The dinner's in the dog...

With the emphasis on natural healthy eating, it is not surprising that many agility people looking for ways to feed their dog with nutritious and reasonably priced food rather than shop-bought pet food. The best way to know what goes into your dog’s food is to make it yourself. Why take a chance? Make your dog's food yourself. It's not as difficult as you expect. You don't have to be a Master Chef, Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver to cook up something tasty for your dog. Here is a selection of easy to make treats and special diets that you can try at home.

For those people whose dogs have renal failure or need special diets, there are also tried and true recipes for you.

If you have a favourite recipe why not share it. Email Agilitynet

Mini Christmas Puddings
from Lily's Kitchen

This is a delicious, healthy Christmas treat for dogs. There's always so much chocolate, sweet mince pies and puddings around during the Festive season - many of which can be harmful to dogs. You can make these gorgeous puddings knowing your dog will love them and that they are full of good nutrition, too.

Ingredients

• 100g fresh blueberries

• 65g porridge oats

• 350g apples

• 1 Tablespoon blackstrap molasses

• 1 Tablespoon of olive or sunflower oil

• 1 large sweet potato

• cream cheese for the topping

• 6 x Tangerine segments (optional, if you want to give this a Heston twist!)

• Parsley for decoration

Method

1. Peel and chop up the sweet potato, cook in simmering water until soft. Drain the water,  mash the potato and put to one side.

2. Grate the apples discarding the stalks and pips. Put the grated apple into a small saucepan.

3. Add the blueberries to the apples and then add the oats. Stir together.

4. Add the oil and molasses, mix together. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon over a medium heat for about 10 minutes until the blueberries are cooked and break up easily with the back of the wooden spoon.

5. Add in the mashed sweet potato and stir the mixture together over the heat for a further 5 minutes.

6. Put the mixture aside until it is cool.

7. If you are adding the tangerine segments, then chop each segment into 3 or 4 small chunks and add to the mixture and stir gently.

8. Roll the cooled mixture into balls - a small size for small dogs and a bigger size for larger dogs. This is a rather sticky process!

9. Pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes so they can firm up a bit.

10. Take them out and put a small amount of cream cheese on top. You can then put a couple of parsley leaves on the icing for special effect... and parsley is very healthy for dogs, too!

These will keep for up to five days. You can feed your dog several of these a day, but perhaps no more than three or four.

Brie's Turkey & Cranberry Dog Bones
from The British Baker

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 Cups of whole wheat flour

• 1 Teaspoon baking powder

• 1 Cup shredded cooked turkey

• 1 Cup dried cranberries

• 1 Egg

• 1 Tablespoon of olive oil

• 1 Cup low-sodium chicken broth, or as needed

Method (makes about 45 dog treats)

1. Preheat oven to 350° F (175°C/Gas mark 4 approx.)

2. Lightly grease baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.

3. In a large bowl, mix the whole wheat flour and baking powder together until thoroughly combined, then stir in the cooked turkey meat and dried cranberries and whisk until thoroughly combined. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and drop the egg into the centre; pour in the olive oil and about 1/2 cup of chicken broth.

4. Mix into a soft dough. If the mixture is too dry, mix in more chicken broth - about 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough is of the desired consistency.

5. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead for 1 to 2 minutes. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick and cut out with your favourite cookie cutters.

6. Bake until the treats turn brown - about 25 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the dog treats in the oven an additional 30 minutes to dry out.

