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The Best Himalayan Dog Chew Recipe

Baking treats or even chews for your dog is not only a great way to cherish your pooch, but it’s also a way to spend some time with your little helper in the kitchen.

Okay, maybe the little helper is more like an impatient child wanting to stuff the cookie dough into his mouth.

Bright side: At the very least you’ll get to see your dog drool while trying to transfer the cheese we’re going to make from your pot into his mouth through sheer mental power.

Plus, you can actually make this 3-ingredient chew recipe pretty cheaply and quickly once you’ve got the details down.

Let’s dive into what makes homemade Himalaya chews so great.

Disclaimer: Many recipes for this type of chew use lime juice, but since it may pose a health risk for dogs, I’ve decided to include vinegar. I’ve used very small amounts of lime juice in the past without issues but would advise against it. If you’re unsure, consult your vet.

Are Homemade Himalayan Chews Good for Dogs?

I’m actually going so far as to say that making Himalaya chews at home for your dog is one of the best chews out there.

Why?

Well, maybe you’ve heard about the chemicals that come with other chewy treats like rawhide.

While rawhide is the go-to treat for many dog owners around the world, it can actually be toxic.

Depending on the origin of the rawhide, there may be no regulations in terms of food safety and to survive the long transport, they often contain unnatural chemicals.

Did you know rawhide also poses a choking hazard?

Apart from these two facts, the rawhide itself is a byproduct of the leather industry, not the meat industry.

So we’ll delete rawhide from our shopping list, but what’s the alternative?

Deer antlers? Puppies, smaller dogs, senior dogs, and even healthy large-breed adults can chip their teeth when chewing on these things.

Chews from major pet store chains? More stuff that just isn’t made for dogs to provide a cheap low-quality product.

Chicken feet? Many things that are dried and from actual animals (without additives) might be a great fit for your dog.

But what makes Himalayan dog chews better?

Here are all the benefits:

  • You control how hard your dog’s chew is
  • You control the chew’s size, shape, and quantity
  • You know exactly what goes into your dog’s body

Even though there might be a little learning curve in the beginning, once you’ve got this recipe down, it’s pretty quick and fun.

How much it’ll cost compared to stuff from your local shop depends heavily on how the ingredients are priced in your area.

How to Make Himalayan Dog Chews Safe

That’s the great thing about these Himalaya chews, they’re safe if done right.

When shopping for the ingredients, look for ethically sourced products and try buying stuff with recycled packaging to leave the smallest carbon footprint possible.

So apart from having a healthy dog chew, we just have to make sure that it’s the right texture for your dog.

If you have a small-breed dog, a puppy, senior, you’ll probably want to go with a softer version of this chew.

If you have an aggressive chewer, provide them with a treat that they can chew on for some time (but make sure it’s the right size to avoid them gulping it down).

After you’ve extracted the cheese (that’s right, we’re essentially making cheese), you have to squeeze it inside a cheesecloth or towel to get out the remaining moisture.

The harder you squeeze the cheesecloth or towel, the harder your chew will be after drying.

When it comes to the ingredients, it’s important that you’re using skim milk and not just regular milk because the recipe might not work.

To get the best possible result, you should make sure to stir and pause correctly in order for the cheese crusts to form.

In my first attempt, it was actually quite hard to get the cheese to form and definitely took longer than intended.

However, you can check out my Himalayan dog chews below.

Himalayan dog chews
Himalayan dog chews before baking

No worries, your chews might not turn out in the perfect color or shape either and that’s okay. Your dog won’t complain as long as it tastes awesome.

Make sure to supervise your dog the first time you’re giving him these chews.

If everything goes well, these chews are perfect to keep your dog occupied when guests are around, to reward him after a good training session, or to provide him with something to do when you’re gone which can actually prevent stuff like separation anxiety.

