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The rallying cry for dogs this summer is “Sun’s Out, Tongue’s Out,” which means good dog parents everywhere will want to have a freezer stocked with cold treats. And while ice cubes are great, sometimes you want to give your dog a little something special — so we got you a list of super-simple, no-oven-required treats you can make at home and keep in your freezer for your furry friend to enjoy.
1. Frosty Paws treats
INGREDIENTS
- 32 oz. plain yogurt
- 1 mashed ripe banana
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
DIRECTIONS
Mix ingredients together, put into containers (ice cube trays work great if you don’t have cute little cups like the one in the photo—or you can get adorable bone-shaped molds), freeze, and serve.
2. Pupscicles
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups low-salt chicken broth
- 2/3 cup water
- Popsicle molds
- Small rawhide sticks
DIRECTIONS
Mix your water and chicken broth and pour into your popsicle molds. Depending on how pretty you want your pupscicles to be, you can add the rawhide stick before you put your molds in the freezer or partway through the freezing time, which will make them stand up straight. (If you put the sticks into the molds right away, they’ll likely freeze at an angle, which won’t be as visually appealing. Then again, your dog probably doesn’t care, so we’ll leave that up to you.)
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup shredded chicken
- 32 ounces plain yogurt
- 2 carrots, shredded
DIRECTIONS
Combine ingredients, pour into molds, and freeze. Voila!
4. Star Spangled Yogurt Bones
This recipe wins for simplicity—and it’s perfectly festive for your 4th of July fun!
Ingredients
1/2 cup whole blueberries
1 cup chopped strawberries
2 cup plain yogurt
Directions
Pour the mixture into ice cube trays (or bone-shaped molds for an extra dose of adorable) and freeze for at least 4 – 5 hours before serving.
5. Doggie Ice Cake
Take a medium-sized bowl and fill it with equal parts water and chicken broth (especially good for dogs who are otherwise not into ice). Add in some frozen veggies (think peas, green beans, and carrots) or even some of his regular kibble, and your buddy has a cool-down treat that doubles as a game: how quickly can he get to the goods?
Plus, it’s the perfect thing to bring to a patio! Just bring the bowl, upend it on the concrete patio floor (tucked out of the way, of course), and let your dog entertain himself while you enjoy a cold beverage of your own — guaranteed to keep your buddy focused and out of trouble!
