How to make Halloween dog treats

Does Halloween make you bark with excitement? Looking forward to wolfing down all those sweet goodies? While you enjoy the chocolates and sweets you’ve stashed away from the kids, we’ve thought of a way to involve your canine pal in the spooky fun – with dog-friendly treats! Let’s take a look at how to make Halloween dog treats using simple and easy recipes.

Homemade Halloween dog treat recipes

It’s all treat and no trick with our DIY Halloween dog treat recipes. The great news is there’s plenty of choice when it comes to human food dogs can eat, so you’ve probably got a lot of these ingredients already in your kitchen. Always think about your dog’s dietary requirements before making them any Halloween treats.

To give the treats that novelty factor (though let’s face it, most pups will be more interested in eating them than looking at them), you can use fun-shaped moulds and cookie cutters. We’re talking bats, skulls, pumpkins, ghosts, and bones for a creepy edge.

> Spooky fruit salad

This recipe doesn’t need any cooking, just a careful eye to make sure no seeds are left.

Ingredients: Watermelon (de-seeded), apple (de-seeded), cucumber, and banana.

Tools: A Halloween cookie cutter and knife.

Method: Cut up your watermelon and apple into thick slices. Remove all seeds as these are poisonous to your pooch. Once you are confident that all seeds are gone, use your novelty Halloween cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the slices.

Chop up some banana and cucumber to add variety and put it all in a bowl for your pup to munch.

> Frozen boo-berry banana treats

Another no-bake recipe that has only two ingredients and is hopefully a crowd-pleaser for fans of frozen goodies.

Ingredients: Blueberries, one banana, and plain Greek yoghurt.

Tools: A blender, a freezer-safe Halloween mould, and a freezer.

Method: Add 100g blueberries, 100g plain Greek yoghurt, and half a banana into a blender or food processor. Blend the ingredients until mixed together and smooth. Pour the mixture into your novelty mould and pop into the freezer for around 5-6 hours (or until solid).

Be warned – these can get messy when eaten! Remember to choose a mould with smaller shapes if you have a smaller dog.

> Gluten-free peanut boo-tter dog treats

There’s no nasties hiding in these treats, just three ingredients and a whole lot of flavour.

Ingredients: Peanut butter, a large ripe banana, and gluten-free rolled oats.

Tools: A bowl, a fork, a rolling pin, a baking tray, parchment paper, a Halloween cookie cutter, and an oven.

Method: Pre-heat your oven to 175°C and line your baking tray with parchment paper. Next, smash up the banana in a bowl until it becomes gloopy. Add in the peanut butter and mix together until combined.

Tip in the rolled oats (you could also blend these beforehand into a flour consistency) and use the fork to mix together until a dough forms. The dough should be sticky yet firm, so if the mix is too dry, and a little more peanut butter.

Roll out the dough until it’s around a ¼ inch thick and use your fun Halloween cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Pop onto the tray and put in the oven for around 15 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to completely cool before giving to your drooling pup.

Can dogs eat pumpkin?

One of the top foods of the Halloween season has to be the pumpkin. They’re great for carving, soup, sweet snacks, and coffee, but you may be wondering if they’re suitable for your dog.

The good news is that your pooch is free to gnaw down on some pumpkin flesh. While they can’t drink a pumpkin spiced latte (they’ll have to stick to a classic puppuccino), they are safe to eat raw or cooked pumpkin.

It’s actually considered a superfood for dogs, packed with fibre, minerals, and vitamins that are beneficial for your canine’s digestion and health.

As with most foods, it may be wise for your dog to eat pumpkin in moderation as they are high in calories and sodium. Watch out for canned pumpkin which may have harmful additives such as sugar and spices.

If you’re introducing pumpkin to your dog’s diet, think about starting them off with small amounts to be sure that they don’t have any issues.

> Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds?

Your dog may not be able to carve a pumpkin, but we reckon they’ll be close by to gobble up any mess you make. Pumpkin seeds could make a delicious and healthy treat for dogs. They contain plenty of antioxidants that may boost your pup’s overall health and are safe to eat.

As always, aim for smaller amounts as a treat for the spooky season.

> Homemade pumpkin dog treats

If you want to give your dog something on-brand for the season, why not try a pumpkin treat? Many pet stores and supermarkets bring out pumpkin-based treats at this time of year, from chew sticks to dog-friendly baked goods.

You could put in a little extra love by making some homemade pumpkin treats. Try swapping out the blueberries and bananas in our frozen boo-berry treats for pumpkin puree.

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