3 Homemade Puppy Treats with Cheese

Reviewed By Joana Garrido DVM

Save yourself time from shopping for puppy treats by making them at home.

We have prepared simple recipes that even newbies in the kitchen can easily make. These homemade puppy treats have cheese, which makes them more mouthwatering for your young canine friend.

Refreshing Watermelon Cups with Cheesy Filling

Boost your furry pal’s hydration, especially during hot days, by feeding him these homemade puppy treats.

Ingredients

For the watermelon cups:

• 1 whole watermelon

For the filling:

• ½ cup diced peaches
• ½ cup finely chopped cucumber
• 1 cup crumbled cheddar cheese
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh mint
• 1 teaspoon table salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Wash the watermelon and dry it thoroughly.
2. Using a sharp knife, slice off both ends of the watermelon.
3. Let the fruit stand using one of its sliced ends.
4. Carefully remove all the rind by trimming it from top to bottom.
5. Lay the watermelon on its side and cut it into 2- to 3-inch slices.
6. Pile 3 slices on top of each other. Cut them crosswise and then lengthwise.
7. Hollow out the middle portion of the cubes using a melon baller to create ¼ inch shells.
8. Place them on a baking tray and use plastic wrap to cover them. Allow them to chill in the fridge until the filling for these homemade puppy treats is prepared.
9. Mix the peaches, cucumber, fresh mint, cheddar cheese, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl until well combined. Set aside ¼ of the cheddar cheese.
10. Take out the watermelon cubes and spoon the filling into them.
11. Top these homemade puppy treats with crumbled cheddar cheese.
12. Chill them for 15 to 30 minutes before serving them to your furry pal.

Note

• Place the carved-out flesh of the watermelon cubes in an airtight container. Store them in the fridge in case you want to make other homemade puppy treats.

Crunchy Cheese Crackers

These homemade puppy treats are great alternatives for regular puppy training snacks.

Ingredients

• 1½ cup grated Edam cheese
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 cup oat flour
• 2 tablespoons ice water

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Use parchment paper to line 2 baking large sheets.
3. Place the Edam cheese, applesauce, and oat flour. Pulse them in the food processor until they form a dough with a texture similar to coarse crumbs.
4. Pour the Greek yogurt into the food processor and pulse the dough for 1 to 2 minutes. In between this duration, add 2 tablespoons of ice water and continue pulsing. Ideally, the dough should maintain a gritty texture without easily falling apart when gently pressed.
5. Transfer the dough to a plastic wrap. Roll it into a log and put it in the fridge for 30 to 45 minutes. Doing so makes the cutting and shaping of the dough easier.
6. Remove the dough from the fridge. On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll out the dough into a 9-inch square with approximately ⅛ inch thickness.
7. Using a fluted pastry wheel or pizza cutter, cut out 1-inch-wide squares from the flattened dough.
8. Gently poke holes in each square using a fork.
9. Distribute the dough squares to each lined baking sheet equally. Make sure that every piece is evenly spaced.
10. Bake these homemade puppy treats for 10 to 20 minutes until they turn puffy and golden brown around the edges.
11. Remove the puppy cheese crackers from the oven. Give them to your pooch once they are fully cooled down.

Notes

• If Edam cheese is not available in your area, any dog-safe semihard to hard cheeses will do as a substitute.
• Adjust the crispiness of these homemade puppy treats through the thickness of the dough. The thicker they are, the less crunchy they will be.
• The cheese biscuits can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 to 7 days. If these homemade puppy treats begin to lose their crunch, air-fry them for around 8 to 10 minutes.

Cheesy Ants on a Log

Create cheesy homemade puppy treats that can help soothe the teething woes of young dogs.

Ingredients

For the log:

• 1 whole carrot

For the filling:

• ⅓ cup sliced cherry tomatoes
• ⅓ cup sliced blueberries
• ½ cup cream cheese
• 3 teaspoons coconut flakes

Instructions

1. Wash the carrot with clean water. Scrub it with a vegetable brush to get rid of dirt on the skin.
2. Pat the root vegetable dry.
3. Cut the carrot in half and slice it into 2-inch-long logs with a half-inch thickness.
4. Place the cream cheese in a piping bag with an ½-inch open tip.
5. Carefully squeeze the cream cheese on the center of a carrot log. Repeat until all of these homemade dog treats have cheese.
6. Place the cherry tomatoes and blueberries alternately in a line on each carrot log. Press them firmly so they do not easily slide off the cheese filling.
7. For the final touch, sprinkle the coconut flakes on these homemade puppy treats.

Notes

• Avoid placing too much cream cheese on the carrot logs. Otherwise, it will spill to the sides when you apply the toppings.
• Be creative with the “ants” you place on these homemade puppy treats. Experiment with other puppy-safe choices, such as carob chips, peas, strawberries, and banana
• Store these homemade puppy treats in an airtight container and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 days.

FAQs About Homemade Puppy Treats

1. Can Young Dogs Eat Homemade Puppy Treats?

Young dogs can eat homemade puppy treats, but it should be done sparingly. Unlike full-grown pooches, puppies have more sensitive stomachs. Consuming treats frequently may result in stomach upset.

Aside from this problem, feeding them too many snacks outside their mealtimes can ruin their appetite. They might end up preferring eating treats than consuming their regular meals.

2. What Are Puppy-Friendly Homemade Treats?

Puppy-friendly homemade treats are made with ingredients suitable for young dogs. They should be gentle to the stomach to avoid causing gastrointestinal upset.

Making soft homemade puppy treats is preferable since these snacks are gentle on the teeth of young dogs.

However, for those experiencing teething, firmer treats like the carrot ants on the log are a good choice.  They help assuage the irritation in their gums.

3. When to Start Giving Puppy Homemade Treats?

You can start giving a puppy homemade treats once he reaches the age of 6 to 8 weeks old. Around this time, he is fully weaned and can start eating solid food.

Pick a homemade puppy treats recipe that uses only a few ingredients to prevent upsetting your furry pal’s stomach.

4. Are Homemade Puppy Treats Better?

Homemade puppy treats are often better than commercial puppy snacks. They are usually made with fresh and nutritious ingredients.

Moreover, pet owners can easily swap out ingredients if their furry pal’s health or preference doesn’t agree with it.

Conclusion

If you want to pivot to a healthier puppy snack, making homemade puppy treats we have shared above is a good idea.

It gives you more freedom to choose nutritious ingredients for your beloved canine companion. You can also modify the recipes to your pet’s taste.