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Anise Seed
Dog Bones Recipe

Anise seed dog bones will soon become a favorite for your dog! Anise is to dogs like catnip is to cats. They love the smell and taste of anise seed, and treats made from it will get their attention fast!

I guarantee that the first time you make these dog treats, you will discover the magic of using anise in homemade dog treats for your Best Friend!

Anise is one of those spices that are almost addictive--to both dogs AND people.

If you’ve ever tasted Italian Pizzelles (anise waffle cookies), you have had the pleasure of tasting anise.

Pizzelles are one of those cookies that you just can’t stop eating, once you start. They are crispy and have a rich buttery licorice-like flavor, while still being light and delicate. Once you taste anise cookies, you will never forget them!

Anise seed dog bones, just out of the oven.

Check out this outstanding book: Feed Your Best Friend Better: Easy, Nutritious Meals and Treats for Dogs

Do DOGS Really Like Anise Seeds?

The smell of anise actually drives dogs wild! In fact, it’s often used as a training tool in what is known as drag hunting.

Drag hunting is a sport where riders on horseback follow foxhounds that are trained to follow a scent, in this case, the scent of anise.

A sack that has been saturated with anise oil is dragged across the ground, and it provides a scent that foxhounds can follow. The riders negotiate a trail that has numerous jumps and obstacles, which are part of the fun.

Another example of using anise with dogs is found in greyhound racing. The dogs chase an artificial hare that has been scented with anise. This is how trainers teach the dogs to run around the racetrack.

Anise is definitely worth using in your homemade dog treats. Dogs adore it and anise is good for them.

The Sniff Test

If you watch your dog when she discovers a new treat, she will first sniff it, then mouth it and then she will devour it. Smell is the most important sense for dogs. It's the way that they first discover and identify things.

A little trick I’ve learned is that you can increase the smell and taste of anise by grinding the seeds in your coffee grinder before adding them to the recipe.

An added benefit of doing this is that the next morning your coffee has a slight, but delicious taste of anise!

Enjoy making these anise homemade dog treats for your dog. The smell while they are baking will drive you crazy too!

Ingredients for Anise Dog Bones

1 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil or olive oil
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
1/4 cup oat bran
1 tablespoon anise seeds

Directions for Anise
Bones for Dogs

Place all the ingredients in your bread maker in the order that your manual suggests.
Use the Dough cycle.
When the cycle is complete, take the dough from the bread machine.
Divide the dough into 3 portions.
Roll each portion to a thickness of 1/8” to ½”, depending on the size bone cookie cutter that you will be using. For a little 1” bone, roll the dough to 1/8”. For 3” bones, roll the dough to ¼”, and for 6-8” bones, roll it to ½”.
Cut the bones with your dog bone cookie cutters, cover them with a clean towel and let them rise for 45-60 minutes.
Bake the bones at 275 degrees F for about an hour (less for the mini bones) or until they are lightly browned.
Turn off the oven and let the bones finish drying overnight in the oven.

Dog bone cookie cutters come in many sizes.

Sometimes it is easier (and takes less time) to make a larger bone and just break it in half for a small dog.

If you have fun baking these dog bone treats, here's a dog treat cookbook, Feed Your Best Friend Better: Easy, Nutritious Meals and Treats for Dogs that I think you'll enjoy!

Here are some more anise dog treats: