Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipe with Flaxseed

There is one thing we know how to do really well in our house, and that is to make dog treats and snacks! This Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipe with Flaxseed is a soft cookie-like treat that is simple and uses wholesome, nutrient-dense ingredients, and yields about 20 treats. It is in the regular rotation of dog treats for our Great Dane, Magnus. It’s probably safe to say that we make more treat/snacks for our furry friends than we do for ourselves!

These treats are soft, similar to our other Soft Dog Treat recipe , therefore the dough is a bit more sticky. It is similar to cookie dough, which gives it that soft chewy texture. These dog cookies are perfect for older dogs, or dogs with teeth and gum issues as they are soft and moist.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipe with Flaxseed

• Pumpkin puree: pure pumpkin puree either canned or cooked fresh pumpkin (not pie filling which contains added sugars and flavors). See my post about How to Roast a Pumpkin so use fresh pumpkin in this recipe. Pumpkin is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial in a dogs diet.
• Peanut Butter: use all natural peanut butter – no added salt or sugar, especially no xylitol (xylitol is toxic to dogs).
• Applesauce: Adds a bit of natural sweetness, flavor and moisture to the dough.
• Egg: Helps to hold the dough together by creating structure and stability.
• Beef Broth: Adds deep flavor and moisture. If using canned beef broth, use low or no sodium.
• Oat Flour: Store-bought. Or if you have a food processor, oat flour is super simple to make by adding whole oats to the food processor bowl and pulsing for several seconds until flour texture.
• Whole Rolled Oats: High in fiber and low in gluten. Can substitute with Quick Oats.
• Flaxseed: Ground flax seeds or flaxseed meal. I added the flaxseed to incorporate additional nutrients for our dogs.

How to Make This Pumpkin Flaxseed Dog Treat

Yield: About 20 (3-inch) round treats.

Preheat oven to 350℉. Line cookie or baking sheets with parchment paper. Or spray with oil to prevent sticking.

• In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, peanut butter, applesauce, broth and egg.
• In a medium bowl, combine the oat flour, oats and ground flaxseed.
• Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine. The dough will be sticky, similar to cookie dough.
• Scoop the dough using a cookie or ice cream scooper, or large soup spoon. Place the scooped dough on the prepared baking sheet. Using the scoop (or with wet hands), flatten the dough to about a half inch thick round.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Treats should be slightly browned on the bottom.
• Cool on a wire-rack before serving to your pup.

Note: While rolling out and making shapes with this dough is difficult, you can place a cookie cutter on the parchment paper and press the dough into the cookie cutter to form that shape and lift the cutter out. It’s not perfect, but if a shape is what you want, that would be the best way to do it with this dough.

This batch yields a large amount of treats which makes it the perfect Dog Treat for Great Danes. Baking times are based on approximately 3-inch round 1/2-inch thick rounds. If you make a smaller treat, adjust and shorten baking times.

Is Flaxseed Good for Dogs?

Ground flaxseed provides fiber and a plant source of omega-3 fatty acids called ALA. Dogs can only convert a limited amount of ALA into EPA and DHA, the omega-3s found in fish oil. While flaxseed doesn’t replace those sources, it can complement them and add variety to your dog’s treats.

As always, it’s important to always check with your veterinarian before adding something new to a dog’s diet.

Storage

​Once the dog treats have thoroughly cooled, store in an airtight container. These treats are a soft, moist treat. Therefore, I would recommend storing in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. They can be stored on the countertop, but only for up to 2 days. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

We store half the batch in the refrigerator and the other half in the freezer so that we always have enough on hand. We generally have about 3-4 varieties of homemade treats for our Great Dane to snack on. If your furry friend is anything like Magnus, we have to rotate our doggy snacks every other day it seems. So I always make sure he has a variety. 

Why Make Your Own Homemade Dog Treats?

• Choose your ingredients: You have full control of what ingredients go into the treats you make for your dog.
• Adjust them for your pup. Choose ingredients that suit your dog’s preferences and dietary needs.
• Cost effective: Homemade treats can cost less than store bought options, especially when you have a big dog like Magnus!
• Make the size you need. I like being able to make larger treats for Magnus, but you can easily make smaller ones for your pup.

Here are some other dog treat recipes you might like to try: Homemade Soft Dog Treats, Banana Pumpkin Dog Treats, and our Bacon Cheddar Dog Treats.

This post may contain affiliate links by which I may receive a small commission. All product links are items I personally use in my kitchen. 

If you make this recipe I would love it if you left a review below and tag me on Instagram!