Dehydrated dog treat recipes

by | Mar 25, 2014 | 227 comments

Dehydrators are cheap to buy and even cheaper to run and it’s very simple to learn how to dry treats for dogs!  I’ve been wanting one for ages so I decided to just jump in and get one.  I’ve been really impressed with this new toy and recommend any dog owner that enjoys baking homemade dog treats for their dog to buy one. Jerky treats are ideal for me as they are clean, dry and ideal for shoving in my pocket while out dog walking and dogs go crazy for it!  Just make sure that if you’re buying a dehydrator that it can dry meat, some only dry fruit as they don’t get warm enough.

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I use the Andrew James dehydrator for all the recipes.  Click the image to order yours on Amazon now.

IMPORTANT READING

While researching how to make jerky for dogs I see that there’s recipes out there on the web that place raw meat including chicken on the dehydrator while on other websites they tell you to precook the meat first to kill pathogens.  A dog becoming sick from such things as Salmonella is rare as their digestive tract is very small so bad bacteria usually gets killed before it can harm the dog.  But note that the top temperature of a dehydrator is usually around 70c (160f) which is not enough to kill such pathogens as Salmonella and E. coli.  Therefore after drying raw meat I always put it in the oven for 10 minutes at 150ºC to make sure all pathogens are killed.

Oregon state University researched how to make homemade jerky safe and they say that:

“Jerky can be considered “done” and safe to eat only when it has been heated sufficiently to destroy any pathogens present and is dry enough to be shelf-stable.  Shelf-stable means the the jerky can be stored at room temperature and will not support microbial growth.” 

Oregon state University’s method for destroying pathogens:

“Post-drying heating.  Placing dried meat strips on a cookie sheet in an oven preheated to 257ºF [126ºC] and heating the strips for 10 minutes effectively eliminates pathogens.  This method produces the most traditional jerky.”

So after drying any raw meat I place the jerky in the oven for 10 minutes just to be sure.  It doesn’t change the jerky in any way and gives me peace of mind.  Many recipes (mainly for human consumption) use salt or vinegar soak to deal with pathogens in raw meat but both can cause stomach problems in dogs and I want to keep these treats pure and simple.

HOW TO DEHYDRATE DOG TREATS

1. Always wash your hands before you start.
2. Food that has less fat lasts longer as fat can’t be dried and will spoil the food faster, so if you’re planning to store the treats for long term then trim any fat off the meat before you dry it out.
3. Drying times vary a lot.  Temperature, thickness’s of food, amount on trays and different machines all affect timing.  Your user manual will help and you’ll soon get to know when it’s done by texture, look and from general experience.  The above dehydrator is cheap and perfectly good and what I use but if you want the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of dehydrators check out Excalibur.
4. Place dehydrated jerky in the freezer (no defrost required) but you can learn more about storing jerky here.
5. Cut meat as thin or as thick as you want but the thicker it is the longer it takes to dry.
6. A very sharp knife for cutting thin slices.
7. You’ll be surprised how much food shrinks when dehydrated. Just remember that this is concentrated food and don’t give too much – it’s a treat!

DRYING RAW PIG EARS

Dried pig ears are expensive to buy but if you can get raw pig ears then they can cost around a third of the price or less.  Stick them on the dehydrator and once done you wont be able to tell them apart from the ones you buy in pet shops (except that they may be a lot larger!).  They are easy to buy raw online if you have trouble getting them locally.

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All these pig ears cost just £5!!

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Place on dehydrator and dry for 16-24 hours. I filled 4 racks! Once dried I place in oven at 257ºF (126ºC) for 10 mins.

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And they are done. Identical to what you buy in the shops. They have cost around 30p each. Great value!

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Flo just adores her homemade pig ears!

HOW TO DRY CHICKEN FEET

I first bought dried chicken feet in the pet shop 3 years ago for my new puppy Flo.  It’s her all time favourite treat.  If you ask a local butcher you may able to get raw feet for free else you can buy them raw and by the kilo on this website.  Raw chicken feet take ages to dry so there is no point just drying off a dozen or so.  To make the drying time worthwhile I’m gonna be drying off 2 kilos worth of feet which will take around 4-5 days at 70ºC.

