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:

• Step 1: Peel, slice, and freeze your bananas – For maximum flavor, ensure your bananas are ripe. Dice your bananas, place them in a ziplock bag, and freeze them for a few hours.

• Step 2: Blend – Once your bananas are frozen, add them slowly to your blender and work the mixture with a spatula to avoid sticking. After the bananas are thoroughly blended, add ½ cup of peanut butter and continue to blend until everything is well mixed.

• Step 3: Refreeze – Spoon your mixture into plastic cups and freeze the new mixture. 

Be sure to remove your peanut butter banana freezies from their plastic cups before feeding them to your pup. These treats are beloved by dogs and humans alike, so if you’re hungry, why not have a taste for yourself? We won’t tell.

#3 Melon Chew Toy Treat

Every dog owner knows that pups love to chew. Chewing promotes healthy gum and teeth health and can help keep dogs mentally stimulated.² While you certainly don’t want your dog chewing on a splintering bone or your new couch, there are some safe and healthy ways to encourage them to munch on their favorite toys during the summer months.

It’s time to add a little flavor to your dog’s favorite chew toy.

This recipe works for any stuffable chew toy, and there are several available if you don’t already own one.

The only two ingredients you’ll need are:

• 1 cup coconut milk
• Your choice of melon (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew)

Once again, you’ll be using your blender to do the majority of the work.

After finding your ingredients, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Slice and dice your melon – The hard, outer layer of melon can be rough on your puppy’s stomach. Remove all of the rind and shell of your melon and place the cut-up chunks in your blender.

• Step 2: Blend – Turn on your blender and slowly add coconut milk to thicken your mixture. Add slowly and carefully to avoid messes.

• Step 3: Fill your toy – Once your ingredients are well-blended, fill your dog’s favorite chew toy and place it in the freeze for a few hours.

Be warned, this toy can get a little messy as it melts. We recommend taking this treat outside to minimize clean-up. Additionally, you can fill your dog’s chew toy with tasty hemp CBD treats for a health-boosting snack, no matter the weather. Sometimes cool is a state of mind.

#4 Frozen Fruits and Veggies

If you’re not in the mood to cook (or blend), the freezer aisle of your local grocery store is jam-packed with cold summer treats for dogs.

Frozen fruits veggies, straight from the bag, can make for a delicious and nutritious snack on those days when it’s too hot to even think about whipping up something fancy.

Some great choices for frozen fruits vegetables include:

• Green beans
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Peas

These foods are full of vitamins and minerals to support your pup’s overall health and offer a cold boost on a hot day. While most frozen veggies are all-natural, always check the packaging to avoid any products with added salts or sugars, and never feed your pup onions, garlic, or chives.³

#5 Sweet Potato Doggy Ice Cream 

You might be more interested in flavors like chocolate or vanilla, but trust us, your pup will go wild for some sweet potato ice cream. This summer treat is the perfect way to show your love for your pooch and provide them with an excellent health boost.

Sweet potatoes are a low-fat, vitamin-rich ingredient used in many premium dog foods. They’re also high in dietary fiber, an essential part of healthy digestion.⁵ Of course, to your pooch, this superfood can be turned into a tasty treat—best enjoyed cold.

To make sweet potato doggy ice cream, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• ½ cup of natural peanut butter
• ½ cup of sweet potato puree
• 2 cups of coconut milk

You could buy fresh sweet potato and cook it yourself to prepare the puree, but it may be more work than picking up a prepackaged can. If you opt for raw sweet potato, you’ll need to remove the skin and thoroughly cook it before beginning the next steps. Sweet potato skin can be particularly rough on your dog’s digestion.

With your ingredients on hand, you can prepare your ice cream in a few simple steps:

• Step 1: Blend – Add the sweet potato and peanut butter to your blender, and slowly pour coconut milk in to thin the mix.

• Step 2: Scrape and freeze – It may take some time to remove the sticky mixture from your blender. A spatula or scraper can make it easier to transfer the contents of the blender to a container for freezing.

• Step 3: Defrost and serve – Ice cream should have a particular texture. To avoid serving your dog a big block of ice, you may want to give the frozen mixture a few minutes to defrost. Once it’s perfectly thawed, serve it up and let your dog go wild.

What To Know About Prepared Frozen Treats

It’s hard to say “no” to your dog when they’re staring at you with those puppy dog eyes. If your pup is looking longly at your ice cream cone, you may feel tempted to let them have a lick. 

Unfortunately, most frozen treats aren’t prepared with doggy digestion in mind.

The dairy used in most frozen treat recipes can have nasty effects on your dog’s stomach. In fact, most dogs are lactose intolerant and can’t properly digest dairy products. Too much dairy may cause your dog to suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.⁴

In addition to the dangers of dairy, many human treats include ingredients that are toxic to dogs, such as:

• Chocolate
• Macadamia nuts
• Espresso beans

Not only that, but the added sugar present in most frozen treats can cause additional digestive side effects.

Fortunately, there are plenty of cool options for summer treats, so you don’t have to feel too bad about hogging your ice cream all for yourself.

Canna-Pet: Puppy-Positive Treats for Every Season

In the mood for a frozen treat yourself? Crafting these easy-to-make treats can be a fun activity for you and your four-legged friend. While your pup might not be a great sous chef, they’re certainly fun to have around when you’re cooking. 

That said, if you’re looking for a dog-friendly treat that doesn’t require making a mess in the kitchen, it might be time to check out Canna-Pet. Also, check with your vet if these treats are safe when searching how to keep your cat cool in the summer.

Our all-natural CBD hemp treats are organic, vegan, and made to deliver a broad range of beneficial CBD phytochemicals. As global pioneers in pet CBD, we’ve dedicated ourselves to providing high-quality products that support your dog’s health and quality of life. If you’re ready for a new summer treat, visit Canna-Pet today.

Sources: 

1. VCA. Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/xylitol-toxicity-in-dogs
2. ASPCA. Destructive Chewing.https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/destructive-chewing
3. AKC. Can Dogs Eat Onions?. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-onions 
4. AKC. Vet-Approved Frozen Summer Treats for Dogs. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/vets-corner/frozen-summer-treats-dogs/ 
5. AKC. Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes?