Dangerous Dog Treats Exposed

Not all Christmas dog treats sold in the big box retail stores are safe for your pet. Our underdog mystery shopper was sniffing around in a large pet supplies chain to see what they were recommending to their customers in the way of dog treats and was appalled.

The inviting looking package is colorful and looks quite tasty on display. 



Dangerous dog treats masquerade as acceptable dog gift ideas


 

These are rawhide treats. But we are not going to expound on rawhide for pets. That is not the point of this post.

 

The manufacturer's instructions on the back of the package is what caught our underdog's attention:

 

 

Dangerous dog treats advertise their limitations

 

 

In case you cannot see the warnings, they are pointed out here...

 

 

 

 

 

The consumer is cautioned to: "Remove decorations before giving to your pet."

Furthermore, "Wash hands with soap and water after handling. This product may stain. Use in a stain resistant area."

 

We ask you: Do you want to give your dog or anyone else's beloved pet an edible product in which if you are lucky enough to catch the small print on the back, warns you NOT to eat it??

 

You are cautioned to SUPERVISE: "Recommended size is larger than your pet's mouth."  

 

Plus, you are advised to wash your hands with soap and water as it will stain. What about the pet's digestive system - does that stain red and green as well? Your carpets, couch, car - wherever your pet "enjoys" this treat - will remain decorated for Christmas saving you the effort in years to come!

 

Beware of dog treats like these. Make sure you know what you are giving to your pet.

 

Healthy dog treats will be decorated with healthy decorations that are meant to be eaten, like Fido's Frosting, which is designed specifically for dogs. It will not melt nor stain. It does not have to be removed before the dog enjoys the treat.

 

If the frosting is melting in the package, it is probably full of sugar and fat.

Be savvy and keep your pets safe.

 



 

  

 





Dog Birthday Cake Has Secret Ingredient

Purple-icious! 

That's the word for this dog birthday cake. 

When the cake is cut, the surprise is revealed. This all natural dog cake uses a special vegetable for its unique coloring.  No candy chips or artificial coloring involved.

This dog birthday cake is naturally purple!

The cake is finished with Fido's Frosting, all natural dog treat frosting.

Get the full dog birthday cake recipe and start baking today.

Safe Dog Treats

Make sure you only give safe dog treats and safe dog food products to your pets.

With the recent news stories about dogs dying after eating dog jerky treats made in China and other issues with food borne illnesses, we thought it was important to remind you of some basic safety tips you should consider when purchasing products to be fed to dogs. 

Buy safe dog treats

1) Look for products made from ingredients sourced only from the USA. 

2) Buy all natural or organic when possible. 

3) Although human grade ingredients are not required for pets, this type of product provides an extra level of assurance that the ingredients are safe for your dog. 

4) The safest and best products will be manufactured and packaged in an FDA approved and inspected facility. 

5) Legitimate products will have a complete ingredients list, a proper guaranteed analysis statement, and a bar code on the package. If a product is missing any of these, beware. 


6) Legitimate and legal products are licensed in the state from where they are sold. 

Unfortunately, there is frequent mislabeling (intentional or not) on many pet products. If you are unsure about a product, just check for these guidelines and be sure to ask questions. 

Fido's Frosting and K9Cakery made products meet all of these strict standards. 

All of the folks at K9Cakery wish you happy and safe baking!

Pumpkin dog cupcakes

This dog cake recipe for pumpkin dog cupcakes is made with all natural, all human grade ingredients. That means you can enjoy one with your pup!

Pumpkin dog cupcakes

Just click the caption above and it will take you directly to the dog cake recipe. The mini pupcakes look like mini tarts. While baking, the ingredients will fill your kitchen with the savory aroma of pumpkin muffins. 

Decorate with Fido's Frosting and all natural sprinkles for a luscious finished baked item for your pets, who will be drooling in anticipation.

Natural Dog Chews

Natural dog chews are a trending dog treat. Pet parents want to give the healthiest dog treats to their furry little ones.

All natural dog chews

When looking for a natural chew for your pet, first consider the ones that have a single ingredient. These are the best choices. If you can't find any, then pick chews that are made from all-natural ingredients only.

Finally, if you still can't find any, make your own! Sweet potatoes, dehydrated chicken, or other meats like beef, pork, lamb, or salmon skin can be turned into chews for dogs. The industry is moving towards adding additional flavors like rabbit, kangaroo and crocodile.

Simply dehydrate strips of your dog's favorite food choice from the list above. If you do not have a dehydrator, all you have to do is take the potato or the chicken or other meat and place in the oven at a low temperature (200 degrees F or lower). Let the strips bake until they dry out. Figure at least 3-4 hours, maybe longer depending on your oven. 

