Gone to the Dogs

You guys, it was only a matter of time before I incorporated some canine-friendly recipes into our monthly recipe sharing time together. If you know me in person, you know how insanely spoiled my crew of Cavalier King Charles spaniels are. And while I don’t bake for my dogs all of the time, I do celebrate birthdays, “gotcha” days (for my rescues whose birthdays are unknown), and other important milestones with homemade baked treats.

Recently, several well-known pet food brands came under fire for having toxic ingredients in their products—namely, pentobarbital, the euthanasia drug. I’m pretty particular about the treats and ingredients my dogs are offered, but now more than ever I’m sharing my kitchen time with my furry friends and avoiding most store-bought treats altogether.

The Pumpkin Spice Cookies are well tolerated for my recent senior rescue who has a bit of a sensitive stomach, yet they are tasty enough for the rest of my clan. I typically make these in the winter months when I’m enjoying something pumpkin spice of my own. Of course, dogs don’t care about seasons and will enjoy them anytime.

As we approach the hot summer months, my Frozen Yogurt Pupsicles are just the ticket for cooling down a dog who insists on being outside with you … while wearing a fur coat. The inserted bone-shaped dog treat serves as a handle for you to politely serve your canine companion as they lick away the frozen goodness.

And lastly, if you’re in the mood to truly celebrate and reward your dog, then my Peanut Butter Puppy Cookies are decorated bites of heaven. Or, at least, that’s what your dog is going to think! Just be sure to check the ingredients on your peanut butter to make sure it doesn’t include xylitol. Artificial sweeteners are incredibly toxic to dogs. Stick with a natural brand and you’ll be good to go.

All of these recipes are made with human-grade ingredients and are perfectly safe for people to eat, too—but the flavors and textures are designed with pups in mind!

Bone appetit, y’all!