Yummy Treats you can Make Yourself!

I have a lot of people that ask me about treats for dogs. I absolutely hate the commercial treats that are sold in stores. No matter what we buy, we don't see the process and actual ingredients.

I have two sources of treats, if you are in the Hamilton and surrounding areas, I highly recommend treats from "Murphys Treats". One ingredient, natural, locally sourced dehydrated treats, and the dogs absolutely adore them. I met the owners several years ago, through a local rescue I volunteered with. I was very impressed with the story behind the business, and the fact that they heavily supported many local rescues. The treats were top quality and my dogs never turned up their noses at these very healthy yummies!

Their website is www.murphystreats.ca, and the Facebook page is HERE!

My other go-to site for some great treat recipes is Prouddogmom.com. I have followed this site for years on a variety of things. The only thing I leave out of any recipes for my dogs is liver. The particular recipe I am posting here is very healthy. With the puppies I do advise cutting these in half and only giving in moderation. But these are something I could find myself munching on! 
Canine Cookies: A Simple Soft Chew Dog Treat RecipeProud Dog MomWhenever the temperatures drop, I immediately get in the baking mood. Can you relate? Since I never share my human cookie creations with my two pups – because they’re filled with refined sugar and other ingredients the dogs shouldn’t have – I figured it’s time to create a special canine cookie for them! 
In this super simple, flour-less recipe, I marry cooked and mashed sweet potato with a blend of naturally sweet fruits and veggies. Once baked, they offer a soft, cookie-like texture inside. So, they’re perfect for dogs with any dental issues.
Watch the recipe video above for a step-by-step guide to making these tasty treats. As you scroll, the video should stick to the bottom right side of your screen. You can also view the video on YouTube HERE!

A Look at the Ingredients

Sweet Potato – Sweet potatoes provide a nice serving of fiber, key vitamins, and various minerals. When feeding them to your dog, make sure they’re unseasoned (or seasoned with dog-approved spices/herbs), peeled, cooked, and mashed. Find out more about sweet potatoes for dogs in my Food Facts article HERE.

Carrot – Carrots are well known for their vitamin A. But they also contain immune-boosting vitamin C, digestive-aiding fiber, and overall body-benefiting potassium. Find out more about carrots for dogs in my Food Facts article HERE.

Apple – An apple a day helps keep the vet away (okay, not necessarily … but it’s fun to say)! This superfruit packs a nice dose of fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C. *Apple seeds are not safe for dogs to eat so make sure avoid to the core and seeds when feeding apples to your dogs. Find out more about apples for dogs in my Food Facts article HERE.

Ginger – Ginger is a super spice that’s been used for its medicinal purposes for nearly 2,000 years. Just like with humans, it can help soothe a dog’s upset stomach, relieve nausea, and ease motion sickness. Along with aiding digestion, ginger has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties!

Cinnamon – In small doses, cinnamon is believed to improve brain function and boost energy. Additionally, cinnamon has natural anti-fungal properties. If you have a pregnant pup then leave the cinnamon out, as it can stimulate the uterus. 

Egg – While the eggs act as a binder in this recipe, they also provide some protein! Find out more about eggs for dogs in my Food Facts article HERE.

Cranberries – In moderate amounts, cranberries are a healthy bite for dogs. Just as they do for people, cranberries help support urinary health in canines. When selecting dried cranberries to use in dog treats, make sure to check the ingredient label to ensure they’re clean and don’t include any added artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes, like Xylitol (which is toxic to dogs). Ideally, the ingredient label should just list cranberries! 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cooked and mashed sweet potato
• 1/2 cup finely shredded carrot
• 1/4 cup finely diced apple
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 large egg
• Dried cranberry, optional

• Preheat oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 
• Cut open a cooked sweet potato, mash with a fork, and measure 1/2 cup. Add to a mixing bowl and set aside. 
• Using a grater, finely shred carrot, enough to fill 1/2 cup. Add to mixing bowl and set aside. 
• Finely dice apple, enough to fill a 1/4 cup. Add to mixing bowl. 
• Add 1/8th teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8th teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 large egg to the mixing bowl. Using a spoon, mix everything until thoroughly combined. 
• Using a 1/2 tablespoon, scoop batter/mixture and spoon onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. These canine cookies won't spread or naturally fall into a round shape when baking, so take a few seconds to shape them into round cookies. 
• In the center of each canine cookie, place one dried cranberry. 
• Bake for 30 minutes. 
• Once the timer goes off, transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.