Doggie popsicles, also known as “pup-sicles” or “frosty paws,” are the perfect frozen treats for dogs to enjoy during the hot summer months!
Disclaimer: This blog post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated in 2023. It contains affiliate links I may earn compensation through at no additional cost to you.
They’re pretty similar to regular popsicles for humans when you think about the way they look, including the (edible) handle.
But doggie popsicles are obviously made with ingredients that are safe and healthy for dogs. Here in our pack, they’re definitely a hit with the pups!
Both my first dogs Missy & Buzz, as well as my current pup Wally LOVE a good doggie popsicle.
Plus, making doggie popsicles at home is both fun and easy, and there’s several variations you can try.
So in this blog post, you’ll find my step-by-step guide on how to make different doggie popsicles.
How To Make Doggie Popsicles
Ingredients and Supplies:
- Dog-friendly base: Choose a dog-safe base for the popsicles. Some popular options include plain yogurt, bone broth, or unsweetened applesauce.
- Dog-safe flavors: You can add various flavors to the base to make the doggie popsicles more enticing for your dog. Some safe options include mashed bananas, pureed berries (blueberries, strawberries), watermelon, peanut butter without xylitol, or even pureed vegetables like sweet potatoes and pumpkin.
- Ice cube tray or Kong: Use extra large ice cube trays or stuffable Kong toys!
- Food processor: Technically speaking, you can also use a mixing bowl, but a food processor makes everything much more convenient. The food processor I have is dishwasher-safe (except for the base with the motor obviously), so that makes clean up super easy.
Here’s what I used in a recent doggy popsicle batch for my Feist mix Wally:
- Overly ripe bananas
- Watermelon
- Blueberries
- Cucumber
For the “handles”, I used duck feet for dogs and bully sticks.
Instructions:
- Prepare the ingredients: Add your ingredients to a food processor. The exact amount depends on the number of popsicles you’re making. If you end up having too much of the popsicle mix, just use it as a meal topper. Or as your plant matter if you feed BARF raw dog food.
- Mix thoroughly: Blend all the ingredients together until you have a smooth concoction.
- Fill the molds: Pour the mixture into your ice cube trays or Kong toys.
- Insert sticks (optional): You can add thin-ish dog chews into each compartment/the Kong. These will serve as edible handles for the popsicles. For example, you can use edible duck sticks, chicken feet, duck feet or shorter bully sticks.
- Freeze: Place the filled molds in the freezer and let them freeze completely. This typically takes a few hours (at least six), but it’s best to leave them overnight for the best results.
Note: The extra large ice cube trays I used come with silicone lids. Obviously, you won’t be needing the lids if you add edible handles to your frosty paws.
But for any batches without handles, I use the lid.
That makes it easier to stack them or place other things on top of the tray.
If you’re using a silicone ice cube tray such as this one, it’s very easy to pop them out once they’re frozen. Just wiggle it a little and it’s super easy to pull one out.
And this is what the frozen pupsicles I made in the extra large ice cube tray look like:
2 Ingredient Doggie Popsicle Recipe With KONG Toys
I also like classic, fillable KONG toys because they provide entertainment for quite some time AND because they’re so easy to clean.
If you didn’t know, they’re made of natural rubber that can be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher, which makes clean up a breeze!
Now, here’s another fun recipe for doggie popsicles that I made for my pups Missy and Buzz.
For this one, I only used 2 ingredients:
The duck sticks are made in the USA and are by-product free, as well as soy, grain, gluten, & wheat free.
They only contain the following:
Duck, Turkey, Vegetable Glycerin, Mixed Tocopherols & Rosemary Extract (both are natural preservatives), and Natural Smoke Flavoring.
Natural Value suggests giving 1 treat per 15 pounds of your dog’s total body weight, but obviously this is only a guideline and will vary from dog to dog.
You can also use:
All I did was fill the KONG toys with peanut butter, add a duck stick to the creamy delicacy, and then let it freeze overnight.
Missy & Buzz couldn’t wait to dig into their cooling treats ~ they absolutely ♥ the peanut butter/duck stick doggie popsicles!
Doggie Popsicles: Bottom Line
Doesn’t matter what you call them, doggie popsicles aka pupsicles or frosty paws are refreshing summer treats for dogs that are easy and quick to make!
You can either use large ice cube trays or Kong dog toys and add a dog chew as a holder of sorts.
For example:
Both the trays and the Kongs are easy to clean as they’re dishwasher-safe, and so is my favorite Braun food processor.
The good thing about the Kongs is that your pups can continue playing with them once they’re done licking the filling.
Speaking of licking, dog popsicles are going to be somewhat messy, so give them to your dog in their crate or outside on a grassy area.
A tiled kitchen or laundry room floor works too!
Does your pup have favorite frozen dog treats for summer? As always, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below this blog post!
Related Reading:
- Raw chicken feet for dogs
- How to puff yak cheese for dogs
- Banana Watermelon treats for dogs
- How to deal with heat strokes in dogs
- How to make sweet potato dog treats
- 20 easy no-bake Valentine’s Day dog treats
- How to make refreshing raw goat milk treats
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