Summer treat recipes for your dog

When the heat of summer hits, there are few things we enjoy more than a scoop of our favourite ice cream too cool us down. And why should us humans have all the ice cream to ourselves, that hardly seems fair, right? But before you hand your pooch a scoop of the good stuff, spare a thought for the high sugar content and additives; our delectable freezer goodies aren’t always suited to a dog’s diet. Sometimes, human ice creams even contain ingredients that you should never give to your dog. But that’s no reason for your dog to miss out on all the fun. We at Flori’s Friends like to get creative in the summer months and make all sorts of nutritious, homemade treats for the pooches in our care.

Some of our firm favourites are:

Coconut drops for a shiny coat

Ingredients:

•  1 cup of organic coconut oil
•  A handful of blueberries (optional)
•  A teaspoon of honey (optional)

Method:

1. Add your coconut oil to a bowl and place over a pan of boiled water.
2. Wait until the coconut softens and shape into bite-sized balls.
3. Place the balls on a tray and put them in the freezer.
4. Serve when hardened. Because coconut oil stays hard in cool temperatures, you can store your balls in the fridge in an airtight container to save on freezer space.
5. You could also add honey and a few blueberries as you’re shaping the coconut balls for a natural sweet kick.

Doggie S’mores

Ingredients:

• Dog biscuits
• 1 cup of carob chips or 1 tablespoon of carob powder
• 1 cup of plain or Greek yoghurt

Method:

1. Throw your carob chips into a bowl and melt over boiled water. If you’re using carob powder, mix your powder directly into yoghurt.
2. Dip one side of your doggie biscuit into the carob mixture and place onto a tray.
3. Place another biscuit on top to make a sandwich and repeat.
4. Pop your tray into the freezer to harden and serve.

Frozen Kong

Kongs can offer hours of entertainment for our dogs, especially when they’re frozen. They can be filled and frozen with pretty much anything dog safe. Mix or blend your ingredients together, fill up your Kong and freeze. Here are just a handful of recipes you might like to try.

Ingredients:

•  1 cup of boiled potato
•  ½ cup of plain cottage cheese
•  ½ cup of grated low-fat cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 1 cup of plain or Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon of honey

Ingredients:

•  1 cup of cooked sweet potato
•  Handful of shredded, boiled chicken
•  Handful of cooked carrots
•  2 tablespoons of yogurt

Chicken stock and parsley freezies

Ingredients: 

•  1 reduced-salt chicken stock cube
•  450ml of water
•  A small handful of parsley

Method: 

1. Dissolve the stock cube thoroughly in water and set aside. 
2. Chop your parsley finely and stir into the chicken stock. 
3. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and pop them in the freezer. 
4. Serve on their own or add one to your dog’s water bowl to add flavour. If you’re concerned that your dog doesn’t drink enough on warm days, the meaty flavours may encourage them to rehydrate.

**Don’t let your pooch overindulge! Summertime can be a time of indulgence for people as well as dogs, but as with any treats, moderation and plenty of exercise is key to a happy, healthy pooch.