I recently gave a talk to the wonderful ladies at Glen Eden Garden Club. During the question-and-answer session, I was asked about old-fashioned ways to feed dogs and we spent quite a while reminiscing. They were mainly fed on scraps, lots of bones and occasionally someone would boil up a dog stew or similar. Here’s an old recipe for dog biscuits I found years ago, to which I have added a few things for extra health.
DOG BISCUITS
Garlic granules and brewer’s yeast can help deter fleas and provide some extra nutrition. If you can’t find brewer’s yeast, substitute with savoury yeast flakes, found at health shops – but don’t use baking yeast! The addition of Marmite and Vegemite provide essential B vitamins.
2 tsp Marmite or Vegemite dissolved in the hot water
3½ cups wholemeal flour½ cup wheat germ
½ cup bran
½ cup linseed
cup brewer’s yeast
2 tbsp garlic granules (in spice aisle of your local supermarket, but don’t use garlic salt)
2 eggs
1½ cups hot water
1 Mix all the ingredients together, except the eggs and water. Then, add the eggs and slowly add the hot water, stirring all the time until you have a biscuit dough you can work with (the stickier the better).
2 Roll out, cut into shapes and place on a greased tray. Bake at 180ºC for 20 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave to harden overnight – or at least a few hours. This makes about 20 cracker-sized biscuits. For large dogs, give them two to three a day, smaller dogs one or two.
*****Make sure you always feed your dog a bone a day to ensure good dental health and overall nutrition.