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The first thing I’ll do is give the feet a wee rinse.

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The feet have nails and they are quite sharp so I don’t want the dogs eating these when they are dry and brittle…

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So I chop them off!

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2 kilos will give me around 60+ feet which will fill 4 racks

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I’ll be drying these for 96 – 120 hours, but the timer only goes up to 48 hours, so I’ll be resetting the dehydrator 3 times. I’ll know when they are done when there is no flex in the feet, especially the skin and the padded parts. I want them dry and hard.

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Nearly 120 hours later and they’re done! No need to place in oven afterwards.

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They look great! I’m really happy with how this went!

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Really tasty and all the dogs loved them.

DRIED PIG SKIN

Every super market sells pig skin it and it’s very cheap to buy.  Dehydrating pig skin makes a great treat for dogs especially a treat to keep the dog busy – of all the foods here this one will last the longest.  Pig skin dries a little different than pig ears and completely different than my doggy pork scratchings.  It’s much harder to break down and isn’t as brittle as the ear, it’s more like rawhide and the dogs just go crazy for it.  And like rawhide dogs should be supervised when eating this.  When prepping this recipe, cut the pig skin into the sizes you want before you dry as it’s too difficult to do it after – it’s very, very tough.

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Place the skin on the dehydrator. Remember to cut to the size you want before you dry. Dry at 70ºC for 24 hours.

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24 hours later and it’s dry and very tough. There may be a little grease on the inside so lay the dried skin on some kitchen towel to soak up any residue.

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One of Flo’s favourite treats. This will keep her busy for a good 20 minutes.

TRIPE JERKY

I’m using white tripe (dressed) cause it’s easier for me to get than green tripe (undressed) – although I do plan to try green tripe in the future.   Green tripe is very smelly which is why dogs love it, so be warned when drying it indoors!  Every dog owner at one point has bought this treat in the pet shop, now you can have some fun by making tripe jerky at home.

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Half a kilo of white tripe I bought from the butchers.

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Wash tripe and then gently pat dry.

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Cut into 1 inch strips and place on tray.

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I’ll be dehydrating for around 14 hours at 70ºC (158ºf) followed by a quick 10 minute heat in over .

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Tripe done! I’ll bung it in the freezer for when I need it.

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Ruby loves her homemade tripe jerky!

BEEF JERKY RECIPE FOR DOGS

If you buy jerky for dogs it’s usually either chicken or beef.  It’s rare to get in this pure high quality form, it’s usually very processed and nasty but here we can make a beef jerky treat worthy of our dogs.

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Freeze for an hour and then slice your lean beef 1/8th of an inch thick.

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Evenly lay out beef strips on dehydrator tray and make sure no strips are touching each other. Check user instructions for cooking meat. For my dehydrator I’m advised to use the highest temp of 70ºc (158ºf). I will dry this batch for about 7-8 hours. I’ll know it’s ready if I bend it and it cracks without breaking.

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After 7-8 hours drying and 10 minutes in the oven they are done!. Freeze and reward dog when necessary.

SALMON JERKY

Salmon super-food, but a bit oily and wont last as long.  But you know what?  That oil is super healthy 🙂

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Freeze for 1 hour to firm salmon. Like the beef slice your salmon into strips about 1/8th of an inch thick.

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Place salmon on tray while making sure they are evenly spread and not touching. Check user guide for drying instructions. These will be dried at 70ºC (158ºf) for 8-10 hours or until they are hard and dry all the way through followed by 10 minute stint in the oven.

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Salmon jerky done!

HOW TO DRY LIVER FOR DOGS

A great alternative to dried liver treats cooked in the oven.  Hardly any smell and very clean to handle.  You’ll want to cut thin strips of liver to reduce dehydrating time.

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Liver is washed, patted dry and sliced in thin strips.

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Space evenly on tray. I will dry this for around 10-12 hours followed by a 10 minute stint in the oven!

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Liver jerky done! A real doggy favourite!

SEA BASS JERKY

I found two boneless fillets of Sea Bass going very cheap in the local market.  Because of it’s low fat content Sea Bass is ideal for drying, packed with flavour with a strong fishy aroma.  Yummy and a real winner with dogs.  I couldn’t stop eating the stuff.  Yummy

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Put in freezer for an hour to firm fish then slice into strips.

