Almost every dog owner needs treats now and then. Some more, some less. Since the health of our four-legged friends matters to us, the reward for our furry companions should also be healthy, low-fat and sugar-free.
And how do you know exactly what's in them? By making them yourself. Baking for 5 dogs would turn into quite the chore in the long run though, so we came up with jerky instead!
What is jerky?
Simple answer: raw meat that is dehydrated by drying, so it keeps for longer.
We've been on the lookout for healthy treats for our Hundereise crew for a while. The ingredient lists on the packaging are enough to make you raise an eyebrow more than once, and in the end you still have no real idea what's actually inside. If you want to know what's truly in a dog snack, the best thing to do is make it yourself.
The idea actually came from my in-laws, who have been dehydrating treats for Donna for quite some time. So we got ourselves some dehydrators too, to spoil Atlas, Tiago, Neroli, Murphy & Archy with healthy snacks. Dehydrating in the oven at low temperatures (50° – max. 70°) is also possible, but it gives us too little space and the smell in the flat would be pure torture for the dogs :)
So how do we go about it?
On our next trip to the supermarket we keep an eye out for deals at the meat counter.
Which meat is suitable for dehydrating?
What kinds are we looking for:
- Turkey breast, preferably
- Followed by chicken fillets
- We've also tried turkey heart and liver
These days turkey breast is our firm favourite, as it has the lowest fat content and dries out really well. Chicken works well too, but it is a little fattier and the yield isn't quite as high. Offal isn't as easy to come by, but it's very popular with the dogs (watch out – liver can cause loose stools).
But anything goes as long as it tastes good and is well tolerated! We'll be trying venison soon. Beef, duck, rabbit and horse are of course also options. Pork is not recommended due to the risk of Aujeszky's disease.
What equipment do we need?
Once we're home, the meat is unwrapped, the knife comes out, the chopping board is set up and the dehydrator racks are laid out ready.
- Knife
- Chopping board
- Dehydrator
What's the best way to cut it?
I start by cutting the large turkey breast lengthways along the grain into 3–4 "logs", depending on how wide the breast is. These are roughly 3–4 x 5 x 20 cm (depending on the piece of meat).
The logs are then sliced into thin strips. We cut across the grain so that, once dried, the pieces break apart more easily. This "turkey breast carpaccio" is arranged on the rack with a little space between the strips.
How long does the meat need to stay in the dehydrator?
And then we're off – the dehydrating begins. We set the machine outside (sheltered from rain), since otherwise the furry ones would never leave it in peace ;)
It stays there for between 12 and 16 hours – depending on the thickness of the pieces. We simply check the texture at regular intervals. It should be really hard and crispy. That means the meat is truly dried out and any later mould is avoided.
If you're not quite so patient, you can take the jerky out earlier. If it isn't completely rock-hard yet, you should just make sure your dogs consume it fairly quickly.
And then?
When I bring the dehydrator in from the balcony, I don't get a moment's peace!
Do you also love warm cake straight from the oven? Then you can probably imagine that the first, still-warm snacks are the best. So straight off the rack and into the dog – at least a few pieces ;)
Don't be alarmed – because of the moisture loss, the meat naturally loses quite a bit of weight, and it feels like the result is about half of what you put into the dehydrator. We haven't weighed it, but this fact explains why the products available in shops are relatively expensive.
Storage
I personally use airtight glass containers and am very happy with them. The dried meat should be stored in a way that keeps moisture out as much as possible. The fridge is not the right place for it.
Chicken and offal are dabbed with kitchen paper before storing to remove any excess fat. Turkey breast can go straight into the jar!
How long the jerky actually keeps, we can't say – because from the very start we settled into a weekly rhythm and make a fresh batch every weekend.
Have fun trying it out!
Have you ever bought jerky for your dog, or even made it yourself?
What are your experiences with it?
