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Doggy treats – especially the jerky kind, are expensive. Dried meat pup snacks cost around $16 to $32 per pound, depending on the brand. And many still contain added preservatives.

The method for making dog jerky is the same as making people jerky, only much easier because there’s no seasoning or marinating. 

Not only does homemade jerky cut down on expenses and chemicals, but it also has a magical benefit: the power of listening, even in stubborn dogs.

Here’s how you can make homemade dog jerky treats. All natural and super tasty jerky.

duck meat ready to be made into jerky for dogs
You can use any lean, inexpensive meat for doggie jerky; duck meat will work.

5 Fun & Easy Steps to Homemade Dog Jerky Treats

Materials and Supplies

  • Dehydrator OR your oven plus two two cookie sheets and two wire racks
  • Sharp Knife
  • 2 lb Lean Meat Trimmed of significant fat

Step 1: Uniformly cut the meat.

Cut the meat into uniformly thin slices about 1/4 thick or less. The pieces can be large or small if the thickness remains consistent. The overall size should be slightly larger than the size of the treat you’d like to end up with since they’ll shrink as they dry out. Smaller pieces are great for training, and long, thin strips will keep little dogs busy for a minute.

If you’re using a tougher cut of meat, try to slice against the grain so the dried treat isn’t stringy. Slicing the meat thin is a little easier if it’s barely frozen, especially for soft cuts like liver.

slicing

Step 2: Arrange the slices onto the dehydrate racks or wire racks.

Arrange the flattened slices onto the racks of either your dehydrator or wire racks. Avoid overlapping the pieces and leave about a half inch of space around them to let the air circulate.

raw meat on tray in dehydrator

Step 3: Set the trays in a preheated oven.

Set the trays in your dehydrator or the wire racks with cookie sheets underneath in a preheated oven at its lowest temperature (200 degrees is great). From here, it’s a bit of check-and-see. Drying times will vary depending on how much meat, the cut, the kind of dehydrator, and the accuracy of your oven.

Rotate the racks every two hours and check for “doneness” after about three hours.

Step 4: Consider your dog’s preferences.

If your dog is older or has some issues with her teeth, you may want to take the treats out of the dehydrator when there’s still a little left to give them, maybe 4 hours in.

Softer jerky will also smell “meatier” and can be cut into tiny pieces, making them ideal training rewards for puppies. Or, let the meat strips continue to dry until they feel hard to the touch, about 8-9 hours.

Step 5: Let the jerky cool and store it in an airtight container.

Let the jerky cool completely, and then store the treats in an airtight container. If you’ve opted for the softer variety or have used a fattier cut of meat-like tongue, the treats aren’t fully shelf stable. They are best stored in the freezer. Pull out a handful as needed to store in a mason jar on the counter for no more than a few days.

If they’re the fully dried doggie jerky, they’ll last in an air-tight container on a shelf for several weeks.

meat jerky for dog in air tight jar

What kind of meat do dogs like?

Dogs like all kinds of meat. There was even kangaroo jerky at the pet store. In truth, you can use any lean, inexpensive meat for homemade jerky dog treats, depending on your availability.

I buy beef and pork from the half animal; the organs come with them, so I’ve also made these treats with liver, heart, and tongue. My butcher sells packages that contain a pig heart and tongue for just a few bucks. If your family hunts, maybe you’ve had a banner season with lots of extra deer, turkey, squirrel, or goose meat on hand. I’ve even used pork chops that hid in the back of the freezer for years and were pretty freezer-burnt. My dog did not care. 

While homemade jerky is extremely easy to make in a simple home dehydrator, you can use half-sheet cookie trays and wire racks in your oven.

dog sitting nicely for a treat
Fiona sitting nicely for her homemade treat!
slicing

How to Make Dog Jerky Treats

Make your own dog jerky treats at home with this method and almost any lean meat.

Equipment

  • Dehydrator
  • OR Your oven plus two 2 cookie sheets and 2 wire racks
  • Sharp Knife

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs Lean Meat Trimmed of significant fat

Instructions
 

  • Cut the meat into uniformly thin slices about 1/4 thick or less. The pieces can be large or small as long as the thickness remains consistent. The overall size should be slightly larger than the size of the treat you'd like to end up with, since they'll shrink as they dry out. Smaller pieces are great for training and long, thing strips will keep little dogs busy for a minute. If you're using a tougher cut of meat, try to slice against the grain so the dried treat isn't stringy. Slicing the meat thin is a little easier if it's just barely frozen, especially for soft cuts like liver.
  • Arrange the slices, flattened, onto the racks of either your dehydrator or wire racks. Avoid overlapping the pieces and leave about a half inch of space around them to let the air circulate.
  • Set the trays in your dehydrator, or the wire racks with cookie sheets underneath in a preheated oven set at its lowest temperature (200 degrees is great). From here it’s a bit of check-and-see. Drying times will vary depending on how much meat, the cut, the kind of dehydrator, and the accuracy of your oven. Rotate the racks every two hours or so and start checking for “doneness” after about three hours.
  • If your dog is older or has some issues with her teeth, you may want to take the treats out of the dehydrator when there’s still a little give to them; maybe 4 hours in. Softer jerky will also smell “meatier” and can be cut into tiny pieces, making them ideal training rewards for puppies. Or, let the meat strips continue to dry go until they feel hard to the touch, about 8-9 hours.
  • Let the jerky cool completely, and then store the treats in an airtight container. If you’ve opted for the softer variety or have used a fattier cut of meat like tongue, the treats aren’t fully shelf stable and are best stored in the freezer; just pull out a handful as needed to store in a mason jar on the counter for no more than a few days. If they’re the fully dried kind of doggie jerky, they’ll last in an air-tight container on a shelf for several weeks.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Devon Dams-O'Connor
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Devon Dams-O’Connor is a freelance writer, journalist, home cook and gardener who spends a great deal of time playing in the kitchen and in the dirt. She covers local farming and food for regional magazines, and has taught small, hands-on classes on canning and pickling, fermenting, and heritage foodways for over a decade.

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