10 years old, this guy. I can't believe that we have had him for nearly that long (we got him when he was 8 weeks old)
He has come a long way as our puppy. When we first go him, he was this little tiny fur ball that was so pathetic, he could barely walk down the street without whining. And his little puppy teeth and sticky puppy breath…. so sharp and stinky, but oddly so cute! And then he got bigger, and although still super cute, he wasn't as timid and puppy like anymore. He entered a stage of crazy dog, chewing up the floors and windowsills, maybe even trying to bite your hand off if you went near his food, and needed at least 3 hours of outdoor exercise . What I am saying is, he turned into a beast dog. And he got big, like 75 lbs and as tall as a horse (not really that tall), which was all fine and dandy, but he still had it in his mind hat the was a little lap dog. (We didn't discourage the is behavior) But we got through that stage (2 years later) and he came to be a more mellow, stop destroying everything, not trying to bite your hand off, pup that still needed at least 3 hours of exercise a day. Alway happy, always ready for a good hike, swim, or run.. This lasted about 8 years, his golden years. And now, now he is 10 and has entered a new stage. He is still ready for anything, but does it at a much slower pace. He doesn't need 3 hours of exercise anymore and is happy just to lounge around. All he wants is love and food. . If one thing has been a constant in this dogs life is that he is a food lover.. like steal your food right out of your hand, kind of love.
So for his 10th birthday, the mr and I took the guy for a long hike (which kicked his butt for the rest of the day and the next) and I made him some treats. All for him.. my old man puppy. And sure he might now know exactly why I have been giving him treats (we try not to reward him with food. cause we don't want him to get fat) but he sure has been enjoying them. Every time I came home he comes and sits and drools all over waiting for a biscuit. It has turned into his thing.
Anyways, my pup really likes these (although he would probably eat anything) . They are simple, healthy for the dogs, and honestly not that bad a a human snack. And we are coming up on the holiday season… maybe making some for your puppy or even making and gifting some to your friends with dogs. (Just and idea)
The stuff. Buckwheat flour, an apple, some peanut butter and some pureed pumpkin.
Grate the apple
and dump the apple, along with the peanut butter and pumpkin puree into the bowl with the buckwheat flour,
Mix it all up until its fully incorporated and is kind of the consistency of play dough.
So here is the deal, you can totally roll the dough out and use a cookie cutter, but I couldn't find my bone shaped cutter so I hand made the bone shape, which I think came to pretty good. I also was able to make a different sizes. (you know, big ones for when he is really good, little ones for when he being ok).. And really, you don't need to use a bone shape, any shape will do. Whatever you decide to do. just make sure the cookies are all about 1/2 inch thick so they bake
Stick the cookies on a baking sheet and place them in the oven to bake Then when they are done, leave them in the oven to cool.
After chilling out in the oven, pull them out
And give one to the pup and stick the rest in the puppy cookie jar.
And p.s. Not the best tasting human treat, but are actually not to bad. (Just sayin)
-C
Homemade Dog Treats
makes 18-24 cookies (depending on the size)
- 1 1/2 cup of Buckwheat flour
- 1 heaping cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 apple grated
Preheat oven to 350
Stick everything in a bowl and mix up until fully incorporate. If the dough seems to wet, add in a little more flour until the dough is workable with your hands, kinda like play dough. Roll dough into small balls and shape into bones that are about 1/2 inch thick or, roll dough out to about 1/2 inch and use a cookie cutter and cut out bones (any shape works)
Place cookies on baking sheet and stick into oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes then turn the oven off but leave the cookies in the oven to dry. Once the cookies are cooled, remove from oven.. And thats it. Give a treat to your pup and stick the rest in cookie jar.