Homemade Dog Treats for Finnish Lapphunds: 5 Safe, Simple Recipes

Our Finnish Lapphunds, Timber and Tundra, will do almost anything for a treat, and like a lot of Lappy owners we got tired of squinting at long ingredient lists on store-bought bags. So we started baking our own. The good news is that homemade dog treats for Finnish Lapphunds are easier than you think, they use a handful of cheap ingredients, and you get to control exactly what goes in. Here are five we make on repeat, plus a plain-language list of what is safe and what to keep far away from your dog.

Are homemade treats good for Finnish Lapphunds?

Yes, when you keep them simple and feed them in moderation. Homemade treats let you avoid mystery fillers and pick ingredients you trust, which is a real plus for any dog. The Finnish Lapphund is a smaller-than-medium breed (around 44 to 49 cm at the shoulder, with no official weight in the breed standards), so portions matter even more than they would for a big dog (FCI Standard No. 189). A treat that looks tiny to us is a much bigger deal to a 17 kg Lappy.

One thing to know before you start: homemade treats are still treats, not a balanced diet. They are extras, not meals. The American Animal Hospital Association and most veterinary nutrition sources use the same rule of thumb, which we cover next. For the full picture on feeding, grooming, and keeping your Lappy healthy, see our Finnish Lapphund care guide.

How many treats can a Finnish Lapphund have a day?

No more than 10% of your dog's daily calories should come from treats. This is the widely used veterinary guideline, sometimes called the 10% rule, and the other 90% should come from a complete and balanced dog food (AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines; VCA Animal Hospitals).

Because the Finnish Lapphund is a fairly compact breed, that 10% is not a lot of room. The practical fix is to make your treats small. Bake or cut them into pea-sized or dime-sized pieces, especially for training, where you might hand out a dozen rewards in one session. Small pieces also suit this "thinking breed," which loves frequent rewards during short, upbeat training sessions (AKC, Finnish Lapphund facts).

What ingredients are safe and unsafe for Finnish Lapphunds?

Most dog-safe ingredients are simple whole foods, and the dangerous ones are a short, memorizable list. Finnish Lapphunds have no breed-specific food allergies on record, so the standard canine safe and unsafe lists apply to your Lappy just like any other dog. Here is the quick reference we keep on our fridge.

Two of these are worth saying twice. Xylitol (also labelled birch sugar) is in some "natural" peanut butters and many sugar-free products, and even a small amount can be life-threatening to dogs, so always read the peanut butter label before you bake. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, and there is no known safe amount (ASPCA, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets; AKC, Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat). When in doubt, leave it out, and if your dog eats something on the right-hand column, call your vet or a pet poison line right away.

5 safe, simple homemade treat recipes for Finnish Lapphunds

These five are easy, use cheap ingredients, and bake up small enough for training. A note on portions: cut or pipe everything small, and remember the 10% rule. Let treats cool fully before serving, and always make sure fresh water is available.

1. Three-ingredient peanut butter and oat bites

The classic starter recipe, and the one we make most. You need: 1 ripe mashed banana, 1/2 cup xylitol-free peanut butter, and about 1 1/2 cups rolled oats. Mash the banana, stir in the peanut butter, then mix in the oats until you get a stiff dough (add a few more oats if it is sticky). Roll into small balls or press flat and cut into pea-sized squares. Bake at 175 C (350 F) for about 12 to 15 minutes until firm. These freeze well, which keeps a big batch from going stale.

2. Pumpkin and oat training squares

Great for dogs with sensitive stomachs, since plain pumpkin is gentle and full of fibre. Mix 1/2 cup plain canned pumpkin (make sure it is pure pumpkin, not spiced pie filling), 1 egg, and about 1 1/2 cups oat flour (you can blitz oats in a blender to make your own). Combine into a dough, roll thin, and cut into tiny squares. Bake at 175 C (350 F) for 15 to 20 minutes. Bake them a little longer for a crunchier, longer-lasting treat.

3. Frozen pumpkin and yogurt pupsicles

Perfect for a warm afternoon, and no oven needed. Blend 1/2 cup plain unsweetened yogurt with 1/2 cup plain canned pumpkin, spoon into a silicone mould or ice cube tray, and freeze. Because our Lappies are built for cold (that gorgeous double coat does not love heat), a cool treat on a hot day is a nice little kindness. Keep portions small, since dairy can upset some dogs' stomachs, and skip these entirely if your dog does not tolerate yogurt.

