All Things Dog Blog

Showing posts with label dog pupsicles. Show all posts

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Winter is Furlicious with Freezy Pups!
Frozen Dog Treat Review and Giveaway

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

As I told the folks at Freezy Pups recently, we're the go to blog for cooler weather reviews of frozen dog treats. Florida Winters are remarkably mild and make for year round enjoyment of water activities like Tanner's daily swims and even frozen treats. Today we also discovered a new game: Bobbing for Freezy Pups. Tanner quickly retrieved and devoured 6 Freezy Pups for our SafeMade Pet silicone, paw-shaped bowl. You've got to try this with your water-loving dog. It is a new way to experience water fun.

Ready?

My biggest question in this review was " How can a treat made with water actually taste good?" Much to my surprise the answer was clear. Freezy Pups uses USDA Organic ingredients to create and then dehydrate the treats. Our job is simply to re-hydrate them with water, followed by freezing for a unique, cooling snack.

Of course Freezy Pups don't have to be served frozen. The melted consistency is surprisingly creamy and rich, making a wonderful topping for a bowl of dry kibble. Special occasions may call for a few Freezy Pups melted atop our Organix kibble--maybe Thanksgiving!

Tanner and Oliver enjoyed, even eagerly pursued this photo shoot, waiting patiently for the reward they knew was coming. I enjoyed watching them lick and savor the flavor of their new-found favorite frozen treats. This was much faster than our usual pupsicle recipe that requires mashing and blending up foods to then pour into an ice cube tray. Preparation of Pupsicles is one simple step: Mix with water. Once you've poured the mixture into the ice cube tray and frozen it, you're in business with a batch of yummy, delicious and nutritious treats for your fidos.

I was first introduced to Freezy Pups earlier this year when I ventured to Global Pet Expo, . Their booth was swamped with interested shopkeepers and ~~nosy~~ curious bloggers like me. After their product was awarded the coveted 2011 Best in Show, I was assured a very slow opportunity to review this product. Thank goodness I finally got my samples.

As tough as it was to make contact with the very busy Freezy Pups gang, I couldn't give up. Organic is what we do here at All Things Dog Blog, so this was not a product I could miss out on. I became a woman possessed. Fortunately I was on their waiting list for product--a very long one.

Now that Tanner and Oliver have approved, my job is not done. I plan to try stuffing Kongs with these frozen yummies next. Doesn't that sound like a wonderful afternoon treat? And the flavors; they're home runs! Imagine White Cheddar Cheese, Chicken Soup, Juicy Apple, and Sweet Potato 'n Maple.

So how do YOU get your Freezy Pups? Start at their store locator here, and of course you can order from their website. For more information, you may want to follow them on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with updates on retail locations.

Before I fill you in on the giveaway I have to share one quote from the Freezy Pups' site:

Head of the Pack is proud to offer healthy and environmentally friendly dog treats. We use only organic ingredients. Our Freezy Pups Tray is reusable and made from long lasting, durable recyclable material. We use packaging that has been certified from the Forest Stewardship Council to have been produced from socially and environmentally responsible forestry.
Organic farming is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. Organic products are grown without pesticides, herbicides, fumigants, or artificial fertilizers. In other words, no yucky stuff added. This means organic farming helps protect our water, air, land and food supply from toxic chemicals and other pollutants.
Make your dog and the earth happy. Go Green!

Bravo! Let's give away one complete assortment of their products. One winner will get a supply of packages to make 24 trays of treats valued at $56: This amounts to a Freezy Pups freezing tray with sample paks included, and a full box of each of their four flavors. WOW!

The Rafflecopter entry form should appear below. If you don't see it immediately, simply click on the post title to refresh and will will magically reappear right here:

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

More Pup-sicle Recipes:
Icy Cool Treats for Your Best Friend

by Jocelyn Anne, guest contributor

When the heat of the summer becomes overly oppressive for you, you can only imagine how much more so it is for your dog or puppy who does not have the same means of sweating and cooling off that you do. If you are looking for ways to ensure that your best friend stays cool and happy this summer, you shouldn’t miss out on one of the most fun: doggie ice cream! If you’ve never tried your hand at whipping up homemade “ice cream” for your puppy or treated him to doggie-safe chilled treats, you’re both in for some fun!

To get you started, here are a couple of my favorites. All you need is an ice cream maker and some common ingredients. Using an ice cream maker, you should have ice cream ready for your dog in less than 10 minutes! And, if you opt for freezing solid and making popsicles (pup-sicles!), a great idea is to pour the mixture into Kongs and then freeze for even more fun.

*While it is important not to allow your dog to have too much lactose, the lactose content in yogurt is much lower than that in milk. Yogurt also offers friendly bacteria and probiotics that are good for your dog. If your dog is sensitive to any amount of lactose, than simply substitute dairy milk and dairy yogurt for soy or rice varieties. Also, always use plain yogurt, not flavored.

Puppy Pumpkin-Honey Ice Cream

Yogurt. 2 cups

Pureed Pumpkin (plain pumpkin, not the pie mix). ¼ cup

Honey. 2 tablespoons

Milk (rice, soy, dairy). ¼ cup

Directions:

Mix all ingredients and place in ice cream maker. Follow instructions for freezing. If you want to make popsicles instead, combine all ingredients and pour into small cups or ice cube trays.

*Pumpkin can help with diarrhea which makes this recipe especially valuable if your dog is suffering from diarrhea in the heat of the summer.

Rover’s Refreshing Minty Ice Cream

Milk. ¼ cup

Mint (chopped or pureed in blender)

Directions:

Combine ingredients in blender, pour into ice cream maker or freeze solid.

Cooling Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Plain yogurt. 12 ounces

Honey. 1 tablespoon

Carob chips. 1/3 cup

Directions:

Combine all ingredients. If more chocolate flavor desired, add carob powder to taste. Pour into ice cream maker and follow instructions or freeze solid.

Fro-Yo Peanut Butter Banana Extravaganza

Yogurt. 32 ounces

Banana. 1

Peanut butter, 2 tablespoons (smooth variety)

Honey. 2 tablespoons

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into ice cream maker or freeze solid.

Enjoy these recipes and have fun keeping your puppy cool all summer! Nothing beats a hot day with Chunky Monkey for you and Fro-Yo PB Banana Extravaganza for him!

Freelancer Jocelyn Anne has taken on writing about ice cream makers and is having a blast coming up with fun ways to treat herself and her little 3 pound Chihuahua, Nova, to the best chilled treats!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Pupsicles are Back for Warmer Weather: Fruity Yogurt Chillers Recipe

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Ever since I made Paris Permenter's cheese and chicken treats, I've been up nights thinking of doggie recipes. Crazy huh? Today's idea sprung merely from a kitchen of over-ripe fruit and a container of yogurt nearing its expiration date. That's the perfect time to concoct something yummy for pups that love to experiment with new taste sensations.

There will be no more wasted food around here. It's all going to be turned into doggie delights! Want to try today's special?

Fruity Yogurt Chillers

Ingredients:

1 16 oz. container of plain organic yogurt
2 very ripe bananas
1 very ripe apple, peeled and cut up
3/4 Cup blueberries

Blend until evenly creamy and pour into ice cube trays. Freeze and them remove to an airtight container for periodic frozen snacks. These are great on a hot day, but be sure to serve on an outdoor patio or in a newspaper lined crate. They are a bit messy and would definitely stain flooring or carpet.

I have to admit after allowing Tanner and Oliver to lick my fingers, I decided to turn a bit of this recipe into a smoothie for me. After adding some ice and whirring it in the Cuisinart a bit longer, it became a delicious afternoon snack for all 3 of us. The boys didn't mind lapping theirs up from small bowls; who needs to wait for frozen? Something tells me these won't last long in the freezer.

On another note, I hope to see you all at my Easter Rabbit Adoptathon Blog Hop today. We'll be highlighting rabbits all over the country, just in time for the big bunny day. Need more info? Try my Help Desk.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Yogurt Pupsicles: Dog Treats to Celebrate the End of Summer

by Carrie Boyko

You like frozen yogurt, right? So do dogs. Let's whip up a frozen treat for them to nibble on while we enjoy our last official long, summer weekend:

Frozen Yogurt Pupsicles

Add a container of plain, organic yogurt to your blender or food processor. Now comes the fun part. Choose from your refrigerator’s available supply to save money and use up leftovers:

small fruit bites (absolutely no grapes or raisins!) and a drop of honey. My dogs like bananas and berries best. Melons are often a big hit with dogs.
grated cheese, preferably low fat
a couple of tablespoons of organic peanut butter and a bit of honey
You can even try a veggie pop by tossing in broccoli or other vegetables. My dogs love veggies.

Mix briefly and pour into an ice cube tray, removing to a sealed container when frozen, to retain flavor.

Serve these yummies as an occasional treat, one or two, depending on your dog's size. Keep in mind, that they may be messy. I recommend serving them outdoors on a patio or in a newspaper lined crate. What better reason to spend a little crate time, than with a fun new frozen treat. For those pups that generally avoid the crate, you may find this is just the thing to turn it into their favorite place to laze around.

What was your pup's favorite? Leave me a comment or drop me an email at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. Have some ideas of your own to submit for our site's cookbook? I'm busy putting together a prize package for recipes, photos, and even a cookbook name.

Send them in with your pup's name and photo. He has to get credit for all his hard work as your taste-tester, right?!!