Homemade dog biscuit recipe‏

by | Jan 13, 2012 | 65 comments

The world’s best dog biscuit recipe!

Bev is our in-house canine behaviourist/dietitian and last week I decided to try and make her favourite dog biscuit recipe and they turned out so well!  Every dog I walked last week loved them far more than I could’ve ever have hoped for.  Even the dogs that aren’t food orientated stopped and took notice!  I had strangers dogs coming up to me and then try to tear them out of my pocket and some people asking me to make some for them while others insisted I should be selling them!! Hence why I call this ‘The world’s best dog biscuit recipe!’.

For this recipe you’ll need…

Ingredients

1 lb / 450g pigs liver, 1 lb / 2 cups of cornflour, 170g / 3/4 cup potato flour or semolina, 1 egg plus milk if more liquid needed, 2 grated carrots or a grated apple, 1 clove of fresh garlic (but isn’t garlic bad for dogs?).

 

Step by step guide

chopped liver

Cut 450grams of liver into chunks and then blend.

grated apple

Add half a cup of grated apple to blended liver.

grated carrot

Or add half a cup of grated carrot instead!

chopped garlic

Add one clove of garlic!

corn flour

Add 450g/2 cups of cornflour

semolina

Add ¾ cups / 170g potato flour or semolina

adding eggs and milk to mix

Add an egg, a splash of milk and mix!

rolled out dog biscuit dough

Roll out, cut and bake at 350 F/180 C for 15-20 mins.

dog waiting for treat

Ruby knows I’m making something... extra special!

cooked homemade dog biscuits

Homemade dog biscuits…DONE!!

How to store

As a general guide if meat protein is present in recipe then it will last around 3 to 5 days stored in a cool place.  If it has second class protein in it eg. cheese, lentils, eggs, etc, then they will store for about 10 days in a cool place. You can use cake tins lined with baking paper – greaseproof. If there is no meat or second class proteins present then it will last around 3 weeks before they go soft like human biscuits.

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These dog treat recipes are now available to buy in book on Amazon.   An ideal gift!

dog treat recipe book

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raw pig ears

By Jamie Shanks

BDWS is owned and run by me, Jamie Shanks. I’ve been a professional dog walker since 2010. When I’m not walking dogs, I’m usually at home entertaining my three dogs and attending to five hens and my vegetable garden. 

65 Comments

  1. This goes with my previous comment.

    Reply
  2. Wow! Dribble loves these. Didn’t have any semolina so got 170g of her food and ground it up and used that. Added grated carrot. Much too sticky to roll out so I spread it on baking parchment on a baking tray. Baked it and cut it into squares as soon as it came out of the oven. Brilliant healthy snack. Thank you for the recipe. A definite winner.

    Reply
    • Thanks Claire, glad Dribble likes them.

  3. GARLIC!!!! HOW MANY OF THE DOGS HAVE YOU KILLED SO FAR. IT IS TOXIC TO DOGS

    Reply
    • I occasionally get this “garlic is toxic” comment… A canine dietitian, two vets have said its safe and in fact it is good for them and helps keeps fleas and parasites away… Most if not all my other recipes with garlic have a link titled “isn’t garlic bad for dogs?” linking to an informative page for those who are curious… I have just now added it to this post… and here is the article… http://www.petguide.com/health/dog/the-shocking-truth-about-dogs-and-garlic/

  4. I would like to add oatmeal instead of flour. Any recommendations?

    Reply
  5. Every time I make this, I end with a big sticky mess for dough (I use whole wheat flour if that matters?). It’s such a big hit with my dogs though that I just keep making it even though it requires a lot of elbow grease! Any tips you might have? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Maybe use less wet ingredients?

  6. Every time I make this, I end with a big sticky mess for dough (I use whole wheat flour if that matters?). It’s such a big hit with my dogs though that I just keep making it even though it requires a lot of elbow grease! Any tips you might have? Thanks!

    Reply
  7. Hi Jamie, Just found your recipes which I am going to try on my 2 puppies. I have just made some biscuits using tinned pilchards in tomato, egg, grated carrots and wholemeal flour all mixed up together and rolled out and cut into squares. My puppies loved them as did the greyhound next door and a friend’s puppy. So now I’m getting into doggy baking big time. Incidentally the founder of Denes pet foods recommends garlic be given to dogs every day as it deters fleas. Don’t know if it works but they have to be the smelly capsules.
    Look for ward to using your recipes
    Lorna

    Reply
    • Hey Lorna, yeah I’ve been told by two Vets that garlic deteres fleas and ticks, so its good and dogs like the taste of it in treats. Happy baking!

  8. 5

    Reply
  9. Hi Jamie
    Quick question, when you say corn flour do you mean the type of flour used to thicken sauces or cornflour, which is a bit like polenta grains?
    Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • The stuff for sauces, it’s super fine.

