Homemade Dog Treats: Safe Ingredients, 3 Simple Ideas and How to Store Them
Three easy, occasional treats made from dog-safe ingredients, plus the ingredients to leave out and how long homemade treats keep.
Homemade dog treats are easy to make with a few safe ingredients, such as plain canned pumpkin, rolled oats or oat flour, eggs, banana, cooked sweet potato and xylitol-free peanut butter. Keep them as occasional treats, not meals, and keep all treats under about 10% of your dog’s daily calories. Leave out chocolate, raisins, onion, garlic, macadamia nuts and anything sweetened with xylitol.
If your dog has allergies, a sensitive stomach, diabetes, pancreatitis or is on a special diet, ask your veterinarian before trying new treats.
Safe ingredients for homemade treats
| Ingredient | Use | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Plain canned pumpkin | Binder and flavor | Not pumpkin pie filling (sugar and spices) |
| Rolled oats or oat flour | Base “flour” | Cook or bake; some dogs are sensitive to grains |
| Whole wheat or rice flour | Base | Skip if your dog has a known sensitivity |
| Eggs | Binder | Always cooked or baked, never raw |
| Banana | Sweetness, binder | Sugary; small amounts |
| Sweet potato | Chews, mash | Cooked only; plain |
| Peanut butter | Flavor | Must be xylitol-free (check for “birch sugar”); unsalted is best; high in fat |
| Carrots, apples (no core or seeds), blueberries | Mix-ins | Cut small; see our fruits and vegetables list |
| Plain cooked chicken or turkey | Training bites | No skin, bones or seasoning |
Ingredients to never use
- Xylitol (also listed as birch sugar or wood sugar). The FDA warns it can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar in dogs within 10 to 60 minutes. It appears in some peanut and nut butters, sugar-free baked goods and syrups.
- Chocolate and cocoa, coffee or caffeine.
- Raisins, grapes and currants.
- Onion, garlic, chives and leeks, including powders and broths made with them.
- Macadamia nuts and other rich nuts.
- Raw yeast dough.
- Lots of salt, sugar, butter or oil.
- Nutmeg and heavily spiced mixes.
The ASPCA’s list of people foods to avoid is a good reference. For more detail, see our guide to foods toxic to dogs.
Three simple treat ideas
These are occasional snacks, not complete meals. Cut them to suit your dog’s size.
1. Pumpkin oat biscuits
Ingredients: 2 cups oat flour (or rolled oats blended until fine), ½ cup plain canned pumpkin, 1 egg, and a little water if needed.
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Mix the pumpkin and egg, then stir in the oat flour until a stiff dough forms. Add water a spoonful at a time if it’s too dry.
- Roll out to about ¼ inch thick and cut into small shapes or squares.
- Bake for about 20–25 minutes, until firm and dry. Thinner pieces bake faster.
- Cool completely before serving.
2. Frozen banana-pumpkin bites
Ingredients: 1 ripe banana and ½ cup plain canned pumpkin.
- Mash the banana and mix it with the pumpkin until smooth.
- Spoon into a silicone ice cube tray or mini mold; small portions are best.
- Freeze until solid, a few hours.
- Serve one small bite at a time, outdoors or on a washable surface.
Optional: swirl in a small amount of xylitol-free peanut butter. Skip it for dogs that need a low-fat diet.
3. Baked sweet potato chews
Ingredient: 1 sweet potato, washed.
- Heat the oven to about 250°F (120°C).
- Slice the sweet potato into thin rounds or strips, about ¼ inch thick.
- Lay them on a parchment-lined tray without oil or seasoning.
- Bake slowly for roughly 2–3 hours, turning halfway, until dry and leathery. Times vary with thickness and oven.
- Cool fully. Supervise your dog, and pick a thickness your dog chews rather than gulps.
Portion and calorie tips
- Homemade treats are not calorie-free. Count them toward the 10% treat allowance.
- Make pieces smaller than you think; dogs value the number of treats, not their size.
- For training, cut biscuits into tiny bits; see best treats for training.
- Introduce one new treat at a time and watch for loose stools or itching over the next day or two.
How to store homemade treats
| Treat type | Storage | Rough shelf life |
|---|---|---|
| Soft baked treats | Airtight container in the refrigerator | About a week |
| Crisp, fully dried biscuits | Airtight container, cool dry place, or fridge | Up to about a week or two; refrigerate in humid weather |
| Frozen bites | Freezer bag or container | A few months |
| Baked sweet potato chews | Airtight container in the refrigerator | Up to about two weeks if fully dried |
Homemade treats have no preservatives. Throw away anything that smells off, feels slimy or shows mold. When in doubt, freeze extra portions and thaw a few at a time.
If your dog eats something unsafe
If your dog gets into an ingredient on the “never” list, call your veterinarian, an emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). Do not try to make your dog vomit unless told to. Get emergency help for vomiting, weakness, wobbling, tremors, seizures or collapse.
Bottom line
A handful of safe ingredients, especially plain pumpkin, oats, eggs and sweet potato, make easy homemade treats. Keep them small, occasional and free of xylitol, chocolate, raisins, onion and garlic. Homemade treats complement a complete and balanced diet; they don’t replace it.
FAQ
Can I use regular peanut butter?
Only if the label shows it contains no xylitol (birch sugar). Unsalted, plain peanut butter is best, and only in small amounts because it is high in fat. See also can dogs eat human food.
Can I make my dog’s whole diet at home?
Homemade complete diets need to be formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist; most online recipes are not balanced. Talk to your vet first.
Are homemade treats healthier than store-bought?
Not automatically. They let you control ingredients, but calories and portion size still matter.
Can puppies have these treats?
Small pieces are generally fine for healthy puppies, but keep treats minimal so they eat enough of their growth food. Ask your vet if unsure.