🦃🐾 Thanksgiving Dog Treats: Safe, Simple, and Healthy Ways to Include Your Pup in the Holiday

At Alan’s K9 Academy, we believe you can include your dog in the Thanksgiving celebration — but you should do it safely, intentionally, and without encouraging bad habits like begging or counter surfing. This guide walks you through healthy Thanksgiving treats, what to avoid, and how to keep your dog’s behavior balanced during the holiday.

🥦 Safe Thanksgiving Treats for Dogs

Many traditional Thanksgiving ingredients are perfectly safe for dogs as long as they’re prepared simply — no seasoning, no butter, no onions, no heavy sauces.

Here are some healthy holiday options your dog can enjoy:

🦃 Plain Turkey (Boneless & Skinless)

Turkey is a great lean protein for dogs, but it must be:
✔ Fully cooked
✔ Skinless (too fatty)
✔ Boneless (cooked bones splinter)
✔ Free from seasoning

A few small bites go a long way.

🍠 Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber and vitamins.
Serve them:
✔ Plain
✔ Mashed or cubed
✔ No cinnamon, sugar, or marshmallows

Great for digestion, and most dogs love them.

🎃 Pumpkin Purée

Pumpkin is excellent for digestive health.
Use plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.

Just one spoonful makes a perfect holiday treat.

🥕 Carrots & Green Beans

These veggies are safe and low-calorie.
Perfect for dogs who love crunchy snacks.

Avoid green bean casseroles — the toppings and creamy sauce aren’t dog-friendly.

🍎 A Bite of Apple (No Seeds)

Apples make a refreshing, sweet treat in moderation.
Always remove seeds and core — both can be harmful.

❌ Foods to Avoid This Thanksgiving

Many holiday staples are dangerous for dogs, even in small amounts. Keep these OFF their plate:

• Stuffing (onions, garlic, seasoning)
  
  
• Turkey skin (too fatty; can trigger pancreatitis)
  
  
• Cooked bones
  
  
• Gravy
  
  
• Casseroles
  
  
• Chocolate desserts
  
  
• Grapes or raisins
  
  
• Bread dough
  
  
• Alcohol
  
  
• Onions & garlic in any form
  
  

If your dog consumes any of these, monitor closely and call your vet if symptoms appear.

🍽️ How to Give Thanksgiving Treats Without Encouraging Begging

Let’s be honest — the quickest way to create a food-obsessed dog is feeding them straight from the table.

To include your dog without creating bad behavior, do this instead:

✔ Use the “Place” Command

Before guests arrive, send your dog to their place bed.
Release them after the family finishes eating, then offer their treats.

This teaches:

• No begging
  
  
• No crowding the table
  
  
• No stealing food
  
  

Structure first, reward second.

✔ Create a Thanksgiving Treat Bowl

Prepare a small bowl of dog-safe treats ahead of time.
This prevents random items from being dropped under the table and keeps the experience controlled.

✔ Reward Calm Behavior Only

If your dog is jumping, pacing, whining, or begging…
they don’t get anything.

Treats should reward calmness, not demand.

This maintains structure during a chaotic holiday.

🐕 A Simple DIY Thanksgiving Dog Treat Recipe

Here’s an easy, safe, and healthy treat you can prepare at home:

Mini Turkey & Sweet Potato Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked, shredded turkey (plain)
  
  
• ½ cup mashed sweet potato
  
  
• 1 egg
  
  

Instructions:

1. Mix ingredients in a bowl
   
   
2. Form small 1-inch balls
   
   
3. Bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes
   
   
4. Cool completely
   
   
5. Serve 1–3 bites depending on your dog’s size
   
   

Dogs love them — and they’re 100% holiday-safe.

💛 The Alan’s K9 Academy Way

Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to practice:
✔ impulse control
✔ manners around food
✔ calm behavior around guests
✔ structured feeding routines

A dog who understands structure during holidays is calmer, safer, and easier to manage — and you can enjoy the celebration without worrying about food-related issues.

We want your dog to be included, but in a way that supports their training and well-being.

🔥 Want Better Manners Before the Holidays Hit?

If you want a dog who doesn’t beg, steal food, jump on guests, bark nonstop, or get overstimulated… now is the perfect time to get ahead of it.

👉 Let’s turn those holiday manners into everyday manners.
📞 Call Alan’s K9 Academy at (470) 648-6512
🌐 Visit www.alansk9academy.com

A well-trained dog makes every holiday — and every day — better. 🦃🐶✨

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