by Jade Skyye

Created on: December 20, 2009   Last Updated: December 21, 2009

Making homemade dog biscuits for your faithful friend is a simple way to show your love for him or her.  The best part of tackling this task is that your dog won’t care what the finished product looks like, only that it’s edible.  It is also not necessary to be an accomplished baker, or to really have any baking skills at all.

Sources for Recipes

The easiest way to find dog biscuit recipes is using the Internet.  A simple key word search will display hundreds of results.  Then all you have to do is weed through the list to find the ones that interest you.  Some of the recipes will be very simple, while others will call for ingredients that are hard to find.  You’ll have to decide if you want to use all natural ingredients or the combination of artificial and natural ingredients.

Using an actual book (from a book store or library) is another productive source of obtaining biscuit recipes.  Some of the recipes included will have easy prep and easy cook time requirements while others will demand a much greater time investment and your undivided attention.  These special cookbooks often come with dog-theme cookie cutters to get the beginner baker started and on the right track.

Biscuit Types
For the basic biscuit, usually the various sources will use the same main ingredients such as whole wheat flour, baking soda, yeast, or chicken broth.  However, there is always the option of scratch variation.  This term applies to looking at a standard recipe and making your own modifications along the way.  In my own scratch recipes I often add wheat germ, honey, bran buds, and brown sugar.

Some dog parents may be able to spend extended periods of time in their kitchen “creating.”  This creation time will likely produce various icings and toppings for the biscuits and may even yield simple cookie decorating ideas.  While your dog may welcome the flavor selection, it is by no means a necessary action.

Things to Remember
It is important to be familiar with the human ingredients that are harmful to dogs.  A lot of recipes call for garlic, in one form or another, a minute amount is not a big concern, but always be aware of the amount to be added.  Accidentally using one tablespoonful instead of one teaspoonful can be harmful.

Don’t ever forget the dangers of chocolate for your dog, it can be the difference between life and death.  For a chocolate appearance, carob chips and carob powder can be substituted as a safe ‘chocolate’ alternative.

If you are just beginning to experiment with dog biscuit baking, don’t become too consumed with the creating part.  Rest assured, your canine friend will love spending quality time with you instead of watching you spend quality time in the kitchen.

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