If your dog has diabetes or is overweight you will know you are feeding him/her something good for your pet. I am sharing 2 recipes for dog cookies. One is the economical dog cookie recipe and the other is a plaque fighting dog cookie. Both are easy to make and healthier than most store bought dog cookies. This is a great way to show your pet how much to love them. If you have children these cookies are fun to make and you can teach them some math with the measurements.

Buddy, my Golden Retriever enjoys the cookies

Economical Dog Cookies

Makes over 45 cookies. You can also use a cookie cutter or cut the dough with a pizza cutter or knife.

• 1/3 cup margarine or butter, softened. You can melt the margarine or butter in a microwave by heating about 15-20 seconds. It will melt fast.
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• ½ cup powdered skim milk
• 1/3 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 medium-large egg
• ¾ cup water

In a large bowl add the powdered skim milk, garlic powder, water and 1 beaten egg.  Add the melted margarine and stir. Add the flour and mix until blended and the dough forms into a large ball.

Form dough into ball

Knead the dough on a floured surface, using your hands. Be sure to dip your hands in the flour to keep the dough from sticking to your hands. I roll the dough out on the kitchen counter using flour sprinkled right on the counter top.

Knead dough with your hands

Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough or use a Pringel potato chip container. It works the same. Be careful not to crush the Pringles. Use cookie cutter to cut shapes when the dough is about ¼ inch thick.

Roll dough on flat surface

It helps to dip the cookie cutters in flour so the dough does not stick. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie pan. You do not have to place them far apart as the cookies do not get much larger while baking.

Place raw cookies on ungreased bake pan

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  Let cool completely before serving to your dog.

Plaque Removing Dog Cookies

Bulgur wheat is in the small bowl with the egg

This is a crunchy very hard cookie with a rough texture. Buddy the Dog loves these cookies. It helps remove the plaque build-up on his teeth. It is safer for him than bones.

This recipe calls for bulgur wheat, which can be found in a health food store and is inexpensive. You will need 2 medium size bowls for this recipe as you will make 2 mixtures and add them together.

In the first bowl add:

• Whole wheat, cornmeal, bulgur (golden color to the right) , powdered skimmilk
• ¾ cup powdered skim milk
• ½ cup yellow cornmeal
• ¼ cup bulgur wheat
• 2 ¼ cups whole wheat flour

In the second bowl :

• Add boiling water to oatmeal and chicken bouilion
• 1 cup oatmeal, use quick oats or regular oats uncooked
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 teaspoon powdered chicken bouillon
• 1 ½ cups boiling water

Set the second bowl aside 5 minutes so the oatmeal and chicken flavor blends together.

Rough dog cookie dough

Gradually stir in the dry ingredients from bowl number 1 into bowl number 2 with the wet ingredients until well mixed and a large dough ball is formed. The dough will be rough and a bit sticky. See photo above.

Cookie cutters

Dog cookies on pan before baking

Flour the counter or a clean flat surface and roll the dough ¼ inch thick. Cut into cookie shapes and place on an ungreased bake pan. You do not have to place them far apart as the cookies do not get much larger while baking.

Leave baked cookies in oven after they are baked

Bake 50 minutes at 325 degrees. When the time is up leave the cookies in the oven overnight or several hours. The heat will dry and harden the cookies. They should be hard and crunchy. Cool and store both cookie recipes at room temperature in an airtight container.

Buddy sneaks a peak at the dog cookies

Remember to share some with the neighbor’s dog and spread the Aloha Spirit to the doggies of Hawaii.