a walnut (or smaller for small dogs), and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for approximately 20 minutes.

Refrigerate only as many meatballs as you will use in two or three days, and freeze the rest. The oat bran and yam in these treats is especially good for a dog’s digestive system.

Yogurt-cicles

Mix one cup of cooked, chopped chicken with one cup of plain Greek yogurt. Freeze the mixture in ice cube trays. Slide the trays into freezer bags for long-term storage. These are especially good to help keep your dog cool on a hot day.

Carrot Chips

Thinly slice several carrots (use a mandolin slicer if possible), keeping the slices at about 1/8-inch. Lightly toss the carrots in a few drops of olive oil and place on an oiled cookie sheet. Cook at your oven’s lowest temperature, essentially dehydrating the carrots. Cooking time will vary according to your oven, but may take two or more hours.

Remove the chips when they feel crunchy but not tough. Let them cool overnight, and place in a sealed plastic container for storage. If the chips become soft or limp, throw them out.

The same method can be used to make yam or zucchini chips and even jerky treats. When drying meats in the oven, turn the slices over about halfway through the cooking process. Allow the jerky to air dry for 48 hours before packaging and reprocess any soft or limp slices.

Have you tried any recipes like those mentioned above? Which ones have worked best for you? We haven't tried these yet because, we don't know how to use the oven  don't cook much, but these sure look tasty! 

Today we're also joining up with the Tasty Tuesday blog hop brought to you by our pals at Kol's Notes and Sugar the Golden Retriever. Check out some more tasty treat ideas at the blogs at the hop below!

Bow wow chow: How to make easy, healthy treats for your dog at home

(ARA) - Sixty-two percent of U.S. households include a pet, and 78.2 million of those pets are dogs, according to the American Pet Products Association's most recent survey. Dog lovers want good nutrition and flavor to ensure happy, healthy animal members of the family.

Today, professional chefs are creating delicious, healthy foods and treats for dogs as well as people. "Understanding nutrition for dogs - and how it differs from what is right for humans - is key," says Chef Jim Gallivan, department chair of culinary arts at The Art Institute of Atlanta. Here are some tips to ensure a healthy diet for your canine friend.

• Provide the right balance of fats, minerals, carbohydrates, vitamins, protein, and - especially during the summer months - lots of water.
• Understand that the right balance for dogs is different from what's right for humans. Dogs have different dental capabilities and a shorter digestive tract so foods need to be able to be processed quickly.
• Avoid foods toxic to dogs, including chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, avocados, caffeine and fruit seeds.

Dogs love treats, but be sure you don't undermine your dog's healthy diet with the wrong treats. "One way to ensure an overall healthy diet for our dogs," says Gallivan, "is to prepare dog treats at home from healthy ingredients. And it's not very difficult."

These easy recipes for healthy dog treats were created by chefs at The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes. For instance, Gallivan prepares "Pup-sicles" in the summer for his dog, Cammie (short for Camembert).  They take only a few minutes to make and your dog is sure to rank Pup-sicles high on the list of favorite treats, just as Cammie does.

Cammie's  Pup-sicles
3 cups plain yogurt
1 ripe banana
1 cup smooth peanut butter (Cammie prefers Reese's)
1 tablespoon honey

Directions:
1. Puree all of the above until smooth in texture with a food processor or blender.
2. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze.
3. Pop one out and reward your best canine friend.

Chef Richard Matthews, a culinary arts faculty member at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, adapted this recipe from his sister. Since it bakes in the microwave, it's great for summer.

Homemade Dog Treats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
3/4 cup beef or chicken broth, plus 1/4 cup to adjust consistency

Directions:
1. Combine all dry ingredients and 3/4 cup of broth.
2. Mix until it forms a firm paste and all is moist. Use the remaining 1/4 cup broth to adjust the moisture if needed.
3. Roll out to a 1/2-inch thick, cut into 1-inch squares and place on an ungreased glass baking dish.
4. Microwave 4 minutes. Turn each piece over. Cook one additional minute.
5. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Note: Microwave ovens vary in power.  Watch the treats closely for the last minute.

This produces a very hard biscuit. It can be flavored with bacon, cheese, peanut butter, cooked carrots, fruit or any other non-toxic flavor your dog enjoys.

Chef Jeffrey Floyd, department chair of Culinary Arts at The Art Institute of Virginia Beach, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, says that although table scraps are a no-no, our dogs can still celebrate important holidays with their human families. His most recent canine friend, a cocker spaniel named Jordan, loved hot weather inspired treats like this one.

Coconut Cookies
1 1/2 cups oat flour
1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
1 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1 1/2 cups skim milk (or coconut milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Combine all ingredients, roll into small balls, place on greased or non-stick cookie sheet and flatten to about 1/4-inch thick.
3. Bake until edges are golden brown, about 30 minutes.
4. Cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Your dog will love these treats - and you will feel good about giving them to your best friend.
To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu.