Valentine Treats For Dogs!

Love your dog? Make sure you remember him or her on Valentine's Day, with yummy dog treats like these Valentine treats for dogs made by 
Thefive DogBarkery based in London.

Valentine treats for dogs

Dog bakeries are gearing up for this holiday just like other bakeries! Your dog will appreciate the special treat even though he likely will have no idea why people are acting so mushy and lovey-dovey. 

It is thoughtful and fun for us humans to give decorated dog treats like these as holiday gifts to the dog lovers (and dogs) we care about. 

You can make your own homemade dog treats for Valentine's Day using a heart shaped cookie cutter or a bone shaped cookie cutter. Try this easy 

dog biscuit recipe. 

To decorate, use Fido's Frosting brand Royal Icing for Dogs colored with red, pink and blue powdered icing coloring. To get the interesting marbling effect, lay down a thin coat of one color, then put a few small drops of a second color over it. Take a toothpick and drag the toothpick through the colors.

Click this link to see more "heartfelt" ideas for Valentine treats: Lovecakes for dogs - also baked by Thefive Dog Barkery. A list of available hues of red and pink icing colors is provided.

Healthy Dog Treat Recipes: Vegetable Dog Treats

Looking for healthy dog treat recipes? Try this one for vegetable dog treats that also has healthy fruits added. You can call them fruit dog treats as well!

Lazy Bones Pet Treats calls these homemade dog treats: "Fruit and Veggie Bars With Blueberries". 

This recipe uses all natural ingredients and has no preservatives. Be sure to let the dogs eat the treats within several days because as you probably know, fruits and vegetables do not keep! 

Vegetable Dog Treats by
Lazy Bone Pet Treats

Dog treat ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat
• 1 cup oats
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1 shredded carrot
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 1/2 cup plain pumpkin
• Blueberries or cranberries for color

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lightly grease a baking pan.
• Mix the ingredients together to form a dough.
• Roll out dough 1/4 inch thick.
• Press the dough into the baking sheet. Make it even with squared edges as much as possible.
• Bake 20 - 25 minutes.
• Let cool completely.
• Cut into sticks.
• Store veggie and fruit bars in the refrigerator. Eat within a few days. There are no preservatives so the ingredients will not keep.

Made with human grade ingredients, so have one (or several...) yourself!

Great Balls of Bacon! Bacon Grease Dog Treats

What to do with that leftover bacon grease...

Make bacon grease dog treats!

Use it to add flavor to homemade dog treats. These bacon balls were created by Lazy Bones Pet Treats. Owner Anna Lyle told us that she just made these treats and her dogs went berserk! So, because her own dogs were definitely a biased consumer group, she offered some to the neighbor dogs and they are still standing at the fence barking for more.

Bacon grease dog treats by Lazy Bones Pet Treats

Now some of you may be thinking that bacon grease is unhealthy. Dog owners do this, especially in the winter months, to help their dog's dry skin and coats. 

Dogs do not develop heart disease from high cholesterol in the same manner that humans do. Schnauzers have a genetic predisposition to increased levels of fat in the blood (known as hyperlipidemia), but other breeds are not that susceptible.

If your dog has other health issues or is overweight, you should rethink his diet. But for a healthy dog, an occasional dog treat is fine. You should always check with your veterinarian if you have any concerns.

The red colored homemade dog treats above are decorated with the all natural dog treat icing, K9Cakery Royal Icing for Dogs, and the others are coated with peanut butter.

Dog treat ingredients:

• 5 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 10 tablespoons bacon fat. 
• Honey if desired
• Shredded cheese if desired
• Fido's Frosting brand Royal Icing for Dogs

It is recommended to drain the bacon fat through cheesecloth. If you do not have cheesecloth, a coffee filter will work, but will drain slower.

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. 
• Combine all the above ingredients.
• Roll the dough into little balls and press dough into a mini muffin pan. 
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes. 
• Do not overcook or the dough will harden.
• Let cool completely.
• Decorate by drizzling Fido's Frosting brand Royal Icing for Dogs over the bacon balls.

This recipe yields quite a bit! Cut the ingredient amounts in half if you do not want to make a lot of bacon balls.

Simple Valentine Cookies For Dogs

You love your dog! Your dog loves you! What better Valentine can you have....

Share your love with Valentine cookies for dogs. All you need is a heart shaped cookie cutter and a basic, easy dog treat recipe. These are peanut butter dog treats baked and decorated by Cathy Mags.

Valentine cookies for dogs by Cathy Mags

Add your own ingredients for different flavors. You can find various recipes on this blog. Feel free to leave a comment about any recipes you are looking for and we will post them! 

When all finished, wrap the dog cookies in clear cellophane so that they are easy to see. Treats this beautiful will make a gorgeous package just by themselves. 

Tie it up with a dog-themed ribbon, such as one with paw prints or bones stamped on, and you will have a cute little Valentine treat package. If you do not have dog-themed ribbon, red, pink, purple, or any combination of those colors suggests Valentine's Day.

If you have young children, this would be the perfect little appreciation gift for them to give to the family dog.

