Jerky Treats Dog Snacks

Does your dog love jerky treats dog snacks? Most dogs do. However you might be a little wary when it comes to feeding your dog store bought jerky after the dog food recall of 2007. One of the main products recalled were chicken jerky treats sold at Wal-Mart. Because of this some dog owners won't go near packaged jerky. You might think your dog will never be able to enjoy this chewy treat again. The good news is that you can easily make jerky for your dog at home. It's easier to do than some people think. All of the ingredients and supplies you'll need can be purchased at any supermarket.

There are different types of jerky you can make. Chicken jerky, liver jerky and of course beef jerky are all popular. Chicken and liver are going to be the most affordable types of jerky to make for your dog because beef is a bit more costly on average. Dogs love chicken and they love liver, so either one of these would be a good choice. Some people use a meat dehydrator to make jerky, but if you don't have one that's OK. You can use your oven just as easily. The first thing you will need to do is preheat your oven to 180 degrees which is a good temperature for drying meat.

Next you will need to prepare the meat. If you are using liver cook it in a skillet with a cup of water until the blood is cooked out. Chicken breasts can be used raw. Slice the meat into thin strips and place on a large, flat baking sheet. Baking time on average is five hours or even overnight depending on how much jerky you're making. You may have to keep an eye on it to make sure you don't undercook or overcook, although overcooking jerky is hard to do. After the jerky is hard and chewy, take it out of the oven and let it cool thoroughly.

After the jerky is completely cool you can serve it to your dog as an occasional treat. Jerky treats dog snacks have a long shelf life and can also be stored in the freezer. This is a good strategy if you're making a large amount of jerky at once. You can feel good about feeding homemade jerky to your dog because you know it was made with quality and care. If you enjoy making jerky for your dog you should try other homemade dog treat recipes also.