    • Ok thanks, that’s what I thought. And thank you for your prompt reply.

  10. HI

    Is it cooked liver or raw that I should be using in this recipe?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Hey,

      It’s raw.

    • Really? Thats what I did but after half hour still didn’t look cooked in the middle. How thin should they be rolled?
      Thanks

    • Pretty thin, as in 4-5mm

  11. Hi I was wondering how long these keep for in a tin, as I have limited fridge/freezer space. Thanks
    felicity

    Reply
    • my puppy loves it I think evry one should have one

  12. Are you 100% sure it’s 1lb of cornflour, Seems an awful lot as 3 tspns thicken the wateriest stew? Love EVERY one of you’re recipes that I’ve tried but can’t get a pigs head in Cheltenham for love nor money, so want to cook that recipe

    Reply
  13. Hi I was just wondering is the poppy seed imperative to this recipe or just for the added crunch factor? I made your liver cake cupcakes and my newfie loved them 🙂

    Reply
  14. Hi Jamie,
    Thanks for the tip about heart/tuna as a substitute. I have had such a positive response to the treats and biscuits I am now loathe to buy them any “manufactured” biscuits! I baked oatcakes for them recently with tuna and added a good handful of chopped parsley… It didn’t do a lot for their breath, lol, but they enjoyed them just as much!!
    Do you think it’d be okay to perhaps substitute chicken or turkey mince (when it’s reduced) for the liver? 🙂

    Reply
    • Hi Rosie!

      Soz for taking so long, just saw this.

      Thanks for you comments. Yeah those minces are fine. Cause its for dogs you have lots of leeway eg, mince, fish other meats etc.

    • i made these with self-raising flour (forgot the cornflour, duh!), and 2 tins of sardines in oil. I also added a tbsp of sesame seeds. Best biscuits I’ve made so far. I think I probably haven’t been rolling the dough out thin enough up to now, because they turned out much crisper this time! Anyway, the dogs love them, as usual so it’s all good!
      Thanks for being such an inspiration to home bakers with dogs, lol! I’m just going to blog about them

    • Thanks Rosie.

      Sounds good and I’m glad they turned out well. If you do blog about them I hope you upload a pic!

      Jamie

  15. Hi Jamie, I bought some liver cake at a car boot sale a couple of weeks ago and my Border Collie, Poppy, absolutely loved it! I then searched the web and found your recipe, which I made. It’s gone down a treat with all of Poppy’s doggy friends! I’m going to try some of your other recipes – I hope they’re as good.

    Reply
    • Hi Carol!

      Thanks for your comments. I’m glad Poppy likes them!

  16. Hi Jamie, I am just starting a dog walking/ puppy minding business near Salisbury and decided to make these to take to a local car boot sale to try and drum up some doggy customers. They were tried and given the paw of approval by my Staffy, Tess. I have to say that the biscuits (made by my lovely husband) and a big bowl of water went down a storm on that hot day, even converting a few fussy eaters amongst the local terriers! One gentleman was so happy that his Westie enjoyed them that he wanted to buy a bag from me even though I was giving them away free!
    Thank you so much for the recipe, we made many dogs happy and I hope to gain a few more furry clients as well as shifting a load of junk from the garage.
    It’s a shame I can’t being my ‘pack’ to your beach to meet up.
    Tracie Hills xx

    Reply
  17. Garlic and onions cause anaemia in dogs and should not be put in their food.

    Reply
  18. Hi Jamie,
    I’ve been trying your recipes and they’re a great hit with out 2 rescue dogs, one of which is an 8 month old pup. Today I’m going to make him some teething biscuits… I wanted to ask you if it’s okay to use corn meal instead of the potato flour? I did use it in the liver cake and it turned out fine, but I’m not sure about this one?
    Thanks for posting these recipes, I’ve found them so brilliant and recommended them to friends in the rescue organisation I work with. Banana bombs are a favourite! 🙂

    Reply
    • Yeah, Rosie Cornmeal will be fine. The most important thing here is that the biscuits are rock hard.

    • Thanks, Jamie! The teething biscuits are also a hit, although they aren’t Staffy jaw-proof! Gone in 60 seconds, lol!

  19. I just finished making these today, big success! I used carrot and added some powdered kelp. I’m definitely going to be making these again and will perhaps try and exchange the liver and carrot for different ingredients like salmon and turmeric for my older boy and white fish and sweet potato for a friend whose dog has a sensitive tummy.
    Couldn’t figure out how to post pics directly here but here is a link to my blog post about them 🙂 http://streetstosofa.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/mum-made-liver-and-carrot-treats/

    Reply
  20. Hi just made these they’re great. I had to substitute some of the cornflour for rice flour as I didn’t have enough.. turned out fine although I don’t know what the nutritional differences would be. The dogs are drooling for them already. I cut some with a bone shape cutter they look great, but quicker and easier with a pizza cutter. Great website, wish my dogs lived in Scotland to go for a walk! I’ll share your recipe on our dog club site here in Minorca, if that’s ok.

