Oatmeal Cheese Dog Treats

Preheat oven to 300 F.

In large bowl pour hot water over oatmeal and margarine: let stand for 5   minutes. Stir in powdered milk, grated cheese, salt and egg. Add cornmeal and wheat germ. Mix well. Add flour, 1/3 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Knead 3 or 4 minutes, adding more flour if necessary to make a very stiff dough. Pat or roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness.

Cut into bone-shaped biscuits and place on a greased baking sheet.

Bake for 1 hour at 300 degrees. Turn off heat and leave in oven for 1 1/2 hours or longer.

Makes approximately 2 1/4  pounds. Store in an airtight container

Storing Dog Treats
In general you should store dog treats the same way you would homemade people cookies.  That being said, there are two main variables that determine storage time - the amount and type of fat in the recipe and your local weather conditions.  If your recipe uses fats such as butter, or meat bits or juices then it will be more prone to rancidity than a recipe that uses some vegetable oil or shortening.  Your treats may mold or spoil much faster in humid or very hot climates. 

Refrigeration and Freezing -  Refrigeration will prolong the life of more fragile dog treats. Make sure to store in a tightly sealed container or zip lock bag.  You can also freeze most treats in zip lock freezer bags.  Allow to thaw completely before use.