If you’re puppies are anything like mine, you probably go through a ton of dog treats. Of course, you want to treat your best friend in moderation, but there’s the dog treat for good behavior, the dog treat for correcting bad behavior, the dog treat at the end of a walk, the dog treat for bedtime and the dog treat for just being so darn cute and lovable. That can start to add up!
When I started thinking about making dog treats for my sweet Hazel and Loulou, I started with carrots. My girls love carrots because it is really the only human food treat they get with any regularity. One of my favorite things to do is to pull two carrots from my garden, bang off all the dirt (they aren’t that picky!) and watch them run across the yard with it, carrot greens flowing out of one side of their mouth, until they find a good spot to lie down and enjoy it. Carrots are low in calories, but high in fiber and vitamins. The additional bonus of carrots is the crunch – fun to eat and good for their teeth. So, I decided that a slice of carrot would be the secret surprise inside this puppy treat.
Another ingredient that Hazel and Loulou love is peanut butter. On special occasions, I stuff peanut butter into their Kongs® to keep them busy for a while. This doesn’t happen every day, however, so it keeps peanut butter in the ‘special reward’ category, and it’s nice to have a special ingredient in a treat. Peanut butter is a great source of protein and healthy fat. It also has vitamins B and E as well as niacin, but it is very important to buy the right peanut butter for your dogs. Buy a brand that is all-natural and has no other ingredients other than peanuts – no sugar or sugar substitute, and ideally no sodium.
Rolled oats are another good choice for dogs. They are also low in calories, can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure and are really good for the immune system.
Apple and wheat bran are the last two ingredients in these puppy treats. Both are great sources of fiber which helps with colon health and weight management. Apples have the added benefit of vitamins A and D as well, but make sure you use an applesauce that is unsweetened, with no added sugar.
All these ingredients are great ingredients to serve to your pup, but what makes these treats special is the fact that dogs go crazy for them (in other words, they sit very nicely waiting for them). These no-bake peanut butter oatmeal puppy treats are Hazel and Loulou approved, so they are sure to please your pup!
