Homemade Dog Treats and Puppy Teething Treats: Easy Recipes
Updated: 3 days ago
Homemade treats are a lovely way to know exactly what your dog is eating. They're cheap, easy and often far more exciting to a dog than anything from a packet, and when you're paying triple wages for something hard, like recall in the park, that excitement really matters. They're also brilliant for teething puppies, who need something cool and soothing to chew. Here are five simple homemade dog treats, including puppy teething treats, with tips on storing them and the ingredients to avoid.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Easy homemade dog treats include frozen carrot sticks, frozen yoghurt and fruit drops, baked sweet potato chews, banana and peanut butter bites, and oat and apple balls. For teething puppies, cold, soft treats work best, such as frozen carrot, a frozen wet flannel, or yoghurt frozen in an ice cube tray, always given under supervision. Use plain ingredients, check peanut butter and yoghurt for xylitol, and never use chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic or macadamia nuts. Treats should make up no more than about a tenth of your dog's daily food, so cut meals down a little on heavy training days.
IN THIS POST
ā Why make your own dog treats?
ā Homemade puppy teething treats
ā Five easy homemade dog treats
ā FAQs
Why make your own dog treats?
Making your own treats means you know exactly what goes in, which is helpful for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies. You can cut them to the perfect size for training, and you can make them as smelly and exciting as your dog likes.
They're also a good way to use up leftover vegetables or fruit, as long as they're safe for dogs. Check the list of ingredients to avoid further down first.
Homemade puppy teething treats
Puppies usually teethe from around three to six months old. Their gums can be sore, and they want to chew everything. Cold treats can help soothe gums. These are good to try:
Frozen carrot: a whole washed carrot, frozen, makes a cold, crunchy chew. Take it away once it gets small enough to swallow
Frozen flannel: soak a clean flannel in water or low-salt stock, twist it and freeze it. Supervise closely
Yoghurt cubes: freeze plain natural yoghurt in an ice cube tray, with a little mashed banana or blueberry if you like
Frozen Kong: fill a puppy Kong with soaked kibble and freeze it
For puppies under three months, keep things very simple. Their own food, soaked and frozen in a Kong or lick mat, is the safest choice. Read Kong recipes.
Five easy homemade dog treats
1. Banana and peanut butter bites
Mash one ripe banana with a spoonful of xylitol-free peanut butter and enough oat flour to make a dough. Roll, cut into small pieces and bake at 180Ā°C for about 15 to 20 minutes. Cool fully before serving.
2. Sweet potato chews
Slice a sweet potato lengthways into strips about half a centimetre thick. Bake at a low heat, around 120Ā°C, for two and a half to three hours, turning halfway, until chewy.
3. Oat and apple balls
Grate a peeled, cored apple and mix with rolled oats and a spoonful of plain yoghurt. Roll into small balls and chill. No baking needed.
4. Frozen yoghurt drops
Spoon small dots of plain natural yoghurt onto a lined tray and freeze. Great on a hot day.
5. Liver cake
A training favourite. Strong-smelling and easy to cut into tiny pieces. Read my liver cake recipe.
Storing homemade treats
Homemade treats don't have preservatives, so they don't last as long as shop-bought ones. A little planning stops waste. Store them carefully:
keep baked treats in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week
freeze larger batches and take out a few at a time
keep sweet potato chews in the fridge for up to two weeks
throw away anything that smells off or shows mould
Ingredients to avoid
Some foods that are fine for people are dangerous for dogs. Read human foods that are poisonous to dogs for the full list. Never use these in treats:
chocolate, cocoa and anything with caffeine
grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants
onion, garlic, leeks and chives
xylitol, also called birch sugar, often found in peanut butter and sugar-free products
macadamia nuts and anything with alcohol
RENEE'S TIP
Cut training treats as small as a pea. Your dog gets just as excited about a tiny piece as a big one, you can reward far more often in a session, and you won't need to cut their dinner down as much.
QUICK CHECK
ā Homemade treats let you control exactly what your dog eats
ā Cold treats like frozen carrot and yoghurt cubes help teething puppies
ā Always supervise chews and frozen treats
ā Never use chocolate, grapes, onion, garlic, xylitol or macadamias
ā Treats should be no more than about a tenth of daily food
ONE-TO-ONE HELP
Help with a puppy who chews everything
If your teething puppy is chewing hands, furniture and everything in reach, I can help you build a plan that works in an online Dog Behaviour Consultation from wherever you are.
Online on Teams, wherever you are. 30 or 60 minutes.
FAQs
What can I give my puppy for teething at home?
Cold, soft things like a frozen carrot, a frozen wet flannel, yoghurt ice cubes or a frozen stuffed Kong, always supervised.
What homemade treats are safe for puppies under 3 months?
Keep it simple. Their own food soaked and frozen in a Kong or on a lick mat is the safest option.
How long do homemade dog treats last?
Baked treats keep for about a week in the fridge. Freeze larger batches and defrost a few at a time.
Is peanut butter safe for dogs?
Yes, if it's xylitol-free and given in small amounts. Check the label every time.
How many treats can my dog have a day?
Treats should make up no more than about a tenth of your dog's daily food.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Renee Patience Ā· National Dog Trainer of the Year 2025
Founder and head trainer of Paws Academy, with more than 30 years training dogs and a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour. Renee has competed in agility, obedience and heelwork to music across the UK, including at Crufts and Olympia, has appeared on CBBC, and is the author of the Modern Training Guides and the Modern Breed Handbook series. Pictured with her boxer, Kookie.
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