Basic Dog Treats

There are many kinds of dog treats out there, but it’s very easy to make your own with some of the most basic ingredients you’re likely to have in your pantry. In most cases, you’ll just need some flour – usually whole wheat – and other dog-friendly items like peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol), broth, pumpkin, banana, and so forth.

Dog treats bake for a while so they can harden, which helps them keep for longer than a traditional cookie. But since these are homemade, keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t look or smell like they shouldn’t.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 to 3/4 cups chicken broth

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil.

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and stir together, then knead with your hands until a sturdy dough forms; I recommend starting with 1/2 cup of chicken broth and adding more to make the dough easier to handle as you go along.

Roll out on a very lightly floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Meet Sukey

Sukey is a charming dog who enjoys laying on the sofa and begging for table scraps not necessarily at the same time. To maintain her girlish figure, she eats green beans mixed in with her kibble, but she’d never turn down a slice of bacon.

In this photo, Sukey waits behind the baby gate in Mo’s room during the party. One of the little girls in attendance sat down on the other side of the gate and read to Sukey while the other kids played…one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.