And now one for the pooches, Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats.
For some reason, it still feels like I just got my dog Chickpea, but I realize now, that I wrote the post introducing her almost 4 months ago! My how time flies when you have an adorable little pooch in your life.
She pretty much instantly became the cutest and bestest little dog ever! I know, I know, you may be thinking that your pooch is the cutest and bestest ever, but that's why dog caregivers are awesome, we all love our dogs the most, no questions asked.
I'm thrilled to update you, that Chickpea is thriving on her vegan diet. Her fur has grown in thick, soft, and shiny (she had some bald spots when I first got her, and those have grown in too). Her coat has even gotten brighter and whiter (I'm not making this stuff up!)
She is bouncing around with energy and is the fastest and most playful dog in the park (for reals). Her eyes which had big tear stains when I first got her have cleared right up. She is so super smart and basically seems to understand what I'm saying at all times. I couldn't be happier! I don't think she could be either, as she is always smiling and wagging her tail at me.
Focus... focus...don't blink or it may disappear....
Chickpea has really been living it up these last four months. She learned how to play with toys (she was scared of the ones that squeaked at first). She has even learned how to play fetch! So sad that she clearly had no one to play with for her first mystery year of life. She follows me everywhere I go, and eagerly watches me while I cook, waiting for food scraps to drop to the floor. Aside from playing with other dogs, squirrel chasing is her favourite outdoor hobby, she even tries to climb the trees! She's a monkey dog, I'm telling you. (Luckily she never catches the squirrels).
She also learned to bark. Yep, for the first 2 months she didn't make a peep, but now proudly has one bark and a short growl at the mailman... before she runs and hides upstairs. Guard dog skills, amIright?
There are some vegan dog treats for purchase in the pet stores, but these Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats are so easy to make and so much cheaper. On top of that, Chickpea goes crazy for the homemade treats. Isn't homemade food always better?
She was seriously losing her mind when I had these on the floor setting up a photo shoot. I'm really not sure how she knew they were for her, but she kept peeking around my light reflectors like this, so very tempted to be a bad dog. Too cute.
To make Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats:
Watch my video to see how it’s done, or skip directly to the step by step photos below!
So let's get to making some dog treats for our furry friends!
Begin by adding the oats to a food processor.
Grind them until you reach a fine powder.
Now add the pumpkin and peanut butter.
And blend to combine until you make a sticky dough.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface. I used brown rice flour as Chickpea is sensitive to wheat, but if your dog isn't you can use wheat flour. You could alternatively set aside some of the ground oats to use for this as well.
Use a small cookie cutter, (I used a small bone cookie cutter), but any shape will do, or just use a knife to cut small squares.
Lay them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake until dry and firm.
Once cool, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They would make a great gift for any of your furry friends!
Bon puppategan!
Sam.
Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats (just 3 ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats (old fashioned, 1-minute oats, or instant) , plus more if needed- see instructions
- ⅓ cup pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300F (150C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the oats to a food processor and grind until they reach a fine powder. Add in the pumpkin and peanut butter and blend until a sticky dough is formed.
- Remove from the processor and roll out on a lightly floured surface. (Use whole wheat flour, more ground oats, or another flour that you have on hand). Cut out cookies using a small cookie cutter of any shape, or alternatively just cut into squares with a knife.
- Lay the treats on the prepared baking sheet and bake fo 25 to 30 minutes, until the treats are dry and hard. Let cool before giving to your pup and then store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
Amber says
Hello,
About to make these do you know how long they stay fresh? I want to make sure I can make them last. Maybe put them in the freezer after a week?
Thanks so much!
A.
Karen says
I made these before the holidays to give out at a cookie exchange to my friends with dogs (and even a cat). With the exception of one picky pooch, they were a big hit. My own pup is very cautious and somewhat skeptical of new food, but he gobbles these up and will actually whine in anticipation when I’m baking them. I did alter the recipe a bit, adding a banana and increasing the oats and peanut butter slightly. To make prep easier, I freeze the pumpkin in portions I can just pull out of the freezer. They defrost quickly. They smell incredible! Question - can the dough itself be frozen?
Laura says
My sister made these for our dogs for the holidays, and our VERY picky pit-mix Rex is a huge fan! It's so great to have a dog treat with few ingredients that are easy on the tummies and have no preservatives! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Katt says
I've made these a few times now and they have become a favorite treat for my dog! Thanks for a simple and wonderful recipe!
Cait says
Thank you so much for this recipe. My two 15lb dogs (Havanese and terrier mix) LOVE them. I searched high and low for a simple recipe with ingredients that I am positive my Hav's tummy can handle to help him through some digestive troubles. So many recipes use eggs or whole wheat flour or added oils. These give him a fiber boost while still appealing to him (he's extremely picky). I ended up with about 50 pieces, each a little over an 1/8 inch thick and in roughly cut 1.5" squares.
Cat says
My Yorkie and Lhasa both love these treats. I love that I get to control what goes in them. I freeze the organic pumpkin purée in 1/3 cup portions so when I need to make a batch I just take one out to defrost. I had a small organic overripe banana one day and added that in (along with 1 cup more organic oats) and the organic peanut butter, pumpkin, banana has become their new favorite. I eat organic real food, why shouldn't my pets? I use a 3" biscuit cutter to make "cookies" and break off pieces to give them, I don't usually have the patience to cut out 50 to 100 small bones, despite purchasing the mini bone treat cutter.
If they don't get crispy enough after baking 30 minutes, I cool them on a rack then bake them again for another 15-20 minutes. That is usually enough to dry them out really well.
Thanks for a great recipe, that can be whipped up in minutes, that my fur babies absolutely love!
