When You Think Doggie Treats, Think Homemade Bacon Biscuits!

     What dog doesn抰 love a doggies treat? Our canine friends can be sent into a tizzy at the mere mention of the word, and we love them because they抮e a great way to reward our well-behaved pups. Next time you reach for a treat and find the bag empty, however, don抰 hop in the car. Hop in the kitchen! Making doggies treats can be a fun, loving project, particularly when you involve the kids.

One of the benefits of making your own doggies treats is that you can control the quality of the ingredients that go into them. For the healthiest possible end product, try using the kinds of ingredients that we humans would use for optimum health. Choose organic if possible when buying flours, meals, and peanut butters and avoid the genetically modified, sugar-added alternatives. Also remember that no two dogs are the same. If your pet has special needs (and even if it doesn抰) it抯 always best to run your recipes by your Veterinarian before creating them. They抣l be able to tell you if there are any ingredients that should not be used.

In general you should store dog treats the same way you would homemade people cookies. The amount and type of fat in the recipe and your local weather conditions will determine how long you should store your doggies treats before purging them. Fats such as butter, meat or meat juices are more prone to rancidity than fats from vegetable oil or shortening. Treats stored in humid or hot climates will tend to spoil at a faster rate that treats stored in cooler climates.

You can prolong the life of your dog treats by refrigerating or freezing them. Store them in a tightly sealed container or zip lock bag (a freezer bag if your storing in the freezer). Be sure to allow your treats thaw completely before use. (You don抰 want Buster chipping a tooth.)

Bacon Flavored Dog Biscuit Treats
By the Santa Clara County Humane Society

Ingredients

5 cups Whole wheat flour
1 cup Milk
2 Eggs
10 tablespoon Vegetable oil or bacon fat
1 pinch Onion or garlic powder
1 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Cold water
1 tablespoon Vegetable oil to grease pan

Instructions
Mix all ingredients well. Pinch off pieces of the dough and roll them into two-inch balls. Bake biscuits at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Let them cool, then store in an airtight container.