20 Simple Homemade Treats and Meal Toppers for Your Dog
Plain ingredients, a few minutes in the kitchen, and a very grateful dog. Every recipe comes with exact quantities, storage times and a note on which dogs it suits.
You do not need special ingredients to make something nice for your dog. Most of these recipes use two or three things from an ordinary kitchen, and the main advantage of making treats yourself is that you know exactly what is in them.
Rule one is the banned list. Never use onion, garlic, chives or leeks in any form, including powder. Never use grapes, raisins or currants, chocolate or cocoa, macadamia nuts, or anything sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol is also labeled as birch sugar or wood sugar, it turns up in some peanut butters, yogurts and sugar-free products, and a small amount can cause a fatal drop in blood sugar and liver failure in a dog. Never give cooked bones, which splinter. Read every label, every time.
Rule two is the ten percent limit. Treats and toppers together should supply no more than a tenth of your dog's daily calories. A typical 20-pound adult dog needs roughly 400 calories a day, which leaves about 40 for extras. That is less than half a tablespoon of peanut butter. When you add a topper, take a little kibble out of the bowl.
Rule three is that none of these is a complete diet. Even the two meals on this list lack the calcium, vitamins and trace minerals a dog needs over the long term. Introduce one new food at a time, in a small amount, and wait a day to see how your dog's stomach handles it.
Read all the way to the end. We save the birthday cake for last.
-
Frozen
1. Peanut butter and banana bites
Would your dog like it?A cold, creamy treat for hot days. One ripe medium banana and 2 level tablespoons of peanut butter make about 10 cubes of roughly 30 calories each.
Check the peanut butter jar for xylitol or birch sugar before anything else. The best choice lists only peanuts, with no added sweetener and little salt.
One cube suits a medium or large dog. Halve it for a dog under 20 pounds. Skip this one for dogs with pancreatitis or on a weight-loss plan, since peanut butter is high in fat. The cubes keep in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
AdvertisementHow to make itMash 1 ripe banana with 2 tablespoons of xylitol-free peanut butter until smooth. Spoon into an ice cube tray, about 1 tablespoon per well, and freeze for 4 hours. -
Baked
2. Three-ingredient biscuits
Would your dog like it?A crunchy everyday biscuit. This quantity makes about 24 two-inch biscuits, which keep for 1 week in an airtight tin at room temperature or 3 months in the freezer.
Use plain canned pumpkin, not pie filling, which contains sugar and spices. For extra crunch, turn the oven off after baking and leave the biscuits inside for an hour to dry.
These suit most healthy adult dogs. Dogs with a wheat sensitivity can have the same recipe made with oat flour. Very small dogs and seniors with worn teeth do better with a biscuit snapped into pieces.
AdvertisementHow to make itMix 2 cups of whole wheat flour, 1 large egg and 1/2 cup of plain pumpkin puree, adding 2 to 4 tablespoons of water until the dough holds together. Roll to 1/4 inch thick, cut out, and bake on a lined sheet at 350°F for 25 minutes. -
Chewy
3. Sweet potato strips
Would your dog like it?A single-ingredient chew, far more digestible than rawhide. One large sweet potato makes 8 to 10 strips.
Bake for a shorter time and you get a soft, bendy chew. Bake longer and it turns hard and crisp. The slices shrink by about half as they dry. Home-dried chews still hold some moisture, so store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze them for 3 months, and throw out any that show mold.
Good for dogs with grain or meat-protein allergies. Sweet potato is starchy, so limit it for diabetic and overweight dogs, and supervise any dog that gulps chews.
AdvertisementThe fewer ingredients a treat has, the easier it is to know what your dog is eating.
How to make itScrub 1 large sweet potato and slice it lengthwise into strips 1/4 inch thick. Lay them on a parchment-lined sheet and bake at 250°F for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, turning once halfway through. -
Frozen
4. Yogurt and blueberry drops
Would your dog like it?Tangy, cold and tiny. One cup of yogurt and half a cup of blueberries make about 40 teaspoon-size drops at only a few calories apiece.
Use plain, unsweetened yogurt and read the label for xylitol. Greek yogurt is the better choice because straining removes much of the lactose.
Many adult dogs digest lactose poorly, so start with 2 or 3 drops and watch for loose stools or gas. Not for dogs with a known dairy intolerance. Store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months.
