Summer can be a lot of fun, but it can also get pretty hot and uncomfortable for our pooches. Luckily, you can help your dog stay cool by providing some delicious frozen treats.
Below, we’ll share 17 of the best frozen dog treats for summer and point out some general summer canine comfort strategies for your pet!
Our Favorite Frozen Pet Treats for Hot Dogs
Whether Spot prefers savory or sweet, there are plenty of frozen dog treats you can make for him! Check out these frozen dog treat recipes for your canine companion.
Several of the recipes below call for stock or broth.
These flavorful liquids are generally considered safe for dogs in small quantities, but they may contain things like garlic and onions, which can be toxic in high doses. Additionally, many of them contain a tons of sodium, which presents other health concerns.
Just use caution and discuss these issues with your vet (as you always should before offering your pet any new food or treat).
1. Peanut Butter & Banana Ice Pops
About: This quick and easy ice pop recipe from Etsy only uses four ingredients that you might already have at home! If your pooch isn’t much of a banana fan, feel free to swap it for an equal portion of pure pumpkin puree (not to be confused with pumpkin pie filling).
Ingredients:
- Dog-safe peanut butter
- Plain dog-friendly yogurt or a dog-safe, non-dairy alternative
- Bananas
- Honey (optional)
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
- Pour mixture into ice pop molds or small paper cups.
- Place small toys (such as Nylabones) in the center of the cup as “sticks” (optional).
- Freeze for about two hours or until solid.
- Remove disposable cups or mold before serving.
2. Peanut Butter Bacon Pupsicles
About: Does your dog prefer something that’s equally savory and sweet? If so, these Peanut Butter Bacon Pupsicles from Use Real Butter are quite a treat! You can customize this treat’s “mix-ins” to appeal to your pupper’s taste buds in case bacon and carrots aren’t his thing.
Ingredients:
- Dog-safe peanut butter
- Bananas
- Bacon
- Carrots
Directions:
- Blend frozen banana slices to create an ice-cream-like consistency.
- Stir in peanut butter, followed by mix-ins like chopped carrots and fresh bacon crumbles.
- Divide mixture into ramekins and freeze. This mixture can also be frozen as a KONG stuffing.
- Serve once frozen.
3. Banana Pup Pops
About: Plenty of pups love bananas, making this Banana Pup Pops recipe from Bitz & Giggles a great frozen dog treat option. These three-ingredient pops are super easy to make and are packed with potassium and fiber to power your pooch.
Ingredients:
- Bananas
- Dog-safe peanut butter
- Plain, dog-friendly yogurt
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and chop until smooth.
- Divide the mixture into disposable paper cups.
- Place a rawhide or bully stick in the center of the cup as a “popsicle stick”.
- Freeze the mixture.
- Remove the paper cups and serve once frozen.
4. Breath-Freshening Frozen Treats
About: Help your hound improve his dog breath with these Breath-Freshening Frozen Treats from Damn Delicious. The treats only require a handful of ingredients, and the parsley can help tame your terrier’s stinky breath.
Ingredients:
- Low sodium chicken stock
- Peanut butter
- Chopped fresh parsley
Directions:
- Combine peanut butter and curly leaf parsley in a small bowl.
- Fill an ice cube tray or mold halfway with chicken stock.
- Freeze the half-full tray of chicken stock.
- Once frozen, spoon in peanut butter and parsley mixture to fill the remainder of the tray.
- Freeze and serve.
While minimal amounts of curly leaf parsley are generally considered safe for pets, large quantities may sicken your pooch. So, go easy on the herbs in this recipe.
5. Peanut Butter and Berry Pupsicles
About: Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, making them a great ingredient to include in your frozen dog treats. These Peanut Butter and Berry Pupsicles from Wear, Wag, Repeat are a great place to start! This recipe calls for popsicle molds, but you could use paper cups or ramekins if you don’t have any handy.
Ingredients:
- Blueberries
- Dog-safe peanut butter
- Plain dog-friendly yogurt
- Long dog treats
Directions:
- Layer ingredients directly into a popsicle mold.
- Place a thin dog treat like a bully stick in the center of each popsicle.
- Freeze and serve.
6. Hypoallergenic Pumpkin Treats
About: If your pooch suffers from food allergies, you may want to opt for these Frozen Hypoallergenic Pumpkin Treats from Dogvills. These frozen treats are full of fiber and have a delightful orange color that will standout in summer snaps of your pooch!
