Why We Make Our Own
I love making treats for my old dog, Baxter. His tail wags so hard when he smells them baking. It makes me feel good to know what’s in his snacks. No mystery ingredients, just good, simple food.
That matters because our pets are family. They trust us to take care of them. Giving them something made with love is a small way to say thank you for all their joy. What is your pet’s favorite thing to eat? Tell me about them.
Getting Your Kitchen Ready
First, find a big bowl. You will need one cup of smooth peanut butter. Make sure it does not have xylitol. That is a sweetener that is bad for dogs.
Then grab your milk, molasses, flour, and baking powder. *Fun fact*: Molasses gives the treats a rich smell dogs go crazy for. Now preheat your oven to 350 degrees. We are almost ready to mix!
The Fun Part: Making the Dough
Put everything into your big bowl. Now mix it all together. I use my old hand mixer. The dough will get thick and a bit sticky. That is just right.
I once got flour all over my apron. Baxter thought it was snow! I still laugh at that. Does your dog like to “help” in the kitchen too?
Shaping Your Treats
Put your dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll it out flat. Now for the best part. Use a cookie cutter to make shapes.
I have a bone-shaped cutter just for Baxter. But a glass works great too. Press down and make as many as you can. The little scraps can be rolled again.