When you treat your pooch like royalty, you can expect one’s taste buds to match their luxurious lifestyle, and this can often lead to them being as fussy and picky as they like when it comes to food. Happily eyeing up whatever is on your dinner plate, fickle pups pick and choose what they like in their own bowl, so why not try to make your own dog treats and find something they’ll truly love?
If you're ready to find a cottage with a fantastic kitchen where you can cook up all kinds of goodies for yourself and your canine companion, start searching through our collection of dog-friendly holiday cottages across the UK.
We’ve got some easy, simple recipes for you to make at home, from healthy dog biscuits to puppy popsicles for the summer. Our DIY dog treats are sure to get your pooch’s tail wagging and mouth watering!
Homemade peanut butter dog treats
Ingredients
- 140g whole wheat flour
- 110g smooth peanut butter
- 85g mashed banana or unsweetened apple sauce
- 60ml chicken stock
- A cookie cutter (bone-shaped to make it even more appetising!)
Method
Preheat the oven to 170 degrees/gas mark 4. In a bowl, mix together the flour, peanut butter, and either the apple sauce or mashed banana until all the ingredients are combined. Press the dough into a ball and roll out with a rolling pin until it is roughly half a centimetre thick.
Place the cut-out shapes onto an ungreased baking tray and put in the oven for around 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Keep the biscuits in an airtight container for your pooch to enjoy either as training treats or when he’s been a super good boy!
Pawfect for: Training food and small treats to keep your hound satisfied.
Beetroot, cranberry and honey gummies
Ingredients
- 1 beetroot
- 25g cranberries
- 2 packs Unflavoured Great Lakes Gelatine (available from Amazon and other online pet retailers)
- 80g honey
- Shaped moulds
Method
Thinly slice the beetroot and put in a saucepan of 250ml of cold water, followed by the cranberries which need piercing with a cocktail stick. Turn up the heat and let the water simmer for around 20 minutes, before switching off the hob and letting the pan cool down completely.
Strain the cranberries and beetroot, keeping the water in a saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatine into the juice and allow to sit for 5 minutes, before turning the hob onto a low heat and stirring the mixture until it is fully dissolved, then add the honey and continue stirring. Pour the mixture into the moulds and allow to set in the fridge – your pooch will be chomping at the bit to get their paws on these sweet treats!
Pawfect for: A doggo with a sweet tooth that will appreciate all your hard work!
Pumpkin and yoghurt dog treats
Ingredients
- 200g pure pumpkin puree
- 250g plain yoghurt
- Jumbo ice cube tray
Method
Mix the pumpkin and yoghurt in a bowl and pour into the ice cube trays. Freeze the mixture for 24 hours and pop out of the moulds whenever you want to treat Fido to a frozen delight – quick, simple, and delicious. Allow the ice cubes to melt slightly before feeding them to your dog so he or she doesn't get the treat stuck to their tongue!
Pawfect for: Hot dogs in the summer sun that need a little pick me up to make it through those long hard afternoons of sleeping.
Homemade dog chews
Ingredients
- It's easy - you only need sweet potatoes!
Method
Preheat the oven to 120 degrees/gas mark 1, then wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Slice them thinly, lengthways, at around half a centimetre thick, then lay them out on a baking tray on top of some greaseproof paper. Cook the slices for 3 hours, turning half way through, so they shrivel slightly and dry up. Keep them stored in the fridge to stop them going mouldy, and let your pooch enjoy chomping on chewy deliciousness.
Pawfect for: Dogs that love to sniff out every odd sock and slipper possible around the house.
Why not add dried meat to the sweet potato twists for extra flavour!
No-bake homemade dog treats
Ingredients
- A tablespoon of quick rolled oats
- A tablespoon of peanut butter
- A teaspoon of chicken stock
Method
Put all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix until they’re combined, then make it into a dough with your hands. You can make the treats as big or small as you’d like, depending on the size of dog you have and whether they’re made as training tools or treats.
Pawfect for: Quick and easy homemade treats for the spoilt pooch in your life that deserves only the best.
We've got more than just edible treats...
These treats are all great to make in your holiday cottage or take away on your trips as a taste of home for your pooch. Delicious, homemade and free from additives, they’re healthy and tasty, and let your four-legged best friend know just how much you love them.
Now, where will you take your pampered pooch on their next adventure? Just don’t forget to pack their new favourite food! Our dog-friendly holiday cottages are the perfect treat for both you and your canine companion - the whole of the UK is just waiting to be explored!
Paw-friendly cottages
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.