Homemade Lamb and Sweet Potato Dog Treats
These homemade lamb and sweet potato dog treats combine fresh lamb heart with creamy sweet potato and oat flour to make a wonderfully meaty baked treat. They have a firm texture, a naturally appealing flavor and a great natural homemade dog treat.
After purchasing a few whole lamb hearts from a local butcher, rather than small trays of ready chopped hearts from the supermarket, I was faced with a lot of lamb heart in the fridge! So used it to make some dog treats in addition to adding it to homemade dog food. Rocco went crazy for these and did not leave the kitchen during preparation and baking, so I can only assume that they smell great to dogs!
Sweet potato helps bind the dough while balancing the stronger flavor of the lamb heart. The finished dough can be rolled and cut into shapes or sliced into simple squares, making this an easy recipe to adapt for dogs of different sizes.
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Why your dog will love this recipe
The rich smell of lamb heart makes these biscuits especially tempting, while sweet potato adds a subtle sweetness and softer texture. They are meaty enough to feel like a special reward but sturdy enough to carry on walks or break into smaller training treats.
Are lamb and sweet potato good for dogs?
Plain lamb heart and cooked sweet potato can both be included in occasional homemade dog treats.
Lamb heart provides animal protein and naturally occurring nutrients, including iron and several B vitamins. Although heart is an organ anatomically, nutritionally it is closer to muscle meat than secreting organs such as liver and kidney. It should therefore not be used as a substitute for liver in a formulated homemade diet.
Sweet potato supplies fibre and carbohydrates while helping to hold the biscuit dough together. Always cook sweet potato before adding it to dog treats, and serve it plain without butter, salt, sugar or seasoning.
Ingredients
Just 4 simple ingredients are used to make these meaty homemade dog treats.
- Lamb heart – Lamb heart gives these biscuits their rich, meaty flavor. Trim away the tough vessels, connective tissue and excess exterior fat before blending or finely mincing it. If lamb heart is new to your dog, introduce it gradually. Although lamb is sometimes used as an alternative protein, dogs can still be sensitive or allergic to it.
- Sweet potato – Cook and mash the sweet potato until smooth before measuring it. Baking or steaming works well, but avoid adding oil, butter, milk or seasoning. The moisture content can vary depending on how the sweet potato was cooked. A wetter mash may require a little more oat flour.
- Egg – The egg helps bind the lamb, sweet potato and flour together. It also makes the dough easier to roll and helps the treats hold their shape during baking.
- Oat flour – Oat flour absorbs moisture and creates a workable biscuit dough. You can purchase oat flour or make your own by blending plain rolled oats until finely ground. Use certified gluten-free oat flour if your dog needs to avoid cross-contamination with gluten-containing grains.
How To Make Lamb Hearts Sweet Potato Dog Treats
The lamb heart needs to be trimmed of all fat before blending it to use. A sharp knife helps!
Blend trimmed lambs heart.
Add to bowl with egg and cooked sweet potato.
Mix then stir in oat flour.
Form into a dough, adding any more oat flour if required.
Roll the dough out and cut out shapes.
Place the shapes onto a baking tray and bake until firm and golden.
How to prepare lamb heart
Cut the lamb heart open and inspect the inside before using it. Remove any large blood clots, tough tubes, stringy connective tissue and thick pieces of exterior fat.
Cut the trimmed heart into small chunks and process it in a food processor until finely minced. It does not need to become completely smooth, but there should not be large pieces that could make the dough difficult to roll.
Wash the food processor, knife, work surface and your hands thoroughly after handling the raw meat.
How to make crunchier treats
The standard baking time produces firm biscuits that may retain a little softness in the centre, depending on their thickness.
For drier, crunchier treats, reduce the oven temperature to 120°C/250°F after the initial baking time. Return the biscuits to the oven for another 30–60 minutes, turning them halfway through.
Switch off the oven and leave the treats inside as it cools for additional drying. Check them regularly so the thinner pieces do not become excessively hard.
Drier treats generally keep longer than soft ones, but all meat-based homemade treats should still be stored carefully.
Recipe tips
- Measure the sweet potato after cooking: Half a cup of mashed sweet potato is more reliable than specifying one whole potato.
- Remove excess fat: This makes the dough easier to handle and helps the finished biscuits stay fresh longer.
- Add the flour gradually: Lamb heart and sweet potato vary in moisture, so you may not need the full two cups.
- Chill a sticky dough: Refrigerate it for 20–30 minutes before rolling.
- Roll evenly: Biscuits of the same thickness will finish baking at approximately the same time.
- Make small treats: Small shapes are easier to portion and work well as training rewards.
- Allow them to cool fully: Packing warm treats can create condensation and encourage spoilage.
