Valentine’s Day is a day to tell those you love the most how much they mean to you. Long being celebrated as a day of romance, it’s an occasion to seek the affections of the special by offering a small gift, card or greeting. So what if your ‘special’ happens to be a dog?

Let’s first start by saying who can blame you for making your dog your Valentine this year? Those cute little imploring eyes, that little wet nose, the cheeky way he looks at you when he’s up to mischief – not to mention the genuine excitement you’re rewarded with when walking in the door. A dog definitely is something special!

So, how do your spoil your dog this Valentine’s Day? Everyone knows that dogs can’t eat chocolate, and that a heart-shaped box of chocolates is off the table, but what about other treats? Most dogs love being spoilt with food treats, but is there such a thing as healthy treats? You betcha! Try one of these delectable homemade recipes, and treat your dog this Valentine’s Day.

Frozen Peanut Butter and Yoghurt Hearts

Being in the heart of February, Valentine’s Day can be a warm one. What better way to cool off your dog than with these peanut butter and yoghurt hearts? All you need is a heart-shaped ice tray (Ikea sells them if you’re not sure where to find one), some peanut butter and some Greek yoghurt. Heat the peanut butter to make pouring into the base of tray easier, then dollop a spoonful of yoghurt on top. Press the mix into the molds using the back of your spoon and ‘settle’ the hearts by dropping the tray on the countertop a few times. Freeze for four hours and voila! Your doggie treat is ready.

Red Velvet Pupcakes

Red Velvet cake is all the rage in recent years, and why should your pup miss out? These crimson-hued beauties are just the ticket for expressing your love this Valentine’s and better yet, they’re healthy!

Ingredients:

¼ cup canola oil
1 cup applesauce
⅓ cup beetroot puree or fresh beet juice
1½ cups wholewheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 180c and line a six-cup muffin tin with muffin cups.
  2. In a large bowl combine oil, applesauce and beet puree.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Gently fold into the beet mix.
  4. Fill muffin cups with batter three-quarters full and bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
  5. Meanwhile, puree cottage cheese in a food processor until smooth. Place in the fridge to keep cool and once pupcakes are completely cool, ice and serve.

Heart-Shaped Beet Biscuits

These heart-shaped cookies certainly look the part and not only do they combine healthy beetroot and sweet potato, they’re gluten free!

Ingredients:

1½ cups rice flour
1 egg
1 cup cooked beets, pureed
½ cup cooked sweet potato, pureed
½ cup water

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 180c.
  2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients to form a dough. If the dough is sticky, add more flour – if it’s too dry, add more water.
  3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, shape your healthy beet biscuits.
  4. Place biscuits on a lined baking tray and bake for 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
  5. Serve as is or ice with plain yoghurt for even more yummy goodness.

Valentine’s Liver Nibbles

So far, all our recipes have sounded quite tasty to us too, and while liver nibbles might not get us too excited, they will send your furry friend into a flurry. Nothing says “be my Valentine” better than a blender full of raw beef liver.

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh raw organic beef liver or chicken liver
3 eggs
¼ cup canola oil
2 cups instant oats
1 tbs applesauce
2 tbs nutritional yeast
3 tsp powdered kelp

Method:

  1. Process the liver in a food processor or blender until smooth.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and add the oil. Mix dry ingredients in slowly, stirring continuously until well combined. Add a little water if the batter seems dry.
  3. Pour batter into a prepared loaf tin and bake at 180 C for 50 minutes.
  4. Cool in the tin and then turn out onto a wire rack before refrigerating to cool completely.
  5. Slice the loaf in half lengthways and then using a heart-shaped cookie cut, cut into nibbles.

Treats to make your dog love for a lifetime!

So there you have it – four  healthy dog treat recipes to show your furry friend how much you love them. Happy Valentine’s Day!