Name: Pumpkin and Oatmeal Dog Treats
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (unsweetened, not pie filling); 2 cups rolled oats (1 ½ cups ground into flour, ½ cup left whole for texture); 1 large egg; 2–3 tbsp natural peanut butter (xylitol-free); ¼ cup water (add more as needed for dough consistency); Optional: ½ tsp cinnamon (dog-safe moderation); Optional: 1 tbsp chopped parsley (for fresher breath)

Jump to Recipe

Pumpkin and Oatmeal Dog Treats are one of the easiest, healthiest, and most tail-wag-worthy snacks you can make for your pup. Forget the overpriced store-bought biscuits filled with mystery ingredients—this homemade recipe is wholesome, budget-friendly, and guaranteed to make your kitchen smell like cozy autumn. Plus, your dog will think you’ve officially earned the title of “Best Human Ever.”

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview

Here’s your quick-and-dirty snapshot:

Prep Time: ~10 minutes
Bake Time: 25–30 minutes
Total Time: Around 40 minutes (plus drooling)
Yield: About 12–20 finger-thick sticks (depending on dough size)
Difficulty: Super easy—no pastry chef credentials required. (If you can stir with one hand while petting your dog with the other, you’ve got this.)

These stats give you time to sip your tea (or chase your dog away from the mixing bowl) while the oven does its magic.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat & Prep: Fire your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Do it now—cold ovens yield sad, floppy treats.

Mix Wet Ingredients: Grab a bowl and whisk together 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling—unless you want your dog bouncing off the walls), 1 egg, 2–3 tbsp xylitol-free peanut butter, and ¼ cup water. It should look nice and glossy—and definitely orange.

Add Oats: Stir in 1½ cups of ground oats (quick-blended in a food processor) plus the remaining ½ cup whole oats for texture. Want texture? This combo delivers. The dough should feel like soft play-dough—too sticky? Add more oats. Too dry? Splash more water.

Shape the Sticks: Roll the dough into little logs about finger-thick. Place them on the sheet, spaced a knuckle apart so they don’t merge into a giant snack slab.

Bake ’til Golden: Bake 25–30 minutes until the edges look golden and they’re firm to finger touch. One taste test early is okay—don’t worry, your pup judges you more on flavor than perfect edges.

Cool Completely: Let the sticks chill fully. Hot dog tongues are adorable—but burned ones, not so much.

Serving Guidelines

Because portion control matters—unless you’re feeding a St. Bernard, in which case… good luck.

Tiny pups (<25 lb): 1 stick per day
Medium pups (25–60 lb): 2–3 sticks
Big dogs (>60 lb): 3–4 sticks

And yes, even healthy sticks fit into the treat budget—aim for no more than 10% of daily calories. Want bonus wagging? Use them during training—or just toss one and let your lab do a dramatic sprint to fetch it. No shame in that game.

Tips & Variations for Your Pumpkin and Oatmeal Dog Treats

Tried it a few times—here’s the scoop:

Test One First: I always bake a single stick to check texture—better than nuking the whole batch.
Flour Power: If it’s too sticky, toss in an extra Tbsp of ground oats. Too dry? Add a splash of water or applesauce.
Pumpkin Swap: No pumpkin? Mash up cooked sweet potato or carrot puree. Same vibe, still awesome.
Egg-Free Version: Replace the egg with a “flax egg”—1 Tbsp ground flax + 3 Tbsp water, wait a few minutes till gelled.
Allergy-Friendly Options: Omit peanut butter and try mashed banana or unsweetened applesauce. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon for falliness (also helps freshen breath… a little).
Shape Remix: Not into sticks? Flatten the dough and use cookie cutters—who needs perfect bones when your dog just eats them?

These tweaks make the recipe flexible for your pantry and pup quirks—invite creativity (and tail wags) every batch.

Storage and Freshness Tips

Room Temp (airtight jar): 5–7 days—if they last that long.
Fridge: Up to 2 weeks (they get softer—like a snack stick meets cookie).
Freezer: Up to 3 months. Portion them in freezer bags and thaw a couple before training sessions or guest appearances. Bonus: Frozen sticks make awesome teething toys for puppies.

Pro tip: Always let them cool completely before storing. Warm treats + sealed container = condensation + mold. Nobody wants that.

