With V-Day just around the corner, Wally & I just whipped up 20 Valentine’s Day dog treats.
Besides heart shaped dog treats, we also made paw prints and puzzle pieces.
Overall, really cute dog treats.
Of course you can offer these whenever!
But if you’re anything like me – crazy dog lady here – you’ll want to offer your floof some extra goodies on February 14th specifically.
What I like about these particular Valentine’s Day dog treats is that they:
- are grain-free
- are homemade
- pack a ton of nutrients
- are super easy to make
- are 2-3 ingredient treats
- work great for raw-fed dogs
- offer a nutrient boost for kibble-fed dogs
- make a great meal topper for extra picky dogs
- look fun and colorful without the addition of any artificial ingredients – no Milk-Bone Mini Sweetheart crap here!!
Spoiler alert: These are frozen dog treats, so if your pup has an overly sensitive stomach or isn’t healthy, (homemade) dehydrated dog treats like this one may work better.
Note: Prepare for wet doggie kisses in return for these!
Besides the ingredients, their benefits and lots of pictures, I also share the following in this blog post:
- How long do homemade frozen dog treats last?
- How to feed your dog the frozen treats
20 Easy No Bake Valentine’s Day Dog Treats
Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
What You’ll Need for These Treats & Benefits
Below you’ll find a list of everything I used to make these 20 dog treats with.
As you read through the components, feel free to pick and choose the ones that work best for you and your pup, or re-combine ingredients as you wish.
My goal in making these was to create an idea-pool for your very own no bake, easy homemade dog treats recipes!
As far as tools, you’ll need silicone baking molds or ice cube trays.
The ones I own are all dishwasher-safe which makes clean up a breeze, so that’s something to consider (as long as you have a dishwasher).
Additionally, you’ll need mixing bowls and spoons.
Dehydrated red beets
Red beets are not only rich in fiber, Vitamin B9 (folate), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) & Vitamin C, but also in iron, manganese, copper, potassium and magnesium.
As a result, they help relieve allergy-related itchiness and promote skin health.
Freeze-dried kelp
Kelp is rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and amino acids.
Additionally, it’s a natural source of iodine that promotes healthy skin, reduces itching and helps with arthritis pain.
Last but not least, it also helps repel fleas.
Tip: Save 15% with my affiliate code K9Savings.
Pumpkin purée (homemade or canned)
Pumpkin is naturally low in fat, rich in fiber and beta-carotene.
That makes it easy to digest and helps with constipation as well as diarrhea.
Additionally, it’s rich in Vitamins A, B, C, E & K as well as the minerals iron, magnesium and potassium.
Read more about pumpkin here on the blog.
Overly ripe, pealed bananas
Not only are they easy to digest because they’re rich in dietary fiber, they’re also naturally sweet while being low in fat, rich in vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B-6 and antioxidants.
Bone broth (homemade or store-bought)
Bone broth is very easy to digest, detoxifies the liver, is naturally rich in minerals, glucosamine & chondroitin which supports healthy joints and bones.
Here’s my DIY bone broth recipe!
(Ceylon) Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory with antioxidant benefits that helps manage joint/arthritis pain and reduces swelling.
It also lowers blood sugar levels and inhibits bacteria growth.
However, it does stimulate the uterus, so don’t feed it to pregnant dogs.
Parsley flakes
Parsley is naturally rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B1/B2/B3, Vitamin D, beta-carotene, chlorophyll as well as iron, magnesium & zinc. All of these act as an immune system booster.
It’s also a great breath freshener and helps with UTIs because it increases urination.
Ground almonds
Almonds are rich in fiber, Vitamin E, magnesium and manganese. As such, they help treat sinus infections, cough and dry eye.
Make sure you feed finely ground almonds for ultimate digestibility. Whole almonds are really hard for dogs to digest.
Learn more on nuts and seeds for dogs here on the blog.
Rose hip powder
Rose hip is naturally rich in Vitamin C. That makes it a great immune system booster and anti-inflammatory that also helps support healthy joints.
Organic peanut butter
Pb is naturally rich in healthy fats. That’s the main benefit, and the fact that dogs just love it!
That said, it often has xylitol, an artificial sweetener that’s harmful for dogs, added to it, or sugar and salt.
However, there are organic peanut butters that are completely unsweetened and don’t feature any salt either, so look for those!
Plain yogurt
Yogurt is naturally rich in calcium and probiotics which are great for strong bones and gut health.
However, dogs who are lactose intolerant won’t do well with yogurt made from cow milk, so look for yogurt made from goat milk instead.
That’s what I feed Wally as he doesn’t do great with regular milk products.
Puréed spinach
Popeye’s favorite is naturally rich in calcium, iron, iodine, potassium, magnesium, sodium, Vitamin A, B2, B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Vitamin E.
