Finding new ways to make homemade dog treats is a great way to connect with your canine companion. Your dog deserves the best, and he or she shouldn't be chowing down on chemical-laden, preservative-ridden dog treats from the store. Making your own is so easy that you'll forget all about boxed treats.

Why bother making treats at home when you can buy them at the pet store? Treats are cheap, the dog loves them, and it seems like just another task to add to the weekly list. All this is true, but when it comes down to it, your dog is a part of your family and deserves healthy nourishment, and making treats is a lot easier than it looks. Plus, making treats at home can prevent a host of health problems caused by mass-produced pet food.

Certain brand-name dog treats contain ingredients like ethoxyquin, a preservative that has been shown to cause kidney and liver problems when ingested long-term. Many also include animal by-products, meaning that the "meat" in the treats comes from meat scraps and could contain bacteria and disease.

Today, we've got a fantastic video for you which shows a super simple, super tasty way to make some bone-shaped treats for your cherished puppy. This is a basic recipe that contains only good, natural ingredients that dogs have been shown to tolerate well.

"Bake at 350 and go play with your dog for 25 minutes," instructs the video. We love that idea, and in fact, it should be applied to all baking! Play with your pup as your baked goods rise in the oven.

If you're convinced and want to start making your own dog treats at home, you'll need more recipes to try out. We've got you covered. For International Dog Biscuit Day, we gave you five very varied recipes for dog treats that you can try out for your pup, ranging in flavor from cheddar, to bacon, to blueberry. For Valentine's Day, we showed off some love-day treats for dogs and cats alike. If you're averse to baking but still want to treat your pup to homemade goodness, check out our list of no-bake dog treats.