5 Easy-to-Make Natural Dog Treats

Reviewed By Joana Garrido DVM

Natural dog treats are healthier and more nutritious than most commercially produced snacks. We have compiled 5 homemade natural dog treats recipes you can easily bake at home.

1. Chewy Natural Dog Treats

Natural dog chews satisfy your furry friend’s chewing instincts. They also promote good mental stimulation and reduce canine anxiety.

What you need:

• 1 large shredded carrot
• 1 cup cooked mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cups coconut flour

How to make these natural treats for dogs:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Use parchment paper to line a large silicone baking mat. If you do not have this on hand, you can spray the mat with non-stick spray.
3. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir them thoroughly using a spatula until they are properly incorporated. The dough should have a stiff and heavy consistency.
4. Use a teaspoon to scoop out small portions of the dough. Roll them between the palm of your hands to form balls.
5. Put them in the lined or greased silicone mold and bake for 10–12 minutes.
6. Take out the all-natural dog treats from the oven. Let them cool down completely on the wire rack.
7. Serve these dog chews to your canine companion.
8. Any remaining natural pet treats should be stored in an airtight jar. Put them in the fridge for 1 week.

Notes for these natural dog treats:

For dog owners who want crispier dog chews, bake them for an extra 5 minutes.

2. Hemp Seed Natural Dog Treats

Hemp seeds have plenty of health perks for dogs, from reducing body inflammation to strengthening the cardiovascular and immune systems. Here is how you can make them into tasty natural dog treats.

What you need:

• ¾ cup oat flour
• ⅓ cup hemp seeds
• 1 cup organic, sodium-free beef broth
• 3 tablespoons pure honey

How to make these natural treats for dogs:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
3. Thoroughly combine all ingredients in a large bowl until evenly mixed. The dough should hold its shape when scooped and dropped easily from the spoon.
4. Lightly dust your working space with flour and roll out the dough to ¼-inch thickness.
5. Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough. Place them on the lined baking sheet.
6. Bake these natural dog treats for 20–30 minutes if you want them to have a softer texture. For a crispier texture, bake them for 40–60 minutes.
7. Remove the homemade natural dog treats from the oven and let them cool down to room temperature.
8. Serve to your furry pal. Store uneaten natural dog treats in a Ziploc bag and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.

Notes for these natural dog treats:

Make bone broth from scratch by cooking 3 pounds of beef bones with marrow in 6 quarts of water for 24 hours. You can add vegetables of your choice, such as carrots and celery stalks.

Allow the bone broth to cool before straining. Discard the cooked bones and combine the vegetables with your pet’s dog food. Always double-check to ensure all the bones are removed from the broth as they are choking hazards. Remove any fat that forms on the beef broth’s surface.

3. Almond Butter Natural Dog Treats

Bake healthy and delicious dog treats using natural almond butter by following this recipe.

What you need:

• ½ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 1 cup natural almond butter
• 2 3/4 cups almond flour
• 3 tablespoons water

How to make these natural treats for dogs:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Grease a cookie sheet with almond butter.
3. Mix the egg, almond butter, and water in a medium bowl.
4. Combine the almond flour and cinnamon with the wet ingredients. Whisk until all the ingredients are properly incorporated.
5. Roll out the dough into a ¼-inch thick slab on a lightly floured surface.
6. Cut out shapes from the flattened dough using your preferred cookie cutter.
7. Bake these healthy dog treats for about 15 minutes. Once done, flip them over and bake for another 10 minutes to achieve a crispy texture.
8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool down completely.
9. Offer these natural treats for dogs to your pooch. Transfer leftovers to a tightly covered container. Store them in the fridge for about a week.

Notes for these natural dog treats:

The almond butter can make the dough a bit greasy. Cover the dough with parchment paper before using a rolling pin to flatten it.

4. Natural Puppy Treats

Regular firm dog biscuits are unsuitable for puppies as they can easily damage their sensitive chompers. Give your pup these soft treats instead, which are gentler on their teeth.

What you need:

• 1/4 cup water
• 1 pound fresh or defrosted pollock
• 1–2 tablespoons dried parsley
• 2 beaten eggs
• 2 cups garbanzo flour

How to make these natural treats for dogs:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Place all the ingredients in the food processor and pulse until a dough ball forms. Its consistency should be firm enough to pipe it on the lined baking sheet easily.
4. Transfer the dough into the piping bag and pipe it into small swirls on the baking sheet.
5. Bake these natural treats for puppies for about 30–40 minutes.
6. Take them out of the oven and allow them to cool down completely.
7. Serve these natural puppy treats to your furry pal. They can be stored in an airtight container inside the fridge for 2–3 weeks.

5. Carob Natural Dog Training Treats

Incorporating carob into homemade training treats for dogs provides your pooch with bone-strengthening minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium. It also offers a good dose of fiber and pectin, which improve gut health.

What you need:

For the biscuit

• 1/4 cup carob powder
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cups oat flour

For the glaze:

• 2 teaspoons coconut oil
• 30 all-natural unsweetened human-grade carob buttons

How to make these natural treats for dogs:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line a baking sheet with baking paper and set it aside.
3. Mix the carob powder, egg, water, and coconut flour in a medium bowl.
4. Roll out the dough to ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured work surface.
5. Cut desired shapes out of the dough using a cookie cutter.
6. Bake these natural dog treats for 15–25 minutes.
7. Remove them from the oven and let them cool down at room temperature.
8. Pipe the carob glaze on top of the biscuits. Make sure to coat the entire surface.
9. Serve these all-natural dog treats to your pooch. Transfer leftovers in a Ziploc bag and keep them inside the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Procedures for making the natural dog treat glaze:

1. Place the carob buttons and coconut oil on a saucepan. Melt them on low heat.
2. Stir occasionally to ensure the carob buttons and coconut oil are well combined.
3. Remove the glaze from heat once it has a thin consistency.
4. Allow the glaze to cool down before transferring it to an icing bag.

Choosing the Right Treat for Your Dog

“What treats to avoid for dogs?” is often asked by numerous pet owners. Some of the worst dog treats to avoid are those containing high levels of sodium, added sugar, additives, and preservatives.

They do not offer any valuable nutrition to pets and their ingredients can be detrimental to canine health.

This leads to the question: “What are the healthiest treats for dogs?” 100% natural treats are one of the healthiest options for your dog.

You might be wondering: “Why are natural dog treats healthy?” Natural treats for dogs are made from fresh whole food ingredients, making them rich in nutrients. Moreover, they do not possess harmful preservatives, artificial sugars, flavoring, and coloring.

What is the best natural treat for a dog? Homemade natural treats are some of the best dog treats that you can find. The healthy whole food ingredients used can be readily changed according to your preference.

If your dog has sensitivities or needs to cut back on calories, you can easily look for alternatives and switch ingredients. Aside from that, they are cheap healthy treats for dogs. You can whip them up in your own kitchen.