Best Homemade Dog Treats

Summer in Pensacola brings warm temperatures and plenty of time outdoors with your best friend. Whether you're heading to the beach or a local trail, keeping your dog nourished and hydrated matters just as much as it does for you.

These simple homemade treats are made with wholesome ingredients, and a couple of them are cool enough for you to enjoy alongside your pup. Here's how to whip up three easy favorites at home.

Melon Berry Froyo Bones

This mouthwatering recipe is brimming with vitamins, antioxidants, and sweet flavor. Think of it as a tangy berry popsicle layered with frozen yogurt.

What you'll need

An ice tray or silicone bone mold
2 cups watermelon
1/4 cup water
Equal parts blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries (about 2 of each)
1 cup plain yogurt

How to make them

Stir the berries into the cup of yogurt and place the mixture in the fridge to chill.
Blend the watermelon with the water, then fill your ice tray about a quarter of the way up. Freeze for 2 to 3 hours.
Once the watermelon layer is solid, fill the remaining space with your berry-yogurt mixture and freeze again until firm.
Poolside or on the porch, pop one out and break off a piece for your pup. Cheers!

Baked Pumpkin Poppers

These treats are made for dogs, not people, since they contain no added sugar. Even beginner bakers can nail this one, so think of them as donut holes for pups.

What you'll need

1 cup flaxseed
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup water
Two bowls, an oven, and a pre-sprayed baking sheet

How to make them

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
In one bowl, combine the flour and whole wheat flour. In the second bowl, thoroughly stir the flaxseed into the water. Don't skip this step, mixing wet and dry too soon makes them hard to combine later.
Add the peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and cinnamon to the wet ingredients until you have a thick paste.
Slowly work in the flour, taking your time until the mixture reaches a cookie-dough texture. Knead out any dry patches by hand.
Roll the dough into small, donut-hole-sized balls and place them on the baking sheet. There's no baking soda, so they won't spread and can sit close together.
Bake 15 to 21 minutes, keeping an eye on them. For a senior dog, pull them at the 15-minute mark for a softer, easier-to-chew treat.

Coconut Carob Bites

Something about chocolate and banana is just satisfying, isn't it? Dogs can't have cocoa, but carob is a safe, dog-friendly stand-in with a similar flavor. You and your pup can enjoy this one frozen or chilled.

What you'll need

2 to 3 bananas
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 to 2 tablespoons carob for flavor
An ice tray

How to make them

Mash the bananas and stir them into the peanut butter (a hand mixer works, but a fork or spoon is fine too).
Add the carob to taste. If your dog has never tried it, start with one tablespoon and see how they do.
Spoon the mixture into an ice mold and freeze. No mold? Chill it in the fridge for a few hours instead.
Once cold, add a bite to your dog's breakfast and stir a spoonful into your own oats for a matching morning treat.

A Quick Note on Safe Ingredients

Homemade treats are a great way to control exactly what your dog eats, but a few common foods are off-limits. Chocolate, xylitol, grapes, and onions are all toxic, which is why carob replaces cocoa in these recipes. Review the ASPCA's list of people foods to avoid feeding pets before experimenting with new ingredients. When adding treats to your dog's routine, keep them to a small portion of daily calories, as the VCA guide to healthy dog treats recommends.

Match the Treat to Your Pup

Portion sizes and textures depend on your dog's size and age. A tiny Yorkshire terrier needs much smaller pieces than a hungry Labrador retriever, and softer baked poppers are ideal for senior dogs. If you're still deciding which companion is right for your family, you can compare temperaments and sizes across the dog breeds we carry.

Ready to add a new best friend to the kitchen? Come meet our available puppies at Petland Pensacola, and ask our team about financing and payment options to help you bring your pup home.