Grain Free Dog Treat Recipes

Dogs love their treats just as much as people do. Treats contain ingredients that aren't always in commercial dog food. Dogs don't get a treat with every meal, and some don't get them every day, so they're special like chocolate is to us. On the subject of dog treats, one thing they should never have is chocolate, which is very toxic to them. A lot of companies that manufacture treats for dogs are now making them grain-free. You can make grain free dog treat recipes at home that are nutritious, tasty, and good for your dog.

Grains or Grain Free?

Grain free dog foods and treats are being purchased by more dog owners who want to make sure their dog is getting the best nutrition and quality ingredients. A lot of dog owners feel that since dogs originate from wolves, grains weren't part of their diet. Others claim that dogs have adapted so they can eat grains.

The problem is that dogs don't digest grains as quickly as humans. Feeding a diet that consists strictly of protein is expensive and could have an adverse effect on the internal organs of some dogs. The carbs used in commercial dog food are usually corn, wheat, and soy which don't provide a lot of nutritional value and are used as fillers. Dogs can benefit from good carbs like sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, green beans, rice, and barley. Here are a few grain free dog treat recipes for healthy, good tasting snacks that your dog will love.

Grain Free Dog Treat Recipes

Nutritious treats aren't just good for your dog, but they're economical. A lot of recipes will yield up to 60 biscuits or cookies, which is a lot better than up to $15 for a few dog treats. Another big advantage to homemade treats is that commercial brands may claim to be natural, but a lot of them have ingredients that aren't good for your dog.

Grain Free Treats with Sweet Potato or Pumpkin

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup regular peanut butter
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup plus 2 tbsp sweet potato or pumpkin, mashed
• You may add 2 tsp of dried parsley or 1/2 cup of shredded carrots as a tasty option

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and form dough into a ball. Roll the dough out between two sheets of parchment or waxed paper. Use cookie cutters to cut the cookies into the desired shape. Transfer to a lined baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes and cool. These treats have a sweet flavor that dogs love.

Banana-Peanut Butter Treats

These delicious, banana and peanut butter treats are easy to make and dogs love them.

Ingredients

• 1 medium banana, mashed
• 3 tablespoons creamy (natural) peanut butter
• One large egg
• 1 3/4 cup garbanzo bean flour
• optional - 1/4 cup rolled oats (Although oats are a grain they can be added to provide texture).

Preparation

In a small bowl, mix peanut butter, egg, and banana. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and oats. Add wet ingredients. Roll out dough to one-quarter inch thickness and cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Place cookies on parchment covered baking sheet. If you don't have cookie cutters, Scoop teaspoons of dough onto sheet and flatten with your hand. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 300 degrees until golden brown. Cool.

Healthy Grain Free Treats

These healthy treats will give your dog a shiny oat and keep fleas away.

Ingredients

• ½ cup broth, beef or chicken
• ½ cup bacon fat, olive oil, or coconut oil
• ⅓ cup coconut flour
• 1⅓ cup tapioca flour
• ½ Tsp sea salt
• 2 Tbsp Flaxseed meal
• 2 Tbsp Brewers or nutritional yeast

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring the chicken broth and fat/oil to a boil over medium heat. Mix tapioca flour, sea salt, brewers yeast, coconut flour, and flax meal in a medium-sized bowl. When the broth and oil come have boiled, add it to the flour bowl. Mix well. On parchment paper, roll the dough to a 1/4 inch thick rectangle. Cut into squares or cut with a cookie cutter into shapes. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes. Open the oven door slightly after turning off, and leave cookies in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes.

No Bake Peanut Butter Balls

This easy peanut butter ball cookie recipe makes 25 to 30 treats and will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 cup natural peanut butter
• 3 cups rolled oats

Preparation

Whisk yogurt and peanut butter together until it forms a paste. Add the oats, 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture will be thick. Scoop the dough with a teaspoon. Roll dough into balls. Place the balls on a parchment paper lined tray and refrigerate. When rolling the balls use gentle pressure, so the mixture doesn't crumble.

Two Ingredient Dog Treats

These simple treats are easy to make and your dog will love them.

Ingredients

• 2 cups organic wheat flour, rolled oats, wheat germ, or a mixture of the three
• 2 4 ounce jars of baby food (pureed variety). you may use chicken, beef, sweet potato, or blueberry

Preparation

Preheat over to 350 degrees. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Use a sharp knife to cut into the dough, making squares or use a cookie cutter to cut into shapes. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place cookies on a baking sheet then bake for 20 to 25 minutes. The recipe makes a lot of cookies, and some may be frozen. You can add other ingredients that your dog will like. Any fruits or vegetables that aren't toxic to dogs work well. Use sweet potatoes, grated carrots, bananas, blueberries, or parsley.

Peanut Butter Dog Treats

This is the perfect dog treat for any dog that has a wheat allergy.

Ingredients

• 3 cups Garbanzo and Fava Bean Flour
• 1/2 cup organic peanut butter
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbsp. Vegetable oil

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until the ingredients are mixed well. The consistency of the dough makes these like drop cookies. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. You can use two spoonfuls for a large dog or 1 spoonful for small dogs. The treats can be stored at room temperature for two or three weeks or in the refrigerator for six weeks. Grain free dog treat recipes provide your dog with a healthy alternative to commercial dog treats.

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