Healthy Dog Treats for UK Dog Owners: Where to Buy and DIY

You're here because you're a dedicated dog owner, ensuring your furry friend's health and happiness is always a top priority, right? Well, one key aspect of this is providing your pup with treats! No, we don't mean the fatty, oily, and void-of-nutrient treats that we used to give our dogs, but healthy dog treats that are both nutritious and delicious.

In this blog post, we're going to explore some of the best places to buy healthy dog treats in the UK, as well as provide you with a few DIY options for those who love to make goodies at home.

Whether you're looking for store-bought convenience or homemade goodness, we’ve got you covered!

Why Choose Healthy Dog Treats?

This might be obvious to some but choosing healthy dog treats is important for maintaining your pup's overall wellbeing and health. There are tonnes of commercial dog treats that contain unhealthy additives, artificial preservatives and generally, low-quality ingredients. If you opt for healthier alternatives, you can help your pup maintain a balanced diet, support their immune system, and avoid huge issues like obesity and allergies.

Top UK Brands for Healthy Dog Treats

We're lucky to live in a place where family dogs are cherished and spoilt. Fortunately, the UK boats several reputable brands known for their high-quality, healthy dog treats. We've listed some of our top choices below.

Lily’s Kitchen

If you've stepped into your local Pets at Home, you'd recognise this brand. Lily’s Kitchen is a very well-known brand that offers a range of natural and organic dog treats. Their products are made with real meat, vegetables, and fruits, and are free from artificial additives.

For example, their "Duck and Venison Sausage Treats" are made up of 70% freshly prepared Duck, Pea Protein, Vegetable Glycerin derived from rapeseed oil, and 4% prepared Venison (4%) - literally four ingredients consisting of 32% protein.

Some of the most popular options from Lily's Kitchen include options include the “Bedtime Biscuits” with honey and chamomile, which are perfect for calming your dog before bed. Or the "Pork with Apple Sausages" which are made up of 74% pork and 4% apples - our dogs go absolutely wild for these.

Pooch & Mutt

Another fan favourite! Pooch & Mutt focuses on creating treats that are not only healthy but also functional. One of the most popular ranges created by Pooch & Mutt are their dental sticks, which come in several flavours and textures.

Our dogs are obsessed with the "Peanut Butter Dental Sticks" and love it as their evening treat. We're happy with this routine because the composition of this dental stick is 46% tapioca, 28% peas, xylitol-free peanut butter, vegetable glycerol, lignocellulose and sodium hexametaphosphate.

While some of those ingredients sound a bit crazy, so we wanted to break down their benefits a little bit further:

• Lignocellulose is a plant dry matter (biomass), which benefits oral health by increasing the elasticity in both kibble and chews. Due to this feature, it has been proven that dogs or cats eating chews and kibble containing Lignocellulose often chew for longer, increasing the cleaning effect on their teeth and gums.

• Sodium hexametaphosphate is used as a surfactant, emulsifier, suspending and dispersing agent. It's a clean, non-toxic phosphate, that is widely used in the food industry.

• Vegetable glycerol (also known as glycerin) is a common ingredient in many products due to its sweet flavour and moisturising properties. Research indicates that it also possesses health benefits, with some studies suggesting it can improve skin and digestive health. 

Pooch & Mutt's vision is to create an enhanced range of natural meals, treats and supplements that do good and taste good. Optimal ingredients are a huge focus, purposefully incorporated into their products to boost your dog's mood and behaviour, as well as their physical health.

The Innocent Hound

The Innocent Hound offers a variety of air-dried, grain-free treats made from British meat and other all-natural ingredients. These treats are on the expensive side but the quality of ingredients, hand-crafted manufacturing, and air-drying method means you're getting one of the highest quality treats on the market. Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if humans could snack on this stuff.

The "Sliced Venison Sausage" is a big hit in our home. These treats are made from 80% British venison, rapeseed glycerin, and dried potato - yep, that's literally it. The analytical constituents show our dogs getting 34.1% crude protein per serving, so these treats are like a little protein shake for your pup. Truly, I can't recommend these enough and more than that, we love supporting local businesses.