    Reply
    • Hi Jenny and thanks for your comments! These biccies require a bit more work than the others but I think its worth it as they so good! I just used a pizza cutter to save time too!

      Feel free to share anything you like, thanks!

  21. Hi Lily! If it was too wet just add more flour till it’s just right. The poppy seeds wouldn’t change consistency and neither would the liver. Did you add more than a splash of milk?

    Jamie

    Reply
    • Ahhh okay, I’ll give it another go!

  22. Hi! Mine weren’t able to be rolled out because they were far too wet. I’m thinking it could have been becuase if a couple of factors- I either over blended the liver or could it be because I didn’t add the poppy seeds? Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  23. Hi there,
    Absolutely love your blog and website, I was just wondering If I could substitute the potato flour with wholemeal? thank you very much (:

    Reply
    • Hi Grace. Yeah, you can use that but I think you’ll get something a lot more bready than this but the dogs will still love it.

    • Thank you so much for replying! Another quick question how many little biscuits does this recipe generally make. I understand it would be dependent on biscuit size but generally when you make them how many would you get? Thank you again!

    • About 100.

  24. Hi, Do you know much about dogs trying to lose weight. I’ve got a miniature Schnauzer with a collapsed treachia and she is over weight which does not help at all. She is only about 1 kilo over but thats enought to make the breathing much worse. I’ve tried lots of prescription diets but she either wont eat them or is trying to get food all day long driving me crazy and making me give her more food. Any help gratefully received. Thanks Jill

    Reply
    • Hi, Jill! Bev, our canine dietitian is unwell at the moment so unable to answer. What food does she eat? One method I’d consider for a dog constantly after food would be to buy a large kong, putting her food in that (even if that means mixing it with a little cottage cheese or something and freezing it so it becomes hard like a ice lolly. That should keep her occupied for a good while.

      From my own experience, exercise is great for losing weight, I have a couple of dogs whose weight yo-yo’s up and down but I know if I can give them an intense runabout they will lose weight just with my walk alone.

  25. I have been looking at your recipes and they look great. The only thing I would like to ask you I see you use garlic, I was on the understanding that garlic is not good for dogs.

    Reply
  26. Hi there I make human cakes and biscuits to donate to animal rescue auctions and want to make some for the dogs too, also run a cafe and see lots of dig walkers so would like to make some biscuits to sell for animal rescue. What do you think would be the favourite? Also as I’m donating, the most cost effective? Thank you:)

    Reply
    • This biscuit recipe and the liver cake recipe are the best, imo! I also recommend the sardine oatcakes!

    • Hi Jamie, when I made them the liver cake, both dogs got runny bums… So that made me reconsider making these biscuits. Is there an alternative that I could use and still achieve some rock hard biscuits? They love the oatcakes, which have no adverse effects on them, so I’ve made them again, and the banana bombs too, but I can’t give them liver again. Is heart and kidney also very rich, or would it make a good alternative?
      Many thanks 🙂

    • Hi Rosie. Liver is a natural laxative and dogs not used to it should only be given small amounts to begin with. It doesn’t affect my own dog as she eats liver everyday but with some dogs they should only get small amounts till they get used to it. Heart would make a better sub or even try something like tuna.

  27. I am having a doggy party next weekend so I am going to make these biscuits and the liver cake for all my wee doggy guests

    Reply
    • Hi Michelle! I promise you will be the hostess with the mostess amongst your doggy friends!

  28. Dogs are not meant to have garlic, so I’ll make these without it. Otherwise they look great.

    Reply
  29. Just wanted to check…I have seen numerous lists on various websites (some vetinary) that states garlic is toxic (as is onion). Just wanted to check before I make. thanks

    Reply
  30. Hi, I am going to make these tomorrow – how should I store them (if they last that long!)?

    Reply
    • You can keep them in biscuit tin if they’re gonna be used within two weeks but if you freeze them then they’ll last pretty much forever and will defrost very quickly at room temperature.

  31. Going to try these the weekend! Will let you know what my dogs think and post some pics 🙂

    Reply
    • Thx Jessie! I’ll be very interested to see your finished biccies!

  32. If anyone has made these I’d love for you to send a pic in and let me see how they look since I bet you can make them look a lot better than I can!

    Reply
  33. Brilliant!, your amazing oh I could eat u all up

    Reply
    • HAha! Thanks very much! 🙂

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