HICKORY DOG GUYDOG STUFF FOR HICKORY + CATAWBA COUNTY
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Printable dog treat recipes

MAKE YOUR DOG SOMETHING.

Real recipes this time: measurements, steps, storage, yield and a print button. These are treats and toppers, not complete everyday diets.

BAKEDFROZENVERY SIMPLENUTRITION BASICS
Oven required

BAKED TREATS.

Peanut Butter Banana Oat Treats

PREP 10 MINBAKE 12–15 MINABOUT 30 SMALL TREATS

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups dry rolled oats
  • 1 large ripe banana
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter with no xylitol

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Pulse the oats in a blender or food processor until they resemble a coarse flour.
  3. Mash the banana thoroughly, then mix in the peanut butter.
  4. Stir in the ground oats until a soft dough forms.
  5. Roll small portions into balls, flatten lightly, and place on the sheet.
  6. Bake 12–15 minutes, until set and lightly dry at the edges.
  7. Cool completely before serving.

Storage: Refrigerate in a sealed container up to about 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.

Serving note: These are calorie-dense. Break into smaller pieces for little dogs or training.

Adapted and paraphrased from an American Kennel Club educational recipe using oats, banana and peanut butter. View the AKC source recipe.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Biscuits

PREP 15 MINBAKE 20–25 MINABOUT 36 SMALL BISCUITS

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup plain canned pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup dog-safe peanut butter with no xylitol
  • 1 egg
  • 2–4 tablespoons water, as needed

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan.
  2. Mix pumpkin, peanut butter and egg until smooth.
  3. Add flour and mix. Add water one tablespoon at a time only until the dough comes together.
  4. Roll to roughly 1/4-inch thick on a lightly floured surface.
  5. Cut into small shapes or squares.
  6. Bake 20–25 minutes until firm. For a crunchier treat, turn off the oven and let them sit inside as it cools.
  7. Cool completely.

Storage: Refrigerate up to about a week or freeze.

Safety: Use plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling. Verify peanut butter contains no xylitol.

Based on the ingredient framework of AKC's pumpkin dog-treat recipes. See AKC pumpkin recipes.

Apple Oat Crunchers

PREP 15 MINBAKE 18–22 MINABOUT 30 SMALL TREATS

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 apple, peeled if desired, core and seeds removed
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F.
  2. Pulse oats into a coarse flour.
  3. Finely grate the prepared apple.
  4. Mix oats, apple, egg and applesauce into a moist dough.
  5. Spoon small mounds onto a lined baking sheet and flatten.
  6. Bake 18–22 minutes, until firm and lightly browned at the edges.
  7. Cool completely.

Storage: Refrigerate 4–5 days or freeze.

Food-safety basis: ASPCA includes properly prepared apples among fruits that can be shared with pets.

ASPCA safe-food guidance.

Blackberry Biscuits

PREP 15 MINBAKE 20–25 MINRICH TREAT

Ingredients

  • 4 cups almond flour
  • 3/4 cup flax meal
  • 1/2 cup blackberries
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mash the blackberries.
  3. Combine almond flour and flax meal.
  4. Add berries, egg and olive oil and mix into a dough.
  5. Form small flat biscuits on a lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake until set and lightly browned, roughly 20–25 minutes depending on size.
  7. Cool completely before serving.

Serving note: This is a calorie-dense recipe. Make the biscuits small.

Ingredient quantities from AKC's published vet-approved blackberry biscuit recipe; directions are paraphrased. View the AKC source.
No oven, less nonsense

FROZEN TREATS.

Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Bites

PREP 5 MINFREEZE 3+ HOURSABOUT 24 SMALL BITES

Ingredients

  • 1 cup plain unsweetened yogurt
  • 1/2 cup blueberries

Directions

  1. Check the yogurt label for added sweeteners and avoid xylitol.
  2. Mash or blend the blueberries.
  3. Stir into yogurt.
  4. Spoon into small silicone molds or an ice-cube tray, filling only partway for small portions.
  5. Freeze until solid, at least 3 hours.
  6. Pop out and store frozen.

Storage: Freeze in a sealed container for up to about 1 month.

Note: Dairy does not agree with every dog. Start small.

Uses foods ASPCA lists as shareable with pets in appropriate portions. ASPCA guidance.

Frozen Banana Peanut Butter Bites

PREP 5 MINFREEZE 3+ HOURSABOUT 20 SMALL BITES

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 2 tablespoons freshly ground or xylitol-free peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup plain unsweetened yogurt, optional

Directions

  1. Mash banana until smooth.
  2. Stir in peanut butter and yogurt if using.
  3. Spoon small portions into silicone molds.
  4. Freeze until solid.
  5. Serve directly from the freezer in appropriately sized portions.

Storage: Keep frozen up to about 1 month.

AKC specifically suggests pureed banana with dog-safe peanut butter as a frozen summer treat. See AKC frozen-treat guidance.

Watermelon Freezer Cubes

PREP 10 MINFREEZE 3+ HOURSABOUT 24 CUBES

Ingredients

  • 2 cups seedless watermelon flesh
  • 1/4 cup water

Directions

  1. Remove all rind and any visible seeds.
  2. Blend watermelon flesh with water until smooth.
  3. Pour into small molds or an ice-cube tray.
  4. Freeze until solid.
  5. Serve one small cube at a time for most dogs.

Storage: Freeze up to about 1 month.

Note: These contain natural sugar. They're a treat, not hydration therapy.

Simple Hickory Dog Guy preparation using dog-safe fruit; ASPCA and AKC both discuss dog-safe fruits and frozen fruit treats.

Cucumber Ice Bites

PREP 5 MINFREEZE 3+ HOURSABOUT 24 SMALL BITES

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cucumber
  • 1/2 cup water

Directions

  1. Wash and roughly chop cucumber.
  2. Blend with water.
  3. Pour into small molds.
  4. Freeze until solid.
  5. Serve in small portions.

Storage: Keep frozen up to about 1 month.

ASPCA includes cucumber among foods that can be safely shared with pets. ASPCA guidance.
Barely cooking

SIMPLE TOPPERS.

Plain Chicken Sprinkle

You need: 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast and water.

Poach or bake until fully cooked with no seasoning. Cool, shred finely, and refrigerate. Use a small amount over regular food.

Store: Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze small portions.

Plain Pumpkin Spoon

You need: plain canned pumpkin puree.

Use a small spoonful as an occasional topper. Do not use sweetened pumpkin pie filling.

For ongoing digestive problems, call your veterinarian rather than treating symptoms with food indefinitely.

Cooked Oatmeal Spoon

You need: plain rolled oats and water.

Cook thoroughly in water. Cool completely. Serve only plain, with no sugar, flavored packets, raisins, chocolate, butter or sweeteners.

AKC oatmeal guidance.

ONE IMPORTANT THING.

These are treats and toppers. They are not formulated as complete daily diets. If you want to cook your dog's regular food, work from a veterinary-nutrition recipe designed for that dog.

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