Western Ranch Dog Biscuit Treats

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine beef broth, milk, honey, egg, bacon grease or margarine, and salt.

Add yeast/water mixture and mix well. Stir in flour, corn meal, wheat germ, cracked wheat, wheat bran, oatmeal, and cheese. Add whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Knead in the final amounts of flour by hand to make a stiff dough.

Continue to knead for 4 to 5 minutes. Pat or roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into bone shapes and place on a greased baking sheet.

Cover lightly and let set (rise) for 30 minutes. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until lightly browned on bottom.

Prepare topping during last few minutes. Turn off oven heat.

Remove biscuits from oven. Immediately dip biscuits in topping. Return them to oven and leave biscuits in oven for several hours or overnight.

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.