How to Make Homemade Chicken and Rice Dog Treats
Gobi, our Shih Tzu
Bill DeGiulio
Why We Started Making Our Own Treats
Tired of spending too much money on your dog’s treats? Ever wonder where they are made and what exactly is in them? Have you ever considered making your own treats for your special pooch? These are all questions that might lead you to decide it is time to start making your own dog treats.
The final straw for us came recently when the pet supply store that we frequent informed us that the chicken and rice treats that we had been buying for our 11-year-old Shih Tzu were made in China and were being recalled. This particular brand was responsible for making some dogs sick due to the fact the treats were irradiated.
Now why on Earth would they irradiate dog treats? Apparently, it's to kill any bacteria that might be present in the ingredients, and it also prolongs the shelf life of the product. Well, we can tell you that this was the last time our Gobi was going to be eating these treats.
Gobi
Bill DeGiulio
Meet Our Dog, Gobi
A little background information on Gobi: She is our eleven-year-old Shih Tzu who is still fairly active and loves to play. She loves to be around people and has a wonderful disposition. To us, she is a member of our family.
So what to do about those treats? Well, my wife wanted to take a shot at making our own dog treats. For years, we have been making homemade food for our dog, so why not treats?
When Gobi was just a puppy, she had digestive problems and we really couldn't find a brand of food that she liked and that liked her back. Our veterinarian suggested a combination of sirloin, white rice, and pumpkin to help settle her digestive system. Well, ten years later she is still eating this mixture and still loves it.
In deciding what type of treats to make, we quickly narrowed the choice to a few of her favorite things. Gobi’s favorite flavored treats are chicken and salmon. Yes, she eats better than we do, but there are worse things in life. Anyway, we decided to try to duplicate the chicken and rice treats that we had been buying her for years.
White rice
Bill DeGiulio
Recipe and Instructions
This was really a very simple process. Chicken and rice are the only two ingredients—so like I said, "It’s pretty simple." If your dog prefers beef, you can substitute hamburger for the chicken. If you are thinking of using turkey, stick to the white meat and be sure to remove any skin and fat. Don’t use fried turkey and don't use any seasoning or butter, which may upset your dog's stomach.
1. We took four split chicken breasts, trimmed away any fat and froze them.
2. When we were ready to make the treats, we partially defrosted the chicken so that we could cut it into slices, allowing it to better fit into the food processor.
3. Next, we just ground up the chicken in the food processor. You can also use ground chicken, which seems to be readily available in most supermarkets.
4. You will also want to boil about two cups of plain white rice or brown rice, which is actually healthier for your dog.
5. Take the ground-up chicken and mix it with the cooked rice. The mixture makes for a very sticky concoction.
6. Then just roll a bit into whatever shape you want. You can make them into a small ball or roll them into little ovals, which is what we did. With the amount of chicken and rice that we prepared, we were able to make about 150 small chicken-rice treats.
7. Prepare the cookie sheet by spraying a little olive oil on it or use parchment paper. This will prevent the treats from sticking to the cookie sheet.
8. Place your treats on the cookie sheet and bake them for about fifteen minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then roll them over and cook for another fifteen minutes or until they start to turn a golden brown.
9. When done, let them cool to room temperature and then freeze them in a zip lock freezer bag. You can defrost them as necessary.
Store bought on the left, homemade on the right.
Bill DeGiulio
Testing the Treats
As this was the first time we made homemade treats, we had to test them out on Gobi to make sure that they would be agreeable to her. It was a pretty good bet that she would love them, and she did not disappoint.
The great thing is that they are perfectly edible for humans as well, as the only ingredients are chicken and white rice. What better than to share a few snacks with your favorite four-legged friend?
Cost Comparison Between Homemade and Store-Bought Treats
So was this worth the effort? Well, the old treats that we were buying were costing us $10 for a bag that contained about 50 treats. So, to buy 150 of these treats was costing us about $30.
The cost to make the treats ourselves ran us about $12 for the four chicken breasts and probably no more than .25 to .50 cents for the two cups of rice. So, for a total of about $12.50, we were able to make 150 treats and saved ourselves $17.50 over the cost of buying them.