Julie says
Don't forget to read the labels on your peanut butter. Some brands contain xylitol which is toxic to dogs
Donna says
My two little dogs love these, even the one with only 8 teeth left. After I process the whole thing, it is not really sticky, more granular but I can squeeze it together to roll out. Just a bit harder to work with since it falls apart easily. Should I add more pumpkin or peanut butter or does this sound right as is? They still come out great.
Polly says
Yes. I added more pumpkin and they came out perfect. The first batch came out soft though and so I backed the next batch for 10 minutes longer. 40 minutes total. And I put the 1st batch In again and baked them for another 10 minutes, they were even crisper. My dog loves them.
Michelle says
I’ve made these for a while now. Everyone I give them to (in a cute mason jar) says their dog loves them! I usually double the recipe and freeze half of the treats after I bake them. They thaw out perfectly at room temp in a jar.
Karen says
Instead of cutting those adorable bones, I put 1/2" balls on the sheet pan and squish them with a fork like peanut butter cookies.
These came together perfectly when I (ahem!) followed the recipe. Today I forgot to grind the oats before dropping in the pumpkin. I processed the daylights out of it, but the dough refused to come together. In fact it was just like that play snow made from adding water to flecks of polymer. I had an extra egg white languishing in the fridge, and that saved the day.
Donna says
Love all your people recipes and thrilled to discover the ones for our pups too! ❤️ The Sweet potato chews are a hit with one of my pups but will try this one for the one who doesn’t have many teeth left because much to his chagrin he can’t chew the sweet potato ones.
Any dog food recipes coming?
chinese food says
Chinese Recipes- In a nation where the traditional way to greet someone translates to 'have you eaten yet?
Diane says
Made these with the grandkids, easy recipe to follow and they turned out great except for one thing. My puppy does not like peanut butter! Can you believe that??? Do you know what could I replace the peanut butter with?
Sam Turnbull says
Any nut or seed butter that is suitable for dogs will do 🙂
Becky says
Could this be used with a silicone baking mold instead of rolling out?
Victoria Crownover says
Yes!!! I use a silicone mold and they just pop right out. They need to bake longer to get crispy.
Stephanie C says
I made these for my dog Bailey (Dachshund/Terrier mix), my niece's two dogs Arlo (Chihuahua/Terrier mix) and Penny (Pomeranian/Terrier mix), and my sister's two other dogs Remy (long haired, medium in size) and Buddy (Terrier mix). We let the kids roll them out thin and cut them with Christmas cookie cutters. We had to bake them for 45 minutes for them to get crisp.
My nieces and I all ate a piece of the treat to see how it tasted and it didn't really have any flavor. It was like a super dry piece of lightly flavored graham cracker, so I didn't think the dogs would like them. HOWEVER, all 5 dogs chose these treats over store bought ones!!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! That's amazing! Dogs have different taste palettes than us 🙂
Sara says
I love the receipe, and the furbabies love the snacks more. I volunteer for a rescue program, we are raising money mostly for the homeless dogs, furbabies that live on the streets with their moms and dads, we had a event, I made these snacks for the furbabies that attended the event, they loved them! I'm making more for another event that we have comining soon. Some of the moms/dads were unsure to feed ther babies with something homemade, I had to eat some my self. Two questions, how long do they last? And can cats eat these snacks?
Sam Turnbull says
I would say about 2 weeks depending on how much yours dry out. I don't have cats so I have no idea! Haha
MELANIE LEVINE says
I'm starting to volunteer at an animal shelter. One thing you can do is make dog treats. I found your vegan recipe and want to thank you! Simple recipe which is very healthy. I'm excited to make these and hope they make their lives a bit better while they're there...Also even though it's pretty straight forward it was great to watch the video 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thank you so much, Melanie! Thrilled these treats are going to animals who need them most 🙂
Renee says
Can you substitute the oats for something else? Coconut flour?
Sam Turnbull says
Any dog-friendly flour should work just fine. You just may need to add a little more or less to reach the right consistency. ENjoy!
Mary Moore says
These are so easy to make, and my dog loves them! She’s an older dog, and has arthritis and hip problems, so I add some turmeric and also apple cider vinegar, thanks for sharing!
Sam Turnbull says
You're welcome, Mary! So happy your dog is a fan 🙂
Sally says
I also add tumeric
Corinna says
My two little ones absolutely love these. Every so often I toss in a handful or two of oven-dried diced apple pieces as an extra goodie during the harvest season.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy the recipe is such a hit, Corinna 🙂
Cecilia says
I want to give this recipe a try for my Baby and Cookie. Could this work with sweet potato instead of pumpkin? I will probably switch from sweet potato and pumpkin depending on what I have on hand.
So nice to read all the comments on this recipe. So making these soon!
Sam Turnbull says
Absolutely that would work wonderfully! Enjoy 🙂
Steph says
My "granddoggy" loves these!! My peanut butter was a bit dry, so. the dough not as sticky. I rolled them in oats and was eating them before I had a chance to bake them!
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome!
Danielle says
Hello!
Excited to try this recipe. Any thoughts on replacing the oats for coconut flour and if so how much flour? Was not sure if I could do a direct swap out to get the same texture. Thanks in advance.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Danielle, you're most welcome. I'm not an expert in alternative flour baking so I can't help you with coconut flour but you are welcome to try. I would start with less and add more as needed until you reach the right texture. Enjoy!
Sally says
Use a combination of rice and or almond flour with the coconut flour
Philip_HD says
hi, how many treats can you give the doggies per day so he won't get fat?
Sam Turnbull says
All dogs are different sizes and require different calorie amounts so I would recommend speaking with your vet about this.
Lacey Hochleutner says
Hi Sam,
Thank you for sharing this recipe, I plan to make a batch, but would like to know if ther is a recommended time that these will be good for? Plus how can I store them, either in fridge, freezer etc?
Kind regards,
Lacey
Sam Turnbull says
They should last about a week at room temperature or you can store them in the fridge or freezer for longer. Enjoy!
cooknwoman says
Hi, if you bake until fully dry - wouldn't they be like any other treat and not need refrigeration?
Sam Turnbull says
You can definitely try to store them on the shelf, but as there are no preservatives just check to make sure they still look and smell good before giving them to your pooch 🙂
Bobbie Lyons says
I bake mine on a lower temp for about & hour til nice & hard. If you bake all the moisture out they store great in my pup's treat jar on the counter
Michelle says
What temp did you bake at?
cooknwoman says
Sorry Sam!!! Forgive me ...I meant to say thank you so much for the recipe❣Also, could these treats be dehydrated?
P.S. your dog is super cute - as is your video We have 8 awesome dogs, ranging from a 3lb 5 month old tea cup to a German Shepherd 6 of which are rescue pups. So this recipe will really save us lots of and provide healthful treats! Thanks much for Peder'sLil'Farm
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome!! 🙂
stacey judge says
Hello! I was recently advised to begin giving pumpkin to my dog by his vet. They said a regular can of pumpkin was just fine to give him a spoon full each day. So my question to you is , is it ok to use regular canned pumpkin in the recipe or should I stick with your ingredients? Thank you in advance and thank you so much for this very basic recipe!!! 3 ingredients! Yeah!
Sam Turnbull says
I used canned pumpkin for this recipe too, so you're good to go. 🙂
Amanda says
My dog loves these so much. I've found a way to use the whole can of pumpkin puree and eliminate rolling out the dough on a mat. I use the whole can and then 5x the other two ingredients: 5 c. oats, 1 1/4 c. PB. Dump the dough into a jelly roll pan and roll out with the rolling pin. Then cut with a pizza cutter into ~1-inch squares. This makes a huge batch, most of which I freeze and then take out as needed. I do process the oats in batches and then put all in a stand mixer since it's too much dough for the food processor.
Sam Turnbull says
Amazing! So happy your pooch loved them 🙂
Linda Nielsen says
Amanda, What size can did you use? thanks, Linda
Cheryl says
By WHOLE CAN, what size are you referring to?
Melissa says
Incredibly happy I stumbled upon your recipe! My 14 yr old Doxie has been having some tummy trouble lately with her favorite treats so i’ve been getting creative with what to give her. Made these for her on Wednesday and she, as well as her 2 and 5 yr old sisters, experienced love at first bite with them! Today was day 2 of making them and the three were literally sitting next to the oven until the timer went off waiting for their treats.
Thank you for the wonderful recipe 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Awww, you're most welcome, Melissa 🙂
Polly says
Hi Sam. Fo you have any ideas for cat treats in the future. Kittys love pumpkin as well.
I would also like to thank you for all your hard work, dedication and love you bring to your website.
P.S Your cookbook, is pretty darn wonderful!!!
Polly
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thank you so much, Polly!!! I don't have a cat, so I'm not sure how I would test the recipes! Haha.
Sam says
My dog Scooby ate the treat after sniffing it for awhile as if it wasn't edible. He basically spit it out, but he is a dog that loves food too much, so I was pretty shocked he didn't like them. I thought they were pretty good. One star for Scooby, two stars for Sam.
Sam Turnbull says
Sorry your pooch didn't enjoy them!
Cheri says
Thank you for this quick, simple and nutritious recipe! Our Gracie loves them! I also made a second batch with bananas instead of pumpkin. I used 3 ripe bananas and pureed them in my food processor. They made just a little more than a cup. I did find that the bananas made the dough more sticky, so extra flour or oat flour was needed. I accidentally dropped one before cooking and Gracie snatched it up! Glad this is so quick to make, as once she runs out, I highly doubt she'll settle for store-bought again! 🙂
Cheri says
I should clarify.. I used 3 bananas because I tripled the recipe. One banana should be about right for a single recipe.
Lisa says
How long should I bake these because it's been 30 minutes and they're still wet?
Sam Turnbull says
They should be baked by now. Are you sure you measured the ingredients correctly? I ask because the dough isn't very wet even before baking. Hope that helps!
Vera says
I baked mine for an additional hour on 250° . The pumpkin kept it moist. And the extra baking made it crunchy my dogs love them !!
Lisa says
Hello I was wondering if I can use foil on the Pan instead of parchment paper?
Sam Turnbull says
Yes, that should work fine. Enjoy!
Lisa Steczo says
Hello, I was wondering how long these doggy bones will stay fresh in a ziploc baggie?
Lisa says
never mind sorry I failed to read the other comments.
Sam Turnbull says
About a week at room temperature or you can store them in the freezer. Enjoy!
Shannon says
How long will they be good if I keep them in the refrigerator?
I think my sweetie would love these from the freezer~she’s addicted to ice..LOL!!
Also if I bake these in my silicone dog bone shape sheet how long should they cook??
Thank you bunches ❤️
Shannon says
How long will they be good if I keep them in the refrigerator?
I think my sweetie would love these from the freezer~she’s addicted to ice..LOL!!
Also if I bake these in my silicone dog bone shape sheet how long should they cook??
Thank you bunches ❤️
Sam Turnbull says
I would say 1 - 2 weeks. They should work fine in silicon and the bake time should be the same or just a couple minutes longer.
Ronni says
Hi! Love the recipe.. just curious if you’ve ever made a larger batch than you wanted to bake at that moment and refrigerated the “dough” for later.
Sam Turnbull says
I haven't done that but that would work well! I have however, made a big batch of treats and stored them in the freezer. That also works well!
Melody says
Thanks so much for the recipe! I've just adopted my very first dog and after doing a lot of research, I don't trust any of these commercially available treats! I was wondering: how long will these treats keep for? Should I store them in the fridge to make them last? I only have my one dog so I don't want to make a bunch of these just to have them go bad. Thanks for the help!