4. Single-ingredient dehydrated sweet potato chews

About as simple as it gets, and a chewy alternative to rawhide. Slice one sweet potato into thin rounds or strips, lay them on a lined tray, and bake low and slow at around 120 C (250 F) for 2 to 3 hours, flipping halfway, until dried and chewy. That is it. These give your Lappy something to gnaw on, and the only ingredient is sweet potato. Store them in the fridge and use them within a few days since there are no preservatives.

5. Tiny chicken and oat jackpot rewards

The high-value option for recall and tricky training moments. Finely chop or shred 1/2 cup plain cooked chicken (no skin, no seasoning, no onion or garlic), mix with 1 egg and about 1 cup oat flour to bind, and press into a thin sheet. Bake at 175 C (350 F) for 15 to 18 minutes, then cut into tiny squares while warm. These smell amazing to a dog, which makes them the perfect "jackpot" reward when your Lappy nails a hard cue. Keep them refrigerated and use within three to four days.

How do I store homemade dog treats?

Store them based on how wet they are. Because homemade treats have no preservatives, they spoil faster than the store-bought kind. As a simple guide: drier, fully baked treats keep about a week in an airtight container at room temperature; softer or meat-based treats belong in the fridge and should be used within three to four days; and almost everything here freezes well for up to about three months. When in doubt, freeze the extra batch and thaw a few at a time.

Do treats need to be grain-free for a Finnish Lapphund?

No, and you should be cautious about going grain-free without a reason. Grains like oats are a perfectly good ingredient for most dogs, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has investigated a possible link between some grain-free diets and a serious heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (FDA, investigation into grain-free diets and canine DCM). The Finnish Lapphund has no breed reason to avoid grains. If you think your Lappy has a food sensitivity, that is a conversation for your veterinarian, who can guide a proper diet trial rather than a guess.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. Your vet knows your individual dog, so loop them in before making changes, adding supplements, or feeding treats to a puppy or a dog with a health condition.

Homemade dog treats for Finnish Lapphunds: quick answers

What are the best homemade treats for a Finnish Lapphund?

Simple, single-purpose treats work best: peanut butter and oat bites, pumpkin and oat squares, frozen pumpkin and yogurt pupsicles, dehydrated sweet potato chews, and tiny chicken and oat training rewards. Cut them small to fit the breed's compact size and the 10% treat rule.

How many treats can my Finnish Lapphund have each day?

Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories, with the rest from complete and balanced dog food. Because Finnish Lapphunds are a smaller breed, keep pieces pea-sized, especially during training, and ask your vet for your dog's calorie target.

What ingredients are toxic to dogs?

Never feed chocolate, xylitol (birch sugar), grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, leeks, chives, macadamia nuts, alcohol, raw dough, or heavily salted or seasoned foods. If your dog eats any of these, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison helpline right away.

Can Finnish Lapphunds eat peanut butter?

Yes, in moderation, as long as it is unsalted and contains no xylitol. Always read the label, because xylitol (sometimes listed as birch sugar) is in some peanut butters and is very dangerous to dogs.

Do homemade treats need to be grain-free?

No. Grains like oats are fine for most dogs, and the FDA has flagged a possible link between some grain-free diets and a heart condition. The Finnish Lapphund has no breed reason to avoid grains, so talk to your vet before choosing a grain-free route.

Sources

• American Animal Hospital Association, Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines (the 10% treat rule)
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Feeding Treats to Dogs
• ASPCA, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
• American Kennel Club, Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, grain-free diets and canine DCM investigation
• FCI Standard No. 189 (Suomenlapinkoira)
• American Kennel Club, Finnish Lapphund facts

Treat time, the breed-true way

Baking for your Lappy is one of those small joys of owning this breed, and watching Timber and Tundra lose their minds over a warm tray of chicken squares never gets old. If you want to make snack time even more fun, we make breed-true gear for the Lappy Pack, including Finnish Lapphund dog bowls for serving up the goods, plus mugs for your coffee while the oven does its thing, t-shirts, and stickers. Tag us with your homemade treat wins, because we love seeing what the Pack bakes up.

Written by Jill, co-founder of Lapphund Designs. Jill lives in Castlegar, BC with her husband and their two Finnish Lapphunds, Timber and Tundra. She started Lapphund Designs after struggling to find products that celebrated the breed she loves.