October Treats

Sorry that I missed posting a recipe last week. As most of you know Fudge and I are going for our Rally Obedience title next weekend and we've been practicing every chance we get. Something had to give and I'm afraid it was this blog. I promise to do better in the future.

This is the time of year when a lot of us are bringing home a pumpkin. Some families paint them and some carve them. Rob likes to carve ours and I toast the seeds for him to snack on. Rob also likes pumpkin pie so I usually make one for him, but I admit I use canned pumpkin. It's just easier.


Did you know that pumpkin is high in vitamins A and C and also Beta Carotene? It's used by many dog owners as an additive to dog food for dogs who have upset tummies or loose stool. It is also a good addition for dogs who are dieting. It helps them feel they're getting something special without adding a lot of calories. If you decide to feed your dog canned pumpkin, be sure it's the pure pumpkin and not the pie filling which has sugar added.

My dogs are in the minority that don't like canned pumpkin. Imagine my surprise last week when Rob carved our pumpkin and offered them some of the fresh pumpkin and they not only ate it but begged for more.

I found some recipes for pumpkin dog treats that I thought you might like to try.Pumpkin Dog Cookies

This recipe is from Dog In Sight Magazine

Ingredients:
1 15oz can of mashed pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
3/4 cup Cream of Rice cereal
1.2 cup powdered dry milk

Mix all ingredients. Drop cookie sized spoonful onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 300F degrees for 15-20 minutes.

For bite sized treats, make cookies about the size of a quarter. Let cool and call in the tasters.
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Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1.2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C)
Whisk together flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as needed to make dough workable, but dough should be dry and stiff. Roll into 1/2 inch thick roll. Cut into small pieces or cut with cookie cutters.

Bake until hard, about 40 minutes. Cool and ask you dog's opinion.
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Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons dry milk
1 cup white flour
1/3 cup corn meal
1/2 cup oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup water + 1 tablespoon water

Mix all ingredients in your mixer This dough will be thick like cookie dough.

When mixed thoroughly, roll into rectangular sheets 1/4 inch thick.

Using a pizza cutter, cut dough into 1/2 inch parallel strips. Don't move the strips - leave them on your cutting board.

At about a 45 degree angle go back and cut parallel strips about 1/2 inch apart. You will end up with diamonds that look like the biscuits in the photo. You can also cut little squares or use cookie cutters.


Transfer the biscuits to a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 250 degrees F for about an hour. Since the biscuits are small, they brown quickly. Check occasionally to be sure they're not getting too dark.

Turn off the oven and let the biscuits continue to dry overnight in the oven. When done they will be hard, dry and crisp. They can be stored for a month at room temperature.
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The recipes we post here are not for all dogs. If your pet has an allergy to one of the ingredients such as peanuts or wheat, of course you will want to skip that recipe. These are only for healthy dogs with no sensitivities to any of the ingredients. If your pet is on a special diet check with your vet before making treats.