Welcome, dog lovers! Are you ready to spoil your furry companion with some homemade goodness? I’m sharing 3 irresistibly easy DIY oatmeal dog treats for your furry best friend!

Whether you’re looking to reward good behavior, bond during training sessions, or simply pamper your pup with a tasty snack, these homemade oatmeal treats are a great way to get those tails wagging with joy. Let’s get baking and watch your canine companion drool with anticipation!

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Our beloved Sheep-a-doodle dog, Bentley, loves treats!

He is also very stubborn!

Treats to the rescue!

Many times, the lure of a treat has calmed his barking, brought him inside from the cold, and helped us train him in our basic commands.

While we are happy to issue occasional treats, we also want to make sure that what we give him is made of healthy ingredients. Sometimes the ingredients listed on commercial brands are unrecognizable.

So, I decided to try some homemade dog treat recipes.

These are the treats that Bentley loves the most.

I figured if Bentley loves them, your dog will too!

Why Healthy Dog Treats are Important

Dog treats play a crucial role in strengthening the bond between you and your furry friend!

Of course, there are the health benefits of using ingredients that are beneficial to digestion, and daily energy, as well as promoting a healthy coat and strong immune system.

They also serve as powerful tools for training and positive reinforcement. Offering treats during training sessions helps reinforce good behavior and encourages learning. Additionally, treats provide mental stimulation and serve as a way to show your pup love and affection.

Whether rewarding them for mastering a new trick or simply making them feel special, dog treats are essential for keeping tails wagging and creating joyful moments together!

And, let’s face it, to your puppy pal…they taste so good!

The Difference Between Homemade and Store-Bought Treats

The difference between homemade and store-bought dog treats lies primarily in their ingredients and quality.

Homemade treats offer the advantage of using fresh, wholesome ingredients, allowing you to tailor them to your dog’s specific dietary needs and preferences. You have control over what goes into the treats, ensuring they’re free from artificial additives, preservatives, and fillers.

Plus, homemade treats can be a fun and rewarding activity to make for your pup, deepening your bond. On the other hand, store-bought treats provide convenience and a wide variety of options, but they may contain lower-quality ingredients and additives that aren’t ideal for your dog’s health.

Ultimately, choosing between homemade and store-bought treats depends on your priorities, but homemade treats offer the benefit of knowing exactly what you’re feeding your furry friend.

What are safe ingredients for Dog Treats?

Safe ingredients for homemade dog treats include oats, peanut butter (xylitol-free), pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots, applesauce, eggs, and lean meats such as chicken or turkey.

A bowl of rolled oats for homemade oatmeal dog treats sitting on a cutting board.

These ingredients are nutritious and generally well-tolerated by most dogs.

However, it’s essential to avoid ingredients that are toxic to dogs, such as chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions, garlic, and the artificial sweetener, xylitol. Always check with your veterinarian if you’re unsure about any ingredient before making homemade treats for your fur baby.

How to Make Homemade Oatmeal Dog Treats

Each simple recipe is similar in many ways.

Basically, you combine the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Then, either drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet or roll out the dough with a rolling pin and make doggie oatmeal cookies with your cookie cutter of choice.

Mixing oats with other ingredients for homemade dog cookies.

Bake in the oven and then let your easy homemade dog treats cool to room temperature on a wire rack.

There are similarities in the some of simple ingredients you will use.

Rolled Oats and Oat Flour

All three of these recipes call for rolled oats or oat flour. You could substitute whole wheat flour but oat flakes give the treats and dog cookies a little bit more substance and bulk. Plus, oat flour is very healthy for your dog.

If you don’t have store-bought oat flour in the house, you can easily make your own!

Simply toss your rolled oats into a blender or food processor and pulse until they reach a fine, flour-like consistency.

You may need to stop occasionally to scrape down the sides to ensure even grinding.

Once you achieve a smooth texture with your ground oats…Voila!

Grinding rolled oats into oat flour for homemade oatmeal dog treats.

Peanut Butter

Two of my recipes call for peanut butter. Like most humans, dogs love peanut butter and it is a great source of protein in your DIY dog treats.

It is best to use natural peanut butter to avoid added sugar. You can substitute almond butter if you like.

Another reminder…avoid any nut butter that contains xylitol as this is toxic to your dog.

