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Dehydrating your own dog treats and chews is growing in popularity these days. Proponents say it’s a cheap and healthy way to provide tasty treats for picky pups or dogs who follow a limited diet. It’s also supposed to be easier than baking treats in the oven and better for the environment.
But is a dog treat dehydrator worth it? Does it really save money in the long run? How much time will it add to pet parents’ plates? And most importantly, is it safe?
To find out, we talk dehydrating and DIY treats with Hannah Guttormson of K9 Fuel, a professional trainer (KPA-CTP) and family dog mediator (FDM) who holds a diploma in canine nutrition. We also speak with dog guardian and dehydrating pro Pamela Clark, who shares ethical pet parenting tips and ways to reduce food waste.
What the Experts Say About Dog Treat Dehydrators
Let’s start with the big question: Are dehydrated treats really better for dogs? We’ll take a look at a few popular claims, breaking them down with the help of our experts.
Claim #1: Dehydrated treats are healthier for dogs.
In some ways, yes! Dehydrating raw meat, fruit, and veggies is a great way to make single-ingredient treats. According to Guttormson, dehydrated treats are free of preservatives, and the nutrients in the food will remain intact compared to store-bought treats that can be processed at high temperatures. “You know exactly what you’re feeding your dog, and you get to choose the quality of meat you use,” she adds.
Claim #2: Dehydrated treats are ideal for picky pups or dogs with dietary restrictions.
Both Guttormson and Clark agree that dehydrating dog treats offers pet parents more control over the ingredients (and texture)—ideal for fussy eaters, pets with allergies, dogs on elimination diets or who need to be fed novel proteins, and pups with sensitivities to fillers or preservatives.
“They’re also ideal for dogs who need to lose a few pounds or have their weight closely monitored,” Guttormson says. “You can make tasty high-value treats whatever size you would like and calculate the calories to ensure your dog is not being overfed.”
Claim #3: Dehydrated dog treats are great for training.
Dehydrated dog treats tend to be excellent for training, since they’re typically high-value and low calorie. Clark notes that dehydrated treats are especially good for smaller dogs, who can only have a limited number of calories in a day but need a lot of training treats. She also points out that dehydrated treats are easy to pop in a treat pouch and carry on a walk, unlike raw or cooked meat.
“I use positive reinforcement training with Henry, a small reactive rescue dog. I need to feed him a lot of treats throughout the day for training purposes,” she explains. “Dehydrated meat treats are high value for him but are also healthy. So even if a lot of his calories in the day come from training treats, those treats are still giving him a balanced, healthy diet.”
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Claim #4: Dehydrated dog treats are better for the environment.
For Clark, using a dog treat dehydrator is a great way to extend the life of food nearing expiry and help reduce food waste. “I’m an ethical vegetarian. My dog, Henry, is decidedly not,” she says. “I feel better about feeding him meat when I can source it in ways that save it from ending up in a landfill. Buying clearance meat on its best before date or getting freezer-burned meat from neighbors then dehydrating it into treats for Henry helps reduce the impact of his meat consumption.”
Claim #5: Dehydrated dog treats are cheaper.
In Clark’s experience (and our own), dehydrating your own treats can definitely cut down on costs. “It’s much cheaper than buying packaged dehydrated treats, especially if you buy meat on clearance,” she says. “Dehydrated sweet potatoes are another thing that’s very cheap to make yourself, compared to buying store-bought sweet potato chews.” She adds that using less common cuts of meat (tongue, organs, etc.) is often cheaper as well.
Guttormson agrees that organ meat can be a great source of nutrients but warns to not give your dog too much at once as it can cause upset stomachs. “Try to use a variety of muscle meats and organ meats if using a significant number of treats for training or outings,” she says.
How Dog Treat Dehydrators Work—Common Questions
Are dehydrators safe for making dog treats?
According to the USDA, drying is the world’s oldest and most common method of food preservation, with today’s drying technology making it easier than ever. Unlike conventional ovens that cook with heat, dehydrators draw the moisture out—removing harmful pathogens while keeping the enticing flavor of food in its raw state.
Canine food expert Hannah Guttormson, however, points out that it’s important to still follow the same safety protocols you have when cooking for yourself, especially when working with raw meat. “To prevent cross-contamination, remember to wash your hands after handling [the food] and to wash all utensils and cutting boards once done,” she advises. “I suggest having a designated cutting board for slicing raw meat.”
When making jerky, the USDA also recommends a minimum temperature of 160-165 F for meat and poultry. “It’s important to dehydrate meat fully if you plan on leaving it at room temperature,” says Clark, who dehydrates treats regularly for her spunky pup Henry, who has food sensitivities and is on a mostly raw diet. “It should snap instead of fold if you bend the piece in half.”
marketlan via iStock
What kind of food can you dehydrate for dogs?
