Ask the Dog Treat Chef YOUR
Baking for your Dog Questions

Do you have dog treat or baking for your dog questions?

I'm not a professional chef, but I am very passionate about making great treats for dogs. So, don't be shy, I'm here to help.

Any time you do something for the first time, you are bound to encounter snags along the way.

So relax, take your dog for a walk, and I'll go to work on your question!

You can also search for your answer. Since I have answered hundreds of questions from dog owners, you may find that your question has already been answered. Your search will take you to a new page, then scroll down to see your results.

Custom Search

• Do you want a specific ingredient to be used in a dog treat recipe?


• Do you need help on making substitutions due to a dog food allergy or other reason?


• Maybe you need help troubleshooting a recipe that's not quite coming together?

Click below to see questions and answers from other dog treat bakers.....

I am trying to find a cost effective recipe for gluten free dog treats..  Hello, I am trying to find cost effective recipes for gluten free dog treats, any suggestions? Thanks for your help.

Chef's Answer ~ Gluten free dog ...

I made some home made dog biscuits for my dogs which was supposed to be hard and crunchy but they came out soft as bread. Why?  I added some carrot. Could it be there was too much moisture?

Chef's Answer ~ There could be several reasons your homemade dog treats did not come ...

How Can I make Jerky?  I want to make some beef, fish,chicken and other meat Jerky for my dogs. Preferably with a simple marinade or something. Whatever dogs like best! I'll ...

How can I add rosemary extract and vitamin E to my dog biscuits?  I have been trying to find a way to add natural preservatives to my doggie biscuits. One dog bakery told me they use rosemary extract. I can't find it ...

Why are my gluten free dog treat recipes so crumbly?  I am trying to come up with a few vegan dog treat recipes that I can feed to my little dog who has food allergies. I have to avoid wheat, oats, anything ...

Are dog bubbles with soap safe for my dog?  Hello, I am no understand very well english. I would like to make the recipe of bubbles for my dog. But about the recipe of dog bubbles you said: "to use ...

Is there such a thing as diabetic dog treats?  My dog has an issue with his glucose being low, I was wanting to continue a treat regimen but am worried that they may not be good for him.

Chef's ...

is nutmeg good for dogs ????  I saw a video yesterday about pumpkin dog treats and the lady put nutmeg in it. Is nutmeg good for dogs?

Chef's Answer ~ There are mixed thoughts ...

Slice and Bake Dog Treat Recipe  I am looking for a dog cookie/biscuit recipe that I can shape into a log and slice for baking. I am having trouble locating a solution to this problem....

Big Grain Free Dog Treat  We are looking for a grain free dog BISCUIT recipe for big dogs--something very hard and crunchy, not so much like a softer cookie that will "go down the ...

Roll out dog treat recipe?  I'm looking for a recipe for dog treats that I can roll out and use a cookie cutter to cut. I'm looking for one that will stay flat, somewhat like the ...

is cocoa butter safe for dogs  I am looking at a product to decorate dog treats that has cocoa butter in it would it be safe?

Chef's Answer ~ I would stay away from any ingredient ...

how do I know when each treat expires?  Well, I'm trying to get something started as far as selling good quality homemade treats in my neighborhood and I just wanted to know how the expiration ...

how long are home made treats good for? and what is the best way to keep them?  How long are the home made dog treats good for, and what is the best way to store them?

Chef's Answer ~ Different recipes stay fresh for different ...

Homemade grain free dog treats recipe?  I would like some grain free baked dog treat recipes.

Chef's Answer ~ You can find several Grain Free Dog Treat Recipes here.

You can also substitute ...

Drying deer meat, beef, etc.  Would you use the same methods as you do for liver and chicken?

Chef's Answer ~ Yes, however the cooking times may differ. Depending on how moist ...

Dog Treat Recipe without Eggs?  My black lab is allergic to eggs... as well as chicken, duck, turkey, peas....lots of things.

I noticed most of your recipes have eggs... can you give ...

Cherry Dog Treat Recipe  I would really appreciate a recipe for treats using cherries. I have a Lab and Lab mix and I used to buy them all natural cherry treats from a dog bakery ...

Dog treat bars instead of cookies?  I am in search of recipes that I can cut into bars instead of cutting into cookie shapes.

Chef's Answer ~ A very simple solution is to make a dog ...

Dog Treat Icing Recipes & Shelf Life  Hi, I love your website. I have a question about icing the cookies. You have a list of suggestion but do you mix these products with other items to ...

My King Charles has severe allergies and I am looking for a treat I can make for him  I am able to find healthy food, but I am stuck on treats that I can bake for him. Every recipe that I find contains some of the forbidden foods. His ...

I need an easy, yummy, mouth watering dog treat recipe  Hi, I own a small Japanese Spitz and I would love to make her a simple treat although not as simple as a hot dog or chicken. Something like easy recipes ...

I need a dog cookie/treat recipe for a diabetic dog  I make homemade treats with natural ingredients from my farm and many friends have started asking me for these treats. Some have asked for treats for ...

Homemade dog treat shipping tips?  Hi,

My son is serving with the US Air Force in Afghanistan. He is a dog handler/security officer. While he's deployed a friend is watching his personal ...

When using rosemary extract as a perservative, how much do you use?  Will too much be bad for the dog? I heard that using rosemary extract can preserve dog treats longer. I want to know how much to use per batch and how ...

Stew bone stuffing  I have all of these stew bones laying around the house after my two Doxies finish gnawing the marrow out of the insides. These bones are getting expensive ...

Is there such a thing as a grain free vegetarian dog treat recipe?  Hello, my Westie is allergic to all grains and we are both vegetarians. I would like to make him some treats, but I cannot seem to find any recipes for ...

Are there state guidelines for starting a dog bakery in your home in North Carolina?  My dog is highly allergic to additives, such as oats, grains. I have to keep him on an all natural diet. I'm sure others are having the same problem. I ...

What is the best/safest/quickest way to achieve a dry crunchie biscuit made at home?  I am baking my own dog biscuits, but the recipe states to leave them in the oven until cooled. My oven stays busy so I cant leave them in that long but ...

Preserving Home Made Dog Treats  I would like to know more about using Vitamin E as a preservative. What form would you recommend powder or liquid and how much do you use is there a ratio ...

Why do my dog treats come out with air bubbles in them?  I am using a simple recipe. Rolling the dough out and using cookie cutters. I bake at 325 degrees for 30 min.

Chef's Answer ~ I'm sorry to hear ...

IS baking powder bad for dogs, because I thought it was, so it it safe to use?  In many veterinarian sites they say that baking powder or soda is really harmful for dogs. So I really want to make a cake or treat for my two dogs, but ...

Can you make cat/kitten treats?  I am bottle feeding two kittens and I was wondering when they get a little bit older if I could make kitten treats for them?

Chef's Answer ~ Yes, you ...

Help finding a recipe, please  My dog was just diagnosed with cancer(Hemangiosarcoma) and I am trying to find a homemade dog treat/cookie recipe that is wheat and gluten-free. Your help ...

In dog treat recipes, they tell you to use baking powder but I don't have any baking powder. Do I have to use baking powder?  I looked up dog treat recipes saying that I have to use baking powder but do I really have to?

Chef's Answer ~ Do you have to use baking powder ...

I need an alternative fondant icing for use on specialist doggie cakes?  I know most cakes are iced with fondant icing which is made from confectioners sugar, but do you know of a less sugary alternative that would be safer ...

Is there a dog treat ingredient that makes doggie breath go away?  My dog has bad breath, so we wanted to know if there was an ingredient that we could safely use in treats to make her breath smell better.

Chef's ...

Do you have a recipe for cornstarch bones like the ones at the store?  My dogs love to eat those edible cornstarch bones that I can buy at the store but with four dogs - I would go broke if I bought them on a regular bases....

Do you have any easy non bake dog treat recipes?  Its really hot so I try not to bake things in the oven, but I'd like to make my dogs some homemade dog treats. I need an easy non bake recipe with common ...

How do you make Truffles that are for human and canine consumption?  Hello, Recently I went into a pet store that sells homemade dog treats and one of those treats was a truffle made for dogs and human consumption. I've ...

I want to start a dog treat, dog biscuit business  I am looking for a way to make a "meal in a bone". I may even use that name for one of my dog biscuits. My dog is very finicky about what he eats and ...

I am looking for an icing for dog treats that will stand up to the Texas heat, any ideas?  I am making Dog Treats for a Flea Market. I want to ice them to make them special, but I am concerned that the icing will start to melt in the Texas Heat ...

Looking for a hard crunchie dog bone treat  I am looking for a recipe for a tooth cleaning hard crunchy, good healthy dog bone treat. I'm also looking for a healthy recipe to make a fruit or vegetable ...

Is it bad to bake benadryl in dog treats?  I have to give my dog 2 benadryl 3 x a day. He sometimes doesn't always eat his food in the morning and won't just eat the meds. I was thinking that ...

If I use a food dehydrator to make the treats, does the meat need to be cured?  I worry about parasites in the meat with a food dehydrator, do you have any input?

Chef's Answer ~ To answer your first question in the title, No,...

How to make my dog biscuits look professionally made!!  Firstly, what a great site, congratulations!!!

I have just started to cook doggy biscuits at home using a bone style cookie cutter. I would like to ...

Homemade Doggie Bubbles?  Is there a recipe for doggie bubbles?? The kind that you use either by hand or put in a bubble blowing machine??

Chef's Answer ~ Although I'm all ...

My dog treats puff up with air when baking, how can I prevent that?  My baked dog treats tend to get air in them when baking. How can I prevent it. Thank you.