AdvertisementHow to make itStir 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries into 1 cup of plain unsweetened yogurt. Drop teaspoonfuls onto a parchment-lined tray and freeze for 2 hours. -
Topper
5. Plain shredded chicken
Would your dog like it?The treat almost no dog refuses, and the most useful topper for a senior with a fading appetite. One 8-ounce breast yields about 1 1/2 cups of shredded meat.
Cook it with nothing added: no salt, no seasoning, no stock cubes. Remove all skin and every bone. The meat keeps for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator or 3 months frozen in small portions.
Give 1 tablespoon to a small dog and up to 1/4 cup to a large one, and reduce the kibble slightly to match. Not for dogs with a chicken allergy, which is one of the more common food allergies in dogs.
How to make itSimmer 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast in plain water for 12 to 15 minutes, until the center reaches 165°F. Cool, shred with two forks, and stir a spoonful into dinner.Advertisement -
Topper
6. Scrambled egg
Would your dog like it?A soft, complete protein that is easy on old teeth. One large egg has about 70 calories.
Cook the egg all the way through. Raw egg carries a salmonella risk for the dog and for you. Leave out butter, oil, milk, salt and pepper.
A whole egg is fine for a dog over 40 pounds. Give half to a medium dog and a quarter to a small one, a few times a week at most. Dogs with pancreatitis or on a low-fat prescription diet should have only the cooked white. Serve it fresh and do not store it.
How to make itBeat 1 large egg and scramble it in a dry non-stick pan over medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fully set, with no butter, salt or milk. Cool and crumble over the meal.Advertisement -
Frozen
7. Chicken broth cubes
Would your dog like it?Good for hot days and for dogs who do not drink enough. Two cups of broth fill a standard 16-cube tray, and the cubes keep for 3 months in the freezer.
This is the recipe where labels matter most. Most store-bought broths and stocks contain onion or garlic, often listed as powder or as natural flavors, and both are toxic to dogs. Buy a broth made for pets, or use the cooled, skimmed water left from boiling plain chicken.
Suitable for almost every dog at 1 or 2 cubes a day. Dogs with heart or kidney disease need sodium restricted, so use only homemade unsalted broth for them and ask your vet first.
Most store-bought broth contains onion or garlic. Read the label before you pour.
How to make itPour 2 cups of onion-free, garlic-free, low-sodium chicken broth into an ice cube tray and freeze for 4 hours. Serve a cube in a bowl or drop one into the water dish.Advertisement -
Baked
8. Oat and apple cookies
Would your dog like it?A soft cookie, gentle on older teeth. This quantity makes about 18 cookies.
Core the apple completely. Apple seeds contain a compound that releases cyanide when chewed, and the core is a choking hazard. The peel can stay on.
Because they are moist, these keep for 5 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer, not in a tin on the counter. They suit seniors and dogs with a wheat sensitivity, provided the oats are plain with nothing added. Give one cookie to a medium dog and half to a small dog.
How to make itCombine 1 cup of rolled oats, 1 medium apple, cored and grated, and 1 large egg, and let the mix stand for 10 minutes. Drop heaped teaspoonfuls onto a lined sheet, flatten slightly, and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.Advertisement -
Crunchy
9. Raw carrot sticks
Would your dog like it?Low in calories, crunchy and cheap. A medium carrot has about 25 calories, which makes it the best treat on this list for a dog that needs to lose weight.
Size is the safety issue. Coin-shaped slices and chunks are a choking risk, especially for dogs that gulp. Cut long sticks for big dogs and thin matchsticks for small ones, or grate the carrot over the meal.
Raw carrot passes through largely undigested, so expect to see orange in the stool. Lightly steamed carrot is easier to digest. Cut sticks keep for 5 days in the refrigerator in a container of water.
How to make itWash 1 medium carrot and cut it into sticks sized for your dog: finger length for large dogs, matchstick thin for small ones. For a teething puppy, offer a whole chilled carrot under supervision and take it away once it is chewed short.Advertisement -
Topper
10. Plain pumpkin
Would your dog like it?Gentle on the stomach and rich in soluble fiber, which firms up loose stools and also eases mild constipation.
The can must say 100 percent pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling contains sugar and spices, and sugar-free versions may contain xylitol. An opened can keeps for 5 days in the refrigerator, and the rest freezes well in an ice cube tray.
