Activities For Your Dog
5+ Activities to Do With Your Dog This Christmas
December 13, 2022
If you celebrate the holidays, you know what a big part food plays. Especially cookies, bars and homemade candy. Unfortunately, your pup isn’t going to be able to share a big slice of pecan pie with you anytime soon. But if you’re like me, you’ll want to include your pet in the holiday festivities!
Here are some easy Christmas-themed homemade dog treat recipes, packed with nutritious dog-friendly ingredients. Whip a few of these up to stuff your pup’s stocking with!
Minty Apple Dog Bones
These adorable mini bones are made of apple and mint (which helps freshen breath and aid digestion) and are super a simple homemade dog treat to make. Bonus, they’re also low in calories.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup barley flour
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup oat bran
- 2 tbsp dry milk
- 1 1/2 tsp dry baking yeast
- 2 tbsp spearmint leaves chopped
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 2 tsp spinach powder
- 1 cup water
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 250 F.
-
Place everything in dough mixer and mix on the dough cycle.
-
When dough is formed, roll to 1/4 inch thickness.
-
Using a bone shaped cookie cutter, cut out the shapes. Transfer to a parchment lined cookie sheet.
-
Bake for one hour, checking to make sure they don’t get too brown.
-
Let cool until completely dry, preferably overnight.
-
Treats last up to several months at room temperature.
Dog-Friendly Candy Canes
Twisting the light and dark dough create the candy cane look. They’re perfect for any dog that has a love for peanut butter.
Ingredients for Light Dough
- 4 Cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 Cup cornmeal
- 1 Egg beaten
- 1/4 Cup peanut butter
- 1 1/2 Cups water
Ingredients for Dark Dough
- 4 Cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 Cup cornmeal
- 1 Egg beaten
- 1/4 Cup molasses
- 1 Tablespoon oil
- 1 1/2 Cups water
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350F and grease cookie sheets
-
Begin making the light dough by combining the dry ingredients, then slowly mixing in the wet ingredients. Mix until firm.
-
Do the same for the dark dough, separately. The dark dough will be slightly softer and stickier than the light dough.
-
Cut off roughly 1 inches of each batter and roll strips about ¼ inches thick and 4 inches long.
-
On a floured surface, place one light strip and one dark strip side-by-side. Begin twisting them together. Once twisted, make a hook like a candy cane and place on a baking sheet
-
Bake for 20 minutes and let cool completely.
Cranberry Canine Cookies
Not only are cranberries a classic seasonal food for the winter, they are also great for supporting your dog’s immune system, urinary tract, and digestive system. Compared to the previous homemade dog treat recipes, this cranberry cookie combines a bunch of healthy ingredients to pack the most nutritional punch.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups barley flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp spinach powder
- 1 egg
- 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
- 2/3 cup pure unsweetened cranberry juice
- 1/4 cup natural honey
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: 350F
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Roll into 1″ balls and place on cookie sheets greased with a bit of extra virgin olive oil.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until they are lightly golden brown. Let cool completely
As we get into the holiday spirit this season, don’t forget about your pup! We hope these homemade dog treat recipes have inspired you to do a little holiday baking for your dogs! Let us know what you think of the recipes in the comments!
