It’s been really hot lately, and my dog Koda has been miserable. He keeps panting all over my throw pillows, leaving little drool spots on the brand new couch I just got from the Pinterest board I’ve been saving for 2 years.
i know you are probably dealing with this as well but your golden is probably melting all over your gorgeous living room as we speak!
Seriously, frozen dog treats saved me this summer. This is not an exaggeration. The day I made these, I froze them, and Koda was occupied for literally 20 minutes. My couch survived.
These frozen dog treats are stupid easy to make and my girl only uses like 3 ingredients. Your dog is going to lose her mind over these!
Let’s get into it.
#1: Puppy Eyes Over a Cup of Plain Shaved Ice
Oh the look my golden gives me when I’m eating something and she just stares at me. Well this lil Australian Shepherd is giving me that look right now!! Nose buried in a cup of shaved ice like it’s the best day ever!!
And honestly? It might be.
I feel like plain shaved ice is one of those ridiculously simple warm weather treats that you can make in the comfort of your own home in two minutes. No sugar, no syrup, nothing. Just ice. My dog Koda used to go crazy for this on a hot day while we sat on the porch.
Puppy Plain Shaved Ice
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups filtered water (or low-sodium chicken broth for extra flavor)
2. 1 cup crushed or shaved ice
How to Make It
Pour your filtered water into an ice cube tray the night before. In the morning throw the ice cubes in a blender or food processor. You only want to pulse them enough to get that fluffy, snow-like texture. Don’t chunky or slushy! Scoop into a small paper cup as shown in the photo. It’s OK to serve it in a paper cup. Serve immediately as it will melt into a puddle your dog will just lap up off the floor.
Giving your pup a plain ice cube will help keep them hydrated, meaning fewer overheating scares on hot walks and more tail wags throughout the day.
If you use chicken broth, make sure it is sodium-free. Even a little salt can be bad for a dog’s kidneys.
Prep Time: 5 min | Freeze Time: Overnight | Serving Size: 1 pup
If you’re looking for some homemade ideas, Homemade Dog Biscuits Recipes: Healthy and Delicious Treats for Your Pup has some awesome recipes to go along with this idea.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @alohaiceco
#2: Paw-Shaped Frozen Yogurt Bites for Dogs
Your golden just jumped on the velvet sofa again. Paws wet, tail in full helicopter mode. You love her, but you wish summer treats that didn’t make a sticky mess on your Pinterest-perfect cushions.
These little paw-shaped frozen bites are exactly that.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 3–4 hours (freeze time) | Serving Size: 12–16 bites
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt
2. 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
3. 3 tablespoons pureed strawberries or raspberries (for the pink swirl)
4. Paw-shaped silicone mold tray
How to Make Them
Mix the yogurt and the peanut butter until they are smooth. My aunt always said to stir them longer than you think, and she was right. Spoon the yogurt mixture into your paw-shaped silicone mold, filling each cavity about three-quarters full.
I drizzled some of the strawberry puree on top of the cake and dragged a toothpick through it to make it look swirled and pink.
Pop the tray flat into your freezer for at least 3 hours. Once frozen solid, press them out and store them in a zip-lock freezer bag for up to two weeks.
Give your dog one at a time on a mat – frozen will slow your dog down and there will be no drool on your cushions!
You might also like these to go along with recipes from Homemade Dog Ice Cream Recipes – Delicious and Healthy Treats for Your Pup if you want a whole frozen treat spread.
Use full-fat Greek yogurt for a creamier freeze. And check your peanut butter label — xylitol often lurks in “natural” brands.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @blueandcartelx
#3: Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Paw Print Treats
Your golden is panting by the back door, it’s 90 degrees outside, and you’re out of her usual snacks. Yeah, I’ve been there with my cousin’s lab and it’s the saddest thing to watch.
These little paw-shaped frozen treats are pink and Pinterest-worthy, and your girl will lose her mind for them.