7. Refrigerate leftover dog treats.

Tasty Turkey Treats
from Carlow DTC newsletter

Ingredients

• 2 C. cooked turkey - cut up

• 2 Cloves garlic

• 4 Teaspoons grated cheese

• 1 Tablespoon parsley - freshly chopped

• 2 Eggs

• 2 C. whole wheat flour

• 2 Tablespoons brewer's yeast

• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Method

1. Combine turkey, garlic, cheese, parsley and mix well.

2. Beat the eggs in a bowl and pour over turkey mixture.

3. Add the flour, yeast and oil.

4. Stir until thoroughly mixed and all ingredients are coated.

5. Line the tray with grease proof paper.

6. Drop mixture into small lumps onto baking tray.

7. Cook at 180°C/Gas Mark 4 for about 20 minutes, until brown and firm.

8. Store in fridge.

The Two Chris' Liver Cake Recipe
from Chris Mancini & Chris Hack

Liver cake is the choice of many obedience and agility handlers. Dogs love liver but can be too rich for them and play havoc with their stomach. Liver cake is relatively inexpensive, not as rich as raw liver and can be frozen.

Ingredients

• 1Lb (450g) lamb or ox liver

• 1Lb (450g) self-raising flour

• 3 eggs

• 2 cloves of garlic

• Milk or water

Method

1. Crack the eggs into a measuring jug.

2. Add an equal volume of milk or water to the measuring jug and whisk.

3. Blend the liver and garlic in a food processor.

4. Add the egg mixture and flour and blend to a cake-like consistency.

5. Empty contents into a baking tray.

6. Bake at Gas Mark 6 / 180 degrees for 45-60 minutes.

7. Allow to cool.

8. Divide into 12 pieces and freeze.

You can swap liver for fish to make a nice fish cake to. Have fun cooking

Modern Dog Poochie Pupsicle
from Modern Dog Magazine

Beat the heat. Whip up these quick frozen treats for your dog and his canine pals with food you have on hand. All you need is 5 minutes, a few ingredients, and a freezer.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana

• 4 cups orange juice

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt

Method

Puree all ingredients in a blender—or simply mash the banana by hand and combine with the juice and yogourt—then pour into a popsicle mold, freeze, and serve to your favourite hot dogs.

Variations

Switch up your fruit. Try subbing in:-

• Blueberries

• Strawberries

• Peach

• Watermelon

• Or mix in some peanut butter

You can also vary the juice you use. Try pineapple juice or apple juice. Just check to be sure the juice you use is all-natural and has no added sugar.

Modern Dog pup-approved combinations include:

• Watermelon, strawberry, pinapple juice and yogurt

• Peanut butter, banana, apple juice, and yogurt

Homemade No Salt Chicken Broth Pops
from Modern Dog Magazine

Had barbequed chicken for dinner? Don’t chuck the carcass!

Method

1. Throw the chicken into a large pot, cover with water, and let it simmer for an hour and a half.

2. Cool, then pick the meat off, discarding the bone but keeping the cartilage, meat, and broth. Left over cooked carrots and/or peas? Mash them up and mix them in!

3. Pour the chicken broth into your popsicle mold.

4. Freeze

Best served outside.

Save whatever's leftover as a tasty addition to your dog's next few meals.

Easy Ice Cream Treats
from Hazel Compton

These frozen yogurt treats are sure to bring a smile to your dog's face. This 'ice cream' is perfectly safe for dogs in moderate servings.

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Natural yogurt 

• 1 Cup Peanut butter 

Method

1. Mix peanut butter and yoghurt together.

2. Place the mix in a freeze proof container. Push the mixture down into the container you've chosen, and place it in the freezer.

3. Now your patient dog can help you clean the bowl and spoon, while waiting for the treats to freeze

4. After a couple of hours you have some delicious ice cream treats for your dog!

You can choose if you want to make large or small treats, and any shape you want! Maybe some cute bone-shape treats.

Variations: Add in bacon or jerky to make them extra special.

Sheila's Dog Sardine Biscuits
from Sheila Harper

This is a tasty recipe that Sheila Harper that she picked up somewhere that her dogs love.

