That’s kind of an odd holiday, isn’t it? But today really is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day, so in honor of this I’ve rounded up some links to some our dogs’ favorites as well as a few that I’ve found online that I’d like to try out. I know the dogs are up for it!
First is my dogs’ absolute favorite, the aptly named Fido’s Favorite Treats. This actually reminds me that it’s time to make a fresh batch!
The Basic Dog Biscuit recipe is pretty much fool proof, and makes a nice crunchy treat.
Microwaveable Dog Donuts are perfect when you don’t …read more

These are one of my favorite dog treats to make, and one of the favorites for the dogs to eat!
It’s easy and foolproof, and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. Make sure you don’t store it in an airtight container (they’ll get moldy) – in fact, they do well in the fridge.
Fido’s Favorite Treats
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup margarine or butter
1 cup boiling water
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons chicken or beef instant bullion
1/2 cup milk
4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese ( 1 cup)
1 egg, beaten
2 cups white or wheat flour
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease cookie …read more

While good, crunchy food and treats are no substitute for regular teeth cleaning for dogs, they do offer up some extra help to keep your dog’s mouth healthy and even fresh!
Keeping the biscuits in the oven after they’re done baking not only gets them extra-crunchy, it also helps dry them out to the point that they won’t get moldy or spoil.
1 cup wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup nonfat powdered milk
1 can low-sodium chicken stock or broth
3 tablespoons corn oil
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
1/4 cup wheat germ for dredging biscuits
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and …read more

Donuts aren’t just for people! Of course, these donuts for dogs are a bit more healthy and don’t take nearly as long (just pop them in the microwave!) and are overall more dog-friendly, so why not whip up a batch for your dog to enjoy the next time you treat yourself?
Microwaveable Dog Donuts
2 C Whole wheat flour
3 T Oatmeal
1 Egg; lightly beaten
1 tsp Garlic powder
2/3 C Beef or chicken broth
Place flour in a bowl, add egg and broth and mix well. Blend in oatmeal and garlic powder. Roll dough into a ball, roll out on a lightly floured surface to …read more

Remember, these are for the dog, not you! (Although, admit it – when you make your own treats you take a nibble, right? Right?)
Apple Cinnamon Drops Dog Treats
1 large apple
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup of water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/8 cup whole wheat flour
Preheat oven to 350 ° F. Core, slice and mince the apple (use a food processor if you have one). In a large bowl, combine the minced apple, honey, water, cinnamon, and oatmeal. Gradually blend in the wheat flour, adding enough to form a stiff dough.
In a small bowl, add 1/8 cup wheat …read more

Image details: Dog Standing on Hind Legs to Receive Treat served by picapp.com
When I make treats for my dogs I like to make sure the ingredients are as unprocessed and “real” as possible. I like this one because it uses real meat, and I only put in half the garlic powder since the jury’s still out on how garlic affects dogs!
I also read a few years ago that small dogs need to be careful with their liver treat intake as it can thin the blood due to its high iron content, and should not be given to dogs who’ve recently …read more

Dogs like the occasional cool treat just as much as we do, so why not treat them to a homemade ice cream made just for them?
While dairy isn’t terribly good for dogs, yogurt contains much less lactase than regular milk and the live cultures are great for your dog’s digestive system. Use the ice cream just as an occasional treat!
Frosty Paws Dog Ice Cream
32 oz vanilla yogurt
1 mashed banana or one large jar of banana baby food
2 T. peanut butter
2 T honey
Blend all together and freeze in paper cups. Peel away the cups & place in your pets dish …read more

My dogs love treats but only get one biscuit a day. Every once in a while I like to try something new and give them an extra little treat, but I like to make sure it’s still somewhat healthy. These muffins seem to fit the bill, and as toy breeds my dogs only need half a muffin each, at most, so they don’t disappear too fast!
Mutt Muffins
1 small jar of baby applesauce/or equivalent in regular applesauce (not flavored)
2 carrots, shredded
2 Tbsp honey
2 ¾ cup water
¼ tsp vanilla
1 egg
In a bowl, mix all wet ingredients together and add the applesauce. …read more

Meaty Dog Biscuits
3/4 c. hot water or meat broth
1/3 c. butter
1/2 c. powdered milk
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
1 egg, beaten
3 c. whole wheat flour
In a large bowl pour hot water over butter to soften. Stir in powdered milk, salt, and egg. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Knead 3 to 4 minutes, adding more flour if necessary to make a very stiff dough. Pat or roll to 1/2-inch thickness and cut out with cookie cutter or cut into 1″ pieces with a pizza cutter. Place on a greased or parchment lined baking sheet and bake …read more

Is it weird to recognize the birthday of a pet? I always thought it kind of was until we got Chip. We adopted him from my friend’s co-worker so we knew his exact date of birth, and we couldn’t resist “celebrating” it ever since.
He turns five today (or 33, according to this conversion calculator) and yes, I made a dog-friendly cake for him and Honey. Since we don’t know Honey’s birthday – or even how old she is – we lump them both together and nudge Honey’s assumed age up a year today as well (we think she’s nine).
Several …read more