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups plain Greek yogurt (full-fat works best)
2. 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
3. 2 tablespoons honey (raw, unsweetened)
How to Make Them
Blend the blueberries until smooth and then swirl them into the yogurt (don’t mix it all together, this creates pretty little marbled pockets). Spoon into a silicone paw print mold (one with raised toe beans on the bottom, so when you pop them out they have the adorable little toes).
Freeze for at least 4 hours. Overnight is better. I put the whole mold in a gallon freezer baggie before freezing so they don’t pick up any other smells.
These are dairy-based (so they offer a probiotic benefit) and are antioxidant-rich (blueberries support coat health), so they’re a treat that does something good for your girl.
If you like even simpler recipes, Homemade 2 Ingredient Dog Treats: Simple and Healthy Recipes Your Pup Will Love is worth bookmarking.
Run the mold briefly under warm water before unmolding — they slide right out without breaking.
Prep Time: 10 min | Freeze Time: 4 hrs | Serving Size: 12 treats
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @honestkitchen
#4: Frozen Peanut Butter Dog Treats in Fun Shapes
You know that moment when your dog is losing her mind by the back door on a 90-degree afternoon panting, drooling, doing that little dance. Yeah, that’s when I started making these.
These fun, cold treats are a tan, creamy peanut butter poured into silicone ice cream-themed molds – cones, popsicles, unicorns. (They come out looking really cute!)
Ingredients:
1. 2 cups plain peanut butter (xylitol-free)
2. 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
3. ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
4. 2 tablespoons honey
How To Make Them
Mix everything together in a bowl until smooth. Pour into your silicone molds. I use a spoon to pour into the tighter molds like the unicorn ones. Then tap the mold on the counter a few times to pop out any air bubbles. Let freeze for at least 4 hours but overnight is better. Pop them out of the molds and store in a zip bag in the freezer.
The honey adds just the right amount of sweetness to these tasty treats. They’re even good enough that your dog will work for them, thus training him to calm down.
If peanut butter is your pup’s whole personality, then you should also bookmark these homemade 3-ingredient dog treats.
Freeze a few at a time so they stay fresh. If you freeze them all at once they will clump together in the bag.
Prep Time: 10 min | Freeze Time: 4 hrs | Serving Size: 20–25 pieces
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @confessionsofasassydog
#5: Puppy Cup Treat at Gilks’ Garage Café
That moment when you’re out running errands and your golden is just sitting there in the backseat being so patient and good and you think, okay, you deserve a treat!
That’s exactly the vibe here.
This is a plain yogurt puppy cup. The kind some cafes and petrol stops keep behind the counter to give good dogs. Gilks’ Garage Café in Ireland is one of them and the purple collar girlie licking the cup in this photo is living her best life.
How to Make a Puppy Yogurt Cup at Home
Ingredients:
1. ½ cup plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt (full-fat, no xylitol — check the label twice)
2. 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
3. 2-3 small blueberries
I spoon the yogurt into a small paper cup and drop the peanut butter right into the middle (it will sink a little and your dog will have to work a little harder to get it out). I also put a few blueberries on top.
The yogurt gives her a probiotic boost, the peanut butter keeps her interested and the whole thing takes under two minutes. No excuses to miss out on the treat stop now!
Freeze them Sunday night and then they will be frozen enough to have one while you’re walking to the park, but not frozen enough that you have to carry them all to the park and then they’ll be frozen.
Prep Time: 3 mins | Freeze Time: 2 hours | Serving Size: 1 cup
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @gilksgaragecafe
#6: Frozen Pumpkin Peanut Butter Bites in Fall Silicone Molds
So your golden is THAT dog. The one that stares at you as you eat everything. She totally deserves a treat, but maybe we should talk about yours, too.
These little bites were made in a sage green silicone fall mold with leaf, flower and pumpkin shapes. The little cuties pop out of the molds perfectly and freeze solid. These are definitely too cute to give away.