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Place strips on tray and dehydrate. These took about 9 hours to dry then I put them in the oven for 10 mins.

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Sea bass fish jerky dog treats done! Delicious!

HOW TO DRY CHICKEN FOR DOGS

I’m using a couple of chicken breasts for this recipe.  I’ve trimmed off any bits of fat.

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Wash hands, wash chicken, pat dry and cut thin strips.

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Place chicken strips evenly and without touching on dehydrator tray. After around 8-10 hours they are dry and placed in the oven for 10 minutes at 150ºC (300ºf) to make sure it’s completely safe and free from any bacteria.

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Chicken jerky dog treats done! Place in freezer for when you need them. No defrost required.

RABBIT JERKY

I bought a rabbit from the butchers but because it’s just so boney I’ll boil it first, take all the meat off the bone and then dry it.

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Lovely fresh rabbit! I’ll bring it to the boil and then simmer for 2 hours.

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Once cooled I take all the meat of the bone!

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6-8 hours in the dehydrator and it’s done!

DRIED HEART SLICES

Heart is ideal for turning into jerky because it’s just pure muscle and apart from a little bit of fat on the outside it’s very lean.  Because it is so lean and dense make sure that strips are cut thinly to reduce dehydrating time.

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I bought a pack of Lamb hearts from the supermarket.

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Wash strips, trim fat, pat dry and place on tray. I’ll be dehydrating these for around 12 hours. (Time varies on thickness of strips) followed by 10 mins in the oven.

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Heart jerky dog treats done

KIDNEY CRISPS

Using Ox kidney you can make great crisps with a real crunch.  Cheap to buy and they smell like bacon – dogs love them!  In Ox kidney there is a large bit of fat in the middle, cut that out if you plan to store.

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I freeze the kidney first so I can cut very thin slices.

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Place ‘crisps’ on tray. I’ll dehydrate for 12 hours and then heat in oven for 10 mins afterwards.

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Kidney crisps done! A real winner with the dogs!

DRIED PIG SNOUT

Just for fun I bought a pig snout when ordering a delivery of fresh meat for the dogs.  Very high value, the dogs go crazy for it.  Lots of yummy meat.  I dried it for 24 hours.  Huge success but drying pig snouts aren’t practical as they are not easy to get but fun and totally delicious.

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One pig snout placed on dehydrator. I’ll let it dry for 24 hours at 70ºC. It’s just pure delicious meat!

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24 hours later and its hard and ready to give to dog.

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Ruby loves her dried pig snout!

NON MEAT IDEAS

Dehydrators are also excellent for drying fruit and vegetables so things like bananas, apples and sweet potatoes can be dried to make dog treats.  For me I prefer to use meat simply because my dog prefers it.

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Try these dried banana dog treats

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What about drying apple slices?

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Sweet potato (blanch first)

Have questions? Things not working out as expected or need some advice? Then please use the comment section below.

This is the first and original dog treat recipe using a dehydrator that was published on the internet and inspired many other websites to copy it, but they cut out all the important info. This is also the second most popular homemade dog treat recipe behind my recipe for liver cake for dogs that I have on my site.

If you live locally and need a Bishopton, Erskine or Dargavel Dog Walking and Pet Service, please enquire about your pet care needs.

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.

Buy the book!

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

dog treat recipe book

Share this recipe with friends

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. 

227 Comments

  1. Hi, why do some meats need freezing and some don’t? I read somewhere else that I had to freeze all fresh meats and fish for 7 days before dehydrating to now I’m unsure on what I should be doing! What do you recommend needs freezing and for how long?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Freezing just makes it easier to slice thinly. I have no idea why other sites told you to freeze, maybe they think it helps kill bugs and pathogens but we are heating it after drying to do just that.

    • If raw feeding dogs freezing for 3 weeks first kills all parasites and make it safe to feed raw

  2. Hi,
    Noticed that you store your treats in the freezer. How long can you store them for at room temperature please?

