What Makes These Healthy Homemade Dog Treats So Good

The best thing about homemade dog treats is the lack of dangerous additives and preservatives that break down your dog’s immune system.

They can be made for pennies per serving and, when properly stored in the freezer, last for weeks or months at a time. Unlike store bought treats, these wholesome snacks won’t sit on a shelf for up to two years before they finally reach your dog- as some products meandering through the distribution process have a tendency to do.

You know exactly where the source of the main ingredient in your treats comes from because you pick it out yourself.

The following is a recipe for homemade dog treats. Notice that there is one simple ingredient and nothing to add that can aggravate your dog’s system or knock it off balance.

Healthy Homemade Dog Treats – Delicious Liver Treats

Ingredients:
Liver sliced to a thickness of 5-6 mm or ¼ inch

Implements:
Dehydrator or oven
Additional rack for oven drying
Scissors
Air tight container

How to Make These Homemade Dog Treats: Directions

Making this appetizing and easy homemade dog treats recipe will start with choosing liver of any kind and slicing it thinly.

Once this step is done, it can be placed in a dehydrator following the directions set forth by the manufacturer. However, if you are using an oven, set the sliced liver on an extra rack to expose it to maximum air flow. You can use a pan but doing so tends to expose only one side sliced liver to dry air. When making the treats in this way, you will need to be vigilant about making sure each side gets the proper amount of drying time.

To dry the liver properly, the oven should then be turned on and kept at the lowest possible temperature. In general, this will be approximately 130-150 degrees Fahrenheit or 50-60 degrees Celsius. While you may be tempted to speed up the process with a higher temperature, bear in mind that a higher temperature will actually cook your homemade dog treats when what is actually needed is a temperature that will slowly withdraw moisture.

To help moisture escape, open the oven door often. This ensures the drying process can be completed in a reasonable amount of time. You should also open the oven regularly if your unit does not have a setting below the 200 degrees Fahrenheit mark.

When the dog treats are done, the liver will be dry to the touch and reasonably firm. Because of the consistency, it can be easier to cut the jerky like treats with scissors into manageable bite size pieces; although a sharp knife will easily do the job. Should the pieces seem to have retained any moisture, return them to the oven for a bit longer. At the same time, the treats should not be so dry they are impossible for you to cut or your dog to chew.

Since no dangerous preservatives are what make these homemade dog treats recipes so great, remember to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them safe to eat. If you find you have made a surplus of treats, they can also be conveniently stored in your freezer for months at a time.

Your homemade dog treats can now be used throughout the following week for training exercises or taken with you on walks. Be sure to include what treats you use as part of the sum of organ meat totals in your dog’s diet plan. That way, your dog’s diet will still be in balance even on the weeks when extensive training routines end up using a good amount of treats.

Click on the video below to watch these treats being made step by step.