What are the Benefits of Homemade Dog Treats?

Homemade dog treats offer a variety of health benefits like better digestion, reduced allergic reactions, healthier skin and coat, improved weight management, and cleaner teeth. These results come from using simple, natural ingredients such as oats, pumpkin, peanut butter, and lean proteins, while avoiding artificial preservatives and fillers often found in mass-produced treats. Each recipe can be adjusted to suit a dog’s age, size, health condition, or dietary restriction, making homemade treats a more personal and careful way to support their nutrition.

At The Doggie’s Deli, we believe in this kind of intentional care. As a homemade dog treat shop in Los Angeles, we focus on making fresh, balanced snacks that support each dog’s unique needs. Whether it’s grain-free options or recipes for sensitive stomachs, our goal is to make treats that are as healthy as they are satisfying. In this blog, you’ll learn how these treats contribute to your dog’s overall wellness across key areas like digestion, allergy support, skin health, and more.

Why Do Dogs Love Homemade Treats?

Dogs love homemade treats because they offer stronger aromas, better taste, and a fresher texture than most commercial options. Using fresh, real ingredients like shredded chicken, mashed sweet potato, and natural peanut butter creates a depth of smell and taste that immediately captures a dog’s attention. 

Here are five specific reasons why dogs respond so positively to homemade treats:

• Stronger aroma and flavor: Ingredients like beef broth, cheese, or liver powder offer bold smells and flavors that are far more enticing than artificial additives found in packaged treats.

• Custom texture and softness: Treats can be baked to a crunchy finish or left soft, depending on your dog’s chewing ability. For instance, a senior dog may benefit from softer bites made with oat flour and banana.

• Freshness that enhances palatability: Homemade treats are usually made in small batches and stored properly, which preserves moisture and flavor better than long-shelf-life products.

• Absence of synthetic additives: Dogs often avoid chemically flavored items. Homemade options omit these entirely, reducing the risk of rejection or digestive irritation.

• Positive emotional cues: Dogs associate homemade treats with your voice, scent, and attention during preparation or training, reinforcing good behavior and trust.

Top 7 Health Benefits of All-Natural Homemade Dog Treats

Health benefits of all-natural homemade dog treats include improved digestion, healthier skin and coat, better weight control, enhanced dental hygiene, fewer allergic reactions, and avoidance of harmful additives. Because the recipes are made at home, dog owners have complete control over what goes into each treat.

Here are 7 key health benefits your dog gets from homemade treats:

1. Better Control Over Ingredients

Homemade dog treats give pet owners full authority over ingredient quality, sourcing, and composition. This ensures that only safe, natural, and species-appropriate foods are used. Unlike commercial options, which often contain artificial fillers, rendered meat meals, or undisclosed flavoring agents, homemade recipes can be built from scratch using whole ingredients like lean proteins, nutrient-dense vegetables, and gluten-free flours.

For instance, you can use single-source proteins such as boiled turkey breast or salmon, gluten-free flours like chickpea or coconut flour, and nutrient-rich add-ins like chia seeds or bone broth. This control allows precise formulation of treats to accommodate allergies, nutrient deficiencies, or life stage needs such as puppy growth or senior maintenance. When you prepare treats at home, you remove the guesswork and gain confidence in what your dog is consuming.

2. Homemade Treats help in Improved Digestion

Digestive balance in dogs depends heavily on the quality and digestibility of ingredients, something commercial snacks often overlook. Many mass-produced treats include synthetic additives or hard-to-digest fillers that can disrupt the gut environment. By using whole-food components known to aid digestion, homemade recipes support smoother gastrointestinal function.

Pumpkin purée and sweet potatoes provide gentle bulk to stools, while brown rice offers an easy-to-digest carbohydrate source. For dogs with chronic gastrointestinal issues, adding natural probiotics like plain yogurt or digestive herbs like fennel can further stabilize the system. This results in better nutrient absorption, reduced bloating, and more consistent elimination patterns.

3. Promote a Healthier Skin and Coat

Skin and coat health are primarily influenced by dietary intake of essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3s and omega-6s, as well as supportive vitamins like A and E. Commercial treats often lack these nutrients or contain oxidized fats that may do more harm than good. Homemade options, like an omega-3 treat made with fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients, allow for more targeted nutritional support.

