Last Updated: 01/10/2026
Homemade Dog Treat Recipes (10 Easy Ideas)
Spoil your pup without the guilt! Our vet shares 10 easy and healthy homemade dog treat recipes. Find the perfect stuffing for KONGs, toppings for LickiMats, or simple baked biscuits. Know exactly what your dog is eating and have fun doing it.
Author: Dr Lacey Kelly BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 8 minutes - short read
Healthy homemade dog treats are a great way to reward your dog and get tails wagging without the guilt factor. They are easy, inexpensive and you know exactly what goes into them, so you don't have to worry about any unnecessary additives or nasties.
The best vet-approved homemade dog treats use plain, dog-safe ingredients like oats, sweet potato, pumpkin, banana, plain yoghurt and lean meat, with no added salt, sugar or seasoning. Keep treats small, count them towards no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories, and check labels for xylitol (may be listed as birch sugar or sweetener 967) and for onion or garlic.
Easy dog biscuits need just a few dog-safe ingredients, a moderate oven and a bit of patience while they cool. Start with the three-ingredient oat cookies below, then try the other biscuit recipes.
Homemade Oat, Sweet Potato and Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup cooked sweet potato, pureed
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol free)
- Bone-shaped cookie cutter
Method
- Preheat oven to 160 degrees
- Add oats to a food processor and blend into a fine powder
- Add sweet potato and peanut butter and blend until a sticky dough forms
- Place between 2 pieces of baking paper or on a lightly floured surface, and roll out to 3mm in thickness
- Cut out shapes using a bone-shaped cookie cutter
- Place on prepared baking tray and bake for 20-30 minutes until hard and brown on the edges
* ensure treats are cooled before serving
Other home-baked dog biscuit recipes
What can I make to stuff in a West Paw toy?
West Paw has lots of safe, durable, and responsibly made puzzle feeder toys to keep your dog entertained for hours. Try one of these super simple homemade recipes to stuff their treat toy with. Packed full of healthy ingredients these treats can be made ahead of time for a mid-week surprise that is sure to get tails wagging.
*recipes care of the West Paw company website
Roasted Cranberry Turkey Treat
Ingredients
- 170grams Roasted Boneless Turkey
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Carrot
- 1/2 Cup Quinoa Flour
- 1/8 Cup Dried Cranberries
Method
- Preheat oven to 180°C
- Blend turkey, chopped carrots, quinoa flour, and cranberry in a food processor
- Roll into 1-2inch balls and place on a cookie sheet
- Bake for 30mins and allow to cool
- Serve treat inside a West Paw Tux
Canine Candy Cane
Ingredients
- Fresh raspberries and/or strawberries (crushed). You will need approx. 3-4 raspberries per mold
- Plain Greek yoghurt. You will need approx. 1tbsp per mold, depending on size
- Water bottle ice cube tray
Method
- Mash your fruit of choice and set aside.
- Fill your water bottle ice cube tray first with mashed berries, using your fingers to create an even space in between the berries. Use a dry paper towel to absorb any juice from the empty spaces to ensure the red colour won't bleed into the white yoghurt later.
- Freeze for 1-2 hours.
- Remove your tray from the freezer and begin filling the gaps with the plain greek yoghurt - this two-step method keeps the colours from running together.
- Place the tray back into the freezer for a minimum of 3 hours
- Remove from freezer and run the thin ice cube under tap water for a second to make it easier to slide into the West Paw Qwizl
- Place inside the West Paw Qwizl and serve
In clinic, we occasionally see dogs get a bit of an upset tummy from dairy. If your dog isn't used to yoghurt, start with a small amount to see how they go before making it a regular treat.
What can I put in a KONG?
Most KONG fillings are soft and spreadable, like mashed banana, pumpkin, plain yoghurt or xylitol-free peanut butter, and freezing them makes them last longer. For filling ideas, pro tips and how to choose the right one for your dog, see our vet's guide to what to put in a KONG, or browse the KONG range.
What can I put on a LickiMat?
Not only are LickiMats a great way to slow down fast eaters and keep your dog entertained, but they also help to soothe and calm anxious pets. The raised grooves and flexible designs allow food to be spread or sprinkled on the surface to encourage licking to retrieve the tasty treat. Licking can help keep dogs calm and occupied. Try out the dishwasher safe LickiMat Wobble Bowl for a little extra challenge.
*recipes care of the Lickimat company website
Coconut Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 Heaped Teaspoon Chia Seeds
- 1/2 Cup Low Fat Coconut Milk
- Chopped Strawberries
- Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 Teaspoon Peanut Butter (xylitol, sugar and additives free)
Method
- Soak chia seeds overnight in coconut milk. If the mixture looks too thick stir in extra coconut milk or some water
- Scrape into a LickiMat Wobble making sure to spread some over the bowl surface for more lickable fun
- Add the strawberries and blueberries and a drizzle of peanut butter
- Serve immediately or wrap and freeze for later
Fish & Veg Pate
Ingredients
- 1 Can of Fish in Springwater (Tuna, Sardines)
- 1/2 a Cup of Boiled or Steamed Veges (Pumpkin, Carrot)
- 3 Tablespoons Broth or Water
Method
- Blend ingredients by hand or with a blender until still a little lumpy
- Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the mixture on the LickiMat before serving (adapt the serving size to suit your dog)
- Store the remaining mixture in a container in the fridge/freezer
- If you have an extra LickiMat, spread the prepared mixture over it, wrap it and freeze it to serve later.
Want a cooling option? Our homemade summer recipes for dogs and cats include a Bone Broth Sorbet you can freeze straight onto a LickiMat. Browse the full LickiMat range.
What quick ingredients can I stuff into food puzzles?
Most food puzzles work well with simple fridge and pantry staples, either fresh or frozen.
- Frozen Banana
- Apple Slices
- Pumpkin Puree
- Frozen Coconut Milk (unsweetened and free of stabilizers like xanthan gum carrageenan)
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Unsweetened Apple Sauce
- Treats such as KONG , Nature's Cuts, and SavourLife
- Greek Yoghurt
- Cucumber
- Cooked Steak or Chicken
For more frozen ideas, see the Frozen KONG Stuffers and Berry Yoghurt Pupsicles in our homemade summer recipes.
What should I check before making homemade dog treats?
Check labels before you start, and keep treats to a small part of your dog's day. Peanut butter must be xylitol free, and xylitol can be listed as sweetener 967 or birch sugar. Baby food can contain onion or garlic powder, which is a hazard for dogs, so read the label before using it in a recipe. Rich ingredients like peanut butter, coconut and oils add up quickly, so go easy for small or overweight dogs and avoid them for dogs with pancreatitis (see our guide to pancreatitis in dogs).
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. For ready-made options, see what makes a dog treat healthy and our vet's guide to the best dog treats.
FAQs
Whipping up homemade goodies is a fantastic way to show your pup some love and control exactly what they're eating. Remember, treats are 'sometimes' foods and should always be given as part of a complete and balanced diet. With these healthy recipes, you can get those tails wagging and feel good about it. Happy baking!
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Thu 1 Oct 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Lacey Kelly BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr Lacey graduated from the University of Queensland in 2016 and has worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East QLD. Dr Lacey. She holds a special passion for pain management, small animal internal medicine, critical care, and senior support. Her favourite part of being a vet is helping clients make the best evidence-based choices for their pets and forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
