Cookies for my puppy

I had stopped writing too much here because of time - I just haven't been cooking all that much. Or, rather, cooking that much that anyone wants to hear about; it's all been pretty basic. 

Enter Darwin, the world's cutest golden retriever puppy.

From Darwin!

The training program we've selected requires the use of frequent treats. (Positive reinforcement! How could two psychology nerds not work with people who use scientifically-proven behaviorism to train their new dog?) However, also being (a) cheap and (b) overly conscious of the potential perils associated with purchased dog treats, this was a perfect chance to get back into baking. 

I started by seeking out recipes online. I have a few criteria:
 - No wheat. According to golden retriever (and dog nutrition) lore, wheat can cause allergic reactions in dogs. No, they do not have celiac disease. 
 - The same idea goes for soy and corn. From what I've read, it seems that the real issues with these ingredients come from feeding them to the dog over and over and over - and traditional dog foods are chock full of them. Anyway...I'm trying to avoid these ingredients.
 - No sugar. I use unsweetened applesauce and bananas to add sweetness, and the peanut butter I use is natural, so there is no sugar or added ingredients.
 - No added fat. The only fat that is a part of the recipes I've tried is in the peanut butter and eggs.


These are the recipes I've started with. Where flour is called for, I've substituted gluten-free flour. There is a bit of cornmeal in the Peanut Butter treats below; since I'm still experimenting, I'm not sure what the role of all of the ingredients in the recipes are.

Applesauce and Oatmeal Treats
Peanut Butter Cookie Treats

I'll be experimenting with modifications of these recipes for a while. I'm lucky - Darwin will eat anything - rocks, clumps of dirt, grass - so while not discerning, he's a very appreciative taste tester.  The most successful change so far? Instead of applesauce, I added a banana and a bit of peanut butter instead of the applesauce to the Applesauce and Oatmeal Treats above.