Ingredients

• 2 x tins of sardines in oil

• 60g (1/3 cup) of wholemeal flour

• 300g (1 1/3 cups of oats

• A splash of water

What else you’ll need

• Cookie cutter

• Baking Tray

Method

1. Add the two tins of sardines (including the oil) to a bowl and mash them up. Remove any large bones.

2. Add the dry ingredients plus a splash of water and mix thoroughly to make a firm dough ball.

3. Roll the dough ball out and cut the dough into whatever shapes you like.

4. Put the biscuits on a baking tray and bake in the oven at 190ºC (370ºF) for 20-25 minutes or until cooked

Let your dog enjoy once cooled.

Source: Sheila Harper Newsletter

Peanut Butter Poppers
from Carlow DTC newsletter

Ingredients:

• 240g whole wheat flour

• 1 tbsp. baking powder

• 8fl oz /2 40ml peanut butter (chunky or smooth)

• 8fl oz / 204ml milk

Method:

Preheat oven to 190oC/375oF/Gas Mark 5

1. In a bowl combine flour and baking powder

2. In another bowl mix peanut butter and milk and add to the dry ingredients and mix well

3. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead well.  Roll dough to a thickness of 1/4inch thick and cut out shapes

4. Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown

5. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container

6. This is an original recipe but keep a close eye while cooking as they do burn easily

Microwave Doggie Doughnuts
from Carlow DTC newsletter

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups whole wheat flour

• 3 tbs. oatmeal

• 1 egg - lightly beaten

• 1 tsp. garlic powder 

• 2/3 Cup beef or chicken broth

Method:

1. Place flour in a bowl, add egg and broth, mix well

2. Blend in oatmeal and garlic powder

3. Roll dough into a ball

4. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/2inch thick

5. Cut with small doughnut cutters.

6. Re-roll scraps and repeat. Shape last bits by hand

7. Arrange rings on a shallow baking dish or on a sheet of parchment paper in a single layer

8. Cook on high 10 minutes or until firm

9. Let cool until hardened. Store in covered container when doggie's not looking

Party Pupcakes
from Carlow DTC newsletter

Ingredients

• 1 large apple

• 180g wheat flour

• 22g oatmeal

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 120ml water

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 60ml plain yogurt

• 120ml water

• 60ml vegetable oil

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 2 x eggs

• 90g grated cheddar cheese

For the icing

• 230g low fat cream cheese (room temp)

• 2 tbl honey

• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

• 2-3 tbl plain flour

Method

Preheat oven to 400 ° F (200 ° C).

1. Grease muffin tins.

2. Core and mince the apple (use a food processor if you have one & set aside

3. In a large bowl, mix together flour, oatmeal, baking powder, and baking soda

4. In a medium bowl, blend yogurt, water, oil, honey, and eggs and then stir in the apple and cheese

5. Add to the flour mixture and stir until mixed

6. Spoon into the muffin tins, filling about 3/4 full

7. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

8. Let rest in the muffin tins for a few minutes, then remove and set aside to cool

For the icing

1. Combine the cheese (room temperature), honey, and yogurt until smooth

2. Add enough flour to thicken the frosting to a good spreading consistency

3. Frost the pupcakes and you're ready for a doggone good party!

Makes 16-18

Renal Failure Diets I
from Brenda Tenten

Canine Restricted Protein Diet

My vet suggested these recipes from an American website many years ago when I had a collie with renal failure who wasn't interested in 'normal' food. They conform to the vet requirements for such a diet, as do the commercial renal diets. It certainly gave her back her appetite for the last six months or so of her life.

 Egg & Potato Diet

Chicken and Potato Diet

Tuna Garlic Cake
from Sally Jones

Good Pup Pie
from Monica Dixon

Take one puppy dog, roll and play with it until slightly pampered, and add the following ingredients:-

Ingredients

• 1 Cup patience

• 1 Cup understanding

• 1 Pinch correction

• 1 Cup hard work

• 2 Cups praise

• 1½ Cups fun

Method

1. Blend well.

2. Heat with the warmth of the heart until the consistency is such that dog and owner are one.

---

Home-Made Dog Food
from Paul Syrkiewicz

Ingredients