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It is so easy to make healthy, quality chicken jerky treats for dogs using a countertop dehydrator.

By now, I think everyone has heard about the controversy surrounding chicken jerky treats imported from China. There’s no solid proof. There’s no explanation, but there are many reports that these treats are making dogs sick.

Back when I adopted Felix, I didn’t know anything about quality dog treats.

There were no good treats or bad treats, there were just treats. Felix ate a lot of things I would never imagine giving to him now. He ate a lot of things that I thank my lucky stars didn’t make him very , very sick.

We adopted him just a few weeks before the great pet food recall of 2007. As a new dog owner, I was understandably freaked out when almost everything in my house was recalled. You can understand why I panicked when Felix got sick, vomiting a yellow foam. (Holy woof, I sure talk about vomit a lot lately, don’t I?)

These days we know better. Treats can be scary – you have to know that what you’re feeding your dog is safe. That’s why I love making dehydrator dog treats at home.

Jerky treats have always been one of Felix’s favourite treats, but with jerky treats making dogs very, very sick, I just don’t trust them anymore. When even the FDA is saying that Chinese made jerky treats are dangerous, you know it’s time to take notice.

Too many brands are made in China. Still more say they are a “Product of the US”, but they’re made using Chinese ingredients. It’s scary and I’m not taking any chances with my dog’s health and safety.

Not when jerky dog treats are so darn easy to make at home – you can even add fun flavours to make your chewies extra special.

Now, I’m sure if you asked my dogs, they would tell you that chicken jerky treats in any flavour are pretty woofing awesome, but flavoured jerkies just might be a nice gift for the furry friends in your life, don’t you think? And they’re SO FREAKING EASY.

Yield: 1 lb. of dehydrated chews

Homemade Chicken Jerky Treats for Dogs

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There's no need to buy expensive dog treats when it's so easy to make healthy, delicious dehydrated chicken jerky treats at home.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 12 hours

Additional Time 1 day

Total Time 1 day 12 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

Basic Jerky

• 3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast

OPTIONAL: Pineapple Ginger Marinade

• 2 c. unsweetened pineapple juice
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh ginger
• 2 tbsp.. finely chopped cilantro

OPTIONAL: Apple Rosemary Marinade

• 1 c. apple cider vinegar
• 1 c. unsweetened apple juice
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped rosemary

Optional: Honey Basil Marinade

• 1 1/2 c. water
• 1/2 c. honey
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped basil

OPTIONAL: Maple Thyme Marinade

• 1 1/2 c. water
• 1/2 c. real maple syrup
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped thyme

Instructions

1. Whisk together your marinade ingredients.
2. Place chicken in a shallow dish or plastic bag and cover with marinade. Place in the fridge and marinate 12 - 24 hours.
3. Place chicken chunks onto dehydrator trays. Set to the HIGH or MEAT setting. Dehydrate for 2 - 12 hours, no flipping necessary, until jerky is dry
4. Cut a piece in half to test for doneness. Jerky is dry when there is no moisture in the center of the treat and it is the same colour throughout.
5. Preheat your oven to 275F and lay your chews out on a baking sheet. Allow the oven to come fully to temperature, then cook chews for 10 minutes to kill off any harmful bacteria.
6. Allow treats to cool completely before storing or packaging.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for 3 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Does your dog have a favourite treat that you won’t buy anymore?