Troubleshooting: Common Mistakes

Let’s laugh at the bloopers, so you don’t have to:

Not preheating the oven? Rookie mistake—treats won’t firm properly.
Using pumpkin pie filling? Sugar overload and weird spice mash—your dog will still eat it, but your vet call notes won’t forgive you.
Overbaking until they’re hockey pucks? Too hard? Next time shave off 5 minutes. Or buddy up with a wet towel before handing to the pup.
Skimping parchment paper? Fun times scraping treats off a sheet with your hands. The cleanup karma won’t reward you.
Peanut butter overload? Sticky paws everywhere. Don’t do it unless you enjoy brooming the kitchen at midnight.

If your dog gives you the side-eye, try the peanut swirl or a dash of broth with the dough—it usually fixes pickiness.

Why Homemade Beats Store-Bought

Hear me out—the store had flashy packaging and “all-natural” labels, but:

You control every ingredient—no mystery meat, weird preservatives, or filler ingredients you can’t pronounce.
Cost-effective: A typical batch costs pennies versus a pricey bag of treats.
Customizable: Sensitive pup? Allergy concerns? You can tweak to suit your dog’s needs (gluten-free oats, sweet potato swap, chunkier texture, whatever).
Warm fuzzies included: Nothing beats the look of rapturous adoration when your dog tastes something you made. Honestly, their tail wag is better than applause.

Other Treat Adventures to Try

Once you’ve conquered these sticks, go pro with:

Apple-Peanut Butter Chips – thin, crispy, crazy popular.
Cheddar-Apple Biscuits – fancy fall vibes in every bite.
Carrot-Parsley Crunchies – measly stinky breath? This helps.
Salmon-Flaxseed Crunchers – omega-3 energy bombs (fishy smell be warned—but dogs go nuts).
Beef & Sweet Potato Bites – meat-lovers rejoice.
Banana-Pumpkin Chips – sweet, soft, and easy to stash for treats-on-the-go.

Your dog’s treat jar is just starting to glow with possibilities!

Safety First

No joke—always use xylitol-free peanut butter. Xylitol = emergency trip to the vet, and nobody wants that. Avoid spices like nutmeg, raisins, garlic—those are no-gos. If your dog has allergies or health issues, check with your vet before going full culinary wizard. And if they turn into treat-diva after one bite? Well… parenting success!

Final Thoughts

Tail-wag trigger: Pumpkin + oats = fiber, flavor, crunch, and immune support.
Simple and easy: Minimal ingredients, no baking drama, smells like fall in your kitchen.
Customizable & Healthy: Perfect for pup tummies sensitive or just snack-obsessed.
Budget-savvy & wholesome: Penny-wise and ingredient-wise, yet dog-dreamy.
DIY joy: You get to be the treat master and cuddle hero with one recipe.

So roll up your sleeves, turn on the oven, and let those stick-shaped masterpieces bake beautifully. Your pup is already staging a sit-by-the-oven protest in their head. Go get them, chef—you’re about to be their #1 human forever.

Pumpkin and Oatmeal Dog Treats

Yield: 12–20 sticks

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

These homemade Pumpkin and Oatmeal Dog Treats are healthy, crunchy, and tail-wag approved! Made with pumpkin, oats, and peanut butter, this easy recipe is budget-friendly and perfect for pups of all sizes. Bake up a batch of these wholesome snack sticks and watch your dog beg for more.

Ingredients

1 cup canned pumpkin puree (unsweetened, not pie filling)
2 cups rolled oats (1 ½ cups ground into flour, ½ cup left whole for texture)
1 large egg
2–3 tbsp natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
¼ cup water (add more as needed for dough consistency)
Optional: ½ tsp cinnamon (dog-safe moderation)
Optional: 1 tbsp chopped parsley (for fresher breath)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, egg, peanut butter, and water until smooth.

Stir in ground oats and whole oats until a dough forms. Adjust texture by adding more oats (if too sticky) or more water (if too dry).

Roll dough into finger-thick logs or shape with cookie cutters. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 25–30 minutes, until firm and golden brown.

Remove from oven and cool completely before serving to your dog.

Notes

Substitutions: Swap pumpkin for sweet potato or carrot puree; replace egg with a flax “egg” (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water).
Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week, refrigerate for 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Serving Sizes: Small dogs (under 25 lb) = 1 stick/day, medium dogs = 2–3 sticks, large dogs = 3–4 sticks.
Mistakes to Avoid: Don’t use pumpkin pie filling (contains sugar and spices unsafe for dogs). Avoid xylitol-containing peanut butter.