The time we spent making them was probably about the same amount of time it would have taken us to drive to the pet supply store and purchase them, so that’s pretty much a wash. And the best part of this is that we now know exactly what we are giving her.
Nothing left but the crumbs.
Bill DeGiulio
Homemade Treats Are a Success
So, our little experiment seems to be working just fine. Gobi loves her new treats, and we are just as happy to be saving a few bucks. In the future, we may experiment with a few other combinations. We may also use brown rice next time we make them, which is healthier than white rice.
As I mentioned earlier, other than chicken, her other favorite food is salmon. At the moment, we have a very good source for freeze-dried homemade salmon treats that Gobi really loves, so we won’t mess with that just yet.
If you’re inclined, give this a try. It’s actually a fun thing to do, and the benefits are twofold: You get a healthy treat for your dog without worrying about the ingredients, and you just might save a few dollars along the way.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
© 2013 Bill De Giulio
Comments
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on September 11, 2019:
You're welcome, Sal. Our Gobi was picky about everything she ate, but she loved these treats. We also altered it from time to time just to mix it up. So glad they love them.
Sal Birch on September 11, 2019:
We have a 17 month old shih-poo (shih tzu and poodle cross) and a 7 month old shih tzu, both very much spoiled! We have gone through so many different types of treats trying to identify which ones they like, for taste, and that we like, for nutrition. I searched for a long time to find a recipe to make our own, but mostly what is out there are biscuits, which are not overly popular with our pups. Your recipe gives 8 paws up and 4 thumbs!! So simple, yet they love them. The first batch I made was as suggested in your recipe. Today I have changed the rice to coconut rice which they love, so I am sure these are going to be just as delicious. We might even try with ground liver in the future, as they both love liver too. Such an ingenious and flexible recipe, thanks!!
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on May 20, 2019:
We would use whole chicken breasts and cut them into small pieces before bringing them. You can also just use ground chicken.
John giannotta on May 19, 2019:
Question do you use for whole breast or four havles
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on April 29, 2019:
Just make sure the chicken is cooked. When they would start to brown it was our clue to flip them over. Using brown rice is fine, actually better for them than white rice.
Vicki L Linn-Eicher on April 29, 2019:
Hi Bill I am making these right now. I used brown rice. I just flipped at 15 minutes but the one side is not brown. I placed these on parchment paper. They look like peanut butter cookies. Should i cook longer or you think I am Ok? Thank you, Vicki
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on February 13, 2019:
Thanks Suhail. Consider using brown rice instead of white, it’more nutritous.
Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent from Mississauga, ON on February 13, 2019:
I will surely try this recipe over the coming weekend.
Suhail
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 03, 2019:
Hi Rebecca, Sam and Paddy. Thanks for stopping by. The only other treats we made for Gobi was a variation of this recipe where we substituted ground sirloin for the chicken. I absolutely agree with you that the quality of their diet shows in their coats and general health. Hope they enjoy the treats. Bill
Rebecca Hudson on January 03, 2019:
Hi Bill, I'm going to try these. I have been making dog treats for a while now as I am also concerned about how much rubbish is out there for dogs to eat. Your little Gobi was such a cutie pie. We have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Paddy and Sam so I am a bit neurotic over their diets with the common heart and obesity problems in this breed. I think also a quality diet shows through in their coats too. Did you make any other treats?? Thanks for this great recipe. Paddy, Sam and Rebecca from Rutland, Leicestershire UK
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on December 08, 2018:
Thanks Kate, I will update the hub to avoid using turkey. Have a great day.
Kate on December 07, 2018:
Great recipe! Thanks for sharing. I noticed an answer from you to Linda a couple years ago that any ground meat would work. I've heard that turkey is really a bad thing for dogs, so please emphasize to your readers to steer clear of turkey. Thanks again Bill, I know my TaffyRose is going to Love the chicken version.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on June 23, 2017:
Hi Kendall. Hmmm. We have used ground beef on occasion but never had them completely fall apart. Usually the sticky white rice is enough to hold them together until they are cooked. Maybe a little more rice and a little less ground beef?
