When the weather warms up, summer walks often get a little too hot for my pups. So I love to make these homemade dog popsicles (pupsicles!) for them to enjoy throughout summer!
These are our berry yogurt popsicles for dogs (or berry pupsicles) that are packed with antioxidants and probiotics. Super easy to make, very customizable, and good for them too. For fun, I even add edible “popsicle sticks”, which are optional, but such a fun idea!
- Why my pups love these
- Ingredients you’ll need (and notes)
- How to make popsicles for dogs (step by step overview)
- My best tips
- Frequently asked questions
I LOVE to make little treats for my pups to enjoy, no matter the weather or season. I know pup parents love to spoil their pups the way we love to dote on ours, so I wanted to share some of these treats I make for them.
Like this homemade dog birthday cake I make them every year, or these meatballs for dogs I make for special occasions, these pupsicles are a regular, every summer.
Why my pups love these
- These dog safe popsicles are fruity from the frozen berries, but I also add bone broth for additional flavor and nutrients.
- The yogurt and goat milk add creaminess , and my pups LOVE yogurt!
- Adding a chew as an edible popsicle stick makes these frozen popsicles that much more special!
- It’s a really refreshing treat , especially in summer. And they go nuts for these after a long walk or playtime.
- You can easily add or substitute ingredients to suit your pup’s needs. So these are very versatile.
- Plus, I love making these too because they are so easy . The blender does all the work.
Ingredients you’ll need (and notes)
For the popsicles
- Frozen mixed berries (contains raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries)
- Frozen blueberries (extra blueberries for anti-oxidants)
- Dog friendly bone broth (no onion, garlic, salt, and other additives)
- Low fat greek yogurt or goat milk (I add both here)
- Kelp powder (or other supplement like omega 3 fish oil)
Popsicle sticks (optional)
- Baby carrots
- Cucumbers
- Frozen, raw duck or chicken feet
- Frozen, raw chicken necks
- Dehydrated chicken or duck feet
Ingredient notes
Berries
I chose mixed berries here because I wanted to make berry popsicles for my dogs. However, you can substitute the mixed berries with ALL blueberries or just two types of berry as well.
- Add – You can also add other fruits with the mixed berries such as apples (without seeds), pears, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapples, mangoes, and bananas (although I would add less of the bananas and mangoes compared to the other fruits).
- Avoid – If you’re using any kind of stone fruits such as cherries, peaches, apricot, please make sure to remove stems and seeds as the seeds contain cyanide and is toxic to your dog. Also avoid fruits like grapes (and raisins), tomatoes, and avocado .
Vegetable additions
Yes! You can also substitute some of the berries with vegetables. While some vegetables can be eaten raw, I like to steam them when I add it to these pupsicles. I love adding the following vegetables to any of my dog treats (and meals).
- Steamed broccoli
- Steamed carrots
- Pureed pumpkin (from the can)
- Steamed sweet potatoes
- Bell peppers (raw)
- Leafy greens such as spinach and kale (avoid this if your pup has kidney issues)
- Zucchini
- Cucumbers
- Celery
While not a fruit nor vegetable, feel free to add some peanut butter to the popsicle mixture too.
Bone broth
You can use liquid bone broth, or powdered bone broth mixed with water. The most important thing is to ONLY use bone broth that’s formulated FOR dogs! Onion and garlic are toxic to dogs, and salt is also not good for them. So, the bone broth I use is from a pet food company and has no salt or other flavoring.
You can also use chicken or beef broth. I like to dissolve a little extra bone broth powder (when I have it at hand), so that the popsicles have extra savory flavor.
Yogurt or goat milk
Low fat Greek yogurt is an excellent source of probiotics for dogs! My pups LOOOOVE yogurt – even more than pup cups.
I also like to buy raw goat milk from a Canadian company called Big Country Raw, or powdered goat milk from Honest Kitchen. I prefer the goat milk from the Canadian company as the quality is better. But greek yogurt is definitely more accessible.