Too much causes the loose stools you were trying to fix, so measure it. Diarrhea that lasts more than 48 hours, or comes with blood, vomiting or lethargy, needs a vet and not more pumpkin.
The can must say pumpkin and nothing else.
How to make itStir plain canned pumpkin into a meal once a day: 1 teaspoon for dogs under 15 pounds, 1 tablespoon for medium dogs, and up to 2 tablespoons for dogs over 60 pounds.Advertisement -
Baked
11. Tuna training treats
Would your dog like it?Small, soft and smelly, which is exactly what a training treat should be. One pan makes several hundred tiny squares.
Use light or skipjack tuna packed in water, with no added salt. Avoid albacore, which carries more mercury. Because of the mercury in all tuna, these are for training sessions and not for daily handfuls.
Keep the squares in the refrigerator for 5 days, or freeze them in small bags for 3 months and thaw a bag as you need it. Not suitable for dogs with a fish or wheat allergy.
How to make itBlend one 5-ounce can of tuna in water, undrained, with 1 large egg and 1 cup of whole wheat or oat flour. Spread 1/4 inch thick on a parchment-lined sheet, bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, cool, and cut into 1/2-inch squares. -
Frozen
12. Watermelon cubes
Would your dog like it?Watermelon is more than 90 percent water and has about 45 calories a cup, so it is a hydrating summer snack.
AdvertisementRemove every seed and all of the rind. Seeds can cause an intestinal blockage in small dogs, and the tough rind causes stomach upset and blockages in dogs of any size. Seedless melon makes the job easy.
Give 2 or 3 cubes to a small dog and a small handful to a large one. The natural sugar makes it a poor choice for diabetic dogs. Frozen cubes keep for 2 months.
How to make itCut seedless watermelon flesh, with all rind removed, into 1-inch cubes. Spread 2 cups of cubes on a tray, freeze for 3 hours, then transfer to a freezer bag. -
Meal
13. Chicken and rice
Would your dog like it?The classic bland diet for a dog with an upset stomach. It is low in fat, easy to digest and gives the gut a rest.
AdvertisementUse white rice, not brown, because it is lower in fiber. Feed it in 3 or 4 small meals through the day. After a day or two of normal stools, mix it with the regular food in increasing proportions over 3 days.
This is a short-term fix for an otherwise bright adult dog. See the vet without waiting if your dog is a puppy, a senior or has another illness, or if there is blood, repeated vomiting, a painful belly, or no improvement in 48 hours. It makes about 3 cups and keeps for 3 days in the refrigerator.
Chicken and rice settles a stomach. It does not nourish a dog for longer than a few days.
How to make itMix 1 cup of plain boiled, shredded, skinless chicken breast with 2 cups of plain cooked white rice. Serve at room temperature in small portions for 2 to 3 days only.Advertisement -
Topper
14. Green beans
Would your dog like it?At around 40 calories a cup, green beans fill a hungry dog without adding much to the daily total.
Fresh, frozen and canned all work, as long as nothing is added. Canned beans should say no salt added. Never use beans cooked with onion, garlic, butter or bacon.
This is the topper vets suggest most for overweight dogs. Replace a small part of the kibble with beans, not more than about a tenth of the meal, so the diet stays balanced. Introduce them gradually to avoid gas. Cooked beans keep for 4 days in the refrigerator.
Green beans fill the bowl without filling out the dog.
How to make itSteam 1 cup of trimmed fresh or frozen green beans for 5 to 6 minutes until tender, cool, and chop. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons to a small dog's meal and up to 1/2 cup for a large dog.Advertisement -
Baked
15. Cheese and oat bites
Would your dog like it?A stronger flavor for fussy eaters, and a good hiding place for a pill. This quantity makes about 30 marble-size bites.
To make oat flour, grind rolled oats in a blender for 30 seconds. Use a hard, aged cheese such as cheddar, which is low in lactose. Avoid blue cheeses and anything flavored with onion, garlic or chives.
Cheese is high in fat and salt, so give 1 or 2 bites a day. Not for dogs with pancreatitis, dogs on a weight-loss plan, or dogs that react to dairy. Store for 1 week in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer.
How to make itMix 1 cup of oat flour, 1/2 cup of finely grated cheddar and 1 large egg, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if crumbly. Roll into marble-size balls, flatten slightly, and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. -
Chewy
16. Dried apple rings
Would your dog like it?Sweet, leathery and long-lasting for their size. Two apples make about 20 rings.
