Easy dog treats to make as a gift for your favorite pup

Making and giving gifts are fun activities this time of year.

Have you thought of what you'd like to give to the special dogs in your life? A fun and simple gift to make are dog treats. You can create them for your own pet, give them to dogs of friends or family, or donate your creations to dogs at local animal shelters.

This recipe is a super simple way to make healthy, tasty treats for dogs!

You will need:

• 1 cup of dry quick oatmeal

• ½ cup of cinnamon applesauce (individual cup)

• 1 egg

• Non-stick spray or other oil

• Mixing bowl and spoon

• Measuring cup

• Baking sheet

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, mix the oatmeal with the applesauce. Then add the egg and stir together well.

2. Grease a baking sheet with oil (WARNING: do not use grapeseed oil or any oil that your dog is allergic to) and add dough in big drops using a tablespoon and flatten them. Bake for about 22 minutes.

3. 'Wrap' your treats like a present or ...

4. Give your gift immediately!

Before you give your treats away to the animal shelter or your neighbor, create an ingredient label so everyone will know what is in your treats. This will help our furry friends who might have a food allergy.

Check all the ingredients you use for safety and use recipes from trusted sources. Some of the foods that are toxic to pets and should not be eaten include avocado, chocolate, coffee (and anything with caffeine), citrus, coconut and coconut oil, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans and walnuts, and milk and other dairy.

Are there other organizations you can help? Research other animals and the treats they like, learn about their allergies and bake treats for them to donate or gift to others. Treats should be given sparingly in addition to a balanced, vet-approved diet, and not in replacement of regular meals. Like people, animals can have food allergies and should not have too many foods that are not healthy for them.

Lesson authored by Amy Powell, Haley Jones, and Dr. Mariana Rossoni Serao on behalf of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Iowa 4-H Youth Development.

To get your child involved in fun learning opportunities, check out Clover Kids (grades K-3), 4-H (grades 4-12), Lego Teams, and hands-on educational kits for checkout at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/linn/4h. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Linn County helps build a strong Iowa by engaging Iowans in research, education, and extension experiences to address current and emerging real-life challenges. The 4-H Youth Development program empowers youth to reach their full potential through youth-adult partnerships and research-based experiences. Linn County Extension Office website: www.extension.iastate.edu/linn.