Online Stores for Buying Healthy Dog Treats in the UK

There are a tonne of online retailers in the UK that offer the convenience of a wide selection of healthy dog treats. Some of the most popular, reliable, and our personal favourites are:

Pets at Home

We all know this place. Pets at Home has a comprehensive online store (as well as physical stores) that stocks a variety of healthy dog treats from different brands. You can find Lily's Kitchen and Pooch & Mutt stocked here.

One of the best things about Pets at Home is that they offer frequent discounts and deals, especially for members, which makes it easy to find affordable, high-quality treats for your pup.

Amazon UK

While we love local, Amazon does offer convenience like no other online retailer. Amazon also stocks Lily's Kitchen and The Innocent Hound, and provides comprehensive customer reviews and ratings that can help you make an informed decision on what dog treats to purchase.

The Natural Pet Store

The Natural Pet Store offers several options for natural and organic pet products. Their selection of healthy dog treats includes other top-notch brands like JR Pet Products and Green and Wilds, which are another fan-favourite in our household.

DIY Healthy Dog Treats Recipes

Another great option that can make a fun activity for you and your pup is making your own dog treats at home. This can be such a rewarding experience as not only do you have control over the ingredients, but it’s also a fun way to bond with your dog.

Here are three easy and healthy homemade dog treat recipes that are straightforward enough for beginner bakers.

Mint and Parsley Breath Freshening Treats

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat (or oat) flour
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup fresh curly parsley, finely chopped (please note that curly parsley is the only safe parsley for dogs)
• 1/2 cup fresh mint, finely chopped (only fresh peppermint or spearmint, do not use Wintergreen and English Pennyroyal)
• 1/4 cup of apple sauce
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, melted
• 1 medium to large egg

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C and then line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Add oats to the bowl of a food processor or blender.
3. Blend the oats until they are almost a flour consistency, with visible large pieces left over.
4. Add flour, applesauce, coconut oil, egg, curly parsley and mint to the bowl or blender.
5. Pulse a few times to break up the ingredients and blend them together.
6. Mix the ingredients further so that they form a dough-like consistency.
7. Sprinkle the countertop with a tablespoon or two of flour, then turn the dough onto the countertop.
8. Roll the dough out to roughly 1/2cm thickness.
9. Cut the treats with a cookie cutter and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 – 17 minutes, rotate the tray halfway through.
10. Cool the biscuits completely before giving them to your pup.

Fish and Potato Dog Biscuits

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked white fish (such as cod or haddock with no additional flavourings or seasonings), flaked
• 1 cup cooked sweet potato, mashed
• 1/2 cup oats (you can try whole or blended for a flour texture)
• 1 medium to large egg

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C and then line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flaked fish, mashed sweet potato, oats, and egg.
3. Mix until well combined and the mixture forms a dough. You may need to add additional oats or if you'd prefer, whole wheat flour to make it a little bit drier.
4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into shapes using a cookie cutter.
5. Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes or until firm and golden.
6. Allow the biscuits to cool completely before serving to your pup.

Spinach and Chicken Biscuits

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked chicken breast, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup oats (blended or whole)
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 medium to large egg

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C and then line a baking sheet with parchment paper, placing it aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the chopped chicken, spinach, flour, and oats.
3. Add the chicken broth and egg, and mix until a dough forms.
4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into shapes using a cookie cutter.
5. Place the treats on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until firm.
6. Let the treats cool completely before serving them to your pup.

Comparing the Costs: Store-Bought vs. Homemade Dog Treats

So, the big question is, do you buy commercial dog treats or make homemade dog treats? Both options have their advantages.

Store-bought dog treats offer convenience that's great for us busy pup parents, but sometimes they can be expensive, especially if you're buying high-quality, healthy products.

On the other hand, homemade treats allow you to use ingredients already in the pantry and fridge, making them a cost-effective option, especially for those of us who have large and giant-breed dogs who go through mountains of treats. Making treats at home also gives us peace of mind knowing exactly what goes into each biscuit.

Combining Convenience and Care for Your Dog’s Health

Providing our pups with healthy treats is a fantastic way to show them our love and care. At the end of the day, you should choose the option that works best for you and your family. Whether you buy from reputable UK brands or make your own dog treats at home, the important thing is to ensure that the treats are nutritionally adequate and safe for our furry friends.

By combining the convenience of store-bought options with the joy of DIY-ing your own dog treats, you can keep your pup happy, healthy and satisfied.

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