3 Dog-Friendly Treats You Can Make at Home

Here at Martin’s, we love our furry pets and four-legged friends. And, like most people, we love to spoil our dogs in every way, including what they eat! After all, don’t our furry best friends deserve a homemade, gourmet meal every once in a while, too?

We know we’re not alone—some of you probably feel the same way. After all, whether it’s a small dog that could fit in your bag or a large dog that could be confused for a bear, Martin’s understands that our dogs are a wonderful part of our families. And, with National Dog Day approaching on August 26^th, we wanted to get involved and help you celebrate in an extra special way.

So, this week, we sat down and researched all about dog nutrition, so that we could share with you three brand new recipes to help you spoil your dogs (safely) and make them some awesome recipes (using Martin’s rolls and bread!) that will have them feeling like a VIP.

Disclaimer: These recipes are based on research regarding general dog food safety. Please note some of these recipes may contain allergens to your dog. Always check with your vet if you’re in doubt about feeding your dog the recipes below.

Safe Cooking Tips for Your Dog

First and foremost, let’s start with some simple tips to follow when cooking for your canine friend. Keep these in mind when preparing our recipes or any recipe for your dog.

1. When cooking for your dog, always make sure you cook your meats and eggs thoroughly to eliminate any bacteria residing on the food.
2. If you include cheese in the recipe, be sure it is a low-fat cheese to ensure a balanced diet.
3. The majority of fruits and vegetables are safe and healthy for dogs (see list below), but be sure to remove any seeds prior to including them in your recipe.
4. Make sure you know the foods that are allergens to your dog prior to making a new recipe.
5. Familiarize yourself with the foods that are generally toxic/unsafe for dogs before you start making a new recipe.

• • Xylitol (an artificial sweetener typically used in lowfat or no-fat foods, like peanut butter)
  • Chocolate
  • Avocado
  • Onions/garlic
  • Coffee and tea
  • Grapes/raisins
  • Citrus
  • Cinnamon
  • Milk
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Pitted fruits (Did you know that peach and plum pits contain trace amounts of cyanide?)
  • Raw eggs, meat, fish
  • Salty foods
  • Sugary foods/drink
  • Unbaked yeast dough
  • Large amounts of baking soda/powder
  • Large amounts of nutmeg/other spices

For more information on foods that are safe or unsafe for dogs, see links below.

• https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets
• https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/human-foods-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/

Mini Chicken Patty Sandwiches

With this simple (and adorable) recipe, your furry friend can participate in the #ChickenSandwich craze, too! We’re confident they’ll love the way it tastes and you’ll love how easy it is to make.

To make this mini chicken sandwich, just combine shredded carrots, egg white, parsley, and Martin’s Whole Wheat Potato Bread crumbs with ground chicken. Then, pan fry the patties made from the mixture until cooked through and place the finished product on a sliced Martin’s Party Potato Roll.

https://potatorolls.com/recipes/mini-chicken-patty-sandwiches/

Dog-Friendly Meatballs

What’s more appetizing to a hungry pup than a ball of meat? To prepare these dog-friendly meatballs, just combine ground beef, steamed spinach, Martin’s Whole Wheat Potato Bread crumbs, parsley, parmesan cheese, and an egg. Then, form several balls out of the mixture, place them in a muffin tin, and bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees, or until fully cooked.

After the meatballs are out of the oven and have cooled, we know your dog will be drooling over the finished product! Feel free to adjust the serving size based on the size of your pup.

https://potatorolls.com/recipes/dog-friendly-meatballs/

Sweet Potato PB Biscuits

We can’t talk about homemade dog treats without a biscuit recipe, right? We recommend these sweet potato and peanut butter treats, made with just 5 ingredients—eggs, sweet potato puree, dry milk powder, peanut butter (without xylitol—remember, this is an unsafe ingredient for dogs, per the list above), and Martin’s Old-Fashioned Real Butter Bread crumbs.

Once the mixture is prepared, use cookie cutter shapes of your choice to form it into biscuits (or place dollops on the cookie sheet like you would regular cookies). Then, bake on each side for 20 minutes and let cool completely before feeding to your furry friend!

https://potatorolls.com/recipes/sweet-potato-pb-biscuits/

Let us know how your furry friend likes these recipes on social media or in the comments below! Or just share a photo of your doggo on our Facebook page—we certainly wouldn’t complain!