It’s a great anti-inflammatory and overall immune system booster that helps support the cardiovascular system.
For ultimate absorption, you should purée spinach (and all other veggies). That’s because dogs don’t have the enzyme that breaks down plant cell walls.
Adding a little water or bone broth makes it even easier to digest (similar consistency to how a wolf would eat it in a prey’s stomach).
Turmeric paste
Aka golden paste, turmeric paste has antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-septic, anti-inflammatory and liver-detoxifying benefits.
It also supports healthy joints and offers natural pain relief from hip dysplasia.
Works best as a paste – here’s my recipe!
Green tripe (chunked or ground)
The stinky goodness is naturally rich in digestive enzymes, gastric juices, amino acids, calcium and phosphorus, is easy to digest and great for gut health.
For those of you not familiar with this cut: green tripe is the stomach lining of ruminants (cows, goats, sheep, deer) and also rich in healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.
Note: Don’t feed the bleached tripe that’s sold at grocery stores as it doesn’t have any nutritional benefits.
Read more about green tripe here.
Optional: Your furry drooling helper
Ready to make some DIY cute dog treats? Let’s jump right in!
Next, you’ll see which ingredients I combined for Wally’s treats.
Once I mix them together in a bowl, I fill the concoction into my silicone baking molds.
Remember, ice cube trays work too. These days, they’re available in all sorts of cute shapes!
When the molds are full, they go into the freezer for 12+ hours.
(1) Banana-Kelp Treats
(2) Turmeric-Banana Dog Treats
(3) Bone Broth-Parsley Treats
(4) Pumpkin-Kelp Dog Treats
(5) Peanut Butter-Yogurt Treats
(6) Yogurt-Cinnamon Dog Treats
As I said before, cinnamon shouldn’t be fed to pregnant dogs because it can have a stimulating effect on the uterus.
(7) Green Tripe-Bone Broth Treats
(8) Spinach-Almond-Banana Dog Treats
(9) Rose Hip-Banana Treats
(10) Banana-Peanut Butter Dog Treats
(11) Yogurt-Spinach Treats
(12) Red Beets-Bone Broth-Yogurt Dog Treats
(13) Pumpkin-Yogurt Treats
(14) Rose Hip-Spinach Dog Treats
(15) Turmeric-Spinach Treats
(16) Red Beets-Turmeric Dog Treats
(17) Peanut Butter-Spinach Treats
(18) Green Tripe-Turmeric Dog Treats
(19) Spinach-Green Tripe Treats
(20) Red Beets-Bone Broth Dog Treats
How Long Do Homemade Frozen Dog Treats Last?
Well, it sorta depends on your pup and how many you’re handing out in one sitting…
But if you’re asking how long the frozen treats lasts in the freezer, the answer is 2-3 months.
One option is to keep them in their respective silicone molds or ice cube trays.
Another one is to transfer them into freezer storage ziplock bags.
The latter is a good idea if you don’t have a lot of freezer space and/or need to use the molds or ice cube trays for something else.
How to Feed Your Dog the Frozen Dog Treats
You can feed them a few different ways, for example, as:
- obviously, yummy Valentine’s Day dog treats on February 14th
- ingredients in your raw dog food meals throughout the year
- healthy kibble dog food toppers for your picky eater
- frozen dog treats pupsicles in the summer heat
If your pup likes to play with ice cubes and is used to tossing/chasing them across your floors, (s)he may want to do the same with the frozen treats.
In that case, consider offering them in a crate or outside!
Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about any of those “games” with Wally…he just wants to eats them as quickly as possible!
That said, he does “sit pretty” for these. That says a lot because he’s very selective about what he performs it for, ha!
20 Easy No Bake Valentine’s Day Dog Treats: Bottom Line
These homemade Valentine’s Day dog treats are not just easy to make, they’re also a hit with Wally!
Since they’re only 2-3 ingredient dog treats, they’re great for dogs with multiple food sensitivities like my pup.
As they’re homemade dog treats that I crafted myself, I know exactly what’s in them without having to study a long ingredient list.
Wally gets the frozen treats as in-between snacks and also as healthy boosters along with his raw dog food.
Spoiler alert: Being that we’ll be headed for an overland road trip in Spring with Wally, I’ll be taking some along for daily boosters on that adventure as well.
There’ll be room for a ziplock bag filled with 10-14 frozen treats in our car fridge/freezer combination!
What Can I Make My Dog for Valentine’s? – Related Reading:
- 5 Natural Antioxidants for Dogs that Boost the Immune System
- How to Make No-Bake Dog Treats for Dogs with Cancer
- How to Make Dehydrated Sweet Potato Dog Treats
- Best Training Treats for Small Dogs or Puppies
- How to Make Refreshing Raw Goat Milk Treats
- 3 Easy Cow Hoof Fillers for Dogs