Kendall Smith on June 22, 2017:
I tried making these treats with ground beef and when I went to roll them over after 15 minutes they completely fell apart. Do you have any suggestions?
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on December 01, 2016:
Hi Heather. The cooked rice when mixed with the ground chicken should form a very sticky mixture. The ground chicken is naturally very sticky and should help to bind the treats together. At this point the chicken is uncooked but the rice has been boiled. The chicken will get cooked when the treats are baked. Good luck.
Heather on November 30, 2016:
I have try making the treats having hard time getting the rice stickie enough to make balls after I'm done they just fall apart what am I doing wrong
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on October 31, 2016:
Crispy on the outside but soft and chewy inside. It will depend on how long you bake them. With just rice and ground chicken it will be difficult to get them crispy all the way through without overlooking them. Good luck.
Rotweillermommy on October 31, 2016:
Are these suppose to be a soft chewy treat?
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on February 17, 2015:
Hi Tonya. Thanks for stopping by. We are very picky also, which led us to making the treats ourselves. Now we know exactly what is in them. And our shih tzu loves them :)
Tonya Chamberlain from Waynesboro, Pennsylvania on February 16, 2015:
Can't wait to try this recipe. I'm very picky about the food my dogs eat, especially the treats. I've been making my own for awhile now but have yet to do anything with chicken, which my babies go crazy over. Certainly can't go wrong with chicken and rice! I'll probably have to set some mix aside for a dinner time treat as well :)
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on February 04, 2015:
Hi Linda. Yep. Whatever your shih tzu loves use that. We've made the treats with chicken and hamburger. You could even use both if you think she'll like them. Our shih tzu goes nuts for chicken so we've been using that for the most part lately but any ground up meat that they like will do.
Good luck and thanks for stopping by.
Linda on February 04, 2015:
So I can use Hamburger meat instead, my shih Tzu loves beef especially deer meat Hamburger, so I try that and chicken! Thanks
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 30, 2015:
Hi Robyn. We have recently started using ground chicken, I just haven't had a chance to update the article. They come out exactly the same and you don't have the mess to clean up in the food processor. Thanks for stopping by, great idea.
Robyn on January 30, 2015:
Why not use ground chicken?
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on December 26, 2014:
Hi bmaggie. After they cool from the oven we actually freeze them and use them from the freezer as needed. We'll throw them in the microwave for 8 to 10 seconds to defrost them. In the freezer they'll stay for a very long time. Good luck and thanks for stopping by.
bmaggie on December 23, 2014:
Hi, I plan in making these for my shih tzu, hes 1 1/2 and he just loves treats but we buy them quite often because of how much he likes them, I was just wondering how long do you keep them in the fridge for? Or how long are they good for? Thankyou
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 01, 2014:
Hi Lisa, glad your doggies love them. It's just so simple and you know exactly what's in them. We just made another batch, which should last 5 or 6 weeks. Our Shih Tzu absolutely loves them also. Thanks for stopping by. Happy New Year.
Lisa on January 01, 2014:
Hi thanks so much for this recipe. I totally agree that home made treats are better for our doggie companions. Just tried making this and my 2 maltese love it!!! these are now my high-value treats, going to use them for obedience training :)
Thanks for sharing.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on November 13, 2013:
Hi FA. Thanks. She is a cutie. And she still goes nuts for these treats. We're still making batches of them every couple of months and freezing them. Many thanks for the vote, pin, etc..
Elaina Baker from USA on November 12, 2013:
Gobi is so cute and if pictures are worth a thousand words, she's giving your recipe a "paws up." Voted up and more, pinning.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on April 28, 2013:
Thank Angelo. It's simple and no chemicals or preservatives and we know exactly where they are made, in our kitchen. ANd, our dog absolutely goes nuts for them so it's a win-win. Thanks so much for stopping by and the vote, share, fb,etc. Have a great day.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on April 28, 2013:
Hi Jared. Thanks and welcome to hubpages. Let me know if your dogs like them. If they like chicken I suspect they'll enjoy these. We just got tired of reading all the reports on dogs getting sick and how they radiate the treats to kill bacteria. Just doesn't sound too good so we decided to make our own.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on April 28, 2013:
Hi Ramona. Thank you and welcome to hubpages. That is why we decided to make our own treats, so we would know exactly what's in them. It's pretty simple, chicken and rice, and she absolutely loves them.
