No Bake Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats

“Dogs: The only thing on Earth that loves you more than you love yourself!” – Josh Billings

In our family, our pets are as near and dear to our hearts as our very own children. I mean, they don’t talk back, they ask no questions, they’re always happy to see you, they never seem to be in a bad mood, and they pass no criticism! If you are having a bad day, cuddle up with a fur baby and I guarantee you’ll feel a bit better afterwards. It’s just the way it is. <3

My father has two dogs, Dora and Thor, that he wouldn’t know what to ever do without. He told me that they basically hold the position as my brother and sister but that didn’t seem quite right to me – I argued that they are more like my niece and nephew… a little less related. 😉 But I feel like I should have a bumper sticker that says “I love my goddogs” because just like a godparent, I have been requested to take in the canines if anything should happen to my dad. And I do love them dearly.

Between he and I, we are always looking for the healthiest food and treat options we can find for them, because they deserve the best. The problem with store bought treats is that if you aren’t careful about reading the ingredient lists, it is easy to believe something may be tasty for your pups but it isn’t the least bit healthy for them. Wheat flour is a common ingredient that is horrible for dogs – it breaks down as glucose (sugar) and can cause many health issues including dog diabetes. Corn syrup and other sugars are also typical in store bought treats and shouldn’t be consumed for the same reason as wheat flour, and these sugars can also lead to tooth decay and obesity. BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) is known to cause cancer in humans so why would it be okay to feed our pets? And many treats include meat-by-products which are essentially the “other” parts of the animals (brains, eyes, kidneys, bones, etc.) – and most often the ingredient list doesn’t specify WHAT kind of animal. Ground yellow corn is a cheap filler and brewer’s rice has very little nutritional value. I could go on and on… but if you’re interested in more information then visit The Dog Digest.

You know what IS good for dogs? Peanut butter! It contains heart healthy fats, vitamins, and is a good source of protein. Canned pumpkin (unsweetened) is also great for canines because it is full of fiber and it converts into vitamin A as it’s broken down. So guess what the main ingredients are of my goddogs absolute favorite homemade treat?? You got it!

I made these Peanut Butter Pumpkin Balls and Dora and Thor literally annihilated them. They can keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks in a sealed container but we decided to freeze them so they’d last longer and just let them thaw for a few minutes before serving them. Frozen or not, our pups had no preference. Either way, they were gulped down quickly!

These take 10 minutes to whip up and require 4 ingredients:

• 3 cups of old fashioned oats, divided
• 1 cup of canned pumpkin (plain, pureed, without spices or sugar)
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup milk

Step 1) Beat the pumpkin, peanut butter, and milk until mixed well. Add 2 1/2 cups of oats until just combined.

Step 2) Form the mixture into small balls 1-2 inches in length and then roll in the remaining 1/2 cup of oats to coat.

Step 3) Cover and refrigerate until firm. Freeze if desired. This makes for a wonderful treat on hot days!

You can see below that Dora (the big hound and jack russell mix) and Thor (the miniature dachshund) really enjoy these all natural, healthy, simple, homemade treats. I had to zoom in on Thor licking his chomps – he is such an excited little guy when these treats are brought out!

Please give these Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Treats a try, and let me know if your dogs approve!

“My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am.” – unknown