If you are looking at store-bought brands, check the ingredients. A good rule of thumb is that if there is an ingredient that you cannot pronounce, chances are good that it is NOT a natural product.

For example, look for product descriptions that contain the following words:

• All-natural
• Free range or grass fed
• No preservatives, additives or fillers
• No hormones
• No antibiotics

Be sure to check where the product was made. Consider staying away from foodstuff that says "Made in China" on the package, because the food industry is not highly regulated as it is in the USA and other countries.

Macaroon Recipe For Dogs

Are you looking for something different in the way of a recipe for dog treats?

Try this simple macaroon recipe for dogs (or macaron recipe) shared by Sue Hughes.

Macaroon recipe for dogs

What you need:

• Parchment lined baking sheet

Ingredients:

• Egg whites
• Shredded coconut
• Use approximately 1 egg white to 1 tsp coconut. (Amounts of egg whites will vary due to the size of the egg. You need enough egg white to hold the coconut. Too much coconut or too little egg white will cause the macaroon not to hold together.)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff.
• Fold in the shredded coconut.
• Drop tablespoons of mix on the parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 325 for 5-6 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Jodi Chick offers that a little meringue powder can be added to help hold them together. 

For a finishing touch, drizzle Fido's Royal Icing yogurt icing on top!

Yummy Squash Dog Treat Recipe

In honor of National Acorn Squash Day, September 7, Cristina's Dog Treats shares this simple recipe for acorn squash dog treats! If you love baking for dogs, these vegetable dog treats are healthy and easy to make. 

Squash dog treat recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup squash, pureed
• 1/4 cup canola/olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1 egg
• 3 cups rice flour

Directions

• Cut the squash in half and takes the seeds out
• Place in the oven at 400 F and bake until tender. 
• Scrape it out and do a quick blend to puree it.
• Mix squash, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and honey together.
• Add egg and oil.
• Slowly add the flour. You want to add enough flour to form a nice dough that is still a little sticky but not too sticky.
• Knead and roll out on a floured surface to 1/4" thickness. 
• Cut out into desired shapes. 
• Bake at 350 F for 15 to 20 minutes. For crunchier dog treats, turn the oven off and let the biscuits sit. 

Cristina gives this warning: "The treats smells delicious while baking so humans may come by to sample them."

Acorn squash is non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Pumpkin may be used in place of squash if your dogs prefer.

Homemade Dog Treat Recipe

Want a healthy homemade dog treat recipe? Here's a good one!
Submitted by Marla Matera, it calls for applesauce, mashed sweet potato, and Greek yogurt.

Homemade Dog Treat Recipe

Sweet Potato Apple Pup Cakes

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup flour (whole wheat, spelt, oat, barley, etc.)
• 3/4 cups rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato (baby food sweet potatoes works well)
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 apple, peeled and diced small
• Non-fat plain Greek yogurt for frosting
• Small treats for garnish (crumbled biscuits/cookies, fresh or dried fruit)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Mix dry ingredients together in one bowl.
• In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients together. Combine wet and dry ingredients until well-blended.
• Then, scoop the batter into paper lined muffin tins (6-8). Fill to the top as this dough is very dense and will not rise.
• Bake standard sized muffins for 25-30 minutes, mini muffins for approximately 15 minutes (or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean).
• Cool on a rack.
• Frost and serve, or freeze the muffins without the frosting.
• Refrigerate muffins that are not eaten.

# # #

For a dog muffin frosting that does not require refrigeration, use 
Fido's Frosting, all natural sugar free yogurt cake frosting for dogs.

Dog treat business spotlight

Thinking about starting a dog treat business?

Want to expand on your hobby of making homemade dog treats?

Can't decide on a good name?

Would you like to see how others are packaging dog treats? 

Just need a little inspiration or motivation?

Dog treat business spotlight

Follow the link to MarketingDogTreats.com where we post interviews with independent dog treat business owners from our dog bakery community.

As of this date, you can read about:

• The Gourmet Greyhound
• Baron & Henry's Homemade Dog Treats
• The Pawtastic Barkery

We have many more exciting stories coming!

Who knows? Maybe you will be next.

Pill pockets recipe for dogs

Do you have a hard time "convincing" your dog that he or she should take his medication? Try pill pockets that you make yourself!

Q: I have to give my dog medicine and use the pill pockets. Do you happen to have a recipe that I could use to make my own?