Sam Turnbull says
Congrats on your new pooch! These will keep for about a week at room temperature but should keep for longer in the fridge and even longer in freezer. Enjoy!
Michelle says
I just made 3 different batches of "cookies" for my two labs and these were by far their favorite (and easiest to make) I'll definitely be keeping the recipe and be making them all the time for my boys. Thank you ❤
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome! So happy your boys enjoyed them 🙂
Renatta Holler says
Hi. Thanks for the great recipe. Your fur baby is just adorable. With so many allergies these days with our fur puppies, only 3 ingredients you know your dog is getting a great treat. I do have a question, my food processor just went on the fritz so I wonder what's the difference of using whole oats compared to making them into flower like consistency?
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you liked the recipe! It might be difficult to get the mixture to stick together without a flour-like consistency. If you have a blender you could try breaking up the oats that way, or you could buy oat flour. Hope that helps. 🙂
Pam says
Sorry to be a bummer, but dogs and cats are obligate carnivores and their physiology is radically different form our own. You can't impose human food regimes on them without health consequences. Your dog may be doing OK NOW, but you're laying the groundwork for serious long-term health issue.
Sincerely,
Former vet tech
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Pam, cats are obligate carnivores, but dogs are omnivores, not carnivores. At first, I thought it was terribly mean to make a dog vegan, but then I started noticing a lot of healthy dogs on Instagram being tagged as vegan. So I started researching and it turns out dogs can totally thrive on a properly balanced vegan diet. To be sure (because you can't always trust the internet), I called three local vets, and every single one said dogs could be happy and healthy on a well-balanced vegan diet. Then to seal the deal when I took Chickpea to the vet when I first rescued her, the vet actually ended up prescribing her allergy friendly dog food, which upon inspection I realized was vegan! Of course, as a vegan, the last thing in the world I would want to do is hurt an animal, so if it wasn't working for her I would change her diet, but she's been on vegan ever since I rescued her and is happy, healthy, and has endless amounts of energy. Not to mention that one of my closest friends is an emergency vet. She plays with Chickpea weekly, so if she saw any signs of malnutrition she would point them out ASAP. She approves of the vegan diet for Chickpea, and she isn't even vegan herself. :)
GIna says
Strange that you claim to be a vet tech and are not in the know about the fact that dogs are not obligate carnivores. Quite the contrary. Their digestive tract is very much like humans. Dogs are often healthier when their diet is more plant based. You are correct that cats are indeed only carnivores.
Bev says
Pam,
Please take a look at this article out of Tufts University, written by a Board Certified Veterinarian Nutritionist. Dr. Heinze teaches biochemistry and clinical nutrition at the Cummings School of Veterinary medicine. It explains how dogs' digestive systems have evolved differently from wolves, just as their personality traits have (comparing a Golden Retriever to a wolf.) Your information is outdated, but hopefully by now (since this post was from 8 months ago) you have read important research and understand that a vegan diet can be absolutely healthy, if not more so, than a meat-based diet for dogs. It certainly is for humans!
Here's the link:
https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/07/vegan-dogs-a-healthy-lifestyle-or-going-against-nature/
Pam says
The recipe is just what I was looking for. I would like to add flax seed to the biscuits and was wondering if you could give me a recommendation on how to add it and how much you feel I should add per batch?
Thank you
Sam Turnbull says
I haven't added flax so I'm not sure the amount, but this recipe is pretty forgiving so I am sure you can add some without worry.
shahram says
Thank you for the recipe
Sam Turnbull says
You're welcome!
Lisa Draper says
My dog is on a grain-free diet. What should I substitute for the oats?
Sam Turnbull says
Any kind of flour should work.
Joyous Ferro says
I use coconut flour and seems to tend to be a bit dryer, I just add more pumpkin.
Mary says
What an easy 1-2-3 treat! My maltipoo, Max absolutely luvs these treats. He has been stubborn eating his Science Diet lately. I have been mixing boiled, mashed sweet potatoes with his food & he has enjoyed that. Been trying to find something healthy to make him without a lot of ingredients. This recipe rocks!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy Maz loved them!!
amy says
I couldn't find where I could write a comment!? Sam, do you think these could be baked in a silicon backing tray? You know the little one that are in say a paw print shape? TIA!
Sam Turnbull says
For sure! The baking time may vary depending on how thick they are.
ADice says
How long will these store in an airtight container?
Sam Turnbull says
About a week or longer in the fridge.
Lynn says
THANK YIU SO MUCH! I have been looking for treats for my fur baby that weren’t full of all the chemicals that are in typical dog treats. I had been spending a fortune on some natural cookies from the pet store. I’m now on my 3rd batch of these and I have created a monster! She loves these and is very vocal and persistent in her requests for them. Around our house they are now known as “Bell’s cookie crack” . I love how easy they are to make and knowing exactly what simple ingredients she’s getting. I cannot think you enough from the bottom of my heart, my bank account, and Bella’s very happy belly!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww you're most welcome, Lynn!! Store bought dog treats are way overpriced. Glad Bell loves them 🙂
Kimberly says
I made these yesterday after I couldn't find a good organic dog treat for my Cushing's dog. She loves them, thanks! I heated up some honey in the microwave for 15 seconds and brushed it on the tops of them. Mine took 30 min to bake. They were a little dry, maybe because I used fresh ground peanut butter, next time I'll increase the pumpkin and peanut butter just a touch. Thank you so much, these were amazingly easy and much better than any store bought treat.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy your pooch enjoyed them!
Amy says
I love these and my dogs (even the picky one) Love these.
What would be the shelf life if you wanted to make a big bunch
Sam Turnbull says
So happy to hear that, If you dry them out thoroughly and store them in an air-tight container they should be good for a few weeks. They will last longer when stored in the freezer 🙂
Hans Vonmackers says
Do you know what the uk measurements would be? In oz or lbs - can’t work out cups over here
Sam Turnbull says
No. Cups and spoons are volume measurements whereas oz and lbs are weight measurements so they are not easily converted. I know a lot of my UK fans have ordered measuring cups and spoons so they didn't have to try and convert. Hope that helps!