If you’re not sure where to begin, Clark recommends starting with foods you already know your dog likes. “If your dog—like mine—is a picky eater and vegetable hater, slices of lean meats seem to be something most dogs enjoy,” she says. “Henry particularly enjoys lamb jerky!”
Guttormson also points out that you’ll be able to easily try a variety of options. “Fruits and vegetables are great for making low-calorie treats or for dogs that have protein sensitivities,” she says. “For dehydrated meat, some of the most common types include chicken, beef, turkey, fish, and organ meats such as liver, kidneys, and hearts.” She recommends using lean meats, however, and avoiding using fatty parts. “Fat will stay on the meat throughout the dehydration process and go rancid faster.”
How long does it take to dehydrate dog treats?
In Clark’s experience, it typically takes her four to six hours to dehydrate thinly sliced meat at 160º F. But how long it takes you will depend on a lot of factors, including what ingredients you use, the thickness of your pieces, what type of dehydrator you have, and even the humidity where you live.
“When first dehydrating treats at home, depending on the dehydrator you’re using, you may have to do some trial runs to ensure they’re dehydrated fully,” says Guttormson. “When in doubt, leave the treats inside for longer.”
How long will dehydrated dog treats last?
Varying from weeks to months, the shelf life of your dehydrated treats also depends on what type of food you use, how long you’ve dehydrated the treats, and where you store them.
Guttormson recommends keeping them in a sealed container or bag inside the fridge, saying they generally last a couple of weeks this way.
For Clark, she prefers to keep her dehydrated treats in the freezer. “You can take pieces out as needed to refill your treat pouch every day or use them in a treat puzzle,” she says.
What Kind of Dehydrator Should You Use To Make Dog Treats?
Dog treat dehydrators come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. Which one you choose will depend on your and your dog’s dehydrating needs.
If you’re new to dehydrating, a basic model like the Nesco Snackmaster can be a good place to start. It comes with five round dishwasher-friendly trays but can expand to hold up to 12 racks, growing along with you as you learn the ins and outs of making dog treats. While it doesn’t have a timer and isn’t as customizable as other options on the market, it’s simple to use for first-time users and rates high on Amazon with 4.6 stars out of 13,000 reviews.
The plug-and-go Nesco Snackmaster is great for dehydrating newbies.
Once you’ve honed your dehydrating chops, you can move on to a mid-range design with more features. The Hamilton Beach Digital Dehydrator, for example, offers more details like a digital timer and automatic shutoff—great for pet parents on the go. It’s also medium in size, making it a smart choice for kitchens that don’t have a ton of counter space, as our reviewer discovered.
Designs like this one, however, have fans on the bottom, meaning you’ll have to shuffle the trays around for even drying. Still, as we found in our testing, it’s a cinch to use and surprisingly easy to clean—ideal for messy or marinated jerky treats.
The Hamilton Beach Digital Dehydrator has a timer, great for pup parents on the go.
For bigger batches or pet parents looking to splurge, high-end machines like the Magic Mill dehydrator offer tons of extra features and drying space. This one in particular offers 7 trays and a function that keeps your food warm for up to 24 hours after the drying process. A fan mounted in the back ensures that treats, like jerky, dry evenly across all racks.
A see-through front also lets you monitor your dog treats without having to open the door and let any heat out. It does require you to run it for 30 minutes before the first use, though.
The Magic Mill is a high-end dehydrator with a fan in the back for even drying.
Is a Dehydrator for Dog Treats Worth It?
If you have the space and time for it, a dehydrator for dog treats can be a smart investment, especially with so many budget-friendly and mid-range models on the market. A great addition for any pet parent, dog treat dehydrators are specifically ideal for:
- Pups with particular palates who need a wide variety of high-value treats
- Dogs who follow a strict diet or have food sensitivities that makes buying treats difficult
- Pet parents looking to cut down on costs in the long term
- Households looking to reduce food waste and help the environment
- Pet parents looking to replace more calorie-intensive treats with lower-calorie options
But making your own treats isn’t for everyone. Dog treat dehydrators might not be the best choice for some dog parents, including:
- Households with smaller kitchens and limited counter/storage space
- Busy pet parents who don’t have time to make their own treats
- Dog guardians who prefer to buy packaged treats with a longer shelf life
- Pet parents with olfactory sensitivities (depending on what you dehydrate, it can get stinky)
If you’d like to start making your own treats but aren’t ready to buy a dehydrator specifically for your dog, you still have options. There are plenty of recipes you can bake in the oven or even in a cheaper waffle-style dog treat maker. And if you already have an air fryer, some models also come with a built-in dehydrator.
How We Chose Our Dog Treat Dehydrators
The dehydrators featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with canine behavioral experts and trainers. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pups, who are never stingy with their feedback.