Chef's Answer ~ First, check out a similar question that ...

Mixed Tocopherol in Dog Treats  I understand the benefits of using a natural preservative like mixed tocopherol, but how much do you typically add to a recipe? I have all these great ...

What kind of yogurt do you use to dip the treats in?  I have seen yogurt dipped treats and was wondering what to use or how you do it.

Chef's Answer ~ There are several recipes for yogurt icing, but I'...

I'm looking for a grain free salmon dog treat recipe, any ideas?  There are a lot of Grain-free recipes out there, but we are specifically looking for one that uses salmon, instead of liver or chicken, etc. Hopefully ...

Using Mixed Tocopherols  Hi there,

My sister and I are thinking about starting a dog biscuit business and I am having a difficult time finding any information on how to use ...

Where can I buy ingredients for dog treat icing?  I used to work for a dog bakery and boutique. When we ordered things from places like Pink Poodle and Kool Dog Kafe, I always wondered how the icing on ...

What shouldn't you use when making dog treats?  Should I not use chocolate or any kinds of flour or honey? Is there anything else that I shouldn't use?

Chef's Answer ~ To start with, please review ...

What is the process to extend the shelf life of beef liver dog treats?  Hi, I want to bake beef liver dog cookies for my dogs. It has to be organic, grain, wheat, and gluten free. The beef liver will be mixed with flour, eggs,...

Is there a dog treat that I can make to help dry itchy skin?  My new puppy has dry itchy skin that really bothers her. Is there a treat that I can make that will help that?

Chef's Answer ~ Hi Teana, thank you ...

I only have peanut butter  Umm I only have peanut butter, can I still make dog treats, and if so how??

Chef's Answer ~ Since dogs love peanut butter, you could simple measure ...

What is the measurement of a cup?  I wonder if you could give me the equivalent measurement in ozs or lbs of the size of cup you use in your recipes.

Many thanks from Donna in England ...

Getting Started in a Dog Bakery  I'm thinking of starting a small dog treat business here in my area (San Francisco/East Bay), not a store front but word of mouth and in grooming salons ...

Organic dog cookie frosting for stored dog treats?  I need an easy dog food frosting that won't go bad if the cookie is stored. Preferably organic.

Chef's Answer ~ One option is to use our egg paint ...

How much natural preservatives do you add to homemade dog treats?  I read the different types of natural preservatives you can use, but how much do you add in? Also wondering when you say Vitamin C is that just a powder?...

Organic dog treats are too dry  HI, I've been trying to make organic dog treats with oat flour, chicken broth and quinoa and they still don't come out right. The dough is to crumbly to ...

What do we use for dog training treats for a food allergy puppy?  Our three month old Mini Schnoodle has soft stools and pays a lot of attention to his anal area. The breeder warned that the puppy could have food allergies ...

How can I make no sodium dog treats?  I love to make homemade treats for (Shadow) my 8 pound 11 year old Maltese. But I find it hard to find any ingredients without salt. Shadow has heart ...

How do I extend the shelf life of homemade dog treats?  I am thinking of starting a business selling natural homemade dog treats. However, I am curious as to what type of preservatives are used in the healthy ...

Can you suggest a good
homemade kibble base for my homemade dog food?  Hi there,

I have decided to start making my own dog food at home. After much research, I have come up with a great soft food consisting of ground chicken ...

Can you post the Organic Turkey Loaf dog treat recipe?  In the organic section, the following recipe ("Organic Turkey Loaf - with carrots, brown rice and parsley") is mentioned but not provided or hyperlinked....

Recipe for a Dog Bakery Treat  I'm trying to find a recipe for a treat we found at our favorite pet shop. They won't give us the recipe, which I don't blame them, but they are pretty ...

How do you store moist dog treats?  I have a quick question for you and I am having a very difficult time solving it. I have baked dog brownies, peanut butter puff things and carob coated ...

No Bake Dog Treat Recipe  I'm looking for a no bake treat recipe. I have a German Shepard that suffers from early stages of arthritis. She needs to take glucosamine 2X/day. I'...

Can I Use a Firmer Icing?  Hello there I have four dogs.
Pippa and Mitch (Mini Jack Russell's)
Chico the Chihuahua & Izzie the English mastiff pup.

I would like to bake them ...

Secret to eliminating "bubbles" in homemade dog treats  Sometimes when I'm making dog bones, they bubble up. Should I be poking them with a toothpick first (which is time consuming) or is there another method ...

Are there any dog biscuits that do not require an oven or microwave?  I am a middle school teacher. My students would like to make treats that we can donate to the animal shelter. I could bring them home and freeze, or ...

Is a small amount of (organic) honey a no no for making dog treats?  I was making some banana cup cakes and the recipe called for 3 tbsp honey.

Chef's Answer ~ No, it is not unhealthy to use a small amount of honey ...

Return to Dog Treat Kitchen.com Home
from Ask the Chef Dog Questions