Will Sit for Cookies

Everyone who lives in this house loves cookies, including Zorba (German Shepard) and Ruby (Rottweiler).  Especially fresh from the oven.

Want your dog to think you are the best owner ever?  Bake up some of these.  They're not difficult, and will only take about an hour.  And that includes time spent in the oven, during which time you can poke around here and read all my other blog entries.

An hour isn't that much time, considering how happy it'll make your dog, now is it?  (Yes, your dog told me to say that.  Feeling guilty yet?)

Peanut Butter, Pumpkin and Molasses Dog Treats

Zorba and Ruby both love treats; each other, not so much.  So we had to conduct our taste testing in separate parts of the house.

Both gave these treats two paws up.  Ruby would eat from the dumpster if we let her, but Zorba has a much more discerning palate.  So with her approval, I think we have a winner.

And in case you're wondering, yes, I did taste the dough.  And it was good.  So I guess that makes it three paws up.

Update:  Zorba and Ruby's cousin Blondie also loved these treats.  Blondie is known to reject many treats, so the fact that she gobbled it up says a lot.  Either it tasted really good or she just liked eating a Collie-shaped cookie.  I'm going with it tasted good because that reflects best on me.

Peanut Butter, Pumpkin and Molasses Dog Treats
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup rolled oats
3 Tablespoons peanut butter
2 Tablespoons molasses
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon water (more if necessary)

Preheat oven to 350.
Put all ingredients except water in the bowl of a food processor.  With the machine running, add the water through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream, until dough holds together without being wet or sticky.  Test by squeezing a small amount of the dough together.  If it is too crumbly, add a little bit more water; if too sticky, add a little bit more flour.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick, cut into desired shapes, and place on cookie sheets.

Bake until done (lightly browned and somewhat hard), about 40 minutes.