In any case, you can sleep soundly knowing that you’re fully controlling your dog’s diet and banning any of the toxic chemicals that go into some dog treats and chews out there.

himalayan dog chews

Himalayan Dog Chews

Yield: 20
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Super chewy Himalayan dog treats that will be savoured by your dog.

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon skim milk
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1 tsp Himalaya salt

Instructions

    1. Start by pouring the skim milk into a large pot on low to medium heat.
    2. Bring to a boil while stirring continuously.
    3. Turn off the heat and add the vinegar as well as the Himalayan salt.
    4. Stir gently for about 1-2 minutes or until the whey begins to separate from the curd.
    5. Let the milk sit for 10-15 minutes without stirring.
    6. Drape a cheesecloth or clean dish towel over a large bowl and drain the liquid out of the cheese leaving only the curds.
    7. Twist the cheesecloth in your hand and squeeze to remove all the remaining moisture (the more you squeeze, the harder the treats will be).
    8. Place the cheese with the cheesecloth between books or other weights that will continue applying pressure for at least 4-6 hours.
    9. Remove the cheesecloth and cut it into desired-sized pieces.
    10. Preheat the oven at 150°F and bake for 40 minutes.
    11. Spread them out on a cooling rack and let them dry for at least 24 hours.

Notes

Vinegar: Recipe usually includes lime juice which can pose a health risk

Drying: If you have a dehydrator, you can speed up the drying process by placing the chews into the dehydrator at 150°F for 12-18 hours, turning them halfway through.

Storage: Store the chews in airtight containers in a cool, dry, dark place. If a lot of moisture is left in the chews, store them in the fridge for longer shelf life.

Shelf-life: The shelf-life completely depends on how much moisture is in the treats and they can last anywhere from 2 weeks to several years.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 68Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 431mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 10gProtein: 7g

Did you make this recipe?

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Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet.

About Danielle

Equipped with 5+ years of expertise as a Rottweiler owner, I partner with licensed veterinarians and trainers to share research-backed and actionable advice for you and your furry friend.

Josie

Saturday 9th of December 2023

How would you get these not to crumble? All mine do is crumble apart.

Rochelle

Wednesday 2nd of August 2023

My batch only yielded three 4" chews. Did I do something wrong? It took forever for the milk to eventually boil as well.

Vic

Tuesday 16th of May 2023

Hi, this is fantastic, thank you. I’ve just got my cheesecloth and am going to try it tomorrow. My dog loves the strawberry flavour yak chews we get from our pet shop. How would I go about giving the homemade yaks strawberry flavour? would I purée fresh strawberries and add them into the curd or would I flavour the milk do you think? Many thanks again.

Danielle

Wednesday 17th of May 2023

Hi Vic, I'd add the strawberries after the curds have formed and before you put it into the cheesecloth. Definitely wouldn't add it to the milk as it could affect the consistency. You might get away with infusing the milk if you use (freeze-)dried strawberries.

I might try strawberry flavor too, definitely sounds interesting! Danielle

Kenia

Sunday 5th of February 2023

Can I leave applying pressure overnight? I started making these a bit late, so I will probably be sleeping when it’s ready for the next step.

Danielle

Sunday 5th of February 2023

Hi Kenia, if you mean that you let them sit with pressure on them for longer, that shouldn't be a problem, it'll just squeeze out more moisture.

Susan

Wednesday 25th of January 2023

I tried 2 various chew recipes before this one and they were ultimately smaller amounts of chews and too much moisture. This one was far superior using vinegar rather than lemon juice! Poured thru cheesecloth rubber-banded over a strainer. Worked great. Twice the volume, no burnt pan, and not alot of squeezing was required as the curd was solid curd. Wrapped up tightly in the cheesecloth and put on a cookie sheet with foil and two heavy paving stones for 5 hours. Cut and baked. This reciters the best! Thanks.

Danielle

Thursday 26th of January 2023

Hi Susan, I'm glad you liked the recipe, hope your furry friend enjoyed it!

Cheers, Danielle

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