Pets add so much joy to our lives. They snuggle with us, smile up at us and give us generous heaps of kisses (even when no one else will). For all the smiles they bring, they deserve something in return, right? How about some delicious DIY treats? Here are some recipes to keep your dogs, cats and rabbits as happy as they deserve to be:

1. Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Treats (Dogs)

2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Whisk flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff.
3. Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick roll.
4. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
5. Bake in preheated oven until hard (about 40 minutes).
   
   

2. Grain-Free Coconut & Banana Treats (dog)

1 cup coconut flour
2 egg
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
1 banana, mashed
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 cup almond milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Stir egg, peanut butter, banana, coconut oil and honey in a bowl and mix well.
3. Stir in the coconut flour and mix well. Add almond milk as needed to help dough combine.
4. Scoop your tablespoon portions and place the balls on cookie sheets (dough will be crumbly).
5. Bake cookies for 20-25 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

3. Cheddar Treats (dog)

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1/3 cup milk

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix together flour and cheese.
2. Stir in butter until mixed well.
3. Gradually add milk just until moistened.
4. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead 8-10 times.
5. Roll dough into a 12-inch x 9-inch rectangle
6. Cut into 3-inch x 1-inch strips and place on ungreased baking sheets.
7. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Let stand in the oven with the door slightly open until cooled completely.
9. Store in an airtight container.
   

4. Apple, Carrot & Bacon Biscuits (dog)

1 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 cup rolled oats, quick or regular 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup natural peanut butter 1/4 cup shredded carrots 1/4 cup shredded apple 2 slices cooked bacon crumbled 1 large egg 1 tablespoon bacon grease 1/4 cup water

Directions

1. Pre-heat your oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl mix together the flour, oats and salt.
3. Add the peanut butter, carrots, apple and crumbled bacon and mix well.
4. Mix in the egg, bacon fat and one tablespoon at a time of water until the dough comes together (you may not need the full ¼ cup).
5. Pat the dough out on a clean surface to ¼ inch thickness and make cutouts with your cookie cutter.
6. Reroll the scraps and repeat flattening and cutting until all dough is used.
7. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. You want them to be completely dry.
8. Store in an airtight container.
   
   
   

5. Tuna Crunchers (cat)

10 ounces tuna in water (1 cup)
2 tablespoons Catnip
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 cups Whole Wheat Flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mix all ingredients together one at a time, stirring well after each addition.
3. Knead dough into ball and roll onto a floured surface until its 1/4 inch thick.
4. Take a straight edge and score the dough horizontally and then vertically to make a grid (pizza cutters work well). Be careful not to completely cut through.
5. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 13 minutes.
6. Cool and break into pieces, then refrigerate.
   
   

6. Flaxseed Catnip Treats (cat)

1-1/4 cups brown rice flour
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
1 large egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup goat’s milk
1/8 cup dried catnip

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mix together the first three ingredients.
3. Add the remaining ingredients, mixing well (use hands if too stiff to mix with spoon).
4. Using a spoon, scoop up 1/4-tespoon-sized bits of dough. Form each into a small ball and place on greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake for five to seven minutes or until the bottoms of the treats are golden brown.
6. Let treats cool and store in an airtight container.
   
   
   

7. Cat Nip Biscuits (cat)

1 1/2 cups wheat or white flour
1 1/2 teaspoons catnip
1/3 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon honey
1 egg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mix dry ingredients together.
3. Mix in wet ingredients to form soft dough. You can add a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.
4. Turn out dough onto a non-stick baking sheet and roll out.
5. Carefully cut the dough into bite-sized squares.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Remove treats from the tray, making sure to break them apart; let them cool on a backing rack.
8. Store in an airtight container or freeze and thaw as needed.

8. Oats, Banana & Carrot Pellets (rabbits)

1 cup rolled oats, finely ground (coffee grinder works best)
1/4 cup rabbit pellets, finely ground
2 medium-sized bunches of parsley
1/2 of a carrot
1/2 of a banana
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon of water

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 325°F.
2.Line baking sheet with wax paper.
3.Grind pellets and oats down to a powder and set aside.
4.Puree parsley, carrot, banana and water. This should become fairly liquefied, so you can add more or less water depending on the consistency.
5.Mix puree and dry ingredients.
6.Knead until stiff dough is formed. Dough will be somewhat sticky.
7.Place ball of dough between two sheets of wax paper and roll to about 1/8 – 1/4 inch thickness.
8.Cut into small squares and place on baking sheet.
9.Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
10.Turn off the heat and let them sit in the warm oven for at least an hour (to dry them out).

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Of course, these are all general recipes. You have to take your individual pets into account. Rabbit food has its own specifications, and all animals can be subject to certain allergies that need to be considered.

No matter what you decide on, your pets are sure to appreciate the effort and love you put into these delicious treats. Just be careful not to get them mixed up with the human treats!

Images by Jonathan Kriz, Jannes Pockele and Wendy Cope