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup pure pumpkin purée (not pie filling)
2. ½ cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free, always)
3. 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
How to Make Them
Mix the pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and yogurt together until smooth. Spoon the mixture into each of the molds, making sure it’s pushed down and has no air pockets. Freeze for at least 4 hours, or until solid. Once the peanut butter cups are frozen, take out the molds and place them under warm water for a few seconds to release the peanut butter cups.
Prep Time: 5 min | Freeze Time: 4 hrs | Serving Size: 20–24 bites
Pumpkin is good for digestion, peanut butter keeps her interested, and freezing them keeps them good for 3 weeks in a bag so I only have to make one batch a month.
I have a rule that we store all of the extras flat so that they don’t stick together. I found out that if my daughter is a fast eater, the frozen bites slow her down just enough to make it more like an activity.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @leo_the_malshi_
#7: Frozen Bone & Flower Dog Treats (Blueberry + Cucumber)
Perhaps your golden is sitting outside, giving you one of those looks. You know, the one where she’s vibrating with excitement and you’re just standing there, like “I got you, babe.”
These cute frozen gems are exactly what summer needs.
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup fresh blueberries
2. ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (unsweetened)
3. ½ cup cucumber, peeled and chopped
4. 2 tablespoons coconut water (optional, helps blending)
How To Make These Adorable Frozen Treats
Blend your blueberries with ½ cup greek yogurt until smooth. Then pour into your bone shaped silicone mold about halfway up. Freeze for 20 minutes to set. You can see that is is the dark purple bottom layer in the photo.
At the same time, blend your cucumber with a splash of coconut water until it’s liquid. Pour this green layer on top of your semi-frozen purple layer. The layers will stay separate beautifully because of that first freeze. Many people do not include this step.
Freeze the whole tray for at least 4 hours.
Prep Time: 10 min | Freeze Time: 4 hours | Serving Size: 12-16 treats
Probiotic Greek yogurt is a good for the gut snack for my girl that also keeps her hydrated on a hot day.
If you’re into rotating treat recipes (like we are), you’ll want to save this one to make for your dog cookies recipes in the cooler months.
Run the molds under warm water for about 10 seconds and pop the out – they always pop out without breaking.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @peace_love_frenchies
#8: Frozen Blueberry & Strawberry Yogurt Dog Treat Bowls
And your golden just pressed her nose against your leg while you were meal-prepping and you know that look. :D.
Summertime means more time outside with your dog! In the heat, it’s always nice to have a nice frozen treat. I found these two-flavor frozen bowls and knew it was exactly what she needed. Plus, they are so Pinterest worthy that I had to photograph them before she ate them all.
Blueberry Yogurt Bone Bowl
1 cup fresh blueberries ½ cup plain Greek yogurt Bone-shaped silicone mold inserts
Strawberry Puffed Treat Bowl
1 cup freeze-dried strawberry puffs (these are dog safe)
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
Small white bowl for serving
### Let’s Make These
In a blender, blend the blueberries with the yogurt until smooth. Pour into a white ceramic bowl and gently press the bone-shaped yogurt molds into the yogurt. Freeze for at least 4 hours (over night is best). For the strawberry bowl, put the freeze-dried puffs into a 4-inch white bowl and drizzle the yogurt over the top. Place the bowl into the freezer. The freeze-dried puffs will remain crunchy even after being frozen. Your little girl will be so pleased with her treat. (If you’re looking for more fruit-based frozen treats, check out the book, Blueberry Dog Treats: Easy, Healthy Recipes Your Pup Will Love. You’ll find many variations to try!)
Prep Time: 10 min | Freeze Time: 4 hrs | Serves: 2 dogs
Serve the two bowls side-by-side outside, and trust me, the photos will be ridiculous.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @petkinpetcare
#9: Frozen Strawberry Yogurt Dog Bone Bites
Your golden just finished a run with you and she is panting so hard that it sounds like the kitchen is a wind tunnel. Your golden deserves something that is refreshing to eat, not just an ice cube.