If you have clients who are dog lovers, do the same for them. Dog lovers always appreciate it when someone remembers the dog.

Fido's Frosting Royal Icing for Dogs is used to decorate these Valentine dog treats. It is an all natural yogurt icing that is sugar free, dries hard and shiny, and needs no refrigeration.

Vegan Dog Treats Recipe

Q: Are vegan dog treats healthy for dogs? 

A: Vegan treats contain no meat, no sources of animal protein, and no dairy products such as eggs, milk or cheese. Some dogs may need to limit their intake of these products for health reasons. 

Dog treats are not meant to take the place of a meal. A full vegan or vegetarian diet for your dog should be discussed with your vet. 

If you would like to make your own vegan treats for dogs, here is a recipe offered by Baron & Henry's Homemade Dog Treats based in Pembroke, Maine:

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Spice Vegan Dog Treats 

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 and 1/2 cup flour
• 1 and 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• pinch of salt

Ingredients for Vegan Dog Treats

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350. 
• Whisk the peanut butter, pumpkin, water, and oil together.
• Add in the cinnamon.
• Combine all the ingredients until the mixture is smooth. 
• Slowly add the flour and mix until well combined. It should be thick enough to roll out with a rolling pin and not stick. 
• Roll out on a floured surface.
• Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.  
• Place the cut out dough onto an nonstick baking sheet.
• Bake for about 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the biscuits. Flip them over halfway through the baking time. 
• Turn off the oven and leave the biscuits in for another 45-50 minutes to harden.  

Gluten Free Treats For Dogs

Here's another one of our easy dog treat recipes for gluten free treats for dogs! This dog treat recipe comes from Zelda's K-9 Treats & Things, LLC, located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Gluten free treats for dogs
Courtesy Zelda's K-9 Treats & Things, LLC

Gluten Free Rosemary Cheddar Dog Treats

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tablespoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 cup gluten free oat flour
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon xanthum gum

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Line a baking pan with either parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• Add all ingredients together and mix well in a large bowl
• Knead dough into ball
• Roll out on a floured surface to approximately 1/4 inch thick (Note: it is important to keep the dough moist to prevent crumbling in the next step)
• Cut out shapes with desired cookie cutters
• Place on prepared baking sheet 
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until browned
• Cool and refrigerate

Makes 2 dozen round gluten free dog treats.

If you prefer to order fresh homemade dog treats, please let us know! 

Gluten Free Dog Treats

Gluten free dog treats are necessary for those pets that are gluten intolerant or have a gluten allergy. 

In dog breeds, the Irish Setter is known to have a genetic predisposition to developing celiac disease - a condition causing damage to the small intestine so that certain nutrients cannot be absorbed. 

Gluten free dog treats may be what your dog needs

Sufferers of celiac sprue, as it is called, cannot eat wheat, rye or barley, foods containing gluten. It is the body's reaction to gluten that leads to the intestinal dysfunction. 

If your dog is gluten intolerant, we have a nice dog treat recipe to share with you so that you can make your own dog treats if you desire. 

Easy recipe for gluten free treats for dogs - click here:

Gluten Free Tropical Doggie Treats courtesy Tami's Bow Wow Treats
in Daytona Beach, FL.

If you would like to order some gluten free treats already made by a dog bakery, so that you do not have to worry about the ingredients and whether or not you can include them, we would be happy to help you locate a trustworthy dog treat business.

Click here to learn more about what gluten is and the purpose it serves: gluten free dog treats.

P.S. Fido's Frosting dog treat icing is gluten free.

Making Dog Treats

Want to learn about making dog treats? You are invited for dog treat recipes, business tips, networking, making new friends who share your interests, and more! Click "Homemade Dog Treats Facebook Group" now to become a member! It's free and carries no obligations.

Making homemade dog treats is always a fun activity! Plus...you are guaranteed that someone will enjoy everything you bake!

Making dog treats

The "Homemade Dog Treats Facebook Group" was started in August, 2012, as a networking and gathering place for those who share the passion or the interest of baking for dogs. As of this post we have over 200 members from around the world, and more join every day. 

The group is moderated by Frosting Fran from K9Cakery.com, and an expert crafter, Theresa The Scrapbooking Queen. But don't let the group name dissuade you. You do not have to make dog treats at home to join! We also share craft making ideas and how to make cat treats too! 

We share dog treat recipes, information about dog nutrition, craft ideas, dog treat business tips for beginners and those already in the business, strategy for marketing dog treats, pricing, selling and more. The group is comprised of those starting out in business, veteran business people, expert cake decorators, people who have never decorated before, and others who are just curious. 

If you need motivation, you will definitely find it here. If you need interesting recipe ideas, you will definitely find them here. If you want to "meet" like-minded people who do not think that baking dog treats and cakes for dogs is strange behavior, this is the right place to be.

All you have to do is request an invite by clicking the red link above. We hope you will join us!

If you would prefer to stay in touch but not be in a group, simply sign up to follow this blog. I regularly post easy dog treat recipes, photos, and other interesting information that comes from the group with due credit given.