Ingredients:
- Plain, dog-friendly yogurt or safe dairy alternative
- Pumpkin puree
- Banana
- Honey
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor or mash in a bowl thoroughly with a fork.
- Spoon mixture into ice cube trays or molds.
- Freeze for 2 hours.
- Serve once frozen.
7. Peanut Butter Pupsicles
About: Do you have a nutty buddy? Opt for these Peanut Butter Pupsicles from The Sits Girls. The peanut butter treats can be customized by adding some of your dog’s favorite thin chew sticks, some dog-safe veggies, or some meat crumbles for extra flavor.
Ingredients:
- Dog-safe peanut butter
- Honey
- Banana
- Thin chew treat like jerky, bully stick, or beef trachea
- Plain dog-friendly yogurt
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients in a blender.
- Once the consistency is creamy and well-blended, spoon mixture into small, disposable cups
- Place a treat in the center of the cup to serve as a stick before freezing.
- Once frozen, remove the exterior cup and serve.
8. Fruity Pupsicle
About: If your best buddy is a fan of berries, check out these Fruity Pupsicles from The Cottage Market containing three different berries (yes, a banana is technically a berry).
Be sure to hold the popsicle stick while feeding your furball these treats.
Ingredients:
- Plain dog-friendly yogurt
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Honey
Directions:
- Puree all ingredients in a blender.
- Pour blended mixture into Dixie cups and add a few whole berries for extra texture.
- Freeze pupsicles and peel away Dixie cups before serving.
9. Strawberry and Banana Smoothie Treats
About: For a sweet summer refresher, whip up these frozen dog treats for your pooch inspired by a Smoothie from The Cottage Market. These refreshing treats can be swapped out with other dog-safe fruits like watermelon, blueberries, and mango. For a creamier treat, add some bananas to the mixture.
Ingredients:
- Frozen strawberries
- Plain dog-friendly yogurt
- Banana
- Skim milk
- Honey
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.
- Pour mixture into ice cube trays or freezer-safe molds.
- Freeze for four hours or until frozen and serve.
10. Cinnamon Banana Dog Treats
About: Does Spot crave a little bit of spice? If so, try your hand at these Frozen Cinnamon Banana Dog Treats from Three Olives Branch. You might even find yourself sampling these potassium-packed frozen treats!
Ingredients:
- Bananas
- Ground cinnamon
- Plain dog-friendly yogurt
- Honey
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients until well combined, about two minutes.
- Pour mixture into ice cube trays or freezer-safe molds.
- Serve once frozen.
11. Apple and Chicken Pup Pops
About: If your canine companion craves chicken, try out these Apple and Chicken Pup Pops from Frugal Coupon Living. Should your dog have a chicken allergy, simply swap the chicken broth for beef or pork broth.
Ingredients:
- Unsalted chicken broth
- Apples
- Thin rawhide to use as sticks (optional)
Directions:
- Fill up small cups with broth.
- Put slices of apples into broth cups.
- Place sticks into the center of the cups.
- Freeze and serve, removing the cups with a little bit of warm water.
12. Chicken and Raspberry Treats
About: These bright red Frozen Dog Treats from Bigger Bolder Baking are sure to please your pooch. Combining the deliciousness of chicken broth with antioxidant-rich raspberries makes for a delicious yet nutritious treat for your furball.
Ingredients:
- Unsalted chicken broth
- Raspberries
Directions:
- Blend raspberries with chicken broth until well mixed.
- Pour mixture into molds or ice cube trays.
- Serve once frozen.
13. Frozen Fish KONG Treat
About: One of the best ways to keep your dog occupied throughout the summer months is to provide a delicious stuffed KONG. But if non of those filling ideas tickles your fancy, consider this Fish Kong Filer from Play Bark Run. It’ll cool off your canine while keeping him entertained.
Ingredients:
- Classic KONG toy
- A can of unsalted tuna or salmon
- Dog-safe yogurt
- Chopped carrots, cucumbers, or green beans
Directions:
- Layer the ingredients in the KONG toy. Note that KONGs do have a small ventilation hole on the bottom, so you might want to plug the hole with your finger while filling up the KONG.
- Freeze the KONG. It might be wise to put it into a container so that the filling doesn’t get all over your freezer.
- Serve it to your pooch once frozen!
