Homemade frozen dog treats for the win. It’s hot outside, y’all! If you are feeling uncomfy in the heat this summer, odds are that your pup is too. And as you’re reaching for a cup of ice / frozen margarita / artisanal popsicle of choice, here’s your friendly reminder that dog popsicles are a thing too!

Frozen doggie desserts are the perfect antidote to the dog days of summer. (See what I did there?) Sure, you can buy cold treats for dogs, but the DIY versions are so quick and easy, why would you? Homemade frozen dog treats can be healthier than store-bought and completely catered to your dog’s taste too. 

Let’s make this the summer of the frozen dog treat. Your bestie deserves it. 

Here are 3 of our favorite frozen dog treat recipes. We love to make these in our (freezer-safe!) Should We Go? slow feeder dog bowl for a frozen treat that lasts a long time. If you’d rather, you can also make these in a dog popsicle mold. Up to you! Have fun and tag us on Instagram @should.we.go if you try any of these out! We’d love to see. 

1. Frozen Peanut Butter Dog Treats With Yogurt & Blueberries

This peanut butter, yogurt, and blueberry dog ice pop recipe is likely to be a crowd pleaser! It starts with plain greek yogurt, which provides probiotics and calcium. 

Peanut butter tends to be a big hit with most dogs, so swirling some in offers an extra special treat. Peanut butter is a great source of protein, healthy fats, niacin, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B. 

And then we like to dot this mixture with a small handful of blueberries for added antioxidants, phytonutrients, and fiber. The blueberries add a nice pop of color too. I had raspberries in my fridge so I threw some in too for fun. These recipes are totally flexible so feel free to improvise!

*Important note: Any time you feed your pup human food, always double check that it is safe for them to eat. You’ll want to go with the least processed version of any food you give them (ie your peanut butter ingredient list should just be: peanuts). Keep an eye out for any added sugars, additives, or chemicals like xylitol which is toxic to dogs and should be avoided.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of water
• ½ cup of plain greek yogurt (whole fat or nonfat depending on your pup’s needs)
• ¼ cup of unsalted peanut butter (Double check there is no xylitol)
• ¼ cup of blueberries

Instructions

• Measure out  ½ cup of water,  ½ cup of yogurt, and  ¼ cup of unsalted peanut butter. Combine these ingredients in a mixing bowl.
• Carefully pour your mixtures into your slow feeder dog bowl. Use a fork to distribute the peanut butter if it's clumping in certain places.
• Scatter a handful of berries into the bowl over the other ingredients.
• Pop it into the freezer for at least two hours before serving. 
• Offer the treat to your good dog!

2. Frozen Pumpkin Dog Treats

If your pup loves pumpkin, you gotta try these frozen pumpkin treats! Plain, canned pumpkin offers gut-healthy prebiotics, fiber, and plenty of vitamins and minerals. In this recipe, we’ve also added apples and carrots, both low-calorie, fiber-rich snacks that offer a ton of nutrients. 

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup of plain, canned pumpkin (no added sugar)
• ¼ cup of grated or diced carrots
• ¼ cup of grated or diced apple

Instructions

• Grab a bowl and mix together all of the ingredients. Reserve a small amount of apple and carrot to add to the top as a garnish.
• Spread the mixture into your slow feeder dog bowl.
• Scatter the apple and carrot on top.
• Place your slow feeder dog bowl in your freezer for at least two hours.
• Let your pup enjoy!

3. Frozen Bone Broth Dog Treats With Parsley

Bone broth offers amazing health benefits for dogs – including benefits for digestion, joint, skin, coat, liver and immune system health. These days you can buy bone broth specifically made for dogs. But you can also follow a simple recipe and make your own – we like this one. We also added parsley to this recipe, which helps freshen doggie breath.

Remember, your pup does not need added salt or fat in their broth. They’ll be happy with the pure thing. :) 

Ingredients

• 1 cup bone broth made for dogs
• A small handful of parsley, finely chopped
• Optional: if you have leftover chicken in your fridge, you can stir this in for an added treat

Instructions

• Pour the ingredients into your Slowdown slow feeder pet bowl
• Freeze for at least 2 hours
• Offer the frozen treat to your pup to help cool them down

That’s it! We hope you try these recipes at home with your pup. Please be sure to comment / tag us / DM us / all the things if you do! We’d love to see how you’re using your Slowdown Bowl to help your pup stay cool this summer.