Dogs have a carbon pawprint too! Small, medium, and large dogs are responsible for 1, 2, and 3 tonnes of carbon emissions yearly, predominantly from your furry companion's diet. That's why we put together a few of our favorite earth-friendly dog food and treat recipes.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups wheat flour

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1/3 cup peanut butter

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1/2 tbsp of fish oil

• 1 1/2 cups water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.

2. Lightly flour a cooking surface.

3. Mix the flour and oats in a large mixing bowl. Slowly pour in one cup of water and blend until smooth. Next, add in the peanut butter, honey, and fish oil. While blending, add the remaining water until the mixture has a thick and doughy consistency. 

4. Roll the dough onto the floured surface then use a cookie cutter to create shapes. Transfer cookies to a lightly greased baking sheet.

5. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool before feeding. 

Tip: Check the ingredient list of any peanut butter you buy to make sure it doesn't contain xylitol - a sugar substitute toxic to dogs even in small amounts.

Yogurt Pops

Ingredients

• 6-oz dairy-free yogurt (such as oat yogurt)

• 1 cup no sugar added fruit juice

• ½ cup of minced carrots

Directions

1. Add the yogurt, fruit juice, and carrots into a medium-size bowl. Stir until the ingredients are smooth and well-blended.

2. Drop the mixture into ice cube trays by the spoonful. Freeze until solid.

3. Pop cubes out of the tray to feed. 

Tip: Remember to use hard plastic trays to avoid the pops from getting attached to the mold.

Fruit & Veggie Strips

Ingredients

• 1 small sweet potato

• 1 medium banana

• 1 cup carrots, minced

• 1/2 cup unsweetened organic applesauce

• 2 cups of whole wheat flour (white if your dog has allergies)

• 1 cup of rolled oats

• 1/3 cup of water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350o F and lightly flour a cooking surface. 

2. Heat sweet potato for 8-10 minutes in the microwave

3. Mash the banana and sweet potato in a large mixing bowl with until smooth. Add in the carrots, flour, and oats. Slowly add in the applesauce and water while mixing.

4. The ingredients will form a soft dough. Roll the dough onto a lightly floured surface until the dough is 1/8 inch thick. Cut the dough into strips. 

5. Bake on a lightly greased baking sheet for 25 minutes. Cool down before feeding. Refrigerate for up to two weeks. 

Tip: Don't worry about overcooking the sweet potato - softer potatoes will mash easier.

Fruit Parfait

Ingredients 

• 1/2 dairy-free yogurt (such as oat yogurt)

• 1/2 cup strawberries, diced

• 1/2 cup blueberries, diced

• 1/2 cup applesauce

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients in a medium-size bowl until the yogurt is smooth and the fruit is well-blended.

2. Serve in small amounts to prevent digestive issues.

3. Store in the fridge for up to seven days.

Tip: On days you plan to serve your pup a fruit parfait, reduce the amount of regular food by 25% to avoid overfeeding.

Vegan Dog Food

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups red lentils

• 1 cup brown lentils

• 1 ½ cup grain (millet, brown rice, quinoa, or oats)

• 8 cups filtered water

• 1-inch seaweed, cut

• 1 sweet potato

• 1 teaspoon turmeric

• 4 cups finely chopped kale

• 1 cup frozen peas (optional)

• 1 cup cooked chickpeas or other cooked beans (optional)

• 1 cup apple sauce

• ½ cup ground flax seeds

• ½ cup nutritional yeast

• 2 tbsp coconut oil

Directions

1. Soak red and brown lentils and your grain choice with plenty of water in a large saucepan. After 2 hours, drain. 

2. Bring grains back to the pan with seaweed, potato, and turmeric. Simmer for 35 minutes or until soft. 

3. Remove from heat and stir in kale, peas, chickpeas, apple sauce, flax seeds, yeast, and oil. Allow the food to cool and store in quart containers in the freezer or fridge.

Tip: Increase proportions to plan out an entire month's feed!

Doggie Birthday Cake

Ingredients

• 1 egg

• ¼ cup peanut butter

• ¼ cup coconut oil

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• ⅓ cup honey

• 1 cup shredded carrots

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350* F

2. Blend the egg, peanut butter, oil, vanilla, and honey in a large bowl. Stir in the carrots and mix thoroughly. Sift together the flour and baking soda and fold into the carrot mixture. 

3. Spoon cake batter into prepared fluted tube pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until lightly brown. 

4. Cool in pan for 10 minutes then transfer cake to serving dish.

Tip: Top the cake with some homemade dog treats to garnish.

Cooking Challenge

Are you feeling crafty? Try coming up with your sustainable dog food recipe.

Remember to include 25% protein, 25% produce, 50% carbs, and a dash of oil to keep their coat shiny. Start with soybeans, peas, or low-carbon meat (such as insects, tuna, or chicken). Next, add some spinach, asparagus, green beans, Brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or apples from your home garden. Finally, blend in rice, barley, or oats with a dash of coconut oil.

Cutting down your dog's diet and feeding them Earth-friendly foods is one of the best things you can do to help them reduce their carbon-carbon pawprint. Even better, offset their CO2 pawprint. Help Earth out and make sure your whole family is lives a light life!

Hey there! Below you can find the sources we used to generate these estimates. If you disagree with the facts in this article, please contact us so we can ensure we have the most up to date information.

Look No More

McDermott, Marie. “The Vegan Dog.” NYTimes, 6 June 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/06/well/family/the-vegan-dog.html.

Cowell, Katie. “‘Carbs’ in Dog Food – What’s the Secret?” Just Right by Purina, 10 July 2020, https://www.justrightpetfood.com/blog/carbohydrates-dog-food.

“How to Make Vet-Approved Homemade Dog Food | Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.” Pet Care Blog – Dog & Cat Health, Advice & More | Healthy Paws, 29 June 2017, https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/blog/2017/06/29/make-vet-approved-homemade-dog-food.

In, Sign. “Creating or Purchasing Sustainable Dog Food | The Honest Kitchen Blog.” The Honest Kitchen Blog, 1 June 2018, https://www.thehonestkitchen.com/blog/creating-or-purchasing-sustainable-dog-food/.

Colley, Angela. “10 Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes and Organic Treats.” Money Crashers, 20 July 2016, https://www.moneycrashers.com/homemade-dog-food-treat-recipes/.

Guthrie, M. “Best Organic Dog Food Brands.” Your Dog Advisor, Retrieved 26 September 2020, from https://yourdogadvisor.com/organic-dog-food/.

How’d you like this article style? Share some feedback.