Amanda says
My dog LOVES these. Seriously! I want to make him another batch, and the only oats I have are steel-cut -- do you think they'll work?
Sam Turnbull says
I think steel cut are pretty hard and won't absorb the other ingredients too well... my guess is they wouldn't work very well in this recipe. Hope that helps!
Cher says
Recipe was super easy hence the 3 ingredients!! My dog loves these treats! Instead of rolling the dough out of the counter, I rolled it in my palms and flattened it so that it would be easier to break off. They ended up being medallion shaped which worked well for us. We use these treats for training and they're nice and soft. I would def recommend!!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you pup loves them 🙂
Steph says
Super easy to make. I dont feed my dog a vegan diet, he actually eats mostly chicken, beef, and eggs with veggies. He eats a high protien dog food for busy days, But I like an all natural snack and most in stores have too many unknown ingredients, These ingredients are good for him and he absolutely LOVES them.
i have been making them for about a year and a half now.
Thanks
Sam Turnbull says
Glad your pooch enjoys them!
Crystal says
So I gotta ask, why are you feeding your dog an herbivore diet when he is a carnivore? He needs meat. He was even born with teeth that are made for eating it. I've never had a dog with "allergies to animal products" and seems to me like the only dogs that have needs that contradict natural life of a dog...are those fancy breeds that have been selectively bred and/or inbred.
HOWEVER, I am making these for my goats & rabbits who ARE herbivores and will undoubtedly relish these treats and drive me insane for more, so thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
Dogs are omnivores, not carnivores and can thrive on a properly balanced vegan diet. In fact, my dog was recommended an allergy friendly dog food by my vet, and when I looked at the ingredients, it was vegan. If she for some reason wasn't doing well on a vegan diet, I would change it, because I would never want to hurt an animal, but she is happy and healthy, vet approved.
Cristin says
My dog actually has a terrible time digesting meat protein. Skin issues and stomach issues. I can not wait to make these for him! Thank you for the recipe. 3 of his favorite foods 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
I hope your pooch loves them!
Felicia Chandler says
t. Please google the long term risks of a vegan diet for dogs. Dogs dietary requirements are different then humans- although sometimes referred to as omnivores they really are carnivores. Their teeth are those of hunters, not chewers like herbivores. They produce little amylase required to digest plants. Many of my dogs have had severe food allergies but in each case I was able to find a meat based protein that they thrived on. . Grain free fish products are usually well tolerated. Dogs descended from wolves and they share 98% of the same DNA. Wolves are carnivores with distinct dietary requirements that cannot be met satisfactory on a vegan diet. Please ask a few other Vets their opinion on this. Vegan dog foods may claim to be properly balanced by adding the supplements dogs require but there is no oversight on the claims of the pet food industry.
Katherine says
Perhaps you should Google the long term benefits of feeding a plant based diet. Because the store bought kibble is so good, and the meat you buy isn’t loaded with antibiotics, growth hormones and other garbage, right?? The bloodwork results my vet gives us prove otherwise, and she supports it. So why do you care what we feed? No one is imposing this on you.
Nicole McCann says
Super easy recipe! I added cinnamon and rolled the dough into little balls 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome!
Lisa says
I made your pumpkin cheesecake (excellent!!) and used the leftover pumpkin to make these for my husband's office dog. His tail won't stop wagging and he's eyeing the container waiting for his next treat!
Sam Turnbull says
Awwww too cute!! Thrilled you enjoyed both recipes so much, Lisa 🙂
Danielle says
So excited to try these! I've been making Cesar Millan's Healthy Pumpkin Balls for my Cavalier that is allergic to chicken (seems like everything for dogs has some form of chicken in it)! The pumpkin balls are great but have SO many ingredients! Bonus: keeps the anal glands clear, as well! Thanks for the great recipe!!!
Sam Turnbull says
It's common for dogs to be allergic or sensitive to many animal proteins. That's why most allergy friendly dog foods are actually vegan! Glad you like the treats 🙂
Christine Hanner says
Can I make these for my cats too? They sound delicious! I almost want to make them for myself! 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
I have no idea if your cats will like them or if they are even healthy for cats, so you might want to do a bit of research first. Enjoy! 🙂
Robin G says
These are perfect for training treats! Love the simplicity and purity also! Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, Robin. So happy you enjoy them!
Sharon M Fair says
My German shepherd loves these treats but I don't cut them into shapes. I roll the dough out and use a pizza cutter to make nice size treats. Works great and saves time. Thanks for the recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Great idea! Easy peasy.
shahram says
like to site
Maria Moseley says
Thank you for the recipe! I'll admit, I mostly tried these b/c they have only 3 ingredients. But now, I've tried other, more-complicated recipes, and my dogs do not get as excited. Therefore, I make these. Pretty inexpensive, too, especially if I find organic pumpkin puree on sale or clearance!
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful! So happy your pups love them so much, Maria 🙂
Natalie Funk says
Can I substitute blueberries instead of pumpkin?
Sam Turnbull says
I suppose if you mash them it could work, but you may have to adjust the other ingredients as needed to reach the right consistency.
Ashlee Teems says
OK I have searched this page up and down with no luck. How much of each ingredient is to be used for a single batch, what temperature do you set the oven to?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Ashlee, I'm not sure why you're having trouble finding it. The full recipe is written out with a printer friendly button and all just below the last picture of my dog sniffing the tray of dog biscuits, and above the nutrition info box.
Tammy Battista says
Hi,
My son's dog cannot have any grains or oats. What can I use to substitute?
