Bulldog Treat Recipes: 8 Simple Ideas And What To Avoid

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Home-made treats let you control what goes in, but a treat can also hurt a dog if the ingredients are wrong.

This page gives eight simple ideas built from foods the AKC and ASPCA list as safe, starting with what to avoid. It is general information, not veterinary advice, and a dog with a health condition (for example diabetes) should have a vet’s advice first.

Treats should be no more than 10 percent of your dog’s diet, according to the AKC, and are an occasional extra rather than a replacement for dog food.

Before You Start: What To Leave Out

The ASPCA lists foods that are harmful to dogs. For treats, the ones to watch are:

• xylitol, a sweetener found in some peanut butter, yogurt, baked goods and sweets, which can cause low blood sugar and liver damage;
• onions, garlic and chives (including in stock cubes and bouillon), which can damage red blood cells;
• grapes and raisins, which can lead to kidney damage;
• chocolate and caffeine, which can cause vomiting, fast breathing, an abnormal heart rhythm and seizures;
• macadamia nuts, other nuts in quantity, salt and very salty foods, alcohol and raw yeast dough;
• milk and dairy, which often upset a dog’s stomach.

Check every label for xylitol, sugar and salt.

If your dog eats something on this list, note how much and call your vet or a poison service at once (in the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is (888) 426-4435).

8 Simple Treat Ideas

1. Frozen yogurt and peanut butter pops: mix plain, unsweetened yogurt with unsalted, xylitol-free peanut butter and freeze in small moulds. Check labels for xylitol and salt (AKC). Skip them if your dog does not tolerate dairy.
2. Fish and yogurt pops: mix plain yogurt with a little plain canned fish packed in water, with no added salt (AKC), and freeze in small cups. No garlic.
3. Cooked egg: fully cooked, with no salt, butter or seasoning (AKC). Never raw (ASPCA).
4. Plain cooked oatmeal: made with water, not milk, cooled to room temperature, about one tablespoon per 20 pounds (about 9 kg) of body weight, one to two times a week at most (AKC). Never flavoured oatmeal.
5. Cooked sweet potato: cooked with the skin removed, in small pieces, never raw; keep it minimal for diabetic, overweight or less active dogs (AKC).
6. Plain canned pumpkin: unseasoned, not pie filling; vets suggest one to four tablespoons depending on size when a dog has an upset stomach, but call your vet first (AKC).
7. Oat biscuits: mix 2½ cups oats, one egg and about ½ cup of water into a dough, roll about ½ inch (about 1.3 cm) thick, cut and bake at 350 °F (about 180 °C) for about 30 minutes, until firm. The old recipe’s salt and bouillon are removed.
8. Pumpkin biscuits: mix ½ cup unseasoned canned pumpkin, two eggs and 2½ cups wheat flour with a little water into a stiff dough, roll about ½ inch (about 1.3 cm) thick, cut and bake at 350 °F (about 180 °C) for about 20 minutes, turning halfway. Use oat flour instead if your dog is sensitive to wheat. The old recipe’s salt and dry milk are removed.

Introduce one new food at a time and watch your dog, and stop if you see vomiting, diarrhoea or itching. We have not baked the two biscuit recipes; they are the old page’s recipes with the harmful ingredients taken out, so check with your vet first.

Ready-Made Treats

If you would rather buy treats, check the label and the portion size.

The Wellness Old Mother Hubbard Classic Original Mix listing describes small crunchy biscuits in an assortment of flavours, 3.8 lb (about 1.7 kg), with no added artificial preservatives.

The Nutro Crunchy Dog Treats with Real Mixed Berries listing describes a mini crunchy treat of about 5 calories each, with no chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, soy protein or artificial preservatives or flavours, 16 oz (about 454 g).

Conclusion

Home-made treats can be a nice extra, but check the ingredients, keep treats under 10 percent of the diet, and talk to your vet if your dog has a health condition or an upset stomach that does not settle.