Like MANY of you, Alice is a dog lover, and she just got back from the vet for her West Highland Terrier’s semi-annual physical and teeth cleaning. Her vet had some good advice we thought would be fun and useful, to pass on (along with how to actually take his advice): He said he wished for the health of dogs today, that more people would make their own dog treats. “Pet food and treats today are loaded with chemicals and unnecessary, unhealthy bi-products. Like people,” he said, “dogs don’t do well over the long haul when always trying to digest chemicals. There are lots of options and pet owners should consider them.”
So we investigated alternatives, and here are some recipes for healthy dog treats. Why not consider taking this step as part of your New Year’s resolutions? And to Fido: bon apetit!
Bad Breath Banishers
2 cups brown rice flour
1 Tablespoon activated charcoal (find this at drugstores, not the briquets!)
3 Tablespoons canola oil
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
2/3 cup lowfat milk
Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour and charcoal. Add all the other ingredients.Drop teaspoonfulls on oiled sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake 15-20 minutes. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.
Archie Squares
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup powdered dry milk
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. brown sugar or honey
6 tbs. meat or bacon drippings, cold right from refrigerator, not melted or soft!
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup Ice water
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour, dry milk, garlic powder and sugar. Cut in meat drippings until mixture resembles corn meal. Mix in egg. Add enough water so that mixture forms a ball. Using your fingers, pat out dough onto cookie sheet to 1/2" thick. Cut dough into squares appropriate for your dog size. Prick each cookie with fork. Bake 25-30 minutes. Remove from tray and cool on rack. Store in airtight container.
Wheat-Free Scotty Biscuits
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup rye flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter or margarine
1/2 cup milk
Combine oatmeal, 3/4 cup of the rye flour, sugar and butter together. Slowly add the milk till a firm but slightly sticky dough forms. Scrape out dough onto a wooden board or counter. Knead in the rest of the rye flour till the dough stiffens a little. Wrap in saran wrap and chill for one hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough till 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes ( I like to use scotty dog cutters). Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn off oven and let biscuits rest till cool in oven with the door closed. Store in air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
Cheesy Bites
1 cup wheat flour
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon soft butter or margarine
1/2 cup milk
Mix flour and cheese together. Add the softened butter. Slowly add milk till you form a stiff dough. You may not need all of the milk. Knead on floured board for a few minutes.
Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees oven for 15 minutes. Let cool in oven with the door slightly open till cold and firm. Refrigerate to keep fresh.
Doggy Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup uncooked oatmeal
¾ cup cornmeal
3 cup whole wheat flour
¾ cup powdered milk
½ cup margarine
1 tsp. bouillon granules
1 ½ cup meat broth or hot water
1 egg, beaten
Preheat oven to 325F. Dissolve bouillon in meat broth, while still hot, put some of the broth into a blender with the garlic and blend on high. Pour all broth into large bowl, add margarine & oatmeal & stir. Let sit 5 minutes to cool. Stir in powdered milk, cornmeal & egg. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Knead by hand, adding more flour if needed. Roll on floured surface to 1/2" thick, cut into shapes. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake 50- 60 minutes, allow to cool & dry out until hard.
Milk Bone Dog Biscuits
3/4 cup hot water
1/3 cup margarine
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
3 cups whole wheat flour
Variation: increase margarine to 1/2 cup and add 2 teaspoons sugar
In large bowl pour hot water over the margarine. Stir in powdered milk, salt, and egg. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time. Knead for a few minutes to form stiff dough. Pat or roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into bone shapes. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool. They will dry out quite hard. Makes about 1 1/4 pounds of biscuits. Costs around 30 cents per pound.
Healthy Dog Snacks
1 3/4 cups plain flour
2 tsp toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sesame seeds
rind of 1 lemon
12 tsp butter or margarine
1/2 cup ground walnuts
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Combine all the ingredients. Knead until thoroughly blended. Divide into 6 parts. Roll each into a log. Wrap loosely in waxpaper. Freeze. When needed, thaw and slice into 1/2 thick slices (across roll). Preheat oven to 375F. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie pan. Bake about 12 minutes. Makes 6-8 cookies per roll.
Veggie Bones
3 cups minced parsley
1/4 cup carrots, chopped very fine
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons bran
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 to 1 cup of water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, rack on middle level. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
Stir together parsley, carrots, cheese, and oil. combine all the dry ingredients and add to veggies. Gradually add 1/2 cup of water, mixing well. Make a moist but not wet dough. If needed, add a little more water. Knead for one minute.
roll dough out to 1/2 inch thickness. Using cookie cutter or a glass, cut out the shapes and transfer them to the baking sheet. Gather the scraps and reroll and cut.
Bake for 20-30 minutes until biscuits have browned and hardened slightly. (They will harden more as they cool.) Speed cooling by placing them on wire racks. Store in airtight tin.
Newf Breakfast Bars
Contributed by Martha Taylor-Young, RNC, Dragon Rest Newfoundlands
I love this recipe because it makes a lot & it's so easy, you just throw everything into the bowl, mix & pat onto 2 greased cookie sheets, no rolling or cookie cutters.
12 c. oatmeal
4 c. whole wheat flour
8 eggs
3/4 c. oil
2/3 c. honey
1/2 c. molasses
2 c. milk
1 large can solid pack pumpkin (optional)
3 to 4 mashed bananas (optional)
Preheat oven to 325. Grease 2 cookie sheets
Dump everything into a VERY large bowl. Mix this whole mess together (I use my hands, AFTER I take my rings off, another story), pat onto greased cookie sheets & bake at 325 for 1 hour. After 1 hour turn oven off, crack oven door & allow cookies to cool in oven. Break into whatever size you want (mine like LARGE).
These freeze really well. My guys love these, they sit in front of the oven waiting.
Surprise Snacks
¼ cup hot water
8 each chicken or beef bouillon -- cubes
1 package dry yeast
1 ½ cups tomato juice
2 cups flour , divided
2 cups wheat germ
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
Place the hot water and bouillon cubes in a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork. Sprinkle yeast over this mixture and let stand about 5 minutes, until yeast is dissolved. Add the tomato juice, half the flour and the wheat germ and stir to form a smooth batter. Gradually work in the remaining flour and the whole wheat flour with your hands. Divide the dough into 4 balls. Roll each ball out on a floured board to about 1/4" thick. Cut into shapes and place on ungreased cookie sheets about an inch apart. Bake in a 3250F. oven for 1 hour, then turn off the heat and let biscuits dry in oven for about 4 hours or overnight with the door propped open slightly. Store in airtight container.
Boo's Biscuits
Contributed by Sandra Strassman-Sundy
3 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 cup Quaker oats
1 cup milk
1/2 cup hot water
2 beef or chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 cup meat drippings
Dissolve bouillon cubes in hot water. Add milk and drippings and beat. In a separate bowl, mix flour and oatmeal. Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients and mix well. Press onto an ungreased cookie sheet and cut into shapes desired. Bake at 300 for 1 hour. Turn off heat and leave in the oven to harden. Refrigerate after baking.
Nutty Bones
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup brown sugar
12 tbs. butter
1/2 cup ground walnuts
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup vanilla extract
2 tbs. toasted wheat germ
Combine ingredients, knead until thoroughly blended. Roll out till 1/2" thick. Cut into shapes or just squares. Bake at 375F on ungreased cookie sheet for 12-15minutes. Cool. Store in airtight container. Keeps 2 weeks.