Kelp powder or other supplements
Dog formulated kelp powder is an excellent supplement. It contains minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Due to the iodine present, it can also provide thyroid support. This can promote healthy skin and coat, dental health, and overall health. Still, this is only added in moderation as it’s ONLY a supplement.
If you do not have dog formulated kelp powder, then you can add omega 3 oil (dog friendly brand), or even a few pieces of canned sardines (canned in water, with no salt). You can also simply leave it out.
Equipment
You will also need a good blender to be able to blend all the ingredients well. I use my vitamix blender that’s been a powerhouse in my kitchen for over 5 years!
You’ll also need popsicle molds, BUT you can choose any size or shape! I use compostable paper cups that hold about 80 mL of liquid.
You can also use ice trays or mini cupcake trays or silicone molds. The smaller the popsicle mold, the more treats you can make. My berry pupsicles are about 40 – 60 mL per serving.
How to make popsicles for dogs (step by step overview)
The good news is that this recipe doesn’t have to be precise! You can add more bone broth, water, or yogurt if you want to, and even add other fruits and vegetables for more nutrition. While I’m providing measurements in the recipe, some variation is A-OK!
Step 1 – Prepare the ingredients
If your blender is not able to handle frozen fruits, then allow the frozen fruits to thaw at room temperature. If you’re using cooked vegetables, they need to be steamed and cooled slightly before making the popsicles.
Step 2 – Add ingredients to the blender
Add the berries into the blender. I like to add extra blueberries because my pups love blueberries (image 1) !
Then add the bone broth, yogurt, and kelp (image 2) . You can always add more to get the right consistency later, if you like.
Step 3 – Blend
Blend all the ingredients to get a smooth mixture (image 3) . You may need to use a spatula to ensure everything gets mixed well. I like to make a minimum of 2500 mL, so I will add more bone broth, yogurt, or goat milk (or even water), to get the desired amount (image 4) .
Step 4 – Prepare the popsicles
Keep the popsicle molds on a half sheet pan (image 5) . This will make it easier for you to carry and store the popsicles in the freezer. The popsicles molds should hold about 50 – 60 mL (more if you’re adding popsicle sticks). If your molds are smaller, you (or your pups) will just end up with more treats!
Add an equal amount of popsicle base into each of the molds (images 6 – 7) . I add about 50 mL (just under 1/4 cup) to each mold. This will make about 50 treats .
Step 5 – Place popsicle sticks (optional) and freeze
This step is completely optional. I prefer to keep most of the popsicles WITHOUT sticks, but you can add some edible “sticks” too. Choose whatever option(s) you like for the “popsicle sticks”. They must be fully digestible and dog safe food such as carrots or duck feet, like I use here (image 8) .
Just place mini cucumbers / baby carrots or raw or dehydrated duck or chicken feet in some of the popsicles (image 9 . This will only work if the popsicle “sticks” are tall enough.
A note about feeding raw – Please do not feed your dog raw food if they are not used to it. We do provide fully digestible raw duck or chicken feet because they are safe and approved for MY pups. I have also fed them dehydrated duck feet, which can also work here.
But always be careful when handling raw meat, and do not let it thaw out and defrost, and freeze again.
Place the pupsicles in the freezer to freeze completely (image 10) . Once frozen, you can place them in a sealed freezer bag.
Step 6 – Serve
Remove the popsicles from the molds and serve them to your dogs! If your pups are anything like mine, I know they will LOVE these!
My best tips
- While these are berry yogurt pupsicles, you can change the flavor if you like! I’ll be making other flavored dog popsicles in the future, including sweet and savory ones that are refreshing, healthy, and have good nutrients for your pups too!
- Please feed these responsibly to your pups! I only give them 1 / day , as it is a treat. If you make smaller treats, you can serve more, but no more than 50 – 60 mL per day.
