Why dehydrate your own dog treats?
Dried dog treats made from real meat are expensive and difficult to justify when cheaper, mass-produced, processed treats are available on the same store shelf. But dehydrators are cheap to buy and even cheaper to run and it's very simple to learn how to dry treats for dogs! I'd been wanting a dehydrator, but I couldn't find any online guides for making dog treats - only human jerky recipes. So, I bought a dehydrator, researched the process, and created the internet's first guide to dehydrating dog treats. I’m thrilled with this dehydrator and recommend it to any dog owner who enjoys making homemade dog treats. Jerky treats are ideal because they’re clean, dry, and perfect for settling my dogs when we get home from a walk. Ensure your dehydrator can dry meat, as some models are designed only for fruit and don’t reach high enough temperatures.
IMPORTANT READING
While researching how to make jerky, I found conflicting advice online. Some recipes (for human consumption) suggest placing raw meat, including chicken, directly in the dehydrator, while others recommend precooking the meat to kill pathogens. Although dogs rarely get sick from bacteria like Salmonella due to their short digestive tracts, which often neutralise harmful bacteria, caution may still be warranted. Most dehydrators reach a maximum temperature of around 70°C (160°F), which is insufficient to kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. To ensure safety, I always bake the dehydrated meat in the oven at 150°C (300°F) for 10 minutes to eliminate any remaining pathogens. Oregon state University did research on how to make homemade jerky safe (for humans) 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.
TIPS
- Always wash your hands before you start.
- Food with a lower fat content lasts longer, as fat cannot be dried and will spoil the food faster. So if you're planning to store the treats long-term, then trim any fat off the meat before you dry it out.
- Drying times vary a lot. Temperature, thickness of food, amount on the trays, and different machines all affect the timing. Your user manual will help, and you’ll soon learn when it’s done by texture, appearance, and general experience.
- I store dehydrated jerky in the freezer (no defrosting required), but you can learn more about storing jerky at WikiHow.
- You can cut meat as thin or thick as you like, but the thicker it is, the longer it takes to dry.
- A very sharp knife makes slicing easier.
- You’ll be surprised how much food shrinks when dehydrated. Just remember that it’s concentrated food and don’t give too much at once – it’s a treat!
- Getting raw foods is easier online for most people - give Rawdirect.co.uk and Iwantpetfoods.com a try.
HOW TO STORE
Store treats in airtight containers in a cool, dry, dark place to keep them fresh for 3-6 months. For maximum safety, I recommend freezing them, which can extend shelf life to 1-2 years – they thaw super quickly because of the low moisture. Check for mould, off smells, or slimy textures before feeding, especially with fatty meats like salmon or pork.
I am using the Andrew James dehydrator for all these recipes - cheap to buy, cheap to run. Click image to find it on Amazon!
Equipment
- 1 Food dehydrator (with trays)
Ingredients
- Pig Ears As many as will fit on your trays
Instructions
- All these pig ears cost just £5! I cut off the fleshy section that joined the ear to the head; it’s way to thick.
- Place on a tray in the dehydrator and dry for 16-24 hours. I filled 4 racks! Once dried, I place them in the oven at 257ºF [126ºC] for 10 mins.
- And they are done. Identical to what you buy in the shops. They have cost around 30p each, plus the cut-offs have given me several days' worth of dog food. Great value!
- Flo adores her homemade pig ears!
Notes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Raw chicken feet As many as your dehydrator can hold
Instructions
- First thing I’ll do is give the feet a wee wash
- The feet have nails, and they are quite sharp, so I don’t want the dogs eating these when they become dry and brittle, so I cut them off.
- 2 kilos will give me around 60+ feet which will fill 4 racks
- I’ll be drying these for 96 hours minimum and up to 120 hours, but the timer only goes up to 48 hours, so I’ll be resetting the dehydrator 3 times. They are done when there is no flex in the feet, especially the skin and the padded parts. I want them dry and hard.
- Nearly 120 hours later, and they’re done! No need to place in the oven afterwards.
- They look great! I’m really happy with how this went!
- Really tasty and all the dogs loved them.
Notes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Raw pig skin Can be bought cheaply at supermarkets like Morrisons
Instructions
- Place the skin on a dehydrator tray. Remember to cut to the size you want before you dry. Dry at 70ºC for 24 hours.
- 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 kitchen towel to soak up any residue.
- One of Flo’s favourite treats. This will keep her busy for a good 20 minutes.
Notes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Raw tripe white or green (green is very smelly)
Instructions
- Half a kilo of white tripe I bought from the butchers.
- Wash tripe and then gently pat dry.
- Cut into 1 inch strips and place on tray.
- I’ll be dehydrating for around 14 hours at 70ºC (158ºf) followed by a quick 10 minute heat in oven.
- The tripe is done! I’ll bung it in the freezer for when I need it.
- Ruby loves her homemade tripe jerky!
Notes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Lean beef Top round, flank steak, or sirloin are excellent choices
Instructions
- Freeze for an hour and then slice your lean beef 1/8th of an inch thick.
- 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.
- After 8 hours drying and 10 minutes in the oven they are done! Freeze and reward the dog when necessary.
Notes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Salmon fillet Skinless and boneless - fresh or frozen
Instructions
- Slice the salmon into thick strips. Slicing with the grain will make a chewier jerky, while slicing against the grain will make it less chewy
- 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
- The jerky is ready when it is dry to the touch and bends without breaking.
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Fresh liver Beef, lamb, pork or chicken; any type will work
Instructions
- Wash, pat dry and cut liver into thin strips
- Lay the liver strips in a single layer on trays, ensuring they are not overlapping. Dry the liver at 70°C (160°F) until dry, crisp, and brittle. The drying time will vary depending on the thickness of the strips
- The liver is ready when it is dry, dark, and snaps cleanly. It should have no moisture left inside
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Boneless sea bass fillets Or other low-fat white fish
Instructions
- Place fish in the freezer for 1 hour to firm then slice into strips.
