As the weather starts to get chilly, it’s a cozy tradition to stay in the kitchen all day baking tasty dishes for you and your family, keeping warm in front of the oven.
No doubt your dog loves staying by your side and watching for any crumbs that land on the floor. Why not make some dog-friendly recipes your dog can enjoy, made with many of the seasonal ingredients you already have on hand?
Fall Flavors Your Dog Will Gobble Up
Many of the main ingredients in your Fall recipes are safe for dogs, some even have health benefits that can give your dog’s diet a boost.
Pumpkin Dog Treats
Pumpkin, fresh, cooked or canned, is safe for dogs to eat. It’s packed with fiber, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Many veterinarians recommend a spoonful of unseasoned canned pumpkin for dogs with constipation or diarrhea.
DOG TREAT RECIPES THAT CONTAIN PUMPKIN:
These Pumpkin Spice Puppuchinos from Lola The Pitty are easy to make with just coconut milk, cinnamon and pure pumpkin. No baking required!
Bat-shaped Pumpkin and Carob Treats from PetGuide are packed with tasty carob chips dogs love – a safe alternative to chocolate chips.
Pumpkin Carrot Pupcakes from EntirelyPets look just like a decadent dessert for people – your dog will only think he’s getting human food.
Apple Dog Treats
Many dogs love snacking on apples with the skin and core removed. With apple season in full swing, you’ll likely have plenty to sweeten your homemade treats.
DOG TREAT RECIPES THAT CONTAIN APPLE:
Grain-free peanut butter and apple treats from K9 Instinct contain just coconut flour, applesauce, peanut butter and eggs. They can be rolled into tiny portions so you can use them to motivate your dog during training sessions.
Apple cranberry treats from Doggy Dessert Chef can use up extra berries from that time you stocked up for Thanksgiving’s cranberry sauce. Cranberries are packed with antioxidants and safe for your dog to eat in small amounts – though they probably won’t touch the sour berry until it’s baked into a sweet cookie.
Turkey Dog Treats
Needless to say, dogs love any kind of meat, and turkey is no exception. Few dogs would turn their nose up at treats made with turkey. With the skin removed, the meat is low in fat and high in protein, making it a good ingredient for holiday treats.
DOG TREAT RECIPES THAT CONTAIN TURKEY:
Leftover turkey is pulverized in a blender to make these Turkey & Cranberry dog treats from DogTipper.
TV Dinner Dog Treats is a versatile recipe from Dinner With Julie that you can use as inspiration for making use of leftover Thanksgiving turkey. It’s also a great way to use up leftovers year-round.
Improvising Your Own Autumn Treat Recipes
Making dog treats is usually as simple as mixing wet and dry ingredients into a dough, shaping into treats and baking until crunchy.
Many dog treat recipes use whole wheat flour. You can substitute oat flour, coconut flour, rice flour or chickpea flour, though you may have to use more or less water to get the right consistency.
Avoid using spicy or heavily seasoned ingredients in your dog treats, and leave out the salt and sugar. Grapes and raisins are known to cause kidney failure, even in small amounts. High-fat foods cause pancreatitis, so be sure to only use lean meats with the skin removed.
Even ingredients known to be safe for most dogs can give your dog stomach troubles or an allergic reaction. Introduce new foods to your dog with caution, and consult your vet if your dog has an existing condition.
Keep Your Dog Trim This Holiday Season
These recipes are great for enjoying the many flavors of the fall season with your dog. But holiday calories do still count. Cut back on your dog’s meal portions when they have had plenty of treats. You can always freeze extras to enjoy year-round; no need for your dog to gobble them up all at once.
Dog simply can’t resist your baking? Give your dog the gift of Tether Tug this holiday season to burn off those cookie calories!
