Boost your pup’s nutrition with these tasty and healthy chia seed dog treats! Your furry friends will gobble them up!
All the health benefits of chia seeds are pretty well-known. So when I wanted to make some healthy homemade dog treats, I knew I had to use chia seeds. And my dogs love them!
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Chia Seed Benefits for Dogs
Chia seeds are powerfully nutritious – for us and for dogs. In fact, many dog owners use the seeds as an ingredient in homemade dog treats because of their nutritional value.
Chia seeds contain fatty acids that support your dog’s muscle development. This easy dog biscuit recipe also supports a healthy immune system. The chia seeds are a fantastic source of protein, too.
If you want to learn all about chia seeds for dogs, please read my guide – can dogs eat chia seeds.
Why You’ll Love This Chia Seed Dog Treats Recipe
There are so many reasons that you’ll love these healthy dog treats.
First, they are easy! You just mix up the dough, cut out the fun shapes, and bake them. It can’t get easier than this.
These easy homemade dog treats are also less expensive than store-bought treats. You’ll save money while having one happy puppy!
I also used real food. They are made with simple ingredients that are good for dogs.
Ingredients
The full recipe with exact ingredient amounts and step-by-step directions is in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. First, I want to share some information about the wholesome ingredients in this recipe.
- Whole Chia Seeds – the star of the treats!
- Greek Yogurt – a good source of protein and other essential nutrients.
- Unsweetened Applesauce – adds moisture to the dough and a little sweetness.
- Creamy Peanut Butter – has healthy fats.
- Oat Flour – an easily digestible flour that’s great for homemade dog treats.
Use organic ingredients if you want to make organic dog treats.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Do not use peanut butter that contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener toxic to dogs.
You can substitute peanut butter with almond butter or SunButter (sunflower seed butter). Just make sure it does not contain xylitol.
You can make oat flour by placing uncooked old-fashioned oats in a food processor or blender and blending until it has the consistency of flour. One cup of oats yields approximately 3/4 cup of flour.
You can substitute all-purpose flour or a 50-50 combination of all-purpose white flour and whole wheat flour for the oat flour. Because whole wheat flour is denser, it’s not a good substitute to use by itself.
Other flour options are buckwheat flour, chickpea flour, millet flour, quinoa flour, and spelt flour. For dogs with wheat allergies, brown rice flour is a great choice.
Coconut flour is not recommended because it absorbs a lot more moisture than other flours and the dough would be too dry.
For extra fiber, add 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds.
Equipment Needed
You probably have all the kitchen items necessary to make the treats. But just in case:
You can also make personalized dog biscuits with a custom dog cookie cutter.
How to Make Chia Seed Dog Treats
These are the recipe steps and some photos of making the treats. I hope they help you make these treats for your dog. Note there is a printable recipe card below.
- Place the chia seeds and yogurt in a small bowl. Stir to combine and set the mixture aside for at least 5 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the peanut butter and applesauce. Add the applesauce mixture to the yogurt mixture, stir to combine, and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
- Place the oat flour in a large bowl. Add the wet mixture.
- Stir to combine until a dough forms. If the dough is too dry to roll, add a little bit more applesauce or other liquid.
- Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough on a work surface until it is about ½-inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut out as many shapes as possible. Re-roll and cut dough as necessary.
- Place the cutouts on a baking sheet or cookie sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Bake at 350°F for 15 to 18 minutes. The treats should be golden brown.
- Allow to cool to room temperature.
Serving Size
How many homemade anise treats should you give your canine companion? That depends on the amount of food you gave your pet to eat that day and the size of your dog. Large dogs can consume more than smaller dogs.
Even though they are healthy treats, they are still treats and should be included when you consider your dog’s daily caloric intake. Make sure you don’t exceed the recommended amount for your dog. That amount changes for each dog breed, size, and activity level.
Dogs shouldn’t have too many treats, including these yummy ones. For this reason, I suggest only giving your spoiled hound one treat per day.
However, you can use your judgment or consult with your veterinarian regarding how many treats are right for your dog.
Also, keep in mind when adding new foods to your dog’s diet to start with small amounts to ensure your dog has no allergic or adverse reactions.
How to Store the Treats and How Long They Last
Store the treats in an airtight container at room temperature. They will last up to 1 week.
For longer storage, you can freeze the treats in a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Can people eat these chia seed treats for dogs?
Yes, all the ingredients in these dog cookies are safe for human consumption. Give one a try and you might like it. Just note it won’t be as sweet as a cookie made for people.
More Dog Treat Recipes
Do you want to make some more treats for your dog? Try these recipes:
- 3 Ingredient Dog Treats
- Anise Seed Dog Treats
- Dog Treats for Bad Breath
- Gluten Free Dog Treats
- Homemade Banana Dog Treats
- Homemade Chicken Dog Treats
- Vegan Dog Treats
Find lots of easy dog treat recipes right here on Spoiled Hounds!
Chia Seed Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Chia Seeds
- ⅔ cup Plain Greek Yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Peanut Butter
- ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- 2 cups Oat Flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Stir the chia seeds into the yogurt. Set aside for at least 5 minutes.
- Stir together the peanut butter and applesauce. Stir the applesauce mixture into the yogurt mixture and allow it to sit for 5 more minutes.
- Add the wet mixture into the oat flour and combine well until a dough forms.
- Roll out the dough until it is about 1/2” thick. Using your favorite cookie cutter, cut out as many shapes as possible. Re-roll and cut dough as necessary.
- Place the cutouts on the lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely before serving.
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