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Warm weather is for ice cream and sunshine for both humans and their canine companions. While there are dozens of homemade dog ice cream recipes you can whip up yourself, sometimes, whether it’s due to convenience or lack of time, premade options are the way to go.
My dogs are big fans of store-bought dog ice cream, especially during the hot summer months. I often look for brands that prioritize real ingredients, like peanut butter, bananas, and yogurt. There’s also a medley of ice cream brands that even allergy-prone pups can enjoy, including grain and lactose-free options. It’s important to avoid feeding your dog ice cream made for humans due to potential lactose intolerance in your pet, high sugar content, or added flavorings that could be harmful to your pup.
With the help of my pups Remy and Lucy, we embarked on a journey to find, test, and verify the best dog ice cream brands and frozen treats you get can from a store. Check out our suggestions below!
The 7 Best Dog Ice Cream Brands, According to Real Pups
Best Taste: Puppy Scoops Maple Bacon
Overall Score: 4.9 stars
It wasn’t easy for Remy and Lucy to choose a favorite; if you ask them, they loved all the treats. But after much thought and evaluation of dog responses on my end, Puppy Scoop’s Maple Bacon ice cream came out on top. This dog ice cream brand comes unfrozen with a powdered mix you add water to and freeze for at least five hours. Once frozen, let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes before scooping.
Remy and Lucy have become big fans of treats with a bacon flavor, and this ice cream was no exception. They both quickly ate up their serving and tried to convince me to give them more for the rest of the night.
Key Features:
- Requires adding water and freezing before your pup can enjoy at home
- Additional flavors include birthday cake, vanilla, carob, and peanut butter
- Grain-free and lactose-free
Best Human-Grade: Wag More Bark Less Iced Treat with Natural Banana
Overall Score: 4.7 stars
Just like pups can’t enjoy human ice cream, most dog ice creams are canine-specific. If you want to make sure your dog is still eating quality ingredients while munching on their dessert, look to grab Cloud Star’s Wag More Bark Less Human-Grade Iced Treat that’s made with natural banana.
This dog ice cream brand comes frozen and is easy to scoop after setting out on the counter for five or ten minutes. The dairy-free treat features a coconut creme base and is packed with probiotics.
Key Features:
- Dairy-free
- Made in the USA
- Also available in peanut butter flavor
Best for Parties: Ben & Jerry’s Doggie Desserts Pontch’s Mix Peanut Butter & Pretzel Swirl Frozen Dog Treats
Overall Score: 5 stars
This frozen dog treat is bound to get any doggy party going with its mix of peanut butter and pretzel swirls. Like Ben & Jerry’s human ice creams, this dog-specific version is filled with flavor and cream to keep your furry friend cool on hot days.
After tasting it, Remy was reluctant to hand over the empty container even after he had licked all of the ice cream out, just in case there was a microscopic bit left. Luckily, I assured him there were a few more cups left for him to have another day.
Key Features
- Pre-frozen four-ounce cups
- Contains wheat, milk, soy, and peanuts
- Made with Fair Trade and non-GMO ingredients
Best Single Serve: Dogsters Nutly & Cheese Ice Cream
Overall Score: 4.6 stars
This brand has long been a favorite in my household. We almost always have a few of these on hand in the freezer for when the dogs need a cool treat. They’re made with a nutty and cheesy flavor dogs go crazy for and are super convenient since they’re already frozen. Even while Remy tasted a new treat a mere four feet away from Lucy, she still kept her sights on this frozen treat, sticking with it until the cup was empty.
Key Features:
- Pre-Frozen 3.5 ounce cups
- Contains dairy (cheese)
- Container is made from plastic so make sure to keep an eye on your pup to take it away once the treat is gone
Best for Pups with Allergies: Pooch Creamery Ice Cream Mix Carob
Overall Score: 4.5 stars
Don’t let dogs with allergies miss out on the ice cream party. If your pup has a lactose or grain allergy, grab some of Pooch Creamery’s carob-flavored ice cream for a delightful treat. It contains just five ingredients and is easy to make by adding water and freezing for eight hours.
Once frozen, the instructions note to set it on the counter for 15 minutes before serving. From my experience, the ice cream was still solid in the middle after waiting the allotted time, so you may need to let it sit out longer for easy scooping.
Key Features:
- Does not come frozen; requires powder to be mixed with water and frozen
- Includes lactose-free milk
- Other fun flavors include vanilla, peanut butter, and birthday cake
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Best Texture: Purina Frosty Paws Peanut Butter Flavor Frozen Dog Treats
Overall Score: 4.7 stars
Purina is a popular dog food brand, so it’s no shock they also have a line of frozen dog treats. These frosty paw ice cream cups are high in protein and have no added sugar. The smooth and soft texture makes it easy for small and large dogs to eat without difficulty.
Even though Lucy tends to be a quick eater (I’m pretty sure she just inhales her food), she and Remy seemed to enjoy eating this treat without having to do much work. You can also smell the peanut butter when you open the cup, which had my dogs eagerly sniffing the air before they could dig into the treat.
Key Features:
- Pre-frozen 3.25-ounce cups
- Contains milk and soy ingredients
- No added sugar or artificial colors or flavoring
Healthiest Frozen Treat: Yoghund YoPup Frozen Banana & Peanut Butter Yogurt Cups
Overall Score: 4.8 stars
If you’re looking for a treat serving some nutrients, give your pup a taste of this frozen delight. The Yoghund brand’s frozen yogurt cup is packed with gut-healthy probiotics to give your dog’s digestion a boost.
When I tested this with Remy, I was a little nervous about how he’d react, since he can be finicky about bananas. Once I set this on the ground in front of him, he continued joyously licking away at this frozen treat until nothing was left. Even I almost grabbed a spoonful of this ice cream after opening the top to reveal a luscious treat that looked deliciously creamy.
Key Features:
- Pre-Frozen single 3.5-ounce cup
- Contains dairy (yogurt)
- Filled with two billion probiotics to support your pup’s gut
How We Chose
The dog ice cream brands featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We considered texture, pup appeal, ingredients, potential allergens, and convenience. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.