Veggies

Bentley has always loved carrots so I made sure one of the recipes contain grated carrots. I didn’t realize until I made these that carrots are really beneficial for your dog’s skin!

Maybe I need to eat more carrots myself!

Pumpkin puree is another healthy ingredient so it is included in the recipe for pumpkin dog treats. You can substitute cooked (and cooled) sweet potato if you like.

Healthy Homemade Dog Treats

Here are Bentley’s three favorite dog treat recipes! I hope your furry family member loves them too!

1. Carrot Oatmeal Dog Treats

Oats, carrots, applesauce, eggs, peanut butter, and coconut…these sound like ingredients for a delicious carrot cake! Lucky dog!

Oat flour, applesauce, coconut, peanut butter, eggs, and carrots used for Carrot homemade oatmeal dog treats.

You will mix the wet ingredients first and then incorporate the dry ingredients until the dough sticks together.

Then, give the dough 3-4 kneads and roll out with a rolling pin.

Pressing the dough between fingers to check for dryness.

Kneading the homemade oatmeal dog treat dough.

Bentley is a large dog so I was excited when I found a large bone-shaped cookie cutter.

With this large cookie cutter, I was able to get 16 treats from the dough. If you use a smaller cookie cutter, you can double that amount!

A dog-shaped cookie cutter pressed into rolled out dog treat dough.

Homemade oatmeal dog treats on aa baking sheets to go into the oven.

Yummy carrot peanut butter dog treats for the “Top Dog” in your house!

A homemade carrot oatmeal dog treat sitting on a wood board that says "Top Dog."

Bentley sits mesmerized when I offer him one of these treats!

Missy showing Bentley a homemade oatmeal dog treat.

Bentley smelling a homemade oatmeal dog treat.

Bentley eating a homemade oatmeal dog treat.

Homemade Oatmeal Carrot Dog Treats

Packed with wholesome ingredients like oats and grated carrots, these treats are sure to make your pup's tail wag with joy. Perfect for rewarding good behavior or simply showing your pup some love, these homemade treats are a healthy and delicious option for pampering your canine companion.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 15

Total Time 45

Course Snack

Servings 24 treats

Equipment

1 food processor
1 rubber spatula
1 grater
1 Mixing bowl
1 hand mixer
1 cookie cutter dog themed if possible
1 Baking Sheet
1 Parchment Paper
1 spatula
1 Cooling rack
1 Rolling Pin

Ingredients

5 cups rolled oats or oat flour reserve 1 cup
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup peanut butter natural
1 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup coconut flakes unsweetened

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, peanut butter, and eggs with a hand mixer.
Next, add the oat flour, carrots, and coconut. Mix until the ingredients are combined and stick together when squeezed. At this point, you can add a little water if the dough is too dry, or a little more oat flour if it is too wet.
Sprinkle some oat flour onto your counter surface and start to knead the dough using the heel of your hand. Continue kneading until all the ingredients are fully icorporated and the dough has a smoother texture.
Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to a thickness of 1/2 inch.
Using a dog themed cookie cutter, cut out shapes in the dough and transfer to the parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the treats are slighly golden in color.
Cool completely on a wire cooling rack before giving your dog a yummy treat!

Keyword Homemade Oatmeal Dog Treats

2. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats

These are Bentley’s favorites for when we take a walk and play in the park. They are small so I can easily fit a few in my pocket for our playtime!

Just four simple ingredients: peanut butter, rolled oats or oat flour, a banana, and an egg.

Mash the banana with a fork and then add the oats, peanut butter, and egg.

For this easy recipe, I actually like to use old-fashioned rolled oats and not grind them into flour. Bentley seems to like the texture better.

Just like your favorite cookie recipe, use an ice cream scoop to create even cookies on the cookie sheet. Flatten the cookies with a fork and pop in the 350 degree oven.

Scooping homemade oatmeal dog treat dough with an ice cream scoop.

Cool and eat! (Yes, these are fit for human consumption!)

Homemade oatmeal dog treats on a cooking rack.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats

Indulge your pup with these irresistible Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats! Packed with wholesome ingredients like oats, creamy peanut butter, sweet honey, ripe banana, and a nutritious egg, these homemade treats are sure to make tails wag with delight.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Total Time 20

Course Snack

Servings 24 treats