#thehonestkitchen

The summer heat and humidity are finally hitting us in full force this year! But as hard as it is for us to stave off the higher temperatures, it can sometimes be even harder for our furry companions.

Luckily, we’ve come up with three fun DIY recipes to help entertain, hydrate, and keep your dogs cool during the worst of what Montreal summers have to offer.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Popsicle moulds Ice cube tray Measuring spoons (1/2 tsp & 1 tbsp)

We used The Honest Kitchen products for our recipes, but you can choose whatever your pups love most. The Honest Kitchen foods come in dehydrated portions made with top quality ingredients, making them perfect for delicious and nutritious snacks. Here’s what we used:

The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth The Honest Kitchen Perfect Form

The Honest Kitchen Joyful Jerky Bites: Chicken The Honest Kitchen Nuzzles: Duck & Cherry

The Honest Kitchen Brave: Fish & Coconut Grain Free Recipe The Honest Kitchen Thrive: Chicken & Quinoa Recipe The Honest Kitchen Embark: Grain Free Turkey Recipe Single Serve Cup

Fresh blueberries

1. “PUPSICLES”

These are best for lazy afternoons or as a cooling snack after a long walk. Given how well they were received with our pack (gobbled immediately!), we recommend swapping out the popsicle handles with an edible kind: dehydrated chicken or duck feet, bully sticks, or even rolled salmon skins.

Step 1: add 3 tbsp of Brave or Thrive recipes to popsicle moulds 

Step 2: add a handful of Nuzzles, Joyful Jerky Bites, or blueberries; break up if needed

Step 3: add hot or warm water to fill mould and mix thoroughly

Step 4: wait 3 minutes for food to hydrate

Step 5: add handles once the mixture has thickened

Step 6: freeze until solid

Note: You may need to add a little more water once the food has been re-hydrated to fill the popsicle mould.

2. SNACK CUBES

As the name suggests, these little bite-sized snacks are great for adding supplements or a little burst of something cool to your dog’s day. Bone Broth is wonderful for joint mobility and support, and Perfect Form is a great supplement for upset or irritable stomachs.

Step 1: add 1 tsp of Bone Broth or Perfect Form to every ice cube mould

Step 2: add hot or warm water to just below the top of the mould and mix thoroughly

Step 3: add 1 Joyful Jerky Bite to each mould, making sure they’re long enough to stick out 

Step 4: freeze until solid

Note: The Joyful Jerky Bites are optional, but they act as a convenient and delicious handle. Berries can also be added for extra flavour and texture. 

3. ICE BLOCKS

These larger blocks of icy goodness are perfect for big chewers, or for those times when you want to keep your dog’s mind and body busy for a while. On very hot days, you can also choose to feed your pup their meals this way!

Step 1: portion out meal, if desired (each cup makes 12oz of food)

Step 2: add a handful of Joyful Jerky Bites

Step 3: add hot or warm water to fill cup and mix thoroughly

Step 5: wait 3 minutes for food to hydrate

Step 6: freeze until solid

All of these recipes can also be cat-friendly; unfortunately, we didn’t have any of our feline models available at the time (their sleeping schedules are very strict!). Any of the treats used here can also be substituted with your dog’s or cat’s favourite snack, so be creative!