We know, we know. It's hard enough to cook for yourself, and now you're supposed to cook for Fido, too? But just as with making your own food for you, there are many benefits to switching over to homemade treats for your dog. You'll save money, control the ingredients your dog eats, and be able to customize them for your dog's size. Plus, it can be a lot of fun!
Here is a recipe to get you started.

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 eggs
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix together all the ingredients in a bowl.
3. Roll the dough until it about ½ inch thick. If you need to, add water to make the dough easier to work with. Use a cookie cutter to make shapes.
4. Bake for about 40 minutes or until hard.

But don't stop there. Get creative! Here is a list of other ingredients you can consider adding to the mix:

• meat broth/stock
• shredded cheese
• beef liver
• rolled oats
• ground meat
• cooked rice
• apple sauce
• carrots
• apples
• mashed bananas

Remember when you are experimenting that not all human foods are safe for dogs. When in doubt, do an internet search or consult your veterinarian.

Here are a few key ingredients that are potentially dangerous for your pooch:

• chocolate (carob is a safe alternative)
• onions
• grapes/raisins
• avocado
• macadamia nuts
• garlic (Some people believe it can help with fleas, but it can also cause anemia.)

Do you think your pooch would like these treats?

Juliana Weiss-Roessler has ten years of professional writing and editing experience. For four years, she managed the web content for the star of an Emmy-nominated reality series. Currently, she is an editor for the geek girl e-zine PinkRaygun.com, a contributor to the career blog at Resumark.com, and owner of the food blog CookFastLiveYoung.blogspot.com. Follow her @cookfast on Twitter and learn more about her work at WeissRoessler.com.