Tasty Treats You Can Actually Share With Your Furry Best Friend
by RYAN MILEJCZAK
If there’s one thing humans and their dogs have in common, it’s that we both love a tasty treat. Unfortunately, most of the treats that humans enjoy are bad news for dogs.
In some cases, common ingredients that are safe for people are toxic for dogs. These include things like chocolate, cherries, grapes, raisins, and the popular sugar-free sweetener xylitol. In other cases, while the treats aren’t toxic for your pup, they’re still bad for their health due to high levels of sugar, fat, or salt.
That doesn’t mean you and your furry friend can’t find common ground when it comes time for a treat. In fact, there is a variety of easily prepared foods that are a delight for human and canine taste buds. Let’s take a look at some of our favorite dog-friendly recipes that humans can enjoy, too!
Apple Banana Canine Cookies
Adapted from Love Mischka
Ingredients
- 1 overripe banana
- 1 apple, cored, peeled and finely diced
- ½ cup natural peanut butter (ensure no xylitol)
- 1 cup rolled oats
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 350. Mash the banana in a bowl, then add peanut butter and oats. Once well mixed, spread out the mixture on parchment paper and cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
Line and grease a baking sheet and arrange the cookies on top. Bake until golden brown, about 10-12 minutes. Let cool completely before sharing with your pup.
Watermelon Strawberry Pup-sicles
Adapted from Continental Kennel Club
Ingredients
- 3 cups watermelon, cubed
- 1 cup strawberries
- 2 tbsp honey
Instructions
Place the watermelon and strawberry in a blender and puree until smooth. If more liquid is needed, add a splash of coconut water. Add honey and mix well, then pour into popsicle molds or another freezer friendly and freeze for 2 hours.
After 2 hours, remove and insert popsicle sticks for any you’ll be enjoying yourself, but leave them out for those destined for your furry friend, as they present a choking hazard. Return to freezer for another 4-5 hours, until completely frozen through, and enjoy one with your furry friend on a hot day.
Carrot Pup-cakes With Yogurt ‘Frosting’
Adapted from Bark With Wonder
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup grated carrot
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp honey, plus 1 tbsp
- ¼ cup low-fat greek yogurt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except ¼ cup Greek yogurt and 1 tbsp honey. Pour into cupcake molds, and bake until set, about 20-30 minutes. Remove and let cool. Meanwhile, mix together honey and yogurt and use it to lightly frost the tops of the cupcakes. Let fully cool before letting Fido have a taste.
Note: Because of the higher sugar content, these should be an occasional treat. If you have excess muffins, slice them thinly and bake them at 350 for 5-10 minutes, until they’ve gotten crispy, then store them in an airtight container to use as dog treats.
Puppy Pancakes
Adapted from Tom & Toto
Ingredients
- ½ cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup blueberries
Instructions
Mix together mashed sweet potato and egg in a mixing bowl. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and melt a small amount of cooking oil. Add the batter in small amounts to make silver dollar pancakes, and sprinkle blueberries over top. Flip once bubbles pop through majority of the batter, 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook on the other side another 2-3 minutes. Repeat until all batter has been cooked. Let cool completely and enjoy a 5 star breakfast with your canine companion.
Blueberry Yogurt Doggy Drops
Adapted from Dog Child
Ingredients
- 1 cup blueberries
- ¼ cup low-fat greek yogurt
Instructions
First, thoroughly wash your blueberries and let dry completely. Once fully dry, mix together blueberries and yogurt in a bowl until well combined. Pour the mixture over a parchment lined baking sheet, then place in the freezer for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Remove from freezer, break apart, and enjoy cold with your four-legged friends.