How to Make Dog Cookies

Does your dog have a sweet tooth, but you are committed to feeding her healthy treats? A diet low in sugar and fat for dogs can add years to your dog's life. According to the Purina Life Span Study, a dog's life can be expanded by 2 years if he is fed a low fat diet and kept at an ideal weight. Dog cookies made from oatmeal and sweetened with applesauce and molasses are a healthy alternative to commercial treats that are often loaded with fat, additives and chemicals. Use this recipe to make a batch of dog cookies that your canine friend will flip for.

Things You'll Need

• Baking sheet
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 3/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 cup wheat flour
• 1 cup white flour
• 2 cups oatmeal

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray cookie sheet with a nonstick cooking spray.

2. Combine molasses, applesauce, eggs and olive oil in a large bowl. Stir until blended.

3. Stir together the wheat flour, white flour and oatmeal then mix into the wet ingredients until it forms a thick, cookie dough consistency.

4. Drop the cookie dough by teaspoons or tablespoons (depending on the size of your dog) onto the baking sheet. Leave approximately 1 to 2 inches between each cookie.

5. Bake for about 15 minutes or until browned. Yields approximately 2 to 3 dozen dog cookies depending on the size that you made them.

6. Let the cookies cool before feeding them to your dog.

Tips & Warnings

• Let the cookies cool in the oven after baking for an extra crunch. Baked dog cookies will last up to a week in an airtight container. Discard or freeze uneaten cookies. For training treats, Mary Straus of Dog Aware recommends cutting cookies with a pair of kitchen shears into smaller bites and freezing to keep them fresh. Always consult your veterinarian for feeding your dog anything new if she has any digestive disorders or allergies.

• Always avoid toxic foods such as grapes, chocolate, garlic and onions in your dog's homemade cookies. Consult your veterinarian for a full list of ingredients that are toxic to dogs.

Resources

• Homemade Doggie Treats
• Purina Life Span Study
• Foods Potentially Poisonous to Pets