Angelo52 on April 28, 2013:
This sounds great. Plus you avoid all the additives that most dog treats have like salts, sugars and chemicals. Thumbs up, facebooked and shared.
Jared Miles from Australia on April 28, 2013:
I love the quality of this Hub, Bill. Thank you very much for some inspirational and informative work.
Great accompanying photography too by the way, you've really the set the bar high for me.
I'm going to have to try your recipe with my two dogs! I'll let you know if they approve ;)
Ramona Jar from New York on April 28, 2013:
Love the dog, really really cute ;)
The most important thing is that you prepared a HEALTHY and NATURAL meal for the dog. No 'chemicals', no radiation. Just good meat/rice and a bit of time to cook it.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on April 28, 2013:
Thanks rajan. It's pretty simple and our Shih Tzu does love them. I've been known to sneak one from time to time also :) Thanks for stopping by and thank you for the vote, share, pin, etc.
Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on April 28, 2013:
What a beautiful treat, Bill and I'm saving this recipe so that I can make them for my dog. Does seem good enough for us as well. Thanks for sharing.
Voted up, useful and interesting. Shared and pinned.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on April 13, 2013:
Hi Sharkye11. Thanks for stopping by. Out Gobi goes nuts over these so we know she loves them. They do make pretty good treats for us also :) Many thanks for the vote, have a great weekend.
Jayme Kinsey from Oklahoma on April 12, 2013:
Wonderful hub! Love the idea of saving a little money by making home-made pet treats. These look like pretty yummy human treats too. These would make a great gift for a pet lover. Thanks for sharing the knowledge! Voting up!
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on February 08, 2013:
Hi Linda. Gobi hit the jackpot when she picked us. She's smarter than the average Shih Tzu and has me well trained, Thanks for stopping by.
Linda Bilyeu from Orlando, FL on February 08, 2013:
Gobi is adorable and very photogenic! She's a lucky dog to have homemade treats baked especially for her! :)
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on February 07, 2013:
Hi Sheila. Thank you, she is wonderful. Gobi is the queen of this house. She is named after the Gobi Desert! We are on our second batch of these chicken and rice treats and she still loves them. We will be making a new batch soon. Thanks as always for stopping by, the comments, vote,etc... much appreciated.
Sheila Brown from Southern Oklahoma on February 06, 2013:
Gobi is adorable and I love the name! This is the easiest dog treat recipe I have seen. I am about to run out of those "expensive" treats I have been buying, so this will get tried out very soon! Great hub, up and useful! :)
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 27, 2013:
Hi Suzie. We just got tired of reading about how some of these dog treats are made in China and how pets were getting sick. So we decided to try and make our own and I thought it would make a good hub. Hopefully Coco enjoys them. If he likes chicken you will be all set. Thanks again for the support, vote, share, etc.....
Suzanne Ridgeway from Dublin, Ireland on January 27, 2013:
Hi Bill,
What an interesting idea and one I will definitely think of for our black lab Coco. It is so difficult to know what is good for your dog and what to avoid I find, A girl in a pet store told us garlic was good and then I read no, not to use it. Thanks a million for doing this it certainly seems to be the business for lovely cute Gobi! Voted up, Useful, Interesting, Shared . . .
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 17, 2013:
Hi Amber. Hopefully your pooch loves them. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.
alwaysamber on January 16, 2013:
This is great! I'll have to try them out. My maltese loves treats!
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 16, 2013:
Hi Carter. Thank you. We just got very turned off with what was in the stuff we were buying. Now at least we know exactly what we are giving her. Thanks so much for stopping by and the vote. Have a great day.
Mary from Cronulla NSW on January 15, 2013:
Can you believe what was in the dog food?? This is a great idea Bill, better for them and cost effective too. Will give these a go as my little guy loves both chicken & rice. Thanks for sharing this...votes for this one!!