- Place fish strips on a tray and dehydrate. These took 9 hours to dry then I put them in the oven for 10 mins.
- Sea bass fish jerky dog treats done! Delicious!
Notes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast
Instructions
- Wash hands, wash the chicken breast, pat dry and cut into thin strips of similar width.
- Place chicken strips evenly and without touching on a 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.
- Chicken jerky dog treats done! Place in freezer for when you need them. No defrost required.
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Lean rabbit meat
Instructions
- Lovely fresh rabbit! I’ll bring it to the boil and then simmer for 2 hours.
- Once cooled I take all the meat of the bone!
- 6-8 hours in the dehydrator and it’s done!
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Heart eg Ox, pig or lamb
Instructions
- Wash the blood out of the heart and slice into strips of similar thickness
- Trim off any fat, pat dry and place on dehydrator tray. I’ll be dehydrating these for around 12 hours. (Time varies on thickness of strips) followed by 10 mins in the oven.
- The jerky is ready when it is dry to the touch and bends without breaking. It should not feel moist or raw in the center
Notes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Fresh kidney Beef, lamb, or pork; any type will work
Instructions
- I freeze the kidney first so I can cut very thin slices. Trim away any visible fat to aid storage life
- Lay the kidney strips in a single layer on your dehydrator trays, ensuring they are not overlapping. I’ll dehydrate these for 12 hours or until it is completely dry
- Kidney crisps done! A real doggy favourite!
Notes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Pig Snout
Instructions
- One pig snout placed on dehydrator. I’ll let it dry for 24 hours at 70ºC. It’s just pure delicious meat!
- 24 hours later and its hard and ready to give to dog.
- Ruby loves her dried pig snout!
Notes
Equipment
- Dehydrator
Ingredients
- Apples, bananas or sweet potato Any dog safe fruit and veg you know your dog enjoys
Instructions
- Slice your fruit into similarly thick slices
- Dry for around 8 hours or until dry and leathery
- If using 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.
I started making and posting dog treat recipes shortly after I began dog walking. If you've ever considered becoming a dog walker I have a how-to guide you can read to help you start.
If you live locally and need a Dargavel Village, Erskine or Bishopton Dog Walker, please enquire about your pet care needs.
how would I make beef tongue treats in the food dehydrator? How long should they cook for? Thank you for your info.
Excellent information! Thanks! I only recently tried my dogs on dried liver treats, and they’ve gone nuts for them, but the one who really acted like she found heaven was my cat. She pushed in past three dogs who weigh in at well over one hundred pounds between them to steal these right out from under their noses. My big dehydrator is working non-stop. Thanks so much for your direction and advice!
I was looking for ways to use liver and stumbled onto your site. I have written down 2 recipes (so far) and will also write down the liver dog food recipe. Liver is not my family’s favorite but I expect our half Australian shepherd and red healer will have a different opinion of it. I look forward to making these recipes.
Hi I have a lovely little boxer pup 13 weeks old he’s raw fed and I’ve just bought my first dehydrator got heart ready to do, and some little fishes (can’t remember what they are called) can they all go in together or do I need to do them separately cheers
I can see the meats but the pig’s ears are too revolting to even look at let alone feed to my dog.I also cannot do raw for same reason. We tried freeze dried raw and my little shih tzu vomited non stop . Tried another brand and had horrible diarrhea. Besides his mom , me, cannot tolerate or touch anything raw.
Oh Nancy it is disgusting at first but you get used to it. I remember when I got my first dog I couldnt bare to pick up his poo and would gag at the sight and my bro had to do it, but now as a dog walker I do it all day long fine. Pig ears are brill and you know, I’d give yourself that chance to get used to animal body parts. Chicken and beef is great, dogs love it.
“We tried freeze dried raw and my little shih tzu vomited non stop . ”
Shih tzu is one of the very few dog breeds that cannot eat raw food like other dogs. It is so old breed that it is adapted to eat processed food and the raw food makes it often sick. So becareful with your shih tzu.
Hello Jamie! Great Blog. I have a question, for how long can you store these jerks? I have a small dog and I want to do a bunch of them for a long period of time, but I am afraid of losing quality or contaminations. Thank you!!
Hey Anna
Well it all depends… For humans we’d add salt and spices and stuff which helps keep the food from spoiling for a longer time but for dogs we don’t want salt in it so then it depends on how much fat is on the meat – the less fat the longer it will last as fat spoils. So maybe a few weeks if stored correctly. If you want long term then an ideal way is to freeze and you wont even need to defrost as the water content is so low.
The dehydrated result is quite crunchy is there a way of making them softer I’m using raw and want to make quick bite training treats for my puppy.
if you want them softer, just dont dry them so long, so there is still some moisture inside. Being crunchy means they are bone dry
Can we do this without a dehydrator and just use the oven?
Yeah, at a very low heat and with the oven door ajar. You can google for more info but dehydrators are cheap and if you are gonna do it regularly then worth buying.
Hi! Do you line your dehydrator before drying the meat? Lots of people recommend lining with silicone….have you had any issues not lining it?
I have made dehydrated sweet potato chews for my pooches before. They go crazy for them, very chewy like rawhide but not as lethal!
Hey Dannii. I don’t, no. Liners are used to prevent high sugar foods from sticking to dehydrator.
Hi Jamie, what temp do you have your oven at for the 10 mins to kill pathogens??
257ºF (126ºC) for 10 mins
Great, thank you 🙂