Cooking for dogs can be especially rewarding and it’s a great way to bond with them. It’ll help in understanding the specific nutrition needs of your pet and satisfaction that you know exactly what has gone in to creating their snacks. Here are a few of our favourite dog food recipes.

Doggo Ice Cream

Perfect for a long hot day out in the park, your dog will love this cold and creamy treat. This easy recipe can be expanded or modified for any dog safe fruits. This is one of our favourite dog foods.

Ingredients

1 litre of plain yogurt
½ cup of pure coconut butter
1 cup of fresh strawberries, or frozen and thawed.

Method

Place all ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container, silicon moulds are perfect for bite sized ice cream snacks. Place in the freezer for several hours or until frozen, overnight is best.

(source: https://barkpost.com/life/diy-ice-cream-recipes/)

Crunchy Biscuits

Everyone loves fresh baked biscuits and your pup is no exception, try these perfect biscuits when they need a special treat.

Ingredients

1 cup cooked, finely diced chicken

1/2 cup rice, cooked & mashed

3 tablespoons rice flour

1 tablespoon parsley

1 egg

Method

Preheat oven to 180oC

Mix ingredients together until blended well

Spoon into biscuit moulds

Bake for 20 – 30 minutes, until tops are golden brown.

Allow to cool and remove from moulds.

NOTE: Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months

(source: https://kolchakpuggle.com/2012/02/tasty-tuesday-hearts-for-my-valentine-chicken-dog-treats.html)

Puppy Birthday Cakes

A puppy’s best day has to be their birthday and with this cake recipe, you can make it just that extra special for them. Mmmm, our favourite dog food cake.

Ingredients

1 egg

60g peanut butter (spread or pure)

30ml oil (canola, vegetable)

130ml milk

50g honey

1 1/4 cups shredded carrot

150g whole wheat / wholemeal flour (or white flour)

1 tsp baking soda

Method

Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan).

Grease and line the base of a 20cm cake pans.

Whisk together eggs, peanut butter, oil, honey and milk (little peanut butter lumps ok).

Stir in carrots. Then add flour and baking soda, stir until just combine.

Pour mix into pan.

Bake 25 minutes or until skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

(source: https://www.recipetineats.com/dog-cake-recipe/)

Protein Balls

Our favourite dog food protein balls are perfect to give your pooch after a long run or any other strenuous exercise.

Ingredients

½ cup peanut butter, natural organic

1 cup pumpkin

1 tsp cinnamon

3 tbsp honey

2½ cups oats

Method

Add parchment paper to a baking sheet and set aside.

In a bowl, add peanut butter, pumpkin, cinnamon and honey, mix until combined.

Add the oats and mix well – if the mix is dry add more oats.

Grab a chunk of the batter and roll into bite-sized balls and place on prepared baking sheet.

Place the baking sheet in the fridge to let the balls harder a bit, then store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks or place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

(source: http://www.peanutbutterandpeppers.com/2013/10/09/peanut-butter-and-pumpkin-dog-balls/)

Woofer Smoothies

For something a bit different when you are out and about, try making up this smoothie.

Ingredients

1 pear

Half a cup of natural sugar-free or low lactose yogurt

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Method

Wash the pear and cut it into medium-sized pieces.

Process the ingredients until fine and pour into a suitable drinking bowl

(source: https://myanimals.com/nutrition/dogs/homemade-recipes-dogs/4-smoothie-recipes-for-dogs/)

The Puppy-Cino

The puppy-cino is an excellent accompaniment for when you are sitting down for a coffee, with this recipe your puppy can have one as well.

Ingredients

Whipped cream, or use lactose reduced puppy milk

Dried Liver – Beef, Lamb or Pork

Method

Place whipped cream into a suitable container – anything the dog can get their tongue into is fine

Crush the live finely and sprinkle over the top