    Reply
    • Depends. I cant give you a time because its so varied. Sorry about that. Really it’s all about how dry the meat is, how much fat is on it etc. We don’t use salt to preserve as dogs don’t do salt well, so it’s just easier to freeze.

    • It varies. Everything lasts longer in the freezer. Wouldn’t want all your treats to go rancid. Even the temperature inside your home factors into how long the treats last. Freezing is best, plus your frozen treats are a hit on a hot summer day!

  3. Thank you so much for your info. Going to purchase the meat today & use my dehydrator 🙂

    Reply
    • Good luck! It’s a lot of fun!

  4. Hi! It’s great you have a post about this because I was having a hard time finding anything. I wanted to know about dehydrated store-bought raw meat. It comes as a “meatloaf” that I give my dog for meals, but thought I could try dehydrating one of them… What would you recommend for temperature and dehydrating time? Would it be ok to just slice it up and put it in the dehydrator directly from the fridge or freezer? Thanks so much in advance!

    Reply
    • If unsure dry at 70c till fully dried. 70c is usually the top temp of a dehydrator. Not sure what you mean exactly as meatloaf cause that sounds processed yet you say its store bought raw meat. I guess I would freeze first to firm it up so its easy to slice and then dry it till its fully dry. Drying time is just how long it takes till it dries out.

  5. Why are my dehydrated chicken livers getting what looks like mould on them but the beef livers don’t? Both dehydrated the same and stored the same, chicken cut thinner than beef

    Reply
    • If you can add pics to your comments I could help better.

  6. Every dog owner at one point has bought this treat in the pet shop…..tripe. I can assure you I never have, lol. I plan on doing chicken soon (that’s why I’m here, I Googled) but my dogs absolutely love beets, zucchinis, sweet potatoes, bananas, apples and even tomatoes, all when dried.

    Reply
    • I’m glad your dog loves the dried veg and fruit, mine were never that keen the spoiled brats that they are! Glad you and the dogs are enjoying it.

    • Mine steal the fruit and veg directly of the plants in the garden if they can!

  7. One of my dogs is intolerant to chicken, so can duck feet be dehydrated in the same way as chicken feet?

    Reply
  8. One of my dogs is intolerant to chicken, so can duck feet be dehydrated in the same way as chicken feet?

    Reply
    • yes but might take less or more time depending on how big

  9. Why does it have to be frozen? Can’t it be kept in the fridge in a glass jar with a good lid? This is a very helpful blog.

    Reply
    • Hey Susan, in the short term it can just be fridged, But lifespan varies depending how much fat is on it, so its easier just to freeze if it’s more than a week or so.

    • Thanks Jamie

  10. Thanks for the great recipes! I just bought my dehydrator to make treats for my dog. Very excited to try these! Could I ask why you blanch the sweet potatoes first?

    Reply
    • Well done, your dog will love it and it saves a fortune on buying treats.

    • DJ asked why you blanch the sweet potatoes first………

  11. The best article read so far. Thanks for the tips about safety.

    Reply
    • Thanks Paige!

  12. thanks for the great advices! Have you dehydrated frozen mussels before? was thinking for my old dog but unsure if its safe as its frozen…

    Reply
    • No I’ve never tried that, wouldn’t buy them for myself so wouldnt buy for dog either… I have no idea if its ok or not, I only eat fish from the sea as a bit funny with sea food. Sorry and thanks.

    • Great finding this page. There appears quite a few sites it here but found this one more informative.
      Tried pork, today I’m dehydrating Ox heart and liver.

      Dogs do go mad for it

      Cheers

    • Thanks for commenting, yeah this is the original dehydrated treats ‘how to’, the rest came after and kinda copied it.

    • Has anyone dehydrated goose gizzards

    • Yes but I won’t do it again. They were very dry and thin.

    • I’ve tried dehydrating mussels for my dog and it’s a great substitute for glucosamine! Helps build his joints 🙂 drying time may take a little longer though. Hope this helps

  13. Thanks for the information enjoyed reading. We tried chicken hearts it was hard going as you had to cut the fat of the and trim down by the time you do than not much left over of the hearts

    Reply
  14. Can I dehydrate previously frozen raw meat? Thank you!

    Reply
  15. Can I dehydrate meat (chicken necks) that were frozen raw? Thank you!

