We Made Homestead Doggy Treats!

For as long as we can remember, our dog Floki has been happily enjoying Greenies as a go-to treat to keep his teeth clean and his breath fresh. But when we recently ran out and decided to order more from Amazon, we nearly had a heart attack when we saw the price! 90 petite Greenies were priced at $37.02, down from the suggested retail price of $58.98—yikes! That’s a hefty price for dog treats!

With our homesteading goals in mind, we felt this was the perfect project to tackle. Instead of continuing to spend so much on store-bought treats, we decided to experiment and make our own homemade alternatives. After all, why not create something healthy and affordable for Floki, using ingredients we already have? So, we got to work and started testing out different recipes to see if we could create something that would both save us money and keep our dog’s tail wagging.

The Ingredients and Costs

For our DIY dog treats, we chose a few simple ingredients we could easily find or had on hand. Here’s the breakdown:

• Carrots – 24 oz (1.5 lbs)Carrots are great for dogs, offering fiber, vitamins, and a satisfying crunch. We spent $0.30 for 24 oz of carrots.

• Sweet Potatoes – 24 oz (1.5 lbs)Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and vitamins. They make a great soft, chewy addition to treats. We spent $2.99 for 24 oz of sweet potatoes.

• Oats – 2 cups (from an 18 oz bag)Oats are fiber-rich and easy to digest, making them a wonderful ingredient for homemade treats. We spent $2.99 for the whole 18 oz bag, which worked out to $1.16 for the 2 cups we used.

• Eggs – 2 eggsEggs are rich in protein and help bind the ingredients together. In California, a dozen eggs costs $7.49, so the 2 eggs we used cost $1.25.

• Italian Parsley – 2 tablespoonsParsley helps freshen breath, which makes it perfect for dog treats. A bunch of parsley costs $0.99, and the 2 tablespoons we used cost just $0.04.

• Mint – 1 tablespoonMint also helps with fresh breath, so we used a tablespoon from a mint plant we bought for $3.79. The cost for the tablespoon used was about $0.08.

When we add it all up, the total cost for ingredients to make about 80 homemade dog treats comes to:

• Carrots (24 oz): $0.30

• Sweet potatoes (24 oz): $2.99

• Oats (2 cups): $1.16

• Eggs (2 eggs): $1.25

• Italian parsley (2 tbsp): $0.04

• Mint (1 tbsp): $0.08

Total Cost: $5.82

The Comparison

Now, let’s compare this to the cost of the Greenies. For 90 petite Greenies, we paid $37.02 on sale from $58.98. That’s over $0.40 per treat!

On the other hand, with our homemade treats, we got about 80 treats for only $5.82, which is about $0.07 per treat. That’s a huge savings!

The Results:

We ended up with 80 homemade dog treats for just $5.82. Not only did we save a significant amount of money compared to buying Greenies, but when you compare our simple 6-ingredient recipe to the 30 ingredients in Greenies, we feel so much more confident knowing exactly what Floki is eating. The long list of ingredients in store-bought treats often includes preservatives, fillers, and artificial additives. In contrast, our homemade treats are made with real, whole foods that we can grow ourselves, giving us peace of mind that we're feeding Floki something nutritious and wholesome. We are so much happier knowing there are only 6 ingredients—each one chosen for its health benefits—compared to the mystery ingredients in pre-packaged treats. We also got to enjoy the process of creating something wholesome and healthy for Floki. With our homesteading mindset, it felt amazing to use ingredients we could grow ourselves or easily source locally in the future!

Ideally, on our homestead, making these dog treats will be virtually free. We plan to grow our own carrots, sweet potatoes, parsley, and mint, which will significantly reduce the cost of the ingredients. While we may still need to buy oats—since we don't yet know how to farm oats—this will be a minimal expense. Once we’re fully self-sufficient with our homestead, the cost of these treats could be as low as just a few cents per batch, with the majority of the ingredients coming from our own garden. This will make the treats even more affordable and in line with our homesteading goals of sustainability and cost-effectiveness!

So, if you’re tired of paying the premium prices for dog treats like Greenies, give this homemade version a try! It’s a fun, easy, and cost-effective way to provide your dog with nutritious treats that are just as good, if not better, than the store-bought ones, the recipe is below. You’ll save money, reduce waste, and feel great about what you’re feeding your furry friend. Homesteading isn’t just about growing your own food—it’s about taking control of every part of your life, even the little things like dog treats. And in the end, you’ll have a happy, healthy dog and a little more cash in your pocket.

Happy baking, and here's to more healthy, homemade treats for your dog! 🐾🥕🍠 Homestead Dog Treats Recipe

Ingredients:

• 24 oz carrots (1.5 lbs) finely chopped, boiled and blended

• 24 oz sweet potatoes (1.5 lbs), peeled, boiled and mashed

• 2 cups oats (make sure to use plain, rolled oats)

• 2 eggs

• 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon mint, finely chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
   

2. Prepare the ingredients:

   • Chop the carrots into thin strips.

   • Peel the sweet potatos, cut them into quarter-inch discs.

   • Boil the sweet potatos and carrots until soft.

   • Finely chop the parsley and mint.

   • Grind down the oats in a blender until you have 1 1/2 cups of oat flour.

3. Combine the ingredients:

   • In a stand mixer, add the oats, softened sweet potatos, chopped parsley and mint.

   • Blend the carrots into a puree before adding to the mixer.

   • Crack the two eggs into the bowl and mix everything together. The dough will be a little sticky.

4. Form the treats:

   • Dump the dough onto a tray that fits into your fridge or freezer. Place parchment paper on top, and spread the dough until it is about 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick.

   • Chill the dough until it keeps its shape when handled.

   • Using what ever you have lying around that has a sharp edge, create 1x1.5 inch rectangles. Dont separate the treats, only prefereate them for now.

5. Bake the treats:

   • Place the treats on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until they’re firm and golden brown, remove and flip them over. Then continue baking on the under side.

   • To completely dry the treats if you would like to preserve them, turn your oven to 135 degrees and bake for 6 hours.

6. Cool and store:

   • Allow the treats to cool completely on a wire rack before serving them.

   • Store the treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1-2 weeks, or refrigerate them for longer freshness. Feel free to preserve them for future use!

   
   

   If you want to make them last even longer, you can freeze the treats for up to 3 months. Just thaw them out when you're ready to give one to your dog!

   
   

   Your homestead dog treats are now ready! Floki loves the fresh, wholesome ingredients, so you can feel good knowing they've already got the stamp of appoval!