14. DIY Frosty Paws
About: If Fido is a fan of Frosty Paws, check out this DIY Frosty Paws Recipe Not Quite Susie. The recipe only has two ingredients, so it’s the perfect way to spoil your pooch without too much effort.
Ingredients:
- Unseasoned, cooked chicken bits
- Dog-safe yogurt
Directions:
- Combine ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Pour mixture into silicone baking cups and freeze.
- Once frozen, remove the baking cups and serve.
15. Savory Chicken Pupsicles
About: These savory Chicken Pupsicles from Dog Mom Days are total pooch pleasers with a savory chicken broth base. They’re also full of fiber-rich vegetables making them nutritious and delicious!
Ingredients:
- Unsalted chicken broth
- Peas
- Carrots
Directions:
- Fill popsicle molds with chicken broth, chopped carrots, and peas.
- Free and serve, holding the popsicle stick for your pooch.
16. Watermelon Dog Treats
About: There are few things more refreshing than these delicious Watermelon Dog Treats from Dog Tipper. Watermelon contains plenty of fiber and vitamin C, though watermelon is also full of sugar, so serve these sweet treats in moderation.
Ingredients:
- Watermelon without the rind
- Some of your dog’s favorite treats
Directions:
- Blend watermelon and your dog’s favorite crumbled treats in a food processor.
- Pour the mixture in a freezer-safe mold or ice cube tray.
- Serve once frozen.
17. Two Ingredient Frozen Dog Treats
About: These simple Two Ingredient Treats from The Dink Dog Mom are great for dogs with sensitive stomachs since they only contain two ingredients. The simple treats are dairy free and are a good source of fiber and potassium. But if you want to fancy things up a bit, feel free to add in peanut butter, carob powder, or frozen blueberries.
Ingredients:
- Bananas
- Dog-safe unsweetened coconut milk
Directions:
- Process frozen banana slices with coconut milk in a food processor until well blended.
- Serve immediately for a soft-serve like texture, or freeze into an ice cube tray for later use.
Devising Your Own Frozen Dog Treats: Dos And Don’ts
Are you feeling crafty in the kitchen? It’s surprisingly easy to whip up your own dog-safe frozen treats, with or without a recipe. As long as you are using pooch-approved ingredients, you should feel free to experiment as you please.
Some dog-safe ingredients that you might want to include in your frozen concoctions are:
- Unsweetened dog-safe yogurt
- Pooch-safe berries like blueberries or strawberries
- Wet dog food
- Unseasoned, pure beef broth
- Crushed-up dog treats
- Sweet potato
- Carob
- Carrots
- Dog-safe peanut butter
Meanwhile, you’ll want to avoid any toxic ingredients like:
- Artificial sweeteners like xylitol
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Avocado
- Garlic
- Anything containing caffeine
Some recipes you can mold by hand, but it may be worth having the following supplies around for ease of use:
- Popsicle molds
- A food processor
- KONG toys
- Mixing bowls
- Ice cube trays
- Airtight containers for storage
General Summer Comfort & Safety Tips for Your Dog
Frozen dog treats can certainly provide your pooch with some relief from the heat, but they aren’t the only way to keep your dog cool during the summer. Make sure to use these strategies to keep your dog cool in the warmer months:
- Provide your pooch with plenty of water. Above all, keep your hound hydrated! Keep Fido’s bowl full, and whenever you step out of the house, pack a doggie water bottle for your best buddy.
- Stay out of the heat. Reduce your dog’s exposure to direct sunlight by seeking out shaded areas and scheduling walks during the cooler parts of the day (typically, before 10:00 AM or after 5:00 PM).
- Go at your pup’s pace. Limit high-energy activities while out in the sun and pay attention to your dog’s signals. Go at your dog’s pace, take breaks as needed, and have water at the ready for your dog when stepping outside.
- Seek out a pooch pool. Dog pools can be a great place for water-faring woofers to chill out and relax. Make sure you pack fresh water though, as your hound still needs to stay hydrated.
- Be mindful on the road. It’s especially important to keep your dog cool in the car since cars can heat rapidly in the summer.
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Frozen dog treats can be an amazing way to reward your precious pooch and help him stay cool during the summer months. Plus, these recipes are super easy to whip up, so it’s more of an exercise of love than it is labor!
Does your pooch enjoy frozen dog treats? Which frozen dog treat are you going to try first? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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