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Dogs love popsicles for the same reasons that humans do: they’re wonderfully refreshing on a hot day. While human popsicle treats are packed with sugar, these dog-friendly popsicles are much healthier. They’re not only safe for our best friends, but they also help keep dogs hydrated.
We’ve rounded up five of our favorite “pupsicle” recipes for you below. With not much prep time and just a few ingredients, they couldn’t be easier—or more delicious.
Can Dogs Eat Popsicles?
First off: you might be wondering whether popsicles are safe for dogs. The short answer is yes, as long as you’re confident about the ingredients. Avoid artificially sweetened popsicles, as they could contain the dangerous additive xylitol, a sugar alcohol that’s toxic to dogs. Never, ever give your dog a bite of any popsicle labeled “sugar-free,” just to be safe.
If you do give your dog a popsicle, even a healthy homemade one (see below for recipes), be sure to supervise them if the frozen treat includes a popsicle stick. An overeager dog might swallow the stick whole or chomp it in half. The broken pieces could cause damage going down.
Now, let’s dig into some dog-safe popsicle treats you can make it home!
Denise Erickson via iStock
Our Favorite Dog Popsicle Recipes
All you really need to make these homemade popsicle dog treats is a liquid base, some kind of mix-in, and ice cube trays for freezing. A food processor is handy but certainly not necessary.
We picked up a set of silicone molds on Amazon that included a pawprint mold and a bone mold, but any type of ice cube tray will do. For extra small treats, you can even use silicone candy molds. Popsicle molds or small paper cups also work in combination with popsicle sticks.
If you’ve never tried making DIY popsicles before, be sure to make room in your freezer before you start. Also, be sure to place your silicone molds onto cookie sheets so that you can move them once they’re filled! Learn from my fail.
Two-Ingredient Dog Bone Popsicle Bites
This is the perfect starter recipe for the budding dog chef. Three flavors, two ice trays, and beautiful homemade dog popsicles in just the time it takes to freeze them (that’s about 4 hours). This recipe includes instructions to make yogurt blueberry, peanut butter, and strawberry dog ice pops.
These healthy treats are easy to customize, too: try using chicken broth, pureed pumpkin, or ripe banana, for instance. The recipe that uses plain yogurt can easily be made dairy-free, too.
Add a popsicle stick if you want to get the all-American summertime look. Your dog will love them either way!
Greek Yogurt and Berry Pupsicles
Pop these Greek yogurt-based treats in the freezer for a few hours, and you’ve got yourself a frozen goodie that dogs and humans alike will love. Well, it’s not sweetened…so perhaps not the humans so much. But they do make a pretty picture!
Watch a very adorable dog chef try his hand—er, paw—at making these frozen treats in this video.
Dairy-Free Tropical Twist Dog Popsicles
This lactose-free frozen dog treat combines pineapple and watermelon for a tangy summer taste. You’ll want to steal a bite, too!
You can use a bone-shaped silicone mold to get this look, or pour into popsicle molds or paper cups and add wooden sticks for easy handling.
Triple-Layer Frozen Fruit Dog Popsicles
These frozen ice pops for dogs look fancy, but they whip up in just minutes. The secret is in the layering. They’re packed with healthy cantaloupe, blueberry, and Greek yogurt for summertime fuel before the dog park. Your furry friend is gonna love them.
Frozen Cantaloupe Paw Pops
These light and refreshing ice pops are a sweet summer dog treat that works equally well with watermelon or honeydew. A dash of yogurt in each paw pad makes these as eye-catching as they are delicious.
Don’t worry if your dog is lactose-intolerant: you can swap in a coconut yogurt or skip it altogether.
If you have extra cantaloupe lying around after making these, try our famous two-ingredient cantaloupe ice cream for dogs (or humans).
More Summertime Dog Treat Recipes
Get our six best recipes for ice cream for dogs to go way beyond the average summer dog treat. To include your dog in the frozen drink fun, try one of our signature refreshing ‘puptails’. And if your dog isn’t a fan of cold nibbles, whip up a no-bake dog cookie that’s a perfect warm weather snack.
For more great DIY dog treat videos, head on over to YouTube and subscribe to Kiki’s Canine Kitchen. Your dog loves this idea.
Additional Reading
Summer with dogs is the best—but it does come with some concerns. These tips will help your dog stay safe, happy, and hydrated all season long.