A: Jodi Chick, a freelance writer for Kol's Notes, submits this recipe:

Ingredients:

• Peanut butter
• Oatmeal flour
• Coconut flour

Directions:

• Mix the peanut butter with equal parts of the oatmeal and coconut flours.
• Roll the mixture over the pill.
• Only make as much as you plan to use in 3-4 days and refrigerate.
• Freeze the extra mixture in 3-4 day portions.

She notes that soft cheese or canned dog food can be substituted for the peanut butter if your dog enjoys those ingredients more.

Ellen Cobleigh, founder of The Gourmet Greyhound, offers this recipe that she located in "Celebrating Greyhounds" magazine for "Pilly Putty":

Ingredients:

• 4 tsp and 2 tsp flour
• 2 level tbsp molasses
• 3/4 tsp cooking oil
• 1/2 tsp concentrated chicken stock or beef stock paste

Directions:

• Put the flour in a bowl and make a well in the middle.
• Pour in the molasses, oil and stock paste. Blend with a fork.
• Apply a few drops of oil to your hands to keep the mix from sticking. If you use gloves, put the oil on the gloves.
• Mix until smooth and consistent. The mix will form a "putty" consistency. If it seems too dry, add more oil one drop at a time.
• To store the unused portion, coat the inside of a ziplock bag with oil to prevent sticking and place in the bag.
• The mixture will begin to firm up as it sits, so for best results use within the week.
• You can freeze it up to 2 months. Let it thaw 24 hours before use.
• Do not refrigerate.

Do you have a recipe for pill pockets that you can share? Please submit it in the comments section below. You will get full credit for it!!

My dog eats poop

Q: Help! My shih tzu eats dog poop! What can I do to stop her from doing this? 

A: We took this reader's concern to our knowledgeable community of dog treat business owners and came up with terrific suggestions. Please write back and tell us what worked the best for you so we can share it with others who have a similar issue with their dog.

Stop dog from eating poop!

Why do dogs eat poop? Some may do it due to a health issue, because their digestive systems aren't functioning properly and they are hungry. Others do it "recreationally."

If you think your dog has a health issue and appears to be starving, please get him or her checked out by a veterinarian as soon as possible. 

Some dog food is not well-digested so when it is excreted, it appears to be available food.

You may have a dog who is eating poop just because it's there, or trying to destroy the evidence if he poops in the house. It is also thought that dogs eat poop as a survival tactic stemming from their wild ancestry - to hide their presence from predators.

The number one suggestion: pick up and remove all dog feces as soon as possible before the dog can get to it. 

If this is not feasible, there are natural ingredients as pictured above that may be helpful to stop a dog from eating poop, otherwise known as "coprophagia":

• Pineapple 
• Pumpkin
• Chili peppers
• Anise seed

These natural ingredients contain enzymes that work to break down the fecal matter into distasteful and even more foul smelling waste. 

Pineapple: Juice, canned or fresh fruit 
Pumpkin: Canned or fresh
Chili peppers: "season" the food with hot sauce or pepper
Anise seed: 1/4 to 1/4 teaspoon of anise seed sprinkled on the dog's food. 

Do not cook the pineapple or pumpkin as that will deactivate the enzyme that is necessary.

Make sure to give ALL the dogs in the household the anti-poop ingredients.

There are commercial products available. These have been recommended.
Click the links to learn more:


Dis-taste

Potty Mouth

S.E.P.

• 
  

Dog Jerky Treats

Question about dog jerky treats: 

Q: Please help. I tried making dog jerky treats, but it was not easy. I cut the meat by hand and then pounded it using a mallet. It took me forever! It also created a mess in my kitchen. Is there an easier way? 

Chicken Jerky Dog Treats

A: Here are some fellow dog treat business recommendations that should be helpful to you! We offer three suggestions recommending three different products - highlighted in blue - with links to the actual product. The dog treat business names are highlighted in mauve with corresponding links to their Facebook pages enabled.

1) Knife and cutting board set from Cabela's makes cutting easier

The following suggestion comes from Lynne:

• Precook chicken breasts in the oven or microwave.
• Let cool.
• Using a sharp long knife and cutting board, slice the breasts very thin. 
• Tub a little ginger or cinnamon on the breats.
• Dehydrate the chicken for about 12 hours 

Make dog jerky with this set from Cabela's

2) Chef's Choice electric slicer works well on frozen chicken


The next suggestion comes from Kimbra's K9 Crunchies based in Eagle Point, Oregon.

• Freeze chicken breasts.
• Slice them into think strips using an electric slicer.
• Dehydrate.

