Christmas is not only a joy for people: with time spent together and dog-friendly tasty treats, we can pamper our four-legged friends as well. In our article, we have collected some safe and delicious recipe ideas for dogs, along with tips on which ingredients are worth using to ensure our pet’s safety.

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At Christmas, many owners would like to involve their pet in the festive experiences; however, bites falling from the table or ingredients from the family menu can unfortunately often be dangerous for pets. Chocolate and cocoa-based sweets, all types of onion, grapes and raisins, and birch sugar (xylitol) can cause severe poisoning, while spicy and fatty foods can lead to serious health problems for them. For this reason, only safe recipes should be prepared that dogs can guaranteedly enjoy safely at Christmas.

If we want to surprise our pet, let us prepare dog-friendly treats for them.

The Best Ingredients for Animal-Friendly Festive Treats

Fortunately, there are many safe, nutritious and festive ingredients available, from which we have collected a few:

• Pumpkin: Naturally, the plain, unsweetened version, which is good for digestion and is also low in calories.
• Sweet potato: Famous for its high fibre, vitamin and mineral content.
• Peanut butter: Contains healthy fats and protein, and is surprisingly a favourite of many animals. One thing to watch out for, however, is to use a xylitol-, salt- and sugar-free version.
• Apple: A perfect ingredient because of its high fibre and vitamin C content; however, the seeds must definitely be removed.

The ingredients mentioned above are healthy.

Here Are Our Best Christmas Recipes for Dogs!

1.) Pumpkin and Turkey Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain, cooked pumpkin purée,
• 1 egg,
• 2 cups wholemeal flour,
• a handful of cooked turkey, without spices.

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 180 °C, then mix together the pumpkin purée, the egg and the finely chopped turkey. Gradually add the flour until you get a dough. Roll out the dough, then cut it out with Christmas-shaped cutters. Bake on a baking tray lined with baking paper for about 20–30 minutes, until the biscuits harden.

2.) Salmon or Tuna Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 tin of tuna or salmon in water, drained,
• 20 g oats,
• 1 egg.

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 180 °C, then mix the ingredients thoroughly. Shape small balls and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until they harden.

Pumpkin is an excellent food for dogs and cats as well.

3.) Apple and Carrot Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 cup finely grated carrot,
• 1 grated apple (without seeds),
• 1 cup oats,
• 1 egg.

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 180 °C, then mix the ingredients together. Shape small balls and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for about 15 minutes, until they firm up slightly.

4.) Peanut Butter Bites

Ingredients:

• 20 g oats,
• 1 egg,
• a small amount of peanut butter and pumpkin purée.

Mix unsalted, xylitol-free peanut butter with oats and a small amount of pumpkin purée, then preheat the oven to 180 °C and mix the ingredients thoroughly. Shape small balls and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until they harden.

5.) Vegetable Poultry Bites

Ingredients:

• 200 g cooked turkey ham or chicken (without salt and spices),
• 50 g cooked green beans,
• 50 g cooked carrots.

Preparation:

Chop the meat and vegetables into small cubes. Mix them together, then portion them evenly into small bowls or freezable ice-cube trays. Chill, then offer them to your dog as a festive treat.

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