There’s something quietly joyful about baking for your dog. Maybe it’s the thump of an eager tail against the kitchen bench, or the way they hover at your feet, convinced they’re helping.
Homemade treats let you control the ingredients, avoid unnecessary additives, and tailor flavours to your pet’s quirks, whether they prefer crunchy biscuits, cheesy bites, or minty snacks that freshen their breath.
But before you pull out the mixing bowls, it’s worth remembering that not every pantry staple is safe for pets.
Foods that are harmless to us, like chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, xylitol-sweetened products, certain nuts, and too much dairy, can be dangerous or even toxic for dogs.
Always double-check ingredients, introduce new treats gradually, and keep portions modest.
With that in mind, here are a few simple, dog-approved recipes you can make at home, from fresh-breath biscuits to peanut-butter classics, plus a pet-friendly frosting for special occasions.
Your sous-chef will be more than happy to taste-test.
Bad breath banishers
2 cups brown rice flour
1 tablespoon activated charcoal
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
2/3 cup trim milk
Preheat oven to 200 °C. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour and activated charcoal. Add all the other ingredients. Drop teaspoons of the mixture on an oiled sheet, about three centimetres apart. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Cheese bites
1 cup wheat flour
1 cup grated cheese
1 tablespoon softened butter or margarine
1/2 cup milk
Mix flour and cheese. Add the softened butter or margarine. Slowly add milk until you form a stiff dough. You may not need all of the milk. Knead on a floured board for a few minutes. Roll out to about 1 cm thickness. Cut into shapes and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 180 °C for 15 minutes. Let cool in the oven with the door slightly open until cold and firm. Refrigerate to keep fresh.
Vegetarian dog biscuits
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup dry milk powder
1/2 vegetable oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 vegetable bouillon cubes dissolved
3/4 boiling water
1/2 cup carrots (optional)
1 egg
Preheat oven to 150 °C. Mix all ingredients into a ball, then roll to a thickness of under a centimetre. Cut into the desired shape. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
Peanut butter dog biscuits
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup oats
Blend wet ingredients. Whisk the dry ingredients and mix them into the wet mixture to form a ball of dough. Roll out and shape. Put onto a non-stick cookie tray or a lightly greased one. Cook for 20 minutes at 200 °C. Turn off the oven and let the biscuits cool in it until crisp and hard. Store in an airtight container.
Pet frosting
50 grams butter
1/4 cup dry pet food
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 trim milk or water
1 tablespoon flour (if needed for thickening)
Put everything into a food processor and blend until the desired thickness is reached. Spread on pet’s favourite cake or cookies. This is for occasional treating only. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
