Homemade Grain-Free Puppy Treats

100% of the time, I excitedly greet the pet walking on a leash before I even register that there’s a person on the other end. I am totally that person.

Y’all, I love my dog.

In fact, it feels completely bizarre to even call him “dog.” I can equate it to referring to your best friend as “girl.” She is not just “girl.” She’s your best friend! She’s got a name! She’s got wonderful unique qualities that make her so fantastically fabulous! You have so many stories and laughs and experiences together! “Girl” is almost an injustice.

This 100+ pounds of fur, slobber, appetite, and love is so much more than “dog.”

He is Gus.

My Gus – whom I share with Austin, his band of fur friends, and his entire doting army of near and far human friends.

He’s my bodyguard, best friend, an expert cuddler, incredible listener, motivator to go on walks when I’d rather melt into a couch with a glass of red, taste-tester, lover of all toddlers with snacks, grumpy dog soothsayer, and the fearless mascot of #fedandfit.

It is in honor of Gus, …and Eli, Jake, Max, June, and Jackson, …and all the fur babies across the entire world, that I crafted these puppy treats.

I kept the ingredient list intentional and simple (there’s only 3). Here’s what we’ve got in these grain-free puppy treats and why:

#1. US Wellness Meats Petburger

Petburger is a totally grass-fed mixture of ground beef (65% lean), beef heart, and beef liver. As with humans, organ meats are a wonderfully nutritious food for dogs! It’s a great source of Vitamin D, EPA and DHA Omega 3’s, and high-quality proteins. Liver provides lots of wonderful B-Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and usable Iron. The heart is a great source of CoQ10, which is essential for normal cellular function and heart health.

Note: you could substitute Petburger with lean ground beef, but know that it won’t come out as meat cookie-like.

#2. Brewer’s Yeast

What a superfood for dogs! It’s chock full of B-Vitamins (excluding B12 which can only be found in animal-based products like meat and dairy). B-Vitamins work wonders for helping to calm nervous, stressed-out breeds. It’s got plenty of antioxidants, can help reduce excessive shedding, promotes a shiny coat, and is even known to naturally repel biting insects! Best yet? Dogs LOVE the stuff. Seriously love it. If you’ve got picky eater, sprinkle just a little brewer’s yeast over their food. It’ll disappear.

Note: if you notice itchy skin and/or a boated stomach, discontinue use of brewer’s yeast as your pup is likely experiencing an allergic reaction.

#3. Ground Flax Seed

Another fabulous superfood for dogs! While whole flax seeds are generally passed whole, ground flax seeds offer the nutrients in a digestible form. They provide quality fiber and the anti-inflammatory alpha-linoleic acid. Flax can help promote healthy hair, skin, and can help ease the symptoms of arthritis.

Ready to start baking? Let’s get to it, then!

Preheat your oven to 300 F then grab your defrosted pound of Petburger from US Wellness Meats. Add it to your food processor or blender.

Snag a bottle of brewer’s yeast! Add ½ cup to the Petburger.

Easy ’nuff. Pulse for about one minute or until the mixture is thoroughly combined.

Don’t be surprised if you start to grow an audience. Gus is totally mesmerized when I cook – especially when my cooking involves brewer’s yeast.

Also, pay no mind to my broken (but fabulously and dare I say, brilliantly jerry-rigged) food processor.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Move your raw treat mixture onto the baking sheet and start spreading it out as evenly and thinly as possible. It’s going to thicken and shrink as it bakes.

Use your fingers or a rolling pin to push it across the entire sheet. All done!

Time for the last ingredient: the ground flax.

Measure 1/3 of a cup. Pour it over the sheet of raw puppy treats. Use your hand to spread the flax over the entire surface and then press it down into the meat.

Pop it in the 300 F oven for approximately 35 minutes, or until it’s nicely browned and slightly crispy.

Once the timer goes off pull that baby out of the oven and let it cool completely. Note that it will shrink in size as it bakes – this is normal.

Cut the sheet into whatever size works best for your pup! I recommend 1″ squares for large breeds and 1/2″ squares for small breeds. I opted for half and half so that the visiting miniature schnauzers got their very own tasty parting gift.

By this time, you will probably have an audience of VERY. . .

Eager. . .

Faces.

Time for a taste test? (Imagine this as a slow-motion video narrated with a deep “ohhhhh yeahhhhh.”)

I like to divide the batch into 4 jars or bags. I keep one in the refrigerator for immediate use and the others in the freezer for later. They will keep refrigerated for about one week and frozen for about 4 months.

I hope you enjoy making these treats as much as I know your pups will enjoy eating them!

Note: If you’re on Instagram, follow me @fedandfit and tag your treat pictures with #fedandfitPUP so we can follow each other’s healthy pets!