Growing up as a family with dogs, we always had a box of milkbones in the pantry. Sat down when told to? Milkbone. Did your business outside without running away? Milkbone. Now there were pig ears and other dried meats given as well, but from my memory, milkbone had a corner on the dog treat market throughout most of my childhood.
Fast forward 18 or so years and you have to search through a million varieties to even find a box of old-fashioned milkbones. Trust me I did it. I bought a box when Finn was a pup and tried to give him one. He sniffed it, looked up at me and walked away. This coming from the dog who gets his daily fiber from bark chips and the occasional chewed piece of gum?
When we started manners class, I was told to bring high-value treats to use as rewards for our training exercises. We mixed kibble in there as well, but I found if I rewarded with beef jerkey or dried chicken, I could get that dog to fold my laundry for me if I asked. And still today, I can’t make a batch of almond or peanut butter without his nose nearly inside the food processor. We officially have a treat-lover.
It wasn’t until we started lurching and sprinting into visiting our local pet food store daily that I realized just how crazy the dog treat market is in Chicago. Not only is there aisle upon aisle of packaged treats, but there are entire bakeries dedicated to dog treats, special sections in grocery stores and as I learned last night on our evening visit to the dog park, gourmet dog food trucks. That’s right folks, you might be starving for a snack, but this vehicle caters to pooches only.
Don’t get me wrong, I think everyone deserves a special treat now and then, but on the regular, I’m not going to pay $3.00 a piece for a custom designed Preppy Puppy Mini Poodle Puff so my dog can inhale it in less than 5 seconds and not taste the sprinkles. I am however a sucker for a food truck so I may or may not have taken their business card, liked them on Facebook and went home and whipped up a batch of my own homemade treats immediately after.
Homemade Dog Treats
- 1 C whole wheat flour
- 1 C all purpose flour
- 1 C Oats
- 1/2 C peanut butter (I used chunky)
- 1/4 C honey
- 1 tsp olive oil (or coconut)
- 1 C chicken broth
Prefer the original? Recipe adapted from A Cozy Kitchen.
Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix peanut butter, honey, oil and chicken broth. In another bowl mix flours and oats. Here’s where it gets tough, mix wet ingredients into dry until combined. Try to avoid the looks coming from your puppy as he smells his favorite things all rolled into one giant ball.
Roll dough onto floured surface.
Use cookie cutter to cut treats and place onto non-stick baking mat. I used a 3-4″ biscuit cutter. Bake for 14-16 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack.
Hold in front of your dog while you try to take a photo, causing him to bark incessantly because you are a mean mother.
ok, go ahead and reward your puppy for being patient with you.
I would say enjoy but I don’t know how you feel about the combination of peanut butter and chicken broth. Perhaps it’s the new chicken and waffles? Finn seemed to enjoy them but remember he also has an affinity for stranger’s chewing gum.
Have a great weekend!
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