- If you’re unsure if these are safe for your pup, PLEASE consult your vet! Just like with this meatloaf dog birthday cake and these dog-friendly meatballs , I only use ingredients that have been approved by our vet, and I avoid those that my pups are unable to have. Korra (my brown Mexi-mix rescue) is currently not eating chicken products as we figure out her food allergies, and Zuko (my beagle) is not able to have salmon omega-3 oil.
- Make sure that you use fruits (and veggies) that are safe for your pups to eat . You can find here a list of foods that should NEVER be fed to your pups .
- Keep the serving size relative to your pup’s body weight . My 40 – 50 lb dogs only get 1 treat each (50 – 60 mL), per day. For smaller dogs, make smaller treats.
- When adding supplements, make sure that your dog will not be consuming a larger dose per day than needed (along with other supplements you provide).
- Because of the berries, serve these popsicles to your dogs where staining won’t be an issue ! Do not feed them on carpet or on a sofa, because these will stain the fabric. Ask me how I know!
Can dogs eat popsicles (for humans)?
No. Popsicles made for human consumption contain, at the minimum, added sugar which is not good for dogs. They may also contain other preservatives that are safe for humans, but might not be safe for dogs. They can also contain fruits that are not safe for dogs, AND fruits that are safe only in smaller quantities such as coconut, mango, or banana. The only “human grade” popsicles that dogs CAN eat are popsicles made with 100% fruit (completely safe for dogs, in fairly large amounts, unlike mango and banana) with no added sugar, or other dog unsafe additions. This is often difficult to determine with store-bought pops, so I prefer to make my own for my dogs.
How long will these pupsicles keep?
These never last longer than 2 months in our freezer! I like to keep them in an airtight container or freezer bag once they are frozen, and they easily last about 2 – 3 months.
How often can I give these to my dogs?
My pups have 1 popsicle every 1 – 2 days. This also depends on their needs as well. If they’ve already had other treats during the day, then I may skip these for that day. These are meant to be given to your pups as part of a healthy and balanced diet, and not to replace their main meals.
Recipe
Dog Popsicles (Berry Yogurt Pupsicles)
Ingredients
- 1.2 kg frozen mixed berries I use 720 g mixed berries and 480 g blueberries
- 1 cup low fat greek yogurt
- ½ cup goat milk optional, or add more yogurt
- 2 cups bone broth
- ¼ cup kelp powder for dogs
- More water or bone broth to top up
- Baby carrots optional (as popsicle “sticks”)
- Cucumber optional (as popsicle “sticks”)
- Chicken / duck feet raw or dehydrated, optional (as popsicle “sticks”)
Instructions
- Place the berries, yogurt, goat milk (optional), bone broth, and kelp powder in a blender. 1.2 kg frozen mixed berries, 1 cup low fat greek yogurt, ½ cup goat milk, 2 cups bone broth, ¼ cup kelp powder for dogs
- Blend until smooth. Check the yield of the mixture, and add enough bone broth / water to make 2500 mL. More water or bone broth to top up
- Place the small paper cups / popsicle molds on a sturdy tray or baking sheet.
- Measure 50 mL (a little less than a ¼ cup measuring cup), and pour it in each cup / mold. This will contain about 24 g of berries per serving. You can reduce the size of the treat to suit your pup’s needs.
- OPTIONAL - Add baby carrots or cucumbers as “popsicle sticks” into some of the treats. You can also add dehydrated or raw chicken / duck feet in some treats (if your pup is able to have this) as well. Baby carrots, Cucumber, Chicken / duck feet
- Transfer to the freezer and let them completely freeze.
- Once frozen, the treats can be transferred into an airtight container OR freezer bags.
- Remove the pupsicle from the mold and serve it to your pup as a treat once frozen.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe from The Flavor Bender by Dini Kodippili
Dog Popsicles (Berry Yogurt Pupsicles) https://www.theflavorbender.com/homemade-dog-popsicles-pupsicles/