- Check the centre: Meat-based treats must be thoroughly cooked, even if the outside looks firm.
Can I make the treats without cookie cutters?
Yes. Roll the dough directly onto parchment paper and use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to score it into small squares. Bake the sheet until cooked through, then separate the treats along the scored lines.
This is often quicker than cutting individual shapes and produces small pieces that are useful for training.
You could also form small balls and flatten them gently with a fork. Keep them fairly thin so the lamb cooks evenly.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Pumpkin – Plain pumpkin purée can replace the mashed sweet potato. Pumpkin generally contains more moisture, so you may need extra oat flour. The flavour will also be less sweet.
- Carrot – Finely grated carrot can be added, but it is not a direct replacement for mashed sweet potato because it does not bind the dough as effectively. If using carrot, keep the sweet potato in the recipe and add only a small amount.
- Other dog safe flours – Whole-wheat flour or brown rice flour may work in similar quantities, although the final texture will change. Coconut flour is highly absorbent and cannot be exchanged cup for cup with oat flour. If using it, begin with a much smaller amount and allow the dough to rest before deciding whether more is needed.
Storage instructions
Because these treats contain fresh meat and no preservatives, they should not be stored like commercial biscuits.
- Room temperature: Up to 24 hours in a cool room
- Refrigerator: Approximately 4–5 days in an airtight container
- Freezer: Up to 3 months
For longer storage, freeze the cooled treats in small batches. Defrost only what you expect to use within a few days.
Very thoroughly dried biscuits may last a little longer in the refrigerator, but discard any treats that become damp, sticky, mouldy or develop an unusual smell.
How many treats does this recipe make?
This recipe should make approximately 30–40 small treats when the dough is rolled to 6 mm/¼ inch thick. The exact yield will depend on the size of your cookie cutter and how much oat flour is needed.
Mini training treats will produce a considerably larger batch, while medium bone-shaped cutters may give you around 18–24 biscuits.
How many treats can a dog have?
Portions depend on the size of the biscuits, your dog’s weight, activity level and usual daily diet. Start with one small treat, particularly if your dog has not eaten lamb heart before.
As a simple starting point:
| Dog size | Suggested amount |
|---|---|
| Small dogs | ½–1 small treat |
| Medium dogs | 1–2 small treats |
| Large dogs | 2–3 small treats |
These are general amounts rather than precise feeding instructions. Adjust the portion for the size and calorie content of your finished biscuits.
Treats should account for no more than approximately 10% of a dog’s daily calories, with the remaining calories supplied by a complete and balanced diet.
More Homemade Lamb Dog Treat Recipes
If your dog enjoys lamb, they may love these other recipes:
Homemade Lamb and Sweet Potato Dog Treats
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175°C/350°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Trim the lamb heart and cut it into small pieces.
- Process the heart in a food processor until finely minced.
- Mix the lamb heart, mashed sweet potato and egg together.
- Add 1½ cups of oat flour. Add more gradually until a firm, rollable dough forms.
- Roll the dough to approximately 6 mm/¼ inch thick in between two layers of parchment paper (for a cleaner roll).
- Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter and place them on the prepared tray.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until firm and thoroughly cooked. The centre should reach 71°C/160°F.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.
- Refrigerate in an airtight container or freeze for longer storage.
Video
Notes
- The amount of flour required will depend on the moisture in the lamb heart and sweet potato.
- For crunchier biscuits, dry them at 120°C/250°F for another 30–60 minutes after baking.
- Trim visible fat from the lamb heart before processing.
- Introduce the treats gradually if lamb heart is new to your dog.
- These are occasional treats and are not a complete and balanced meal.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
FAQs
Most dogs can eat plain, thoroughly cooked lamb heart in moderation. Trim excess fat and avoid adding salt, onion, garlic or seasoning.
Dogs with pancreatitis, food allergies or a medically prescribed diet should only be given new treats after consulting their veterinarian.
Lamb heart is anatomically an organ, but its nutritional profile is closer to muscle meat. It is not considered a secreting organ and does not replace liver or kidney in a formulated homemade diet.
Yes, although the dough may require adjusting because cooked heart contains less moisture than raw minced heart. Chop or process it very finely, combine it with the sweet potato and egg, then add only enough oat flour to produce a workable dough.
Yes, provided it contains only sweet potato and does not include sugar, syrup, salt, spices or artificial sweeteners. Sweet potato pie filling is not suitable.
The egg is an important binder in this recipe. If it is removed, the biscuits may crumble. A suitable egg-free version would need additional sweet potato and careful adjustment of the flour rather than simply omitting it.
A weaned puppy can have a very small piece if all the ingredients agree with them. Puppy treats should remain limited so they do not replace the complete food needed for growth.