Thanks
Sam Turnbull says
Any type of flour your son's dog could eat would work. Enjoy!
Samantha says
Almond flour but have to be might need to add more til the right consistency also cornmeal is used or corn flour is used in some cookies , that combined with almond flour might have a great consistency.
Daniela says
Isn't almond bad for dogs?
Jenn says
Coconut flour makes my dogs extra excited
Mary Shockley says
Hey Sam! I made this recipe today!!! My 11 week old Pittsky, Peyton Blue, says Thank You!!!! She loves them. I got 42 out of a double batch! I added a bit of cinnamon to it. But next time I think I'll try the turmeric too. Now do you by chance have a recipe for grated fresh carrot treats??? Will be making these again for sure. Found Gingerbread ones for Christmas!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thrilled your pooches loved them! I don't have a recipe for carrot dog treats but I will add it to my idea list 🙂
Emily says
I just made these for my girls.
They LOVED them!
I just want to point out that there is no way this recipe makes 50 dog treats, unless you roll it paper thin and make them all the size of a nickel. I rolled the dough 1/8" thin and made 1" square cookies and it only made 20 cookies.
But the recipe is super easy to follow, and the treats are amazing nonetheless! My dachshund actually danced for one, and she seldom dances!
Emily says
I just saw in another comment that you made them small for your small dog.
I have A 90 lb Doberman, a 20 lb dachshund mix, and a 12 lb pug/schnauzer mix, so that makes sense lol
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you loved them, Emily!
Sharon Ramon says
I didn't have any cookie cutters, so I used a tea ball. I took it and used the side that had a nice edge to it. Anyway, the treats were a little bigger than a quarter so it made quite a few, about 66. They're in the oven right now. I'm going to share them with a neighbor lady with whom I go walking with her 2 fur babies and one of my own. Very excited to see how they turn out. Gave my dog a pinch of raw dough and she snapped it off my finger. It passed the taste test with her!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! That's awesome! I hope all the pooches love them 🙂
Jamie says
How would recommend storing these? How long do they keep? Could they be frozen to last longer? My dog is pretty small (around 9 pounds) and treats last him a while (although he does have a variety so they last him longer than if he only had 1 bag of treats). Do they break easily? As I was thinking about making them to use for training purposes. Sorry for all the questions.
Sam Turnbull says
I kept mine in an air-tight container on the shelf and they lasted about a week or more. You could absolutely freeze them and they do break easily. I hope your pooch enjoys them!
Kimberly says
I don't happen to have natural peanut butter on hand. I do have regular peanut butter and natural almond butter. Could I substitute with one of these?
Sam Turnbull says
I would substitute the natural almond butter, as regular peanut butter is packed full of sugar and oil which isn't good for our pooches health 🙂
Jeremy says
I hope my question isn’t silly I’m just curious if eating oats is good for dog’s digestive system. Any thoughts on that? Your website is fantastic, by the way!
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks, Jeremy! Absolutely. Oats are a very common ingredient in dog foods. Here is some more info for you on the topic.
Kim says
I make these all the time for my Sally Jane and Tiny. They love them! The neighborhood dogs go crazy over them too. I bake about 10 dozen for christmas, I get a lot of kisses at christmas.
Sam Turnbull says
Haha adorable! 🙂
susan says
I made 4 batches of these for co workers. That all have dogs. Filled Christmas cellophane bags. I thought this would be a nice change because all dogs like treats and these were easy and healthy.
Sam Turnbull says
That's so sweet of you! I hope all the lucky pooches enjoyed them 🙂
Jana Brown says
I happened upon your website today and I am so glad I did! I wanted to try something different for treats. My chihuahua doesn't care for treats made with apple, but he does enjoy peanut butter. I will also be making some to share with the dogs on my mail route (at the owner's discretion, of course). I will be visiting this site again for sure!
Sam Turnbull says
THanks so much, Jana, and welcome 🙂
Ben says
Hi i was wondering if u know of any recipes to frost the treats. But like frosting that will dry hard and will not go bad at room temp? Btw i 3D printed a little dog treat cookie cutter and these treats r perfect. Dash loves them and they are the perfect size for training!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy they are loved. I don't have a recipe for dog frosting, but maybe a bit of melted coconut oil and peanut butter could work? Something like the peanut butter drizzle in my protein bar recipe. Hope that helps!
Danielle says
Hey, I was wondering if these need to be refrigerated. I tried a different dog treat recipe, stored in an airtight container and after a couple weeks they were filled with mold. How long do they last? Have you ever had this problem of mold? If I don't have a food processor what else will work?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Danielle, as long as they are dried out completely they shouldn't get moldy. It's never happened to me. You could try using a blender or buy pre-ground oat flour. Enjoy!
Kim says
They last about 7-10 days in containers, after that, 3 days cooled. I've been making these abt 5 years nows, experimented with different times. These are so delicious. I've actually had the owners eat these also with coffee. Lol
They are good all natural treats!
Julie says
I always keep homemade dog treats refrigerated, just so they can last longer. They stay in a container in the refrigerator.
All the rest, from a huge batch, gets bagged and frozen...then refrigerated as needed.
Making a double-batch today for my dog, and some neighbours' dogs, to try.
Deborah says
Hello, I was wondering about how thick to roll the dough? Athough I have not made these yet,I have made other recipes for dog treats. This one looks like a winner!
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks Deborah!
I rolled mine about 1/4" thick. Enjoy!
Wendy says
I made a batch of these for my dogs and they were a huge hit so when we went to visit the retired greyhound kennels in Edinburgh I took along a bag full of treats for the greyhounds. Seriously I was the most popular human there, every single dog loved them and wanted more. What makes it even better is that i fell in love with a really gorgeous 3 year old greyhound boy (Flynn) and now he is coming to live with me and my other pups so I can make these treats for him ALL the time, thanks Sam.
p.s not long to go now until my fuss free vegan cookbook lands on my door (I am so excited!)
Sam Turnbull says
OMG, I love that story! Flynn- Welcome to a fab new home little buddy. Thanks so much, Wendy. I'm so excited!!!
Michelle Bonczek says
Hi. These are great. But there is no way these make 50 treats unless you are cutting them into squared centimeters. My golden loves them and looks forward to the 20 I cut from this dough.
Sam Turnbull says
It just depends on the size you make the treats. My dog is little, so I made tiny treats, and it did indeed make 50 treats for me (as seen in the photos). Glad you enjoyed!
Holly says
Hello 🙂 As a vegan I really appreciate your recipe. My dog Angel loved them! She was recently brought here from a family who sadly mistreated her. With lots of love and care, we are slowly bringing her back to life! I am planning on a very slow transition to a vegan lifestyle for her and I am going to watch her very closely as she transitions. I will definitely make more of these! She loved them!Thank you 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Awww lovely! My dog, Chickpea is a rescue dog as well, and I also transitioned her to a vegan diet. It's been over a year and she is as happy and healthy as any dog could possibly be 😀
Julie B. says
I have a 12 year old McNab and a 7 year old boston/staffordshire that have joint problems. I add in a tablespoon of organic tumeric and a teaspoon of black pepper and they LOVE them. The boston, Rocky MacPhearson, is back to chasing rabbits and tennis balls on the farm, even saved the chickens from a fox the other night. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Wow! Amazing! So happy it's helping them too 🙂
Susie says
Hi Sam, I was wondering if I could use activated oats for this recipe.
Sam Turnbull says
I'm not even sure what activated oats are, but as long as the oats are dry and can be processed into a flour-like texture they should work fine.
Susie says
Thanks, I did make them for my furkid and she like enjoyed eating them. They didn't become really hard and I'm not sure if that's because I have a cheap little oven or if I should leave them longer. Will try again.
Sam Turnbull says
I'm glad she enjoyed them! If your treats were thicker or your oven cooler, they may need longer in the oven 🙂
Lisa says
I can’t wait to try these. How much turmeric did you add?
Rachael & Mila says
Hello there! I just made them today for my Mom's two small dogs. I put the oats in the blender to make them into a flour then put in a small bowl with the peanut butter and pumpkin. I then mixed it together with my hands. Super easy, fuss free, and made in no time. Luci and Precious loved the treats so much! Thank you for this awesome recipe that we'll be using from here on out It was our first time making them treats, so we're excited for our Lil family members. .
Sam Turnbull says
Thrilled they were a hit 🙂
Lisa Welch says
Hi Sam,
I have a ? on the Pumpkin& Peanut butter Recipe. How long do the treats last and what is the best way to store them?
Thanks yu!
Lisa
Sam Turnbull says
They are pretty dried-out, so I just kept mine in a jar in the cupboard for about a week. I'm sure they would last even longer in the fridge or freezer. Enjoy!
Natalie says
I have a 15 year old Boston and a 1 year old, 5 pound, chihuahua with a liver condition. I feel so good giving them these cookies, knowing exactly what's in them, and they LOVE them!
I use natural peanut butter that literally contains nothing but peanuts. I've been making them consistently all year and it always comes together so easily.
Sam Turnbull says
Oh that's so perfect, Natalie! So happy your dogs love them so much. My Chickpea still goes crazy for them too 🙂
Minnie Miller says
What can I do if ir don't have a food processor
Sam Turnbull says
You could buy oat flour and use that instead of oats, then just stir by hand. You will probably need slightly less oat flour as it is more compact than whole oats.
Natalie says
I don't have a food processor per se either, but I do have an electric chopper/mini food processor that I've been using for 20 years. You can get them at places like Walmart or the Dollar General store for around $10. Works perfectly for this recipe, which I LOVE, by the way. Or I guess I should say my dogs LOVE!
.
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! Perfect! So happy your pooches love it 🙂
Sharon Ramon says
I didn't have a processer either, so I used my coffee/ spice grinder. It worked great. Just saying. A thrift store usually sells these cheap and with less moving parts.A less expensive investment than a food processor. Again, just a suggestion.
Rachael & Mila says
Hello there! I just made them today for my Mom's two small dogs. I put the oats in the blender to make them into a flour then put in a small bowl with the peanut butter and pumpkin. I then mixed it together with my hands. Super easy, fuss free, and made in no time. Luci and Precious loved the treats so much!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! So happy your pooches loved them 🙂
Crystal Hayes says
Every time I make these I have to make double batches as my kids as well as my fur babies, 9 yr old shih tzu and 3 month old Boston mix, absolutely love these treats.
Sam Turnbull says
Ahahaha! A treat for the whole family. Love it.
Jacquie says
Great recipe and so simple. My dog - JoJo and my husband love these treats. Thanks for sharing.
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome! 🙂
Kay says
Have you ever tried freezing any of the treats
Amanda says
I froze half the batch because I didn't think they would last long enough in the fridge for my little 8-lb rescue Yorkiepoo. Worked out just fine!
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome!
Traci says
So I made these today... pups seem to love them... my husband who has some sort of dementia thinks that these are cookies for him... I'm glad they are safe!!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! I don't think they make particularly scrumptious human cookies, but I am glad they are loved either way!
Gaylene says
im making these and some other delicious looking treats this morning for my 185 pound Leoonberger, Chester :O) He goes through the home made treats soooo fast, as you can imagine. I had to write because my hubby has dementia and I have to tell him "no honey these are Chesters', you get the fresh Oatmeal cookies!" LOL..... I love my boys and I can't make a treat for one of them without making sure there is a treat for the other one ..... Chester out weights both of us by 20 and 40 pounds! I love these recipes because they are quick and very economical compared to store bought treats. I'm going to send samples w/the the recipe to my granddogs, I know they will love them too! I'm thrilled they are "human" safe too! I love watching my boys enjoy their treats together. Oh, hubby usually gets Oatmeal Rasin cookies....LOL.