Including flaxseed oil, chia seeds, or sardine paste can boost omega-3 intake, helping to reduce skin inflammation and improve fur quality. Vitamin E from sunflower seeds and beta-carotene from carrots support skin elasticity and repair. Over time, regular feeding of these treats results in reduced dryness, fewer hot spots, and a glossy, resilient coat.

4. You Can Choose Allergen-Free Options to Suit Your Dog’s Needs

Dogs with food sensitivities benefit immensely from treats formulated without common allergens. Food hypersensitivity in dogs commonly involves reactions to soy, dairy, wheat, beef, or artificial dyes. Because homemade treats are made from scratch, you can avoid these problematic ingredients and substitute safer alternatives with confidence.

Substituting rice or chickpea flour for wheat, using goat’s milk instead of cow’s milk, or selecting limited-ingredient proteins like duck or venison gives owners the ability to create safe, hypoallergenic options. Functional ingredients like turmeric can also help reduce inflammation linked to allergic responses. These changes make homemade treats both a preventive and therapeutic tool for managing canine allergies.

5. Helps With Weight Control

Weight control starts with what and how much your dog eats, especially when it comes to treats. Obesity in dogs can lead to complications like joint strain, diabetes, and reduced lifespan. Homemade treats help manage weight by allowing careful control over calorie density and macronutrient ratios. Unlike commercial snacks, which often use sugar, molasses, or excessive fat for palatability, homemade options focus on lean, nutrient-dense ingredients.

Incorporating green beans, carrots, or apples provides natural sweetness and crunch without added calories. Portion sizes can be tailored, and calorie content measured precisely using kitchen scales or vet-recommended calculators. This empowers pet owners to maintain dietary balance and prevent excessive weight gain in high-risk breeds or aging pets.

6. Support Your Dog’s Dental Health with Natural Ingredients

Oral health in dogs can be improved through texture and ingredient choices in their daily treats. Dental diseases affect over 80% of adult dogs, but diet plays a crucial role in prevention. Homemade treats offer the opportunity to include natural abrasives and antibacterial ingredients that support oral hygiene without synthetic additives or binding agents that stick to teeth.

Crunchy textures created using dehydrated apples, shredded coconut, or coarsely ground oats help remove plaque mechanically during chewing. Natural additives like parsley and cinnamon can freshen breath and reduce oral bacteria. Incorporating these ingredients into a regular treat routine supports stronger gums, cleaner teeth, and a lower risk of periodontal disease.

7. Avoid Harmful Additives and Preservatives

Avoiding synthetic chemicals in your dog’s diet reduces long-term health risks. Commercial dog treats often use synthetic preservatives like ethoxyquin, propylene glycol, and sodium metabisulfite, which have been associated with gastrointestinal distress, liver stress, and allergic reactions in dogs. Homemade treats eliminate these risks by relying on natural preservation methods such as refrigeration, small-batch baking, or moisture control through air-drying.

Additionally, you can use antioxidant-rich components like vitamin E oil or rosemary extract to extend shelf life naturally. This eliminates exposure to chemical stabilizers while maintaining freshness. Dogs fed clean-label treats show fewer adverse reactions, making homemade options safer for long-term use and daily reward routines.

Support Your Dog’s Health with Natural Ingredients from The Doggie's Deli

A dog’s overall health is strongly influenced by the quality of ingredients in their diet. Natural components like lean meats, sweet potatoes, oats, and flaxseed contribute to better digestion, immune function, skin condition, and energy levels. Unlike artificial additives or overly processed fillers, these whole-food ingredients deliver bioavailable nutrients that support a dog’s body from the inside out.

To make these health benefits more accessible, The Doggie’s Deli offers a range of freshly prepared treats that prioritize natural, functional ingredients. Each recipe is made to support specific wellness goals, whether it’s easing digestive issues, managing weight, or improving coat health. With options free from common allergens and made in small batches for freshness, The Doggie’s Deli delivers treats that taste good and actively contribute to your dog’s daily well-being.