Take it from me, baking for those you love is good for your soul! (I’m not talking about calories, I’m talking about well-being!) It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but from start to finish, the baking process is really good for you...and for your dog.
Freshly baked dog treats in minutes, fresh from YOUR oven
As a society, we bake for ourselves. We bake for our friends and neighbors. But why aren’t we baking for our dogs? Dogs are our friends and family, too! They will certainly appreciate it.
My Story:
It dawned on me one day when I was in the kitchen cutting out shapes from our traditional holiday sugar cookie dough as I was watching my girls wait patiently for the fresh, warm cookies to come out of the oven. They were giddy, and I was happy. It was a moment, and I loved it!
Then I sheepishly looked down toward the kitchen floor and saw my other two babies staring up at us with their legit puppy dog eyes. A lightbulb went off, “Why haven’t I baked cookies for my dogs?!” Immediately I searched for dog treat recipes and got to work. Before I knew it, the girls and I were cutting out shapes from our “Doggie Dough” for our pups and baking them in the oven. We waited for the freshly baked treats to cool and served them to our dogs. It took only a few minutes. The look on my daughters’ faces and the elated feelings/emotions we had while watching our pups’ tails wagging enthusiastically wanting more was even better than I anticipated. It was a completely rewarding experience. It was a treat for all of us!
Baking treats for our dogs has become a regular activity in our home. We wanted to share this exuberant feeling with all dog-owners, and that is exactly why we created our company, Dough ReMia’s Doggie Dough (named after my daughters but made specifically for our pups!). It feels so good serving treats that are fresh from your oven to your loved ones- your dogs included. They’re members of the family after all!
Ok, Ok...I know not everyone loves to bake. Rather than enjoying the process, some see the downside: it’s time consuming. It makes a mess. It’s hard. Or they say, “I’m not good at it or I don't bake for myself, whay would I bake for my dog?”
But the truth is that baking/cooking has proven effects to raise serotonin and help people feel good, especially during the holiday season.
“Cooking at home, or other places are good for your mental health because cooking is an act of patience, mindfulness, an outlet for creative expression, a means of communication, and helps to raise one’s self esteem as the cook can feel good about doing something positive for their family, themselves or loved ones,” Julie Ohana of Culinary Art Therapy- LivKindly article
So many of us have fond memories baking cookies with our family members, neighbors or friends, no matter what holiday or religion. There’s just something about baking, especially during the holidays… And baking for your dog feels just as good, if not better!
Spending time with my daughters baking has so many wonderful benefits
(keep scrolling to learn more!)
Besides filling stomachs with delicious treats, as I mentioned, baking has many proven benefits that are good for your soul and your mind. And, baking for our dogs has the same emotional and health benefits, trust me on this.
Top 6 Reasons Why You Should
Bake for your Dog this Holiday Season (& ALL Year Long!):
Include your pups in your holiday baking this year.
No mixing, No bowls, No mess. Simply "shape & bake!" with Dough ReMia's Doggie Dough
1. It’s a calming activity & can help make you less stressed:
Think of baking as a form of meditation. It’s therapeutic The simple act of kneading dough or rolling it out or choosing cookie cutters to push into the soft dough can decrease symptoms of anxiety and help you feel calm. Admit it, it's satisfying!
2. It helps your dog eat healthier:
Your homemade Doggie cookies are definitely healthier than any store-bought dog treats. Unlike store-bought dog treats, which can contain processed ingredients, preservatives, food dyes, additives, and hard to pronounce words, a homemade batch of dog treats can have healthier and cleaner ingredients that are chosen by you and safely devoured by your dog. It’s a win-win because you have total control over the ingredients you use.
3. It boosts your morale:
Baking helps you feel happier. You have to agree that very few things make us happier than devouring fresh-from-the-oven baked treats. There are many articles written about how the act of baking makes us happier. For example, there is a study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology that states that people who do small, creative acts on a regular basis, such as baking, feel happier and more relaxed overall. I can completely relate to this theory because I find when I’m stressed or tired or just “in a mood,” so to speak, baking for my family, friends, or my dogs turns my frown upside down. I find it relaxing, a way to de-stress, focus on the present, and it ultimately helps me feel better!
4. It enhances all your senses:
Baking appeals to all of your senses which enhances your “feel-good” endorphins. Whether it's the smell of dog treats baking in the oven or cooling on the counter, the feeling of kneading the dough or the satisfied feeling you get when you see the end result naturally enhances happiness. It stirs all the senses when you see the adorable dog treats you created, smell the aroma of the freshly baked treats and watch the way your dog waits patiently by the oven. And, the nice thing about baking is the tangible reward at the end that helps you understand the full-joy it brings to you and others!
5. It helps you get creative:
Baking helps you express yourself. Like any creative activity, baking is a form of self-expression that, as I mentioned before, helps relieve stress. “A recipe is just a recipe” until you pour a little bit of passion, creativity, and most importantly, love into it! The final creation is a reward for you and your dog.
6. It builds bonds:
You may have heard the saying before, “It’s more than baking, it’s memory making,” and it is the truth. Baking together, whether with your children, parents, spouse or friends, is quality time spent together. It’s “family” time. Baking for people or dogs you care about helps create closer, tighter bonds and helps build lifelong memories by spending time talking, listening, laughing and learning together while creating something special. It's a nice way to strengthen family traditions especially when you include your best friends- your loyal and lovable dogs.
Now that you're convinced, here's how to get started:
Look for recipes that include ingredients that are safe for your dog and that your dog enjoys. If your pup loves peanut butter, find a peanut butter dog treat recipe.
But, if you feel you don’t have the time or want to make a mess, simply stock up on Dough ReMia’s Doggie Dough and keep the oven-ready doughs on-hand in the refrigerator and/or freezer for future use. Use as much as you’d like from the 1 pound dough and save the rest for later in its resealable bag. It will last a few weeks in the refrigerator and 6+ months in the freezer. It can be thawed and refrozen since it is vegan and gluten-free. Just “shape & bake,” or if you feel up to it, add in more of your dog’s favorite flavors to the already prepared dough (ex: Parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon, etc.) Don’t feel like using cookie cutters, bake Pupcakes or Barkscotti instead. (Check out www.doughremia.com/faq for more serving suggestions). Again, I created this product so that you can include your dog in your family traditions in a very easy and stress-free way.
How baking for our dogs makes us feel:
Fully Festive!
Completely Cozy!
Perfectly Productive! &...
Totally Loved!
Baking makes you feel like you’ve done a good deed in the world… because you did. Just look at your dog for reassurance and the connection that you made even deeper!
Customers' baking for their dogs!
And that should be good enough reasons for you to preheat your oven… Now, get baking for your pup!
For easy, healthy dog treat recipes, please check out our other recently published blog posts for a variety of delicious and healthy recipes to choose from.
Check out another article about Spoiling your Dog in the Kitchen: Pet LifeStyle Magazine
Bone Appétit!
XO ,
Melissa
owner/founder of Dough ReMia's Doggie Dough
Lifetime lover of Dogs & Baking
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