Christmas for Dogs

Making doggie biscuits in dog-approved shapes.

I recently read a warning about buying those festively-decorated Christmas rawhide treats for dogs, which talked about all the chemicals used to make them, and how dangerous they can actually be for our pets.  Regardless of how adorable they may look, the food colorings alone should be a warning sign!

Over the last few years, we've also seen one recall after another for various dog treats and dog food brands from many different companies.  Even brands considered high-end or premium end up being recalled due to one problem or another.

One of our family dogs has been having liver issues lately, and my sister decided to dedicate herself to cooking this pup her own special dog food, specifically recommended for her condition.  Once a week, my sister makes a batch of this homemade food for her pup, and you should see this dog lick her lips in anticipation of dinner every night.  The lab work shows this specially-formulated diet is definitely agreeing with her, so all is well.

Similarly, one day I asked myself, "Why am I still buying dog treats?"  There are lots of recipes out there online for them, and it allows me to control the ingredients.  There are recipes with oats, peanut butter or pumpkin, perfect for this time of year, and there are plenty of cute cut-out shapes to make them just as adorable as the ones you can buy in the store.

If only to save a few pennies alone, it would be so worth it, as dog treats can be quite expensive.  Any dog owner can testify to that.  So making your own treats once a month just seems like a smart way to go.

And when the holidays come along, why not make extra batches for gift-giving to all the dog lovers in your life?  Instead of making diet-wrecking Christmas Cookies for yourself, you could make adorable doggie cookies for your fur-baby, instead!

Just make sure the ingredients are all safe for dogs (things you should never feed your dog), baked, and stored appropriately.

Search Pinterest and the Internet for dog treat recipes, and you will find tons of them!

Sometimes I make them in silicone molds for chunkier dog biscuits in charming shapes.  They sure made an adorable gift bag during the holidays, tucked into gift baskets and peeking out of stockings!

Of course, convenience has its place, and there will always be a market for dog treats.  There are also dog treats specifically formulated to help with dental hygiene that naturally brush a dog's teeth, or which contain glucosamine or other nutrients, which I will probably continue to purchase.

However, I've decided that it's a good idea to always keep a batch of homemade dog treats on hand, and rely mostly on treats I make myself for my own pooch.

I sure hope Santa remembers all the pups in our family this year, including a few bags of homemade dog treats made with lots of love.

Merry Christmas!!

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Enjoy previous seasonal blog posts:

National Cookie Day December 4th is National Cookie Day!  Let's bake cookies!	Cookie Trays! Our most popular gift and party tray, it's the perfect way to spread the Holiday cheer!
Black Friday It's not just about shopping.  If you do it right, it can be about connecting, too.	Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
Taking Care of Holiday Guests Breakfast burritos can make you a winning host!	Crème de Vie The Cream of Life!
Christmas Notes There's always time to bake Christmas cookies!	Family Heritage Tour A trip back to the old country in search of the abuelos
Baking Cakes Basic baking tips for beautiful layer cakes	The Icing on the Cake Does a bakery really need to make frosted layer cakes?
What's Your Favorite Cake? If only I could pick just one!	Congrats, HWP! Healing Warriors Program received a huge honor, and we were invited to the Pentagon to see it!
Do-Gooders! Ana's non-profit, Healing Warriors Program, gives away a state-of-the-art electric wheelchair!	Donate if you can! Healing Warriors Program, my sister's nonprofit, does very important work for our service members' complete health and wellbeing.