When the heat of summer hits, there are few things we enjoy more than a scoop of our favourite ice cream too cool us down. And why should us humans have all the ice cream to ourselves, that hardly seems fair, right? But before you hand your pooch a scoop of the good stuff, spare a thought for the high sugar content and additives; our delectable freezer goodies aren’t always suited to a dog’s diet. Sometimes, human ice creams even contain ingredients that you should never, ever give to your dog.
But that’s no reason for the dog days of summer to be a drag – making your very own, homemade summer dog treats is a complete doddle and great way to keep your dog cool in the hot weather.
We’ve rounded up ten of the best dog-friendly homemade treats for your pooch – why not give one of these tasty dog treat recipes a try? Not only do these treats take mere minutes to make, they’re healthy and will set your pooch’s tongue lolling and tail wagging!
Before we dive into the recipes, we wanted to share a couple of top tips to remember to help keep your dog healthy and safe.
Top tips:
- Don’t let your pooch overindulge! Summertime can be a time of indulgence for people as well as dogs, but as with any treats, moderation and plenty of exercise is key to a happy, healthy pooch.
- Frozen treats, along with ice and iced-water are safe for dogs to eat and enjoy safely – as long as they enjoy them in moderation. If a dog eats or drinks any type of food or drink too quickly, this can lead to bloating. Ice or iced water are not known to be more dangerous than other kinds of food; bloating is usually caused by a large volume of food or very fast eating.
1. Peanut butter & jam frozen “toasts”
Peanut butter and jam is one of those classics we’ve all enjoyed as a child. (Who are we kidding, we still do today!) But more than a comfort food inspired snack, it’s a delightful flavour combination that’s perfectly safe for your dog to enjoy too. Using natural peanut butter (if you’ve ever wondered if peanut butter is safe for dogs to eat, give our advice here a read, and please be careful not to buy or use peanut butter that contains xylitol, as this is dangerous for dogs.), these frozen beauties are a healthy treat for your dog.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of strawberries
- ¼ cup of water
- A few dollops of natural xylitol-free peanut butter (Xylitol is a sweetener sometimes found in peanut butter that is toxic to dogs.)
Method:
- Wash your strawberries thoroughly and slice off the tops.
- Add your strawberries and water to the blender and whizz until you form a smooth puree.
- Pour the liquid into your ice cube trays and fill around ¾ of the way.
- Grab a teaspoon and add a small amount of the peanut butter into each slot.
- Pop your tray into the freezer and leave until completely frozen.
- Yum! Serve these delicious treats straight out of the freezer and watch your pup enjoy.
Can you freeze peanut butter?
You may be wondering if peanut butter will actually freeze in this tasty treat. Well, yes, it absolutely does! The peanut butter dollop will freeze along with the frozen strawberry mixture and is safe for your dog to eat.
2. Breath freshening minty freezies
This treat is a great breath freshener for your pooch since it contains parsley and mint. These herby-licious ingredients also have many other surprising health benefits, too. Parsley aids digestion, can reduce inflammation and is even thought to have cancer preventing properties. Mint is a powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral herb that will help prevent bacteria developing in your dog’s mouth. Whoever said treats had to be naughty?
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of plain or Greek yogurt
- Small handful of fresh parsley leaves
- Small handful of fresh mint leaves
Method:
- Scoop your yogurt into a blender and add your parsley and mint leaves.
- Blend until the herbs are evenly spread throughout the mixture. At this point you can add a splash of water if you want to thin out your mixture to create a better pouring consistency.
- Fill your ice cube trays to the brim and pop them in the freezer.
- Freeze until solid and serve.
Can you give a dog Greek yogurt?
Greek yogurt is safe and healthy for your dog to enjoy unless they’re lactose intolerant. It’s higher in protein than regular yogurts and has probiotic qualities. With modest but regular doses it can improve your dog’s digestion and strengthen their immune system. But as it’s a dairy product and dog’s can sometimes be intolerant to dairy, it may still upset your dog’s tummy. Feed in small quantities and note any signs of stomach upset. If it doesn’t agree with your pooch, you may need to stick to non-yogurt summer treats. But don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of other options.
3. Coconut drops for a shiny coat
Coconut oil is refreshing, delicious and comes with many natural health benefits for our pups. Not only will it improve your dog’s skin and coat making it silky smooth, it’s also said to protect our dogs from illness and helps speed up the healing process if they’re feeling under the weather. A luxurious, healthy boost for your warm pooch on a summer’s day.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of organic coconut oil
- A handful of blueberries (optional)
- A teaspoon of honey (optional)
Method:
- Add your coconut oil to a bowl and place over a pan of boiled water.
- Wait until the coconut softens and shape into bite-sized balls.
- Place the balls on a tray and put them in the freezer.
- Serve when hardened. Because coconut oil stays hard in cool temperatures, you can store your balls in the fridge in an airtight container to save on freezer space.
- You could also add honey and a few blueberries as you’re shaping the coconut balls for a natural sweet kick.
4. Strawberry filled yoghurt surprise
These are a real taste of summer and a refreshing creamy treat. Much like the classic strawberries and cream, these would be a perfect accompaniment to watching the summer tennis while Wimbledon is on. And there’s nothing to stop you from pinching one or two either!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of strawberries
- 1 cup of Greek or plain yoghurt
Method:
- Hold a strawberry by its leaves and dip it into the yoghurt just past the shoulders.
- Delicately place each strawberry upside-down on a wire rack with the strawberry point standing up in the air. (Some patience may be required!)
- Repeat with the remaining cup of strawberries and place your wire rack carefully into the freezer.
