Make Some Home-made Dog Treats
^{by Tracy Smith}

Ever read the labels on your dog's treats package? Most of them spew words that I can't even pronouce. My doggies are my babies and I want what's best for them just like I do for my son who is almost grown. So I started making my own dog treats. You'll find the two recipes that score the highest with Molly and Jake at the end of this article.

Now I have to be honest. Molly was malnourished and well into the second stages of starvation when I rescued her. Even though she is a little chubby for a Jack Russell now, her main concern is food. She'll eat just about anything, even jalapenos! So all my recipes rate top notch with her.

Jake, on the other hand, is a little more picky. He certainly takes his time with a meal while Molly just inhales hers. He will also take the time to sniff for palatability first, and has at times declined a snack offering.

The two recipes that follow are both veterinarian approved. It is suggested that you still check the ingredients with your vet because your vet knows whats' best for your dog. One thing to remember when making dog treats or even offering tidbits of your food -- DO NOT feed your dog chocolate or onions. They can be toxic to your dog.

Whenever I bake dog treats, somehow my little terriers know I'm baking for them. They keep an eye on me the whole time and Miss Molly literally takes up station right next to the oven. When I pull a cookie sheet out of there, she stands on two legs and dances with glee.

These recipes are both cookie cutter treats, so you may have to add flour or water to get the dough to the right consistancy to roll out for cutting.

BBQ Cookies
^{Preheat oven to 300 degrees.}

Ingredients
2 Cups whole wheat flour
1 Cup corn meal
1 Tablespoon parsley
1 Clove garlic (minced)
1/2 to 1 Cup water with 2 dissolved bouillon cubes (flavor of choice)
1/2 Cup BBQ sauce
1 Pinch sugar ( I leave this out most of the time-the dogs don't care)
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 Pinch pepper

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the water and add more water if necessary so you can form the dough into a ball.

Knead the dough ball for 2 to 4 minutes.

Dust cutting board and dough ball with flour and roll out until it is about 1/4 inch thick.

Cut with cookie cutter and place cookies on a cookie sheets.

Bake in a 300 degree oven for about 50 minutes.

Turn off the oven and open the door a little to them dry out for another 10 to 15 minutes.

If you like you can glaze the cookies with a little BBQ sauce before baking.

Pumkin Yum Yums
^{Preheat oven to 350 degrees.}

Ingredients
2 and 1/2 Cups whole wheat flour
1 Cup milk or water ( I use water now, as one of my Jack Russells weighs around 18 pounds).
1 Cup canned, plain pumkin (not the spiced kind)
1 Pinch sugar ( I've left this out with palability success)
1/2 Teaspoon nutmeg

Combine dry ingredients. Add liquid, then pumkin. If necessary, add more water until you get a good dough for rolling and cutting.

Dust dough ball and cutting board with flour and roll out until it is about 1/4 inch thick.

Cut patterns with cookie cutters and place on cookie sheets.

Bake in a 350 degree oven until done ( between 25 and 35 minutes).

These Pumkin Yum Yums are flakey, sort of like crackers. They do make a bit of a mess, but I've found my dogs are very good about cleaning their crumbs.