Woof Talk by Belinda Sinclair
My daughter Nichole is the chef in the family between my three daughters. One of the things that she will whip up in the kitchen is some homemade dog treats for our dogs Bonnie & Duncan. Nichole is a hero to our dogs when they see these treats. We use them to practice their skills in obedience and herding. When we just want to have fun showing off all of the tricks that the dogs know for friends and neighbor these special treats hit the mark. I would like to say that my dogs try a little harder when they really like the treat we use as a reward. Any time that I can work on my dogs’ skills and keep it fresh and fun for everyone is always a good thing.
I am sharing two of Bonnie & Duncan’s favorite treat recipes. I hope that your dog likes them as much as they do. Get your kids or grandkids involved in making the treats with you. It is a great way to reward your favorite pooch. Bone Appetite!
JUNGLE BITES 1 ½ cups ripe mashed bananas ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups quick-cooking oats 1/2 cup nuts ¼ cup applesauce
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mash the bananas and applesauce together. Stir in the other ingredients and mix thoroughly. On an ungreased baking sheet drop spoonfuls of batter about two inches apart. Press each treat flat with the back of the spoon. Bake for about 15 minutes. Cool completely before serving. Store in a plastic container in the refrigerator. Makes about 24 treats.
CINNAMON STICKS 2 cups whole wheat or white flour ½ cup cornmeal 2/3 cup water 6 tablespoons canola oil 1 egg 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients together. Roll mixture out to about ¼ inch thick on a floured surface. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes. Bake for about 45 minutes. Cool completely before serving. Store in a plastic container. Makes about 24 treats.
Belinda Sinclair is the owner and trainer of Woof Woof Doggie Daycare & Training Center based in Windham, NH. Free puppy play group is offered every Sunday for puppies up to 7 months old as a community service to create socially well rounded dogs. Have a question you want answered about dogs? E-mail it to woofwoofpds@comcast.net or call us at 603–890‑6239.