- When they’re frozen, remove them from the freezer and repeat the whole process with a second dunking of yoghurt for a thicker layer.
- Place them back in the freezer for another hour or so, slice off the leafy tops and serve.
5. Doggie S’mores
These doggie S’mores are a delicious and safe BBQ treat for your pooch to enjoy all summer long. Rather than using chocolate (which is toxic for dogs!) you can use carob which is similar to chocolate in taste and texture. Carob contains many healthy nutrients and can even help flush toxins from your dog’s body.
Ingredients:
- Dog biscuits
- 1 cup of carob chips or 1 tablespoon of carob powder
- 1 cup of plain or Greek yoghurt
Method:
- Throw your carob chips into a bowl and melt over boiled water. If you’re using carob powder, mix your powder directly into yoghurt.
- Dip one side of your doggie biscuit into the carob mixture and place onto a tray.
- Place another biscuit on top to make a sandwich and repeat.
- Pop your tray into the freezer to harden and serve.
6. Frozen Kong
Kongs can offer hours of entertainment for our dogs, especially when they’re frozen. They’ve become hugely popular over recent years and with good reason! They can be filled with all sorts of tasty treats. Mix or blend your ingredients together, fill up your Kong and you’re away. Here are just a handful of recipes you might like to try.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of boiled potato
- ½ cup of plain cottage cheese
- ½ cup of grated low-fat cheese
- Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1 cup of plain or Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon of honey
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of cooked sweet potato
- Handful of shredded, boiled chicken
- Handful of cooked carrots
- 2 tablespoons of yogurt
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of cottage cheese
- 1 cup of natural peanut butter (Xylitol-free)
- 1 teaspoon of honey
Method:
- Blend or mash all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
- Spoon your mixture into your Kong toys.
- Pop it in the freezer until solid and serve.
7. Fruity “pupsicle”
We love a popsicle when the sun shines, and with these fruity delights your dog won’t be left out of our summertime tradition. Perfect for indulging your pooch when you’re out relaxing in the garden. There’ll be no more melted hearts at those sad puppy dog eyes!
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups of strawberries
- 2 bananas
- ½ cup coconut oil
- Dog biscuits
- A splash of water
Method:
- Blend your strawberries and bananas together until smooth and heat your coconut oil until melted.
- Stir your fruity mixture and coconut oil together. The mixture should be reasonably thick like soft ice cream, but if it’s too thick, add a little water.
- Add the mixture to your paper cups and cover with cling film.
- Make a hole in the middle of the cling film with a knife and push your dog biscuit through. This helps keep the biscuit in an upright position while freezing.
- Pop them in the freezer and hey presto! Serve and enjoy.
Can dogs have ice cream?
You may be tempted to give your furry friend a lick of your own ice cream once in a while. But since ice cream is made with milk and dogs can find it difficult to digest dairy, you could upset your dog’s tummy. It could lead to bloating, vomiting, gas or diarrhoea. Most human ice creams are also laden with sugar which can cause health problems or weight gain. Even if the ice cream contains no sugar, it may be substituted with sweeteners such as Xylitol which is toxic to dogs. Some flavours such as chocolate are also toxic to dogs, so it’s best to avoid giving your pooch human ice cream and stick to giving these delicious recipes a whirl.
8. Apple-topped peanut butter bites
Most dogs go crazy for peanut butter and we’re sure these fruit and nut freezies won’t disappoint. The perfect treat for your dog to devour while cooling off in the shade.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of plain or Greek yoghurt
- 1 apple
- 2 tablespoons of peanut butter
Method:
- Mix your yogurt and peanut butter together in a mixing jug and add a splash of water if required.
- Slice your apple into bite-sized chunks and remove any seeds.
- Fill your ice cube trays almost to the top and place your apple chunk in the centre of each slot.
- Pop them in the freezer and serve when frozen.
9. Chicken stock and parsley freezies
These icy, meat-flavoured treats are perfect to cool a warm pooch. They’re a fabulous low-calorie option if you’re watching your dog’s weight as they’re low in fat and sugar. With a bunch of parsley thrown in for good measure, they’ll also keep pup’s breath nice and fresh.
Ingredients:
- 1 reduced-salt chicken stock cube
- 450ml of water
- A small handful of parsley
Method:
- Dissolve the stock cube thoroughly in water and set aside.
- Chop your parsley finely and stir into the chicken stock.
- Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and pop them in the freezer.
- Serve on their own or add one to your dog’s water bowl to add flavour. If you’re concerned that your dog doesn’t drink enough on warm days, the meaty flavours may encourage them to rehydrate.
10. Super mega pawesome fun-filled frozen cake. With toys!
The ultimate treat for a sweltering day or when you have doggy friends around. This frozen cake will help your pup stay hydrated while keeping them entertained all afternoon. The perfect way for your pooch to spend those toasty days relaxing in your garden.
Ingredients:
- 3 reduced-salt chicken stock cubes
- 1 ½ litres of water
- Toys
- Chews
Method:
- Dissolve the stock cubes in water in a large bowl and pour the mixture into a cake tin.
- Add your dog’s favourite toys and a few treats such as dog biscuits, bully sticks or a filled Kong. You can try one of the recipes we’ve mentioned above!
- Pop the whole tin in the freezer for a few hours and serve. Simply bliss!
Which recipe will you try first? Let us know if your dog enjoyed our tasty summer dog treats on Facebook. Remember it’s important to allow your dog to enjoy any treats in moderation only—one or two at a time at most! Read more tips on how to keep a dog cool in hot weather here, and if you don’t want to leave your dog home in the heat, check out Rover.com where you’ll find lots of wonderful sitters who offer dog boarding across the country!
