Fall is here (well almost here but the weather sure feels like it is fall) and that means pumpkin spice time. I’ve heard so much about pumpkin spice this or that on the radio for the last week or so already.
While I’m not a big pumpkin spice fan, I do enjoy baking with pumpkin. Pumpkin cake, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bars… all sound good, but I can’t share those with my dogs (too much sugar and other not so good for dogs’ stuff in them).
I do want to share something with them because pumpkin is good for them. Read this post, Pumpkin for Dogs, to learn about the benefits of pumpkin for dogs.
Since I can’t give my dogs the pumpkin treats I make for myself, what can I give them?
No-Bake Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats is the answer. These were inspired by Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Balls and No Bake Peanut Butter Dog Treats.
With only three ingredients these are a great, easy treat to give your dogs this fall (or any time of the year). They are even easy enough that your kids can help make them.
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Ingredients
Always consult your veterinarian before giving your dog new foods.
1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) fresh or canned is fine
½ cup peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol)
2 ½ cup oats, Old-fashioned or Quick Oats
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined. I started with a mixing spoon but once the peanut butter and pumpkin started mixing with the oats it became difficult to stir. I then switched to just mixing with my hands.
Once it is all combined, take a small amount and roll it into a ball. Size them according to how big your dog is.
I made the larger balls around ping pong ball size for Luna (as she’s an 85-pound German Shepherd). I made smaller balls for Morgan (since she’s only 23 pounds).
Place them on a pan lined with wax paper and place them in the fridge for about an hour. If, like me, you used all your wax paper last Christmas and forgot to buy more, you can use freezer paper too. Or just place it on the pan with no liner.
After they have chilled for an hour, they should hold their shape and be able to be placed in a covered container for storage.
Store in the fridge and use within a week.
Luna and Morgan were excited to get to try these. At least they were both cooperative with doing a sit before getting their treat.
Both Luna and Morgan enjoyed their treats so much it was hard to get a good picture of them.
Like any treat, give these to your dogs in moderation. And if your dog has allergies or a sensitive stomach, check with your vet before giving these to them.
If your dog enjoys these, they may also enjoy these Soft Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats.
I hope your dogs enjoy these as much as mine do.
Both of my dogs loved these and they are easy to make
Just made these and gave some to my dog before putting in fridge but he wouldn’t touch it. Maybe after they set up?
This is probably a crazy question but can I use homegrown squash instead of pumpkin? We are now living in a country that grows squash instead of pumpkin and until we can move out of our apartment we can only get squash . Sheba Scott
As long as that specific squash is safe for dogs you should be able to substitute it for the pumpkin.
Pumpkin in the can is hubbard squash. So if you grow those it should be ok.
These are like “crack” to my pup and my grand pups! I call them “Crack Balls”! So easy to make!
How do you store them ?
You can store them in the fridge or in the freezer. They will last longer in the freezer but will need to be thawed before you give them to your dog.
My dog loved them and we made some for the neighbors dogs
I made these so easy and my big boys loved them
I double the recipe for two reasons. The pumpkin purée comes in 15 1/2 oz cans and also my dog Rickie loves them. Thanks for the recipe.
How long did they last? Did you keep them longer than a week?
They last up to a week in the fridge. Any that I wanted to keep longer I put in the freezer. Just let them thaw a little before giving them to your dog if you freeze them.
Can these be frozen for later?
Yes they can, just let them thaw before giving them to your dog. The texture may change a little, but my dogs didn’t seem to care.
How long can they be frozen for?
They should be good for 3 to 6 months in the freezer.
My dogs loved these so much that my big dog knocked the whole pan off the counter and ate all the treats in one sitting!!! I would say they definitely enjoyed these lol
They’re good and so easy to make. My poodle loves them and me too
I just made these today and it’s the easiest reciped ever, but most importantly of all, my pups LOVED THEM! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Dog?? Heck, I would eat them myself!! I’m going to make this and maybe I’ll give some to my dog.
Is this safe for dogs with uti problems
I can’t answer this question as I’m not a vet. Please speak to your vet for questions regarding your dog’s health.
We give our dogs a little butter on the end of our finger and the next bite we have the pill in it, they seem to go down very easy. We use soft butter.
CREAM CHEESE is the only thing to work for my picky pill finder!!
Thank you for sharing that, Dawn! I just started to give my girl pills for pain twice a day! And her nose is amazing. So far I’ve used meatballs but these pumpkin balls will work and I never thought of cream cheese! Good idea!
These look like great dog treats. I know my dog, Henry will love them. I really like another commenter’s idea of using them as a pill pocket. That’s a great idea too! I’m definitely trying these for my pumpkin-loving pup! Thanks for the easy recipe! 😊💖🐶
Baby Bear and Daisy Girl love these Peanut Butter Doggie Treats. Thank You For The Recipe.
To much pumkın will gıve your Dog .Diarrhea becouse i gıve my dog some every now and then to help her go. When she has a lıttle trouble. Just wanted to share that
My vet said just the opposite. We give my dogs pumpkin to help with their diarrhea. They also have pumpkin powder supplements for dogs with diarrhea.
My vet told us to give our dog 2 tablespoons every day, which can’t express her anal glands (even though she is 50lbs) it makes her go poop 2 times a day instead of once but it’s never diarrhea. It makes my other dog go more often even though he doesn’t need to lol.
Coconut oil. It solidifies at cooler temps but would keep in the fridge and is good for their coats!
How much coconut oil did you use
Thanks all 3 of my dogs love them.
German shepard and schnauzer, they love them!
I found your site and love it! Thank you for all that you share!
Just a tip— to make rolling these out easier spray a little non stick cooking spray on your hands. My baby loves them.
Latex gloves work great.
I just made these & then had made a double batch lol..while making them all 4 of my girls were at my feet wanting some lol…so I made them a tiny ball & they snarfed it..so can’t wait for them to try them when they are done 😊
I checked them at an hour & they were still a lil wet so is it ok to leave them in the fridge overnight?
I made these for my guys today. Only 3/4 made it to the fridge to chill! They absolutely LOVE them!
I just made these and used a straw to put a small hole for a pill. Worked great to give my pup her medicine! Thank you!
I wished that worked for Luna. She’ll chew it up enough to find the pill and spit the pill out before finishing the treat.
My lady will smell the pill and spit it out. She’s so smart !
Any suggestions on how to give ur dog medicine?
Liverwurst, always covers the pill smell and my dogs just love liverwurst!!
Crush the pill and mix with peanut butter or whatever treat they like and these balls would be good
I found that if I give them one treat with the pill and hold another in front of their face, they’ll swallow the first in anticipation of the second. Never had a problem with this.
We use what I call squeeze cheese. It comes in cans and sits on a grocery store shelf just fine. No refrigerating needed. I put a little on the end of my finger & let each dog lick it. Then put a small amount again and put the pill on that and another little dab on top of the pill. Keep your finger in front of the dogs mouth and they will lick and lick as long as your finger is there. The pill goes right down to the tummy.
Darlene
The vet’s office has pocket treats that you just put the pill in our little dog just loves them.
I grind my pups pills in a pill grinder, and add it into his food. he eats it right up.
My boxer/pit bull Mickie would not take a pill in any food, hot dogs, cheese, nothing, until I realized she could spot it..so I now hide it by adding either rice or macaroni and she doesn’t notice it. She has kidney disease and I make her dog food as she can’t have regular dog food and the prescription food is cost prohibitve for me. Hope this works for your lady.
I started crushing my dog’s pills and blending the powder with peanut butter. She loves the pb! I think she will love this more!
How about adding shredded carrots?
Try pimento cheese. And gave a treat in each hand. Show them both to your pup at the same time. She will eat the pill really fast in order to get to the next treat.
I have made these several times a total pup hit! I have added ground flax as well. Today I ran low on pumpkin puree so I added some apple sauce. LOVE this recipe, so easy and always a hit. They are full of moisture so when storing in the fridge I put a paper towel inside the container to absorb the moisture. Fridge 1/2 and freeze 1/2.
Maria did they hold the shape made with Apple sauce?
Why the ground flax?
Excellent for their GI systems. Ground flax not whole or seeded. The flax helps with my girl’s flatulence.
Flax is good for their skin.
Dogs should not eat almonds!
Almonds are considered non-toxic to dogs though it is not recommended to give them whole almonds do the choking hazard they pose. Almond butter is considered safe though not all dogs can digest it and it should be given in small quantities.
Our Great Dane loves these treats. Thank you for sharing.
Kelly
Do I have to cook the quick oats for this recipe?
Do you cook the oats or leave them raw. I am a little uncertain
I don’t cook the oats first. I haven’t tried using cooked oats, so I’m not sure how well the treats would hold together.
Raw oats
o my gosh! i just came across this recipe last night, tried making them this morning, Max, our mini goldendoodle couldn’t even wait for an hour to hold it’s shape in the fridge! He didn’t care, he just loves them! Thanks for sharing this recipe! Stay safe!
Super easy and no oven..my kind of dog treat..thanks
I am rolling these into balls as my Aussie/huskie mix is “talking” to me because he can’t wait to try one. He’s going to have to be a little more patient! LOL
Lol, I can hear him now. Thanks for the giggle!
Cool for PILL WRAPS too! Except my Daddo ate them before my Doggos did…:)
Can you make a bunch and freeze them and get more than a week out of a big batch?
I’ve frozen some of the ones I’ve made and they seem to be fine. I would just recommend only thawing a few at a time as you want to use them. I’m not sure how freezing and then thawing affects the time they last.
Hi, Shannon.
I’m going to try your no-bake Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog treats. I think my dog will love them!
I have a question for you…
Your cute little white dog, Morgan, caught my eye because she looks JUST LIKE my little white dog, Cuddles! I’ve never seen another dog that looks so much like her and I’ve always wanted to know what breed mix she is. In fact, I had her DNA tested and the results were ridiculous! They tried to tell me she’s 37.5% American Staffordshire Terrier (Pitbull), 25% American Eskimo, 12.5% Cardigan Welsh Corgi and 25% unknown mixed Herding, Companion and Sporting Group breeds. Majority Pitbull? Seriously?! No way. Anyway, what breed mix is your Morgan? Please let me know, Shannon. If I can manage to include a pic of my Cuddles, I’ll do that too.
Thanks so much, Shannon, and Happy Holidays!
-Martina (& Cuddles)
We got Morgan from a shelter when she was a puppy. We were told the parents were poodle/terrier mix. I can’t remember now if it was just momma that was poodle/terrier or if it was both parents. Morgan definitely resembles a terrier with her facial fur when we let it grow out and she definitely barks like a terrier. I don’t really see poodle in Morgan, but I haven’t been around many poodles to say for sure.
Hi, Her dog looks like a Maltese. I have a Maltese that’s how I .know. Just thought I’d throw my $.02 in there.Hope it helps! Stay safe & healthy!!
It can be a great hot summer time snack for them to eat frozen or partly thawed as long as they don’t swallow it whole. Perhaps change the shape to a log or stick so they can eat it frozen in the summer time.
Darn! These are easy and cute, but my dog won’t eat peanut butter. Any suggestions for a substitute?
I have not tried these with anything other than peanut butter so I’m not sure how they would turn out. I would think other dog safe nut butters would work, but I have never used any of those for either my dogs or myself, so I can’t say for sure. Just be sure that whatever you try is safe for your dog.
sweet potatoes instead of peanut putter cooked snd mashed i
Great Idea!
I just pushed them down in a pan and cut them into squares..cuz lazy. Worked great!
Hi Kelly,
did you bake them? If so what temp & time.
I’m thinking the shape (□) will appeal to my dog more.
Thanks!
My dogs loved them and they were so easy to make so I made a double batch. Can I freeze them ?
Thank you for this amazing recipe
I think these can be frozen but the texture may change some. I have some in the freezer now to try it out but my dogs have so many treats I haven’t taken any out to check the texture yet.
Do you think I I could add banana?
I have not tried banana in this recipe. You could try it but the banana may go bad faster than the rest of the ingredients. All the recipes I’ve made with banana have either been baked or frozen.
These were so easy to make and my two furbabies loved them! Thanks so much!!
I’m making a batch now. I added a little wheat germ and a little brewers yeast. So far everything IS LOOKING GREAT! I Know Kaley will LOVE THEM! Yummy for dogs…
dogs cannot eat raw oatmeal
You can bake them at 300 for 20 to 30 minutes. Problem solved.
correct. No raw oatmeal for dogs
Any substitute for oats? I don’t think my Annie will digest well.
The oats is what holds these together. You could try using flour but you would have to bake them since it isn’t recommended to eat raw flour.
try almond butter or almond flour since almonds can be eaten raw it should be an okay substitute.
Some dogs have issues digesting almond products, like almond butter or almond flour, so start with small amounts and monitor your dog. Or check with your vet if it’s ok to give to your dog.
What about coconut flour? Coconut is good for dogs.
I’ve never used coconut flour before, so I can’t say how it would work in these treats.
What about gluten-free oats?
We had a girl that was allergic to wheat so we used an alternative flour. Coconut flour works well and they like the taste.