    Reply
  16. How long and at what temp would you recommend chicken necks? Should they also be put in the oven after dehydrating? Thank you!

    Reply
  17. Hi. I have been dehydrating chicken stips from 11:00 PM last night until now, 7:00 PM. They still look shiny and a little wet. Is that normal?

    Reply
    • hard to say without seeing pic. is the wetness in fact just grease?

  18. Hi, just found your article on making dehydrate chicken treats. I used to buy Tucker’s Klassic Kelly’s chicken strips for my pups as they were “clean” single ingredient and individually wrapped. I noticed that when I opened the packets, the chicken was lightly greased. Could that have been a by product of the packaging or something they used to preserve the chewiness of the chicken? Basically, I’m wondering if I should brush the homemade dehydrated strips with coconut oil or something else that’s healthy and doesn’t expire to keep the chewiness? Thank you! -Kim

    Reply
  19. There’s a conflict of instruction/advise in the guide.. Do we bake them at 125/150 deg C to kill the pathogen?

    Reply
    • A quick bake at the end ensures they are free from any bugs, which they most likely will be anyway. I don’t bother personally, but since I’m posting this publicly I thought best to include it just to be safe.

    • Hi! Is it 125 or 150 deg Celsius?

    • The temp of 126 is what Oregon State Uni advised to kill any possible pathogens, I personally just used 150 cause of how my old cooker is – it’s not really an issue. Any temp from 126 and above is fine.

  20. Hi do you have a recipe
    book i can buy .
    I love these recipes but woukd like a book to use.
    Thank you.?

    Reply
  21. So it took me a few years to find you. This is a GREAT article. Thank you.

    Reply
  22. Thank you very i informative. I bought my machine a month ago and me and dogs very pleased with results. Although I think I might of over did the times, as very crisp when finished. We have done chicken, liver,kidney and steak so far. Will try fish next. Glad I invested now as I hate those plastic looking store bought treats.

    Reply
  23. This is fantastic! Great information, all the answers I was looking for in one place. I’ve purchased a dehydrator but wasn’t sure how to deal with the bacteria problem. You’ve helped me to conquer my doubts and fears and inspired me to no end. Thank you, from me and two very happy pooches!!

    Reply
  24. Hello!

    What is the best way when storing these treats to allow them to remai fresh and give them a longer shelf life?

    Reply
    • I guess ultimately the freezer is the best place.

  25. I dry fresh chicken wing tips for 24 hours in Excalibur dehydrator at 75 deg and sometimes they are greasy. If I put them in the oven for 10 mins at 150 deg C then they are dripping in fat. Why?

    Reply
    • Well sounds like wings are just too fatty. Chicken skin is also around 40% fat too so maybe try a breast or take time to de-bone and de-skin the wings.

  26. hello friends
    a question
    some of natural treats are beautiful snow white but some others are natural brown dried color. how they make those white? have they chemicals? are whites dangerous?

    Reply
  27. I’m new at this but want the best for my boy & just love all your recipes so much to choose from thank you Rita from Australia

    Reply
    • Thanks Rita

  28. What temperature and time for chicken necks for the dog?

    Reply
  29. Will the length of dehydrating hours affect the chewiness of the pig ears? I dehydrated it for almost 24 hours but it comes out chewy, if I want to make it more crunchy do I need to dehydrate them longer?

    Reply
    • Yeah they are still not fully dried, the dryer they get the crunchier.

  30. Hello, thank you for these ideas and directions. When dehydrating an ingredient, how much does the weight reduce by ? For example, how much does 1 kilogram of fresh liver reduce to when dehydrated?

    Reply
    • Oh, I’ve never bothered to weigh… but I reckon around 70% reduction in weight. Most food is mainly water.

  31. I BOIL LAMB HEARTS FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AND THEN WHEN COOLED PUT THEM IN DEHYDRATOR FOR 10 HOURS DOES THIS SOUND LIKE IT IS OKAY AND SAFE TO STORE

    Reply
    • Yeah that’s fine. Just place on dehydrator soon after cooking.

  32. Hi Jamie

    I’m so happy I came across your website about recipes for dogs, I’m definitely going to purchase a dehydrator to make my own beef jerky etc!!

