The shelves of pet supply stores are filled with all kinds of dog snacks, but are these the best option for your furry friend? At Naked Dog Bistro, we create a special selection of homemade dog snacks in our bistro kitchen every day and these fresh-baked treats have several advantages over the prepacked treats you usually might purchase.
1. Homemade Dog Snacks Are Safer
These days, dog parents, do have some excellent options when it comes to dog snacks. There are some good brands out there with all-natural ingredients. But you do have to be careful, as many brands still contain suspect ingredients such as BHA, BHT, propylene glycol, meat byproducts and an assortment of food dyes.
With homemade dog snacks, such as ours or snacks you make in your own home kitchen, you can stick with just a few basic ingredients and avoid all of the byproducts and chemicals often found in commercial dog treats.
2. Homemade Dog Snacks Can Enhance Your Dog’s Diet
While safety is the most compelling reason to consider homemade dog snacks, you also can incorporate ingredients that benefit your specific dog’s dietary needs. Some dogs have skin issues, others might have kidney issues and others might have digestive issues. There are ingredients that you might include in a homemade dog treat that could help with these problems, or, at the very least, not contribute to these issues.
For instance, if you have a dog prone to either diarrhea or constipation, incorporating pumpkin puree in your homemade dog treats can be a good option. You can mix some plain yogurt with pumpkin puree and freeze this in ice trays for an easy treat that can help with digestive issues.
Not only is the pumpkin beneficial, but a high-quality, plain organic yogurt should also contain probiotics which are excellent for digestion. Of course, with any health issue, it is always best to talk to your dog’s veterinarian and discuss what foods would be the best option for their unique health needs.
3. Homemade Dog Snacks Are Tastier
We may be a bit biased, but we genuinely believe that homemade dog snacks are yummier. Not only have we witnessed the enthusiasm of many a furry friend as he devoured our freshly baked treats, but it also just makes sense that high-quality ingredients are tastier.
After all, consider your own human palate. Which tastes better, a processed, factory-made cookie from the store or a freshly baked cookie using quality ingredients? Homemade dog snacks, including our organic dog treats, almost always taste better than pre-packaged processed foods.
5 Other Fun Munchables For Your Pooch
Of course, you don’t just have to offer baked treats to your furry companion, they love a few morsels of healthy human food from time to time. Here are a few nibbles that your pet might enjoy, and we even include some of these ingredients in our small-batch homemade dog food and our homemade dog snacks.
- Carrots: A little bit of carrot, provided it’s cut small enough to prevent choking can be a yummy, healthy morsel for your pooch.
- Peanut Butter: Peanut butter can be the perfect vessel for sneaking medications to your pet. We recommend opting for natural peanut butter without extra sugar or salt. Peanut butter is fairly high in calories, so this might not be a great option for those plumper hounds.
- Blueberries: While grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, blueberries are a low-calorie fruit that your pooch might enjoy. These also are packed with anti-oxidants. If you want to treat an overweight dog, a blueberry or two might be a great option to consider.
- Watermelon: Although the rind and seeds are not great for your dog, the actual fruit is a refreshing, low-calorie treat. If you have a dog that doesn’t drink enough water, a bit of watermelon can help, as it is more than 90% water.
- Green Peas: These tasty little morsels are fairly low in calories and many dogs love them. Be sure to feed your pooch fresh or frozen peas, as canned peas are high in sodium, which your furry friend does not need.
- Sweet Potatoes: A nibble of sweet potato now and then can be a yummy treat, however, overdoing the sweet potato may provide too much vitamin A for your dog, which can cause muscle and bone issues, so if your dog eats food that already includes sweet potato, this might be one to skip.
While all of these are safe options for most dogs, every dog is unique. Some dogs with sensitive tummies might not handle certain foods as well as others. So, we recommend that you simply provide a bite or two of a new food item and then evaluate to see how your dog handles this addition to their diet.
Our Homemade Dog Snacks
While there are plenty of great, easy recipes for homemade dog snacks, we don’t always have the time we want to create these gourmet concoctions. If you are pressed for time but want to treat your furry companion to some healthy dog snacks, we bake ours fresh each day at Naked Dog Bistro, Laguna Beach’s premier dog bakery and pet boutique.
Our homemade dog snacks contain no preservatives or artificial coloring, and all of our bakery goods are gluten-free and grain-free. We offer an ever-changing daily selection that might include doggie cupcakes, biscuits, donuts, and special items such as dog sushi and our highly popular French fries. We also offer an assortment of flavors to please just about any palate.
If you are celebrating a special canine occasion, we also can create custom baked dog cakes and custom baked dog cupcakes. Additionally, we also create our own brand of CBD dog treats, which can be a great option for an anxious dog as well as dogs with arthritis, joint pain, allergies and more.
We are located at 424 Forest Avenue in downtown Laguna Beach right next to Lumberyard. Come on in and give us a visit and pick out some tasty homemade dog snacks. Naturally, our furry friends are always welcome to come in a browse, as well.