AdvertisementCore the apples fully so no seeds remain. A light dusting of plain cinnamon is safe, but never use nutmeg, which is toxic to dogs.
Drying concentrates the fruit sugar, so give 1 or 2 rings a day and avoid them for diabetic dogs. The rings keep for 1 week in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
How to make itCore 2 apples and slice them into rings 1/8 inch thick. Arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet and bake at 200°F for 2 hours, turning once, until dry and leathery. -
Topper
17. Sardines
Would your dog like it?Sardines are one of the best natural sources of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA, which support skin, coat and aging joints. Because they are small and short-lived, they carry very little mercury.
Buy sardines packed in water with no added salt. Avoid those in oil, brine, tomato sauce or mustard. The soft canned bones are safe to eat and are a good source of calcium.
AdvertisementGive a whole sardine to a dog over 30 pounds and half to a smaller dog, once or twice a week. They are rich, so avoid them for dogs with pancreatitis. Move leftovers to a glass container and use within 2 days.
How to make itDrain 1 sardine packed in water with no added salt, mash it with a fork, and stir it into the regular meal once or twice a week. -
Frozen
18. Stuffed rubber toy
Would your dog like it?Licking is calming for dogs, and a frozen stuffed toy keeps most dogs occupied for 20 to 30 minutes. It is ideal for crate time or when visitors arrive.
Choose a hollow rubber toy sized for your dog, large enough that it cannot be swallowed. Plug the small hole with a dab of peanut butter before filling. Wash the toy in hot soapy water or the dishwasher after every use.
AdvertisementThe filling for a medium toy is about 150 calories, which is a large share of a small dog's daily allowance. For small or overweight dogs, fill it with plain pumpkin or soaked kibble instead.
How to make itMash 1/2 a banana with 1 tablespoon of xylitol-free peanut butter, pack it into a hollow rubber chew toy, and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight. -
Meal
19. Turkey and vegetable mix
Would your dog like it?A simple home-cooked dinner for a special day. This quantity makes about 4 cups.
Use lean ground turkey, at least 93 percent lean, with no seasoning, and drain any fat from the pan. Cook the meat until no pink remains and it reaches 165°F.
Serve it as an occasional meal or mix a few spoonfuls into the usual food. It contains almost no calcium and is not balanced, so it cannot replace dog food from day to day. Refrigerate for 3 days or freeze in portions for 3 months. Not for dogs with a poultry allergy.
AdvertisementHow to make itBrown 1 pound of plain lean ground turkey for 8 to 10 minutes, then drain. Add 1 cup of finely chopped carrot, 1 cup of chopped green beans and 1/2 cup of water, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes until soft. Cool before serving. -
Baked
20. Birthday pupcake
Would your dog like it?For the one day a year that calls for cake. This batter makes 2 standard cupcakes.
Check the peanut butter label for xylitol or birch sugar once more. For frosting, use a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt or mashed banana. Never use sugar frosting, chocolate or sprinkles.
A whole pupcake has well over 300 calories. A large dog can have one, a medium dog a half, and a small dog a quarter, with the rest saved for the following days. Pupcakes keep for 3 days in the refrigerator. Not for dogs with pancreatitis or a wheat allergy.
AdvertisementA birthday cake for a dog needs no sugar at all. Banana and peanut butter do the job.
How to make itMix 1 large egg, 1/4 cup of xylitol-free peanut butter, 1/2 a mashed ripe banana, 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour and 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder. Divide between 2 greased muffin cups and bake at 350°F for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
The short version
Keep it plain, keep it small and read every label. No onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts or cooked bones, and nothing that lists xylitol or birch sugar. Treats and toppers together stay under ten percent of the day's calories, with a little kibble taken out of the bowl to make room.
If your dog has allergies, a sensitive stomach, diabetes, kidney or heart disease, or a history of pancreatitis, ask your vet before adding anything new. If your dog eats something from the banned list, do not wait for symptoms. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away.
These recipes are extras, not a diet. If you want to cook all of your dog's meals, get a recipe formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Home-cooked diets put together without one are almost always short of calcium and other essential nutrients.
Last updated . This article is for general information and isn't a substitute for advice from your own vet.