These are made with plain Greek yogurt, fresh strawberries and a bone shaped silicone mold. Seriously, that’s all you need. The color comes from the strawberries, which of course is a dusty pink. It looks so Pinterest-y.
Here’s How to Make Them:
In a blender, combine the strawberries and plain greek yogurt. Blend until smooth and pour into your bone shaped silicone ice tray until about ¾ full so they don’t overflow when freezing. Freeze for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best. To remove from the tray, give it a little squeeze from the bottom and pop out clean.
Greek yogurt adds protein, so it’s actually not just a treat, it’s a treat that’s doing her a favor.
I made a double batch of these last summer for my cousin’s dog’s birthday party, and they were gone in minutes.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Freeze Time: 4 hours | Serving Size: 12–16 bites
If you love making things from scratch for her, Strawberry Dog Treats: Easy & Healthy Recipes for Your Pup has even more ideas that will drive her doggone crazy!
If your girl has a sensitive stomach you may want to go with kefir as it is a bit gentler on the digestive system, but does freeze well too.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @spoiledhounds
#10: Mini Vanilla Yogurt Cone for Dogs
You know the look your golden gives you when you’re eating ice cream on the porch? That “you better share that” stare? Well, this little treat was made for that exact moment.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cooking Time: 0 minutes | Serving Size: 4 mini cones
Ingredients:
1. 4 mini waffle cones
2. ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (unsweetened, full-fat)
3. 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
4. 4 small dog treats for topping (optional)
How to Make Your Pup’s Favorite Summer Treat
Mix the yogurt and peanut butter together until smooth. Spoon or pipe the mixture into each mini waffle cone, filling them just above the rim of the cone so that they look like a soft serve swirl. Place the cones into the freezer for at least 2 hours before serving.
These are frozen so they’re creamy but firm enough to not make a mess on your sofa cushions. I love the way the structure of the cone helps keep the drips off my floors and puts the joy directly in my dogs’ face.
Serve it outside. Trust me on that one.
Check out these 10 Irresistible Homemade Soft Dog Treats Your Pup Will Love for Greek yogurt, probiotics, protein and a little more fun for your pup.
Always check that your peanut butter label does not say “no xylitol” which is a sweetener and can be toxic to dogs. Some brands of peanut butter contain xylitol.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @subzerowinnipeg
The Frozen Treat Mistake That Could Make Your Dog Sick (And What to Do Instead)
For the record, most people freeze their dog’s treats way too solid, which is a problem that no one ever warns you about.
Super hard frozen treats can do major damage to your dog’s teeth. Unfortunately I learned this the hard way. My cousin’s lab went to town on a completely frozen Kong that had peanut butter inside. Vet bills aren’t cheap.
The best thing to do is to freeze the treats only half way. Take them out when they are slushy in the middle but still firm on the outside so your golden can chew it but not destroy her teeth.
The other important factor in using frozen pureed food is the amount of fat in the ingredients. Yogurt, banana, and pumpkin puree freeze at a good texture. Any ingredients with a lot of fat (ie too much peanut butter) will freeze rock solid and become a dental disaster.
Also, eat treats like you would human food. I see so many dog moms giving their pups huge portions of frozen treats every day and then wondering why their pups are gaining weight.
Small, slushy, and portioned right. That’s the move.
Your Golden Deserves a Spot That Feels Like Home Too
You’ve put so much love into your space. The throw pillows, the cozy rugs, your perfectly-styled bookshelf. Now it’s time to give your dog’s corner the same energy.
Pick just one thing this week. Just one. A bed that your golden can actually fit in. A feeder that matches your aesthetic. [via]
I love when my home feels good for both of us. Then it just feels more cozy!
So tell me — what’s the one upgrade your golden retriever’s space is seriously missing right now?
Amr Mohsen is a software engineer who traded his keyboard for a leash — at least on weekends. His love for dogs inspired him to share what he learns as a dog owner and enthusiast, bringing a detail-oriented, research-driven perspective to every article he writes. If it’s about dogs, he’s probably already looked it up twice.
