DIY OLLIE TREATS

By Thursday, October 10, 2019 4 No tags Permalink

With cool autumn temperatures in the air, I am inspired to create original DIY Ollie treats using their dog food as the mixture base. #IthinkIcanIthinkIcan

Harley has always been a picky eater. But ever since he's tasted Ollie Dog Food, he never moves from his bowl until all the food is gone!
Harley – life time member of the Ollie clean bowl club!

The Boys were at the vet’s yesterday and Doodle Doc was ecstatic about their weight loss. Harley now weighs 50.8 and Jaxson has slimmed down to  63.4. They both look, act and feel amazing.

You may recall when I supplemented their previous diet (98% protein) with fresh fiber from fruits and veggies – their weight steadily increased.

Portion control and the correct caloric intake with the added ingredients was not something I could accurately master – so I looked to the professionals for help. 

Having the Boys on Ollie – fresh human grade flash frozen food calculated through a customized algorithm – has made all the difference in the world.

NUTRITION JOURNEY –

Through this nutrition journey, I’ve learned –

a dogs ideal diet includes meats, veggies, fruits and other whole foods. Proteins should be the base, followed by carbohydrates and fats. 

The nest

Understanding this has taught me that a proper diet for our pets should also include proper treats.

Harley and Jaxson adore fresh fruits and vegetables. While the veggies are great – the degree of natural sugars in fruit can potentially become a problem since they digest differently and all foods don’t necessarily “break-down” the same way they do for us.

Currently, with the Ollie Beef recipe plan, my Doods daily menu consists of

The best part about Ollie food is the fact that all the ingredients are identifiable. You can see everything and it looks like what you would eat.
I like that the food is identifiable!
  • Beef (to include the heart, liver and kidney)
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Peas (as in little green ones)
  • Carrots
  • Spinach
  • Chia seeds
  • Blueberries
  • Rosemary
  • White potatoes
  • And a splash of fish oil

So I thought why not make this into a crunchy cookie treat that I know they will devour?

Too many commercial treats use filler ingredients like potatoes, cornmeal, oats, tapioca wheat and/or rice. These ingredients are not dangerous (as long as they aren’t used in excess) but they offer no nutritional value.

I NEED FLOUR –

Ollie food is moist. If I am trying to make a cookie like treat I will need something to “bind” it together enough so I can bake it without having it crumble like a dried out meatloaf.

Not the avid pet treat baker, I’m not sure which flour is better than the other.

When it comes to dogs, there’s so much to choose from –

  • WHOLE-GRAIN FLOURS: Barley, Buckwheat, Millet, Oat, Pea, Quinoa, Rice, Sorghum
  • NON-GRAIN FLOURS: Almond, Chickpea, Coconut, Hazelnut, Lentil, Potato

Initially I was researching flour to identify a product that would give me the correct consistency, be beneficial and consumption safe #naturally.

I have since learned there are allergen producing flours I must avoid because of Harley’s environmental allergies. #geez

WE HAVE A WINNER –

If you’ve been reading along all the while thinking “coconut flour”, then you’re correct! Coconut flour is EXTREMELY healthy when used in dog treats.

Minimally processed, it carries a high amount of nutrients…

Coconut flour is the best flour to use when cooking treats for your pets. It has many health advantages for them.
Photo courtesy of ChewChew Treats

Coconut flour is –

  • Gluten-free and Hypoallergenic
  • Rich in Dietary Fiber
  • Low in Sugar and Carbohydrates
  • High in protein
  • High in Healthy Fats
  • Reduces the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
  • Lowers Cholesterol
  • Helps to Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

WEEKEND BAKE-OFF –

If you can think of additional tips before I start my weekend bake-off please share them in the comments below – I need all the help I can get. 

Forecast for the weekend is cool and sunny… 

With cooler weather - the Boys are able too enjoy the outdoors. More Doodle romps and fresh air make for happier and hungrier Boys. So why not try and make some Ollie Dog Food treats to have on hand.
Football playing Doodles

I shall pick up my coconut flour Saturday morning after I chauffeur them to their spa date.

This should be the pawfect weekend to simmer some chili in the crock-pot for  Doodle Dad and I, while he finishes painting the Boys pantry (yep, they’re getting their own pantry) as I attempt to be the Julia Childs of my very own DIY Ollie Treats.

Stay tuned – I’ll share the success and pit falls of this experiment experience on Monday!

Thanks for reading!

There is beauty in being kind ❤️


4 Comments
  • Madison
    October 11, 2019

    Emma used coconut flour in some treats. It is hard to bake with as it soaks up all the moisture, so you have to make sure you either use less or have more moisture to avoid super dry treats. Happy baking!

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 14, 2019

      I was telling “Tails around the ranch” how happy I was that I read your comments before I started baking – I used it sparingly and that really saved me. Thanks Madison!

  • Tails Around the Ranch
    October 11, 2019

    I use coconut flour all the time in place of regular flour (baking with it is different-don’t be discouraged with longer baking times). The pill pockets I make with peanut butter are always made with coconut flour for Elsa’s anti-seizure meds. She loves the taste of them.

    Happy weekend!

    • Cathy Bennett
      October 14, 2019

      IT is a denser ingredient that’s for sure! I am so happy I read your comments before I started – I used the flour cautiously and I was so happy I did. You really don’t need a lot – perhaps that’s why it’s so expensive #mygoodness. I thought about using peanut butter instead of flour and the egg next time and just refrigerating them since the food is already cooked. I’ll let you know how that turns out.