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 14, 2013:
Hi Mary. The Shih Tzu breed is just wonderful. Gobi is a part of our family and she is just the sweetest dog. She goes everywhere with us. Thanks so much for stopping by and the vote and share. Have a great day.
Mary Hyatt from Florida on January 13, 2013:
The Shih Tzu is my favorite breed for many reasons! Your Gobi is just adorable. I'm going to try and make these for sure. My little gal will love them, I'll bet.
I voted this UP, etc. and will share.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 13, 2013:
Hi Thelma. Thank you. Hopefully Angus will love them. Gobi really loves chicken also so she goes nuts over these. Good luck and thanks for the vote.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 13, 2013:
Hi Naomi. Thanks for stopping by. We store them in the freezer, After they are cooked and have cooled we place them in a zip lock freezer bag and freeze them. We thaw them in the fridge as needed. They will need to be kept in the fridge as there are no preservatives in them. Thanks sos much for reading and your question.
Thelma Alberts from Germany on January 12, 2013:
Angus will love this, too. Chicken and rice are his favorite. Thanks for sharing this to us bdegiulio. I´ll make this recipe this week. Voted up and useful. Have a great day! BTW, you have a lovely dog.
Naomi's Banner from United States on January 12, 2013:
My chihuahua's will love these. They are chicken lovers!i will definitely give this a shot. My question is how and where do you store them? Great information, thanks!
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 12, 2013:
Hi Gus. Like I said, they are just as edible for us as for our four-legged friends :) We tried to keep it very simple and healthy. Hopefully your "War Dog" enjoys them as much as Gobi. Many thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 12, 2013:
Hi Peggy. We thaw them a little so that they are not frozen. You can put them in the fridge to thaw them and keep a bunch handy. Hopefully Skippy enjoys them as much as Gobi. Thanks so much for the comments, vote and share.
Gustave Kilthau from USA on January 12, 2013:
Howdy Bill - Looking at those treats you made, and knowing what went into them, almost makes a person want to swap places with your little dog. That's right, its all good human kind of chow. thanks for this fine article and the doggie recipe. Our little "War Dog" thanks you as well.
Gus :-)))
Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on January 12, 2013:
Hi Bill,
I know that our Pomeranian Skippy would love these. One question...do you give them to Gobi when they are thawed or partially frozen? If thawed, I imagine that you could thaw several at a time and keep them in the refrigerator until ready for use. Putting this on my list of things to do. Thanks for the recipe. Your little Gobi is such a cutie! Up and useful votes and SHARING so that other doggies can be treated to such healthy snacks.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 12, 2013:
Hi Mary. Thanks. This whole thing started out as a way to replace Gobi's treats that were being recalled. Unfortunately she really liked them but we just couldn't give them to her anymore. My wife had the idea to try and make them ourselves. Wanting to keep it simple we decided to use just the chicken and the rice, can't get much simpler than that. It all worked out as she loves them. Thought it would make an interesting Hub? Anyway, thanks for the support, very much appreciated.
Mary Craig from New York on January 12, 2013:
BD, not only a great idea but so easy to make. Dog lovers everywhere will be trying your treats...no preservatives, no additives, no allergens, it's a win, win situation. Thanks for the great recipe and directions. My dog, Buzz, thanks you from the bottom of his stomach!
Voted up and useful.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 12, 2013:
Hi Pam. Thanks for stopping by. We had some fun doing this and Gobi seems to love them so it was a win-win. And yes, she is beautiful, thank you. She is also spoiled, but she is what she is! Have a great day.
Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on January 12, 2013:
Making your own dog treats is a great idea. You dog is adorable also. The treats look good and nourishing too. The cost is great also. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 12, 2013:
I noticed your hub on homemade dog treats, will be heading over there shortly to read. It amazes me how active our 11 year old Shih Tzu still is. She is spoiled however, and has a very determined personality to her.
lhale from Georgia on January 12, 2013:
I have an old Maltese so I know about those active older dogs! I have a few hubs about homemade dog treats, so if I write another I'll be sure to reference your recipe.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 12, 2013:
Hi Kim. Oh yeah, she is one spoiled Shih Tzu. Thanks for the visit.
Bill De Giulio (author) from Massachusetts on January 12, 2013: