Quote:
Originally Posted by barkleylove  Does anyone have a good recipe for homemade dog treats that are safe for puppies too? I think that is the only way you can know for sure they are safe. I've been giving mine tiny bits of peeled apple or tiny pieces of banana for treats. |
Lots of homemade treats are fine, it sounds like the chicken jerky treats have been causing the deaths, but they are still not sure why. It's so easy and less expensive to make the chicken jerky at home, it's such a shame that people don't know that. You do not need a dehydrator to make them, a regular oven will do it and if you have a convection oven it will be faster.
1. Preheat oven to 200° F
2. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
3. Rinse off chicken breast and remove any fat.
4. Slice the chicken with the grain. This will help make the jerky even chewier for your dog. The slices should be very thin, about 1/8" to 1/4" thickness.
5. Place the strips on the baking sheet.
6. Bake for approximately 2 hours (see note below).
7. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack until completely cool.
8. Cut strips into bite sized pieces.
Storing: These homemade dog treats may not last long enough to be stored because they are so good. But, just in case they do, store them in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. Freeze any remainder for up to 8 months. Be sure to read our tips on storing homemade dog treats for more information.
Tips & Techniques
• Checking - The baking times will vary due to difference in ovens, temperatures and meat size. Your jerky treats should be firm and dry, not at all soft or spongy. It is safer to go a little extra dry and firm than for the meat to be underdone.
• Cutting - Once the treats are cool, it's easier to cut them with kitchen scissors or a pizza cutter, than a regular knife.
There is so much flexibility when making your own chicken jerky dog treats. One of the best options is that you do not need to be restricted to only using chicken. So let's preheat the oven and go for low and slow for these tasty jerky treats.
This can be done with beef liver too, I usually boil the liver first and then cut and bake at 200 degrees until it’s dry.
For puppies, I think Cheerios are a great potty training aid, not many calories in one Cheerio so they don't ruin their appetite for more nutritious fare. I also use thawed frozen green beans for training, Joey loves his veggies!