6 Effortless Homemade Dog Treat Picks

Homemade dog treats let you control the ingredients and skip preservatives, and most of them take less than an hour from start to finish. They also make nice gifts for friends with dogs. The key is choosing ingredients that are safe for dogs and keeping treats little, since they should make up no more than about 10 percent of your dog's daily calories.

Below are six recipes using daily pantry items. Before you start, check with your veterinarian if your dog has allergies, diabetes, pancreatitis or other health issues.

1. Peanut butter and oat bites

Mix 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1/4 cup peanut butter and 1 egg. Check the label first: peanut butter must not contain xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs. Scoop teaspoon-sized balls onto a parchment-lined sheet and bake at 350F for 15 to 18 minutes until firm. Cool completely.

2. Two-ingredient pumpkin biscuits

Combine 2 cups whole wheat flour with 1/2 cup canned plain pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) and about 1/4 cup water to form a dough. Roll to 1/4 inch thick, cut into little shapes and bake at 350F for 25 to 30 minutes. Pumpkin is gentle on many dogs' stomachs, but introduce it slowly. If your dog is sensitive to wheat, use oat flour instead.

3. Sweet potato chews

Wash sweet potatoes and slice them lengthwise into 1/4-inch strips, leaving the skin on. Lay the slices on a baking sheet and bake at 250F for 2.5 to 3 hours, flipping halfway, until leathery but still flexible. They are chewy, high in fiber and need nothing else. Store in the fridge for up to a week.

4. Frozen yogurt and banana drops

Mash 1 ripe banana and stir in 1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt with no artificial sweeteners. Spoon into a silicone mold or mini muffin tin and freeze for at least 3 hours. These are good on hot days. Some dogs are lactose-sensitive, so offer a little amount first.

5. Chicken and rice training bites

Cook 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast until it reaches 165F inside, then shred or dice it very little. Mix with 1/2 cup cooked plain rice. Serve fresh, or freeze in little portions for training sessions. Use no salt, garlic, onions or seasoning, and keep raw meat away from other food and surfaces while preparing.

6. Blueberry and carrot crunchies

Combine 1 cup oat flour, 1/2 cup finely grated carrot, 1/4 cup mashed blueberries, 1 egg and 2 tablespoons water. Press out about 1/4 inch thick, cut little squares and bake at 350F for 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave them inside for an hour to dry out and become crunchier.

Tip: Treats are effortless to oversize. For a little dog, cut pieces no bigger than a pea or fingernail.

Ingredients to never use

• Chocolate and cocoa, which contain theobromine.
• Grapes and raisins, which can cause kidney failure.
• Onions, garlic, chives and leeks.
• Xylitol, found in some peanut butters, gum and baked goods.
• Macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine and unbaked yeast dough.

Make treats the right size

A medium dog needs only a thumbnail-sized piece for a reward, and a tiny dog needs much less. Smaller pieces mean more rewards during training without extra calories. As a rule of thumb, if your dog eats about 1,000 calories a day, treats should add up to around 100 at most. Ask your vet to help you adjust if your dog is overweight or on a special diet.

Always let baked treats cool completely before serving, and break them up for little dogs to prevent choking.

Adapting recipes for allergies

If your dog has a sensitive stomach or food allergies, swap ingredients carefully. Oat flour or rice flour can replace wheat, and plain mashed sweet potato can replace applesauce. Change only one ingredient at a time, and offer a tiny taste first. Your vet can help identify triggers, and may suggest an elimination diet if itching, ear infections or digestive upset keep returning.

Storage and serving tricks

Soft or moist treats go in the refrigerator and last about a week, or can be frozen for up to three months. Dry, crunchy ones keep in an airtight container for around two weeks. Because homemade treats have no preservatives, throw them out at the first sign of mold or an off smell.

Introduce new foods one at a time and watch for itching, vomiting or loose stool. If any occurs, stop and talk to your vet. With a bit of care, these effortless recipes can be a fun, inexpensive way to reward your dog.