If you know Sean and I at all, you know that we love our two dogs.
Our first dog, Jezebel, is a Queensland Heeler rescue. She’s serious, smart, loyal, and has serious separation anxiety due to being abandoned (twice!) in the past. We have had her for a little over 5 years, and despite her tendency to try to deafen you with her bark and lick your flesh off with her incessant licking, we love her.
Luxe came to us from my best friend’s parents. We picked her up when she was 6 weeks old, a little over 3 years ago. She’s a chihuahua/poodle/jack russel mix. She is goofy, a stealth cuddler, has the ability to turn Sean into a serious mushball, and is totally oblivious. Her goal in life is to torment Jezebel.
It kind of goes without saying that they are sort of spoiled. We allow them on the furniture (though this requires that I vacuum everything at least once a week) and they often end up in our bed most mornings. We take them on lots of walks, to the dog park, and always consider them when planning trips. We buy them fancy dog food (we’re not big on table scraps), and sometimes I make them treats.
From scratch.
I’m a nice dog mom.
We usually make them do a trick before getting a treat. We are easily entertained. Luxe is pretty good at “dancing”, she’ll stand on her hind legs and do a little spin, she also plays dead and shakes. Jezebel knows a number of tricks and will run through them all without being commanded if she knows it’s treat time. Laying in the sun is not one of their tricks…it’s just their default mode.
Peanut Butter and Flax Dog Treats
This recipe is adapted from White on Rice Couple and from the treats I made at the bakery I used to work for.
The best thing about these treats are the fact that they are made out of real ingredients…ones that you might even eat. The second best thing, they don’t smell crazy-gross like a lot of treats out there (like those meaty ones…sick), which means I don’t feel the need to scrub the stench off my hands immediately. These ones smell like peanut butter and whole wheat….cause that’s what they are made of. Duh. I cut out two sizes because we have two different sizes of dog. Get crazy, cut them out however you like.
3/4 cup rolled oats
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 Tablespoons flax seeds
3 eggs
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
Preheat oven to 350F.
In a large bowl whisk together oats, flours, salt, sugar, and flax seeds. Set aside while you gather the wet ingredients.
In a large measuring cup whisk together eggs, peanut butter, oil, and water. Combine wet ingredients into dry and mix until combined well. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead a few times. The dough should be stiff, but workable, if it is still sticky add a little more whole wheat flour and knead into the dough. Do not fear over mixing, it’s okay if the treats are tough. Your dogs won’t mind.
Split the dough into 2 or 3 pieces and roll out. I like to roll it to 1/4-1/8 of an inch. Cut out with desired cutters and repeat with remaining dough. Place cut treats onto parchment lined baking sheets and bake until dry and crunchy–25 to 35 minutes. Cool completely before giving to your pups. Store in an airtight container. These will last quite a while (a few weeks) and also make great gifts for dog friends.
posted on my dog’s facebook wall: http://www.facebook.com/JuliusChenwald
yes, he has one.
omg, that’s awesome! thanks 🙂
This post is so cute and I sure can’t wait to meet your dogs. I love the picture of them sitting really close to each other in the sun!
And I’m totally going to need to make these for Elliot. Us good dog moms need to stick together.
aw, thanks pal! i’m excited for you to meet them…after they are done being freaked out, they’ll like you too 🙂
good dog momz 4 life. elliot will totes love them!
My mom’s dog would love these! He loves peanut butter and my mom will so make these for him!
Maris, She should! My dogs LOVE these treats 🙂
Your doggies are so cute! I’ve always said that if I had a dog, it would be spoiled rotten, and these treats definitely seem to be the way to do it! Lucky dogs 🙂
Thanks Kathryn! It’s hard not to spoil them 🙂
My dog’s a dancer too! What a great recipe, I’m adding it to my facebook page right now. Woof!
Lovely post and lovely pics of your dogs. The recipe looks great too!
My Ruby Otis would love, love, love these!
Ruby is such a sweet name! I love it 🙂 I hope you make these and she loves ’em!
you guys are sweet!
you ARE a nice dog mom! to some precious little dogs!
…so did you try these yourself? lol… i might be tempted
Haha, I did try a tiny nibble! It was REALLY crunchy and dry…my dogs love them though 🙂 Thanks Katie!
Hey, Can I substitute flax flour for the seeds? I have that.. but not the other.. I look forward to making some!! OH.. and I am Megan’s mom!!
HI Amy! Megan’s a pretty cool girl, good job 🙂 I’ve never used flax flour, but you can probably sub out some of the plain flour for it…you may have to compensate with more water, just see how your dough feels. Otherwise you can leave out the flax, it’s a totally optional ingredient. I hope this helps!
Your dogs are so cute! I have a dog with separation anxiety as well, so planning trips can be a little bit tricky.
I would love to make these treats for my dogs, I am sure they would thoroughly enjoy them 🙂
thanks Anne! seperation anxiety is a total bummer, i always feel so bad for her! it does make for some eventful homecomings though!
Cindy~ I made your doggie treats and my little furry friend loves them!! Lucy can be a ‘treat’ snob.. ask Megan. BUT she likes them lots and lots.. and I even took a few to the big dog that lives at our Vets.. and Maggie thanked me profusely!! She would have eaten as many as I took for her. I made little dog bones, little fire hydrants and BIG bones.. I am sort of a cooky cutter kind of mom.. love them!!
Thanks lots! Amy
Amy, this makes me so happy! I’m glad all your pup friends liked them 🙂 I love that you have a fire hydrant cutter…I’m going to have to invest in one of those, too cute!
Great recipe! I made these today as a gift for some friends that kindly took care of our cat while on vacation – the gift tag was from our cat to their dogs, thanking the basset hounds for sharing their mommy and daddy for week! Will be linking to this post ASAP!
Erin, that is AWESOME…and such a cute idea!
Our very spoiled dogs are loving the treats!
http://bananablueberries.blogspot.com/2011/07/little-something-for-pup.html
Thanks again!
what a lovely backstory for these cute treats. i am making a doggy gift bag for holiday sharing and my own four-legged fur spreader will be the taste tester. the addition of flax pulled me in. i pinned your recipe and titled it, luxe and jezebel’s peanut butter and flax “laying in the sun” cookie. thank you very, very much 🙂 cheers ~