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Making homemade jerky treats is a great way to ensure your dog gets a delicious treat without additives, preservatives, and fillers in store-bought dog treats. Not to mention, it's a fun project that you can do with your dog by your side! Let's explore some of the benefits of making homemade dog treats.

Why I Make Dog Treats

Making homemade dog treats can offer several benefits:

Quality Ingredients

By making dog treats, you have control over the ingredients used. You can select high-quality, wholesome ingredients free from artificial additives, preservatives, and fillers. This allows you to cater to your dog's specific dietary needs and preferences.

Health and Nutrition

Homemade treats allow you to include nutritious ingredients that support your dog's well-being. You can incorporate ingredients like lean meats, vegetables, and fruits that offer vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This promotes a nutritious diet and can contribute to your dog's overall health.

Tailored to Dietary Restrictions

If your dog has allergies, sensitivities, or dietary restrictions, making homemade treats allows you to create recipes that cater to these needs. You can avoid ingredients that trigger allergies or select specific ingredients that align with your dog's dietary restrictions.

Bonding and Enrichment

Making dog treats at home can be a fun activity that involves the whole family, including your four-legged taste testers. It provides an opportunity for bonding and strengthens the relationship between you and your dog. Additionally, engaging your dog in activities like treat-making can provide mental stimulation and enrichment.

Cost Savings

Sometimes, making homemade dog treats can be cost-effective compared to purchasing high-quality store-bought treats. It allows you to buy ingredients in bulk and prepare larger quantities at a lower cost per treat.

When making homemade treats, ensure you follow safe food handling practices, use dog-safe ingredients, avoid recipes with too many ingredients, and research questionable ingredients.

Two Easy Jerky Treat Recipes

I made jerky treats for the dogs using my dehydrator and the oven.  I was curious about which worked better and found that both methods worked great. These are easy because we have most (if not all) of the equipment needed to make dog treats at home, and the meat used is affordable.

DIY Chicken Jerky Treats for Dogs

The following treats can be made using any lean protein.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts (I used chicken thighs, but it took longer to cook them)
• Dried parsley
• Dried basil

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat over to 200 F (93.3 C).
2. Trim excess fat from the chicken and dry it.  Place chicken in the freezer for an hour, making it easy to slice.  After that hour, slice the chicken along the grain as thin as possible – no big deal if you have big pieces.
3. Lay chicken slices on a non-stick baking sheet, and if you'd like more flavor, you can sprinkle dog-safe spices on the chicken slices; I chose parsley and basil for my jerky.
4. Bake at 200 F (93.3 C) for two hours.  Depending on your oven, you may need to bake the chicken longer, so check after the first two hours.
5. Once ready, allow the treats to cool, then store them in a Rubbermaid container after everyone (humans, too) tests the jerky.  I make enough to keep in the fridge for two weeks; if I make more, I freeze half the batch.

I love making chicken jerky treats for dogs because it's a healthy, low-fat, low-sodium treat that the dogs enjoy.  I know the sourcing, I control the ingredients (when using spices), and I know they're safe for my dogs.

I was worried that my dogs wouldn't be able to enjoy these treats due to past chicken sensitivities, but cooking the chicken makes it easier for them to tolerate, and because this is a snack and not a meal, my dogs don't have an issue.

DIY Beef Jerky Treats for Dogs

I found this recipe on HealthyDogWorkshop.com (Dr. Laurie Coger). These dog treats can be made using any ground protein; my favorite proteins to use are beef and turkey.

Ingredients

• Lean ground beef
• Dried parsley
• Dried basil
• Fresh rosemary

Cooking Instructions

1 – Mix ground beef with spices and place the mix between wax or parchment paper.  Using a rolling pin, roll the ground beef until it's flat.  Remove the top wax/parchment paper and slice the meat into jerky strips using a knife or pizza cutter.

2 – Lay jerky strips on the dehydrator trays and cook according to your instructions.

3 – Once ready, allow the treats to cool, then store them in a Rubbermaid container after everyone (humans too) tests the jerky – I loved the chicken jerky treats, but I was not too fond of the beef ones – the dogs LOVED them.  I make enough to store in the fridge for two weeks; if I make more, I freeze half the batch.

Making Jerky Treats in the Oven vs. Dehydrator

I love both methods of making treats, and because I make so many in one batch, it's nice to have both the oven and the dehydrator working.  The range is faster than the dehydrator, and the dehydrator gives me treats with an authentic jerky feel while the oven dries the meat.  Either way, the dogs love what I made for them.

When I started making dog treats, I used an Excalibur 5-Tray Stackable Dehydrator for this recipe. Today, I use a LEM 10-Tray Dehydrator, which works better – I can set a timer, and there's a drip tray (for easy cleanup).

Final Thoughts on Homemade Jerky Treats

All in all, making jerky treats is an easy and rewarding experience for both you and your dog. You get to feel like a Master Chef as you test your creative cooking skills, and your dog gets to be the official taste tester. So grab some ingredients from your pantry and get baking today! Your dog will thank you in a few hours!

Read More About Dog Treats

• Are Elk Antlers Safe for Dogs? Everything You Need to Know!
• End of Summer Easy Dog Treat Recipe
• My Ultimate Guide to Healthy Dog Treats
• Can Dogs Eat Molasses? Easy Dog Treat Recipes Your Dogs will Love
• Easy DIY Jerky Treat Recipes for Dogs