Kimbra says that before she started using the electric slicer, she cut the

meat by hand, but found that cutting either frozen or partially frozen meat makes the job easier.

Chef's Choice electric slicer

The Doggy Dessert Chef agrees that cutting slightly frozen chicken makes a big difference in the ease.

3) Deni electric meat slicer

Deni electric food slicer

This electric slicer is the favorite of Zelda's K-9 Treats and Things, LLC,  

based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin suggests to freeze chicken breasts and leave the hearts in as well. 

Zelda says that if you decide you want to make dog jerky using tongue, be sure to wear rubber gloves and hold your nose. However, it is definitely worth the effort in the end.

Do you have a question about a particular product? Write your question in the comment box and we will get an answer for you from one of our dog treat business community members.

Dog Bone Cake Pan

Need a dog cake?

Bake your own using a dog bone cake pan. 

The main difference between cakes for dogs and cakes for humans is the ingredients. Dogs don't mind if the cake is not sweet! If you want to make your baking quick and easy, consider trying K9Katie's all natural peanut butter cake mix. Takes the guesswork and research away because everything you need is right in the mix.

This image shows off a beautiful peanut butter and pumpkin dog cake using the bone-shaped pan from K9Cakery.

Thank you to our friends at the Cheeky Dog Bakery in Dublin, Ireland for sharing it!

Peanut Butter Cake for Dogs

Make a note at how beautiful the cake looks displayed on a simple pink mat. You don't need to spend a lot of money, time or effort. Simplicity works well to showcase your dog treat products. You want to show off the product, not the display materials!

Click this link to find the dog bone cake pan and dog cake mixes.

Incredible Beef Dog Cookies

Take a look at these beef dog cookies created by Lainey's Pawtique & Bakery in Chicago, Illinois!

They are aptly called "Hole Lotta Beef Cookies".

Beef dog cookies

These hard cookies for dogs are made using special flours such as coconut flour and garbanzo bean flour. These healthy dog treats are just right for dog owners who are not fond of feeding treats made from wheat flour.  

Dogs are not prone to issues typically associated with red meat as humans are. 

The bakery owner, Judy Altman, has a flair for coming up with creative and original treats for dogs that are unique in their design and ingredients. Visit her via the link above and find links to her various stores.

Easy Dog Treat Recipes: Smores

A reader asked for easy dog treat recipes so that the dog can share in summertime celebrations. 

How about smores? 

This well-known campfire favorite is typically made with chocolate and marshmallows. That suggests a big uh-oh when talking about homemade dog treats. Dogs should not have chocolate! 

We are in luck! You can achieve the look of chocolate with carob dog treat frosting. White Fido's Frosting brand Royal Icing for Dogs will simulate the marshmallow ingredient. 

The Pup-town Bakery in Fairhaven, Massachusetts makes gorgeous smores for dogs:

Easy dog treat recipes: Smores

These instructions are a variation on the bakery's own recipe. 

• Take two dog biscuits. 
• Using Fido's Frosting brand Royal Icing, swipe one biscuit with plain white. 
• Swipe the other with Fido's Frosting Carob Flavor. 
• Put the two together.
• Drizzle royal icing over the top colored with brown icing coloring to give it a "chocolate" look.

Do you have an original dog treat idea? Please share it with us on the K9Cakery Facebook page and we will blog about you too!

Cupcakes for dogs: Pumpkin Pie!

Cupcakes for dogs do not have to be boring! 

Try a pumpkin pie recipe. Decorate with cream cheese frosting for a big dog party hit like these yummy dog cupcakes made by Denise Trujillo in the Facebook group "Homemade Dog Treats".

Cupcakes for dogs

Recipe for Pumpkin Cupcakes for Dogs

What you need:

• Basic dog cake recipe 

Then add to it:

• 1/3 cup fresh or canned pumpkin (do not use pumpkin pie filling)
• 1/3 cup mini marshmallows
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 egg

Directions:

• Add the pumpkin and cinnamon into the mix. Stir until well-mixed by hand.
• Fold in the mini marshmallows.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick or fork stuck in the center comes out clean.

See the full recipe and a video at this link: Pumpkin Dog Treats

Dog Biscuit Recipe

Super easy dog biscuit recipe!

Special thanks to the Facebook group "Homemade Dog Treats".

This recipe for vegetable dog treats was originally posted by:

Tammie's Homemade Pet Treats

The photo shows off finished treats made by Alison Jane Hall.

