For our furry friends, summertime usually means longer walks, playtime in the grass, and plenty of new smells to investigate. Of course, it also means walking around in a fur coat during the hottest days of the year.
If you’re looking to help your dog beat the heat, we’ve got the ultimate list of homemade dog treats for summer, including CBD dog treats.
From simple veggie bites to chilly pup-sickles, you and your pup can look forward to a whole season of scrumptious delights. They’re also great to bring when you’re hiking with your dog. Read on to find the recipes and guides to making summer treats for dogs, plus some special tips for helping your dog feel their best no matter the weather.
#1 Chilly Chicken Bites
Looking for a hearty snack packed with protein? Treat your dog to some chicken—cooked, emulsified, and frozen.
You don’t need to be a four-star chef to cook up chilly chicken bites for your pup. All you need are some quality ingredients, a blender, and a freezer.
Ingredients for these savory treats include:
- 1 chicken breast
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 carrots
To make chilly chicken bites, follow these instructions:
- Step 1: Source your ingredients – This recipe doesn’t require fancy culinary skills or specialized ingredients. You can pick up everything you need from the grocery store. If you’re lucky, you may already have your ingredients on hand.
- Step 2: Cook your chicken – While dogs usually love raw meat, uncooked chicken can pose major health risks for dogs (and humans). Thoroughly wash and cook your chicken breast. While we recommend chicken breast, you can also opt to use wings or thighs as long as you properly debone your poultry. Bones could pose a serious problem for your dog and your blender.
- Step 3: Blend – Place your cooked chicken, carrots, and a cup of chicken broth into your blender. You may need to chop your ingredients first to ensure everything blends well. Blend until the chicken, carrots, and broth become a liquidy soup.
- Step 4: Freeze – Fill your favorite ice cube tray with your blended ingredients and freeze. This should take a few hours, depending on the temperature of your freezer.
There you have it—a savory, ice-cold snack for your pup. It’s a perfect reward for good behavior and a pleasant snack after a hot walk.
#2 Peanut Butter Banana Freezies
This summer, you can satisfy your pup’s sweet tooth with some all-natural, frozen treats.
Dogs are crazy about peanut butter, but be sure to pay close attention to the ingredient list of the peanut butter you use. Dogs should only eat organic peanut butter without added sugars or sugar substitutes. Xylitol, a popular sugar substitute, is extremely toxic to dogs and is commonly found in some peanut butter, so keep that in mind when scanning the label of your nutty spread.1
Fortunately, there are several organic peanut butter options available, made with all-natural, dog-friendly ingredients. You could even make your own.
Along with organic peanut butter, you’ll need:
- 4 bananas
- 4 small plastic cups
Follow this recipe to prepare peanut butter banana freezies:
