The Homemade Dog Cookies That Make Dogs Go Squirrely

You know who deserves a treat? The garden protectors. Well, they may also be the garden destroyers at times—digging holes, burying bones, trampling plants, and eating the snow peas–but they are pretty darn good at keeping critters from running amok. 

So how do I thank them? First I bark “hey you two, quit all that barking,” and then I (sheepishly) realize that they have done their jobs oh so well by keeping the squirrels away from the veggie garden.

It’s not a perfect system. They probably eat more veggies than the critters could ever stomach. My fig tree and strawberry patch gets stripped of all the ripe fruit before I can even pull out my harvest basket. I suppose that it’s my fault for introducing them to the delights of garden-fresh food.

Guarding the garden is a thankless job, mostly. The crows taunt them by stealing their bones and leaving them on the roof of the garage. Skunks spray and raccoons hiss. Overall, they are under-appreciated for standing guard. The least I can do is I make up a batch of these yummy squirrel cookies. They drive them almost as insane as the real thing, but in a good way.

Here is the recipe to make your own doggie snacks.

Note: the squirrel cookie cutter was part of a set that I bought at Ikea. Here is the whole set. I also used them for this project.

Ingredients

Makes approximately 48 squirrels

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup low sodium beef stock
• Cinnamon
• Crunchy bits from leftover dog cookies, crushed kibble, or bacon bits (optional)

Make it!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grind rolled oats in a food processor until you get a coarse flour. Add all ingredients except the crunchies to a large bowl and mix until combined. It may be easier to use your hands to mix the dough because it is very stiff.

I like to add something with a different flavor kneaded into the dough at the end but it isn’t necessary. You can use the crumbs leftover in the pooch’s cookie jar or kibble bag, or even some bacon bits. They would LOVE that, right?

Form a ball with the dough and roll out on a floured surface to 1/2″ thick. Use a cookie cutter to make cookies shaped like squirrels, bones, or whatever you choose.

Bake on a parchment-lined cookie sheet for 30 minutes.

Cool and they are ready to treat the pups for protecting the garden. Or package them up for your furry one’s pals. They will be a welcome treat for any canine family members!

If your pup is your trusty gardening companion, make sure you know how to keep your garden safe for pets.

Keep Fido fresh naturally with these recipes for Doggie Deoderant and Herbal Anti-Flea Shampoo.