Sam Turnbull says
Haha, I love that story! So cute that you love baking so much for both of your boys. 😀
Katherine Dahl says
Use a cookie cutter that looks like a bone or a paw or something doggie like and put them next to the dog food.
This is nice way to make use of Halloween pumpkins that get wasted every year.
Brittany says
Easy to make and the dogs love them! Even gave a little piece to my cat and she seemed to enjoy it.
Sam Turnbull says
Ooo I didn't know cats would enjoy them! Good to know 😀
pati hendrickson says
How long do these treats keep? Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
About 3-4 weeks when kept in an air-tight jar at room temperature.
Audrey says
Luke my lab absolutely ADORES these!! Thank you so much.. he just stands in the kitchen and watches me make them.. like "but WHY do they take so long to bake??" Lol
Sam Turnbull says
Hahahahahaha! Chickpea does the same thing. So happy your pooch loves them!
Michelle says
Just curious, how did you figure out the nutritional content of the treats and is there a % of daily value for dogs?
I have a doggie on a wheat free diet. Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
I just popped the info into my regular nutrition data analysis tool. So the % of daily value is actually for humans, not pooches, but I hoped it would give a rough estimate of how healthy the treats are.
Aya says
Yay, my Louis-boy loved them! I want to find that cookie cutter and gift them to friends and families dogs! And it's so easy 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
So happy he loved them too! I found my cookie cutters at my local bulk food store, but you can buy them here on amazon as well. Enjoy!
Hilda says
These doggy treats are a super idea.
But what about kitty treats. Do you think I could use these, just smaller?
Or is there another recipe?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Hilda!
Your welcome to try them but I don't have a cats so I have no idea if your kitty will enjoy them!
jen says
she loved these 😀 we have a 6 month old rescue staffy
Sam Turnbull says
Awww So happy she loved them too!
srivani says
Great idea Sam... can't forget the doggy family members! Made these, super easy and I was okay allowing the 3 year old girl to have one as she pretended to be a doggy! Of course, our chocolate lab loves them too. 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! A couple of my friends sampled them as well, apparently they want to taste EVERYTHING I make! Hahaha. The review was that they were extremely dry. Good for the doggies tho!
Holly says
I baked these treats today, and they came out great....not dry at all. Hope next time works better for you!
anjee says
great idea for holiday gifts for my doggy clients! Thanks.
Sam Turnbull says
You're very welcome! Doggies love them!
Bethery says
Aw, my dogamous will love these.
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!!! 🙂
Kim says
Love this!! Can't wait to make them for my babies Nala and Vega. Your chickpea is adorable! 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you 🙂 I hope Nala and Vega (cute names!) love them as much as Chickpea does!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
What a cutie pie she is!!!
(Haha, I wouldn't mind eating a treat myself 😉 )
Sam Turnbull says
Haha, a couple friends of mine have sampled them, (friends are always sampling my food!) and the opinion is that they are very dry. They do smell yummy tho! Haha.
Scott says
Thanks for this! Coincidentally, last weekend I stumbled upon a dog treat kit we'd bought some time ago, but all the recipes called for meat. I'll definitely be trying these for our dogs!
Sam Turnbull says
Wohoo! I hope you pup likes them 🙂
Lee says
This is adorable! Chickpea is so cute and such a lovely name 🙂 I also am working from home atm and my pup Doc is now two and a half years (he was just 8 weeks old when we adopted him!) and he is truly my best friend. There is nothing quite like the love, friendship and companionship of our pups!
I wanted to ask you if you are making yourself the vegan dog food at home or if you are buying it. I've been considering it for a while but the brands I have available here are really really expensive (like almost 90€ a bag for 3 months)! I've been cooking him rice and liver (which gives me the creeps to cook) as he is having some tummy issues for the last weeks and we've set the kibble apart for now. Do you have any advise on vegan dog food? Homemade or storebought? Thank you so much 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much, Lee! Yes, there is no love quite like the love between dog and caregiver.
I'm currently buying the dog food, although I do give Chickpea treats from the kitchen. Some of her favourites are bananas, baked sweet potato, pumpkin, and peanut butter (hence the dog treats). The brand I am currently feeding her is Natural Balance (both wet and dry). My vet recommended Royal Canin. V-Dog is not yet available in Canada, but when it is I will look forward to trying that one as well. Not sure if any of those are available in the UK. I haven't tried any of the recipes myself but here, here, and here are a couple of vegan dog food recipes you could try. Hope that helps!
Lee says
Thanks for your reply! I didn't know some of these brands. I live in Portugal and sometimes it can get quite hard to find vegan products... My pup loves carrots, sweet potato, apples and peaches 🙂 Must try to give him bananas!
Sam Turnbull says
Ah yes, I'm afriad I don't know much about the vegan products in Portugal. Hopefully the recipes help! 🙂
Vicky @ Avocado Pesto says
Just made dog treats for my dog yesterday (mix of pumpkin puree, peanut butter, eggs, oats and flour). He loves them! Though I need to invest in one of those cute dog bone cut outs!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! I think mine cookie cutter was 99 cents, so it's a pretty solid investment 🙂
Vicky @ Avocado Pesto says
Yes I'd say so! I've been using a shot glass in place of a cookie cutter!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! That works too! I don't think dogs really care what shape they are tho, so whatever you have works great!
Amanda says
I forgot to hit the stars in my last comment, so I'll do so here...
I don't think the eggs are necessary at all. My dogs loves them just as they are in the recipe. and the peanut butter provides plenty of protein.
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks for the stars Amanda 🙂
Gretty says
Lizard would have eaten them all in one go!!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha awwwww Lizard dog. 🙂