They have gluten free oatmeal (old fashioned oats)
Blend them up in a blender. Your dog should be able to digest them just fine.🤗🐾
If you bake them for 30 min or so at 250 it might help keep the texture/shape then I think they would freeze fine.
Ronda
i agree, or cook up thick oats and add with mixture. it will serve its purpose until you get them in frig to hold .. Kaley is teething so every bit counts!
i agree Ronda, cook up thick oats and add with mixture. it will serve its purpose until you get them in frig to hold .. Kaley is teething so every bit counts!
You’re recipes look great and safe AND your dogs are too cute!
I agree, I’m going to do this today.
How many calories are they? I didnt see anything listed.
Can this be frozen as i have a 4lbs yorkie and he dosen’t eat much..thank you
These seem to freeze fine, at least my dogs didn’t complain when I froze them. They ate them just as fast as they do when they are fresh.
I cook mine on 320 for 30 mIns. I have all the neighborhood dogs hooked in them!!!
Thank you for posting. Putting mine in the oven now!
Well my Chihuahua/Dodson mix adores them❣️ I was hoping my almost 16 year old Bassett would love these so I could use them as a pill pocket, but unfortunately he must be tired of peanut butter ☹️
Super easy and quick treat👍🏻
I would change the peanut butter for one of the other nut butters and maybe he will have a renewed interest in his treats.
I am wondering if these are ok for a 10 week old puppy
I can’t say for sure that these would be ok or not for a 10-week old puppy. I would double-check with your vet to make sure it’s ok to give them to a puppy that young.
These sound so good. Can’t wait to try them.
These sound so good. Can’t wait to try them.
I wouldn’t he’s too younger and this would mess up his bowels just puppy food for now !
I can’t wait to try this for my dog
I can’t wait to make these. My Papillons and Bernese love their treats.
Could these be frozen for future treats?
I have not tried freezing them, but I have frozen pumpkin puree plenty of times. I think the texture may change some, but I know my dogs don’t care about texture.
They freeze wonderful
Can dogs eat raw oats or Do I have to hear before adding to the peanut butter and pumpkin?
I meant cook the oats first?
I did some research and didn’t find anything about raw oats mixed with wet foods like pumpkin. I did find that the AKC does not recommend feeding dogs raw oats because it’s harder for them to digest that way. But they were talking about plain oats not mixed with other food. You could cook them first to be safe, or check with your vet.
Thank you for sharing about the AKC ! 👍I have two toy aussies that im going to be cooking for real soon. Its great getting these recipes 😋
They are actually steamed to destroy pathogens and then rolled so it is actually fine for them to consume them. However steel cut oats are not steamed so not safe.
Could you coat these with carob?
I’ve never used carob, so I can’t say for sure. As long as it’s safe for dogs I don’t see why you couldn’t.
Have you ever tried using the grain free oats?
No, I have not. I’m not even sure what is in grain free oats.
I just made these treats for a couple of black lab pups. They are six months. I think I’ve created a monster. They love peanutbutter and could smell as I was mixing. They didn’t wait for them to set to try them. Next time they will be outside when I make them
Thanks for sharing
Quick oats?
Either quick oats or old-fashioned oats will work.
Can these be frozen?
I’ve frozen some of the ones I’ve made and they seem to hold up just fine. I would just recommend thawing a few at a time, just what you can use in a day or so instead of thawing several days worth at a time.
I have a child with a peanut allergy so can’t use peanut butter in case the dog licks him. Do you have any ideas about what I could use instead of peanut butter in this recipe?
I have a child with a peanut allergy so can’t use peanut butter in case the dog licks him. Do you have any ideas about what I could use instead of peanut butter in this recipe?
Other nut butters and seed butters should work in this recipe but I haven’t tried them myself. Dogs can have almond butter, hazelnut butter, cashew butter, and sunflower butter. Just make sure that there aren’t added ingredients, like xylitol, in it. As long as it is made from a dog-safe nut or seed and has a similar consistency to peanut butter I would think it would work. Also, some of these are higher in fat content or may be harder to digest, so it is recommended to start with small quantities to see how your dog does with it.
I freeze them in snack size bags with a week’s worth in each bag. Then put the snack bags in a gallon freezer bag. Every week I take one of the bags out and let thaw in the refrigerator. My dog has to take pills every day so this recipe lasts about 2 months.
I’ve froze some in food saver bags & it worked great for summer treats @ least for my family since we’re in Az. But you can also defrost them a bit before giving them when your ready.
That sounds good to me. I’m definitely going to dip mine in melted carob. White carob for Christmas. Snow balls!