Halloween is creepin’ around the corner, spooky Halloween costumes are popping up in stores and those gigantic bags of candy for trick or treaters line the shelvesand, so what better way to ring in the spookiest season of them all than with some special DIY snacks to share with your costumed dog and all his neighborhood friends?

Thing is, just like with our own food, sometimes store bought treats can have all sorts of ingredients, fillers or preservatives that we don’t really want to be giving to our beloved furry friends. Luckily, making healthier homemade Halloween dog treats is pretty easy to do.

Even beginning bakers will have no problem making homemade dog treats. As they bake, they smellincredible – your dog will beg for these yummy treats. Share these with your pet on Halloween night it’s a tasty reward! 

Are homemade dog treats good for dogs?

Absolutely! Homemade dog treats can have lots of benefits beyond just being budget-friendly. With DIY dog treats, you know exactly what ingredients your dog is eating.This is especially helpful if you have a dog on a restrictive diet or if your dog has allergies to certain foods.

Another benefit to homemade dog treats is that you can make them in any size or shape. Make smaller treats for smaller dogs or to even used them for training! Make larger treats for your large breed dogs without breaking the bank!

What foods are toxic for dogs?

Just be sure to do your research and double check each ingredient a recipe you want to use calls for. You know your dog best. If you are unsure about an ingredient, ask your vet if it is safe to use or just skip it. Definitely stay away from ingredients that are known to be toxic for dogs like:

• Caffeine

• Grapes and raisins

• Macadamia nuts

• Xylitol

• Chocolate

• Yeast dough

• Fruit pits and seeds

• Avocados

• Mushrooms

• Unripe tomatoes

• Onions and garlic

• Nutmeg

How do you make healthy dog treats from scratch?

Luckily, most of the ingredients dog treat recipes call for are things you probably already have in your kitchen. You’ll find that many dog treat recipes include common items like flour, oatmeal, eggs, or broth.  To add flavor, protein, vitamins and fiber, other ingredients will be mixed in like pumpkin puree, artificial sweetener free peanut butter, sweet potato, apples, carrots, and cheese.

How do you make bone-pumpking dog treats?

Bone-pumpking dog treats are a very popular homemade dog treat that produce the really small bone shaped treats that are perfect for training or even for our special halloween decoration. They are made using a silicone bone baking shape. I bought it online for just a few dollars! While these silicone baking sheets weren’t originally intended for dog treats, they’ve become a popular must-have amongst dog treat makers.

Which silicone molds are best for dog treats?

Once you find a favorite dog treat recipe to make, you can customize your treats by using different size and shape molds. The best mold is going to be the one that you and your dog enjoy using the most. For instance, if you dog loves one also the pumpking shaped treat, you can make them with a Pyramid mold to create a useful training treat instead.

I like to purchase them online, because of the easy return policy.  Sometimes the molds are larger or smaller than you expected so just look for the “free returns” notation so you can try several out to see which works best for you.

Our 2 Favorite Dog Treat Recipes to Try this Halloween!

Your pets want to celebrate Halloween too, so try out some of these awesome Halloween pet treats you can make for your fur baby and their friends!

1- Happy Howl-oven or Frozen Pumpkin Dog Treats

These dog Halloween cookies from are made with fiber filled pumpkin, proven to benefit dogs’ digestive tracts. Pumpkin is also full of vitamins A and C, which both help to support vision and immune health in dogs. No cauldron bubbling or brewing for these Halloween treats, just a blender and some silicone molds or ice cube trays!

Makes about 3 dozen 1-inch frozen treats

Ingredients

1 cup *plain Greek or plain regular yogurt (*plain only, make sure your yogurt does not contain artificial sweeteners which harmful to dogs or added sugars, which they don’t need)

1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1 /4 cup (more or less) water to thin to consistency for easy blending

Place ingredients in blender, blending until pureed and desired consistency. Pour mixture into silicone molds or ice cube trays. Place in freezer until solid and pop out for a frozen dog treat. Like all dog treats, give in moderation.

Beware, these treats may cause ghostly white apparitions to lurk nearby. . .

2- Dogs LOVE peanut butter and pumpkin. Your dog will be begging to sink their teeth into this crunch Halloween Treat!  If you would like to share some with your doggie friends…why not place them in a mason jar. They stay fresh in a tightly sealed jar for about 3 weeks…but if you pop them into the freezer in a ziplock bag…they will last 3 months.  You can just take them out as you need them and the dogs love them cold.

INGREDIENTS

1 Egg

1 Cup AP Flour

1½ cups Whole Wheat Flour

¾ cup of Almond Milk (yes it is safe) or Water

½ cup of NATURAL PEANUT BUTTER ...NEVER Use Sugar Free Peanut Butter with Xylitol (artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets)

2 tablespoons of Honey

1 tablespoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of cinnamon (cinnamon is safe to use for your dog ...but of course don't feed your pup an entire container because anything in quantity is not a good thing...I want you to know however NUTMEG is NOT to be used ever! I am just telling you because many people feel as though cinnamon goes together perfectly and it does but NOT FOR DOGS!

½ teaspoon of vanilla

1 cup Pure Pumpkin

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix your wet ingredients together completely (Milk, Honey, Pumpkin and Egg). Combine your dry ingredients. Now slowly mix in the dry into the wet by hand...mix until thoroughly combined the dough will be very pliable and easy to roll. You will know if you have to add a bit more liquid or on the other hand...a bit more flour!

Now roll out the dough ½ inch thick and cut out your bones or whatever shape you choose. Keep on rolling till all of your treats are cut. Now place your bones on a cookie sheet lined with parchment for easy clean-up. Place in a preheated 325 oven for 20 minutes. Take the bones out and flip them. Place back in the over for approximately 15 minutes. Cool on a rack

We have rounded up the best dog-friendly Halloween treats, as well as these fun fall recipes are sure to make your house smell wonderful, and keep your furry pal and you both to have a safe, fun, tasty trick-or-treat night together. Have you made one of these recipes? Share your special recipe on social media and tag DogCare to let us know!