    Have a nice day

    Jo

    Reply
  33. Thank you so much for all these recipes. I was looking for instructions for drying salmon for my dogs and this is a great help!

    Reply
    • Nice recipes! We cooked up a batch of various livers, heart and kidneys today. One question though….howndo you store them? In the fridge?

  34. I’m looking for a recipe for dog cookies.. Wheat flour, quinoa, peanut butter? Sort of recipe. Had one can’t find it!

    Reply
  35. Good info on dehydrating pet treats for those just dabbline in that area! I make dehydrated treats for pets for my small business, Piggyback Treats Company. I dry everything I make to CRISP! Nothing will have residual moisture, and can then be kept indifenitly at room temperature if stored properly away from sunlight or condensation. I prefer glass jars without airtight rubber seals. It allows for some airflow. I have dehydrated heart, tongue, liver, chicken giblets, fish skins, kidneys, various fruits and veggies and i’m Always testing new meat byproducts, too! For anyone wondering… just slice your meats thin and remove excess fat. Tongue, for instance, is fatty. Keep that in mind and monitor it for spoilage, though I have NEVER envountered it! Typically, I make new batches every couple of months, so I haven’t had to store for longer than that. (Cats love the dehydrated meats! Don’t forget to treat the felines!)

    Reply
    • We have our own jerky company for humans that we are working on getting USDA rating now. We also cut it super thin to make it crisp!! We have talked about adding a pet line also. Do you also put in the oven after dehydrating???

  36. What about dehydrating beef aorta? I bought a box and didn’t realize how hard it would be to deal with… dehydrating it seems logical

    Reply
    • Sure, that sounds like a pretty good idea for a treat. I’ve never tried it, never even heard of it till you mentioned it and I googled it. Personally, I’d stick a few on the dehydrator until they were dry and crisp. I’d love to hear how you get on and see some pics!! 🙂

    • Thanks Laura

  37. Enjoyed reading the recipes, great ideas for treats.
    I’m wondering if you any recipes or hints on dehydrating chicken necks for dogs.

    Reply
    • I did consider trying it.. and had some in fridge but the bones just put me off. If you wanna try it, just place it on at the highest setting (70C) and see how it dries. You could just dry it till the meat seems dry… It’s the bones that worry me.. are dried bones the same as cooked bones?.. not sure… give it a try and let me know how it goes.

  38. Thank you for such an informative website. While I’m still learning many dehydrating tricks, my biggest fear is improper storage.

    If you have a page or can refer a good one regarding proper storage, if be grateful.

    Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Dogs stomachs are pretty tough. Daily I see them eat mud, poo, drink from stagnant water, eat weird stuff. For peace of mind put everything you dry in the freezer.

  39. I just bought some chicken feet and just purchased a 10 tray digital Excalibur….thought It would be easy to find a recipe…not….any suggestions would be awesome.

    Reply
    • Hey Rebecca, chicken feet have now been added to the guide. 5 days to dry, but around 4-5 days in general.

  40. When I did my course on food preparation for child-care, we were taught that common food pathogens including salmonella could not reproduce between 4-64°C (39.2-147.2°F), and would die above 64°C.

    Interestingly, salmonella is one of our many ‘healthy’ gut-bacteria and is common in many foods, especially fresh chicken eggs. The problem arises when the quantity is out of balance with the other gut flora. Other than clostridium botulinum (which causes botulism and can be fatal), there is no ‘bad bacteria’, only imbalance. And c.botulinum can only be found in an already infected animal, which is rare in our modern Western society, and is usually picked up at inspection at the abattoir. Like any bacteria (except for the ones which live at the bottom of oceans next to volcanic vents, which we will never come close to), c.botulinum also dies at 64°C. The problem arises almost exclusively in the middle of joints of meat where the temperature does not get to 64°C because the bone marrow didn’t conduct the heat as well as the surrounding meat.

    So I’ll happily dry Jake’s de-jointed dog-bones and treats at 70°C… ?

    Reply
    • Wow. Really interesting reply, thanks very much. I don’t normally use the oven, but since this is a recipe available to the public I thought best to stay on the side of caution.

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