Dog biscuit recipe

Spinach Crunchies

What you need:

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup frozen chopped spinach
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1 cup water

Directions:

• Mix the flour and baking powder together.
• Mix the oil and the water.
• Combine both sets of ingredients and mix in the spinach.
• Roll out on a floured surface.
• Cut out dough with choice of cookie cutters.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes or until brown.
• Let cool completely before giving dog biscuits to your dog!

Join us on Facebook for more dog biscuit recipes.

Easter Crafts For Dogs

Easter crafts - ideas for decorated dog treats for Easter!

Edible Easter basket for dogs 

Easter dog treats

Bunnycakes decorated with Fido's Frosting

Decorated dog treats with Fido's Frosting

Join us in the Facebook group Homemade Dog Treats to learn to make your own and for a great supportive network of new friends!

Sugar Free, Fat Free, Gluten Free Frosting For Dogs

Tips and tricks to best use Fido's Frosting from K9Cakery.com!

Sugar free, fat free, gluten free dog treat icing

The information posted here is intended to provide answers to common questions and clarify terms related to   Fido's Frosting and Fido's Royal Icing for dogs.

Fido's Frosting products are the only genuine USA made yogurt frosting products on the market that are sugar free, fat free, and gluten free. These products are extremely difficult to formulate and manufacture. Other dog treat frosting products on the market use sugar, fat and/or gluten because these ingredients are cheap and very easy to work with. We have chosen to take the most difficult path so that we can offer the highest quality product to our customers. But, by removing sugar, fat and gluten, our products work differently from their unhealthy counterparts.


Icing cracking Cracking is rare but can occur. It happens typically due to the following reasons:

• The dog treat frosting or icing was applied to a treat that was not fully dry inside. What happens is that the frosting dries hard, and then over the next few days, as the treat finishes drying inside, it shrinks and causes natural stress cracks. The remedy is to make sure the dog treats are completely dry before applying the topping. Some bakers dehydrate their treats to accomplish this. To test for dryness all the way through, simply break the treat. If it does not "snap" crisply, it is not dry inside.
• Gluten free dog treats often develop cracks in the frosting. Our research has shown that in every case, the frosting has dried on the treat, but the actual treat has cracked because it contains no gluten to hold it together. Gluten forms the chemical bonds that holds baking mixes together and acts like a "glue". Remove the gluten and the "glue" is gone. This is why you will see gluten free cookies crumbling in their packages. The icing will crack along the same lines as the cookie itself. Turn the cookie over and you will easily see the crack that is causing the crack in the topping.

Icing pruning This effect occurs, usually to royal icing, when it is applied to a very dense treat. 

• Gluten free treats are very dense and are typically the ones affected. Because Fido's Frosting products have no fat or sugar, they dry from the outside in. This differs from the properties of the yogurt candy chips which contain fat and sugar. These chips do not actually "dry". What you are seeing is the fat solidifying at room temperature. Apply heat and the chips will liquefy due to the properties of the fat. 
• Fido's Frosting products actually dry and once dried, will not turn back into a liquid. Since they dry from the outside in, they form a "skin" on the sides with access to air and slowly dry hard as the air reaches the frosting. With dense treats, air can only get to the top of the frosting, and no air passes through the treat like it does in one containing gluten. The frosting or icing forms a skin. Because it can only dry outside in, the "skin" on top dries before the innermost portion. Thus, the "skin" prunes much like your fingers do when immersed in water for a length of time. Some people mistake pruning for cracking, but it is not the same.

Icing falling off In very rare cases, bakers have reported that the icing has fallen off their treats. There are two reasons that this may occur:

• If the icing is applied in a thin line or in thin drops, it has a good chance of falling off. This is because there is not enough topping applied to a large enough surface area of the dog treat to allow proper bonding. To prevent this from happening, apply a full base coat of icing or frosting to the treat and THEN apply a thin line or drops on top of the base coat while it is still sticky. This provides plenty of bonding area and the topping will not fall off.
• If the treat is very smooth, the topping may "fall off." The topping needs textured grooves or pores to have something to stick to. The more porous the treat, the better the bond. To prevent this from happening to a smooth treat, simply poke holes or score the surface with a fork or knife before baking the treats.

"Milk bone test"  If you are having difficulty with the frosting on your own treats, we recommend trying it out on a commercial product like Milk Bones. If it works properly on the commercial dog treat, then it is safe to say that it is not the frosting that is the issue. Anyone still experiencing problems after performing this test is encouraged to contact us through the K9Cakery.com website.

The best place to learn about how to use Fido's Frosting products is to join us in the Facebook group "Homemade Dog Treats". Simply request to join. You will see some amazing dog treat artistry and make new friends who share your passion for baking for dogs!