Summer is here and so is the heat. As you enjoy some nice, cool ice cream share a homemade frozen treat with your pooch! We’ve gathered 5 of the best dog-friendly DIY treats that we serve our dogs at Doglando on hot, humid Florida days. These snacks take minutes to prepare, so why not give one of these tasty dog treat recipes a try?
Red, White, and Blue Frozen Yogurt
Give your dog something to celebrate on 4th of July with a creamy, fruity kong full of frozen yogurt goodness. These are a real taste of summer and refreshing treat after spending a couple hours by the lake, pool, or beach with your pup.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Greek yogurt
- ½ cup of raspberries (cut in half)
- 1 banana (cut in rounds)
- A handful of blueberries
- 1 tablespoon of peanut butter (optional)
- Kong (or other container to freeze treat, like a popsicle mold)
How to Make this Treat:
- In a bowl, mix together yogurt, peanut butter, blueberries, bananas, and raspberries.
- Scoop the mixture into the kong. (Make sure the small air hole at the end doesn’t get clogged.)
- Freeze mixture for a couple of hours. The mixture will stay creamy, like a yogurt ice cream consistency.
- Let fido have a fun time licking the delicious treat!
Frozen Fossils (Soup Bones)
Not only will this treat help your dog cool down in the heat, but it will also give them something new to chew on and explore. If you don’t want fido chewing raw meat on your couch, consider giving them this snack out on the patio, lay a towel down on the area they can enjoy, or give it to them in their crate where the liner can be easily removed and thrown out.
Ingredients:
Marrow Bones – Grocery stores sell soup (marrow) bones to make broth, so you can grab a few bones easily for this treat. The bones at the supermarket tend to be very greasy. If you’re looking for something a little less fatty for your pup, we sell a more lean variety at Doglando.
How to Make this Treat:
- Put bones in a ziplock bag or other container.
- Freeze bones overnight.
- Let your pooch enjoy this cool snack.
Play With Your Food Snack
We often make meal time so serious. We tell our puppies to not make a mess. We only feed them the same dry foods everyday. Why not make snack time fun this summer with this delicious and refreshing treat? This is also a great treat to make with kids. Let your kids get creative with what kind of snacks or toys that you’ll freeze, and let them be a part of the process!
Ingredients:
It’s important to keep in mind that not all human foods are safe for dogs. If you are not sure if your dog can eat something, it’s better to leave it out. Here is another great resource of human food no-no’s to keep your pup safe. While you can get creative and fill your container with different treats and toys, we’ve rounded up some ideas to help you get started.
- Your dog’s favorite cookie
- Liver treat
- Pieces of raw chicken
- Fruit (berries, apples, bananas, etc.)
- Tennis ball
- Chew toy
How to Make this Treat:
- Grab a large tupperware container.
- Fill the container with water.
- Throw in your different items.
- Freeze the container with goodies overnight so it’s solid.
- Once frozen, tip out and give it to your dog to lick, scratch, and get all the goodies out.
Meat-Lover Bites
These icy, meat-flavored treats are a fabulous low-calorie option if you’re watching your dog’s weight, as they are low in fat and sugar. Throw in a bunch of parsley and you’ll also keep your pup’s breath nice and fresh.
Ingredients:
- 1 reduced-salt chicken stock cube
- 2 cups of water
- A handful of parsley
How to Make this Treat:
- Dissolve the stock cube completely in water and set aside.
- Finely chop your parsley and stir into the chicken stock.
- Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and pop them in the freezer.
- Serve your pup and watch their little tail wag!
PB&J Freezies
Who doesn’t love a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Well this recipe takes PB&J to a whole new level. Cool, sweet, salty, and a guaranteed canine crowd pleaser!
Ingredients:
- Handful of strawberries
- Splash of water
- Peanut butter
How to Make this Treat:
- Blend the strawberries with a splash of water until it turns into a jelly like consistency.
- Pour mixture into ice tray.
- Freeze overnight.
- When you’re going to serve these freezies, spread a layer of peanut butter on top.
- Serve and let your dog enjoy an American classic.
With these quick and easy recipes there is no reason why your pooch should suffer the dog days of summer. Let them stay cool and healthy with these tasty DIY treats. If you make one of these recipes this summer, be sure to share your dog enjoying these snacks on social media. Tag us on Facebook or Instagram so we can watch your furry friend cool off in the summer!
Teena Patel is a Certified Dog Trainer and Behavioral Counselor who works with pet owners and owners of doggy daycares to bring her philosophy of Enrichment to the canine population. After almost two decades of successful dog training under her belt, Teena has done away with the standard doggy daycare “warehousing” of animals in kennels and runs. In place of an industrial model, she focuses on what is right for the dogs as living beings, providing experiences that improve and enhance their behavioral health. Coupled with a program of careful training, the Doglando experience results in companion dogs who are better-behaved, better integrated into their families, and above all, much happier. True to her passion, Teena Patel gives dogs the freedom “to be dogs”.