Frozen Recipes

Mediterranean Frozen Dog Treats: 5 Recipes With Dog-Safe Ingredients Only

Fish, courgette, cucumber and watermelon in five cool treats. No garlic, olives or cured ham.

By 5 min read
French bulldog on a sunny terrace licking a frozen treat tray

Picture a long summer lunch on a terrace in Andalusia, Puglia or Crete. The table is full of grilled fish, salads, cured ham and olives, and a hopeful nose is resting on your knee. Much of that table is not safe for dogs. A handful of fresh Mediterranean ingredients are, though, and they make lovely frozen treats for hot afternoons.

Below are five Mediterranean-style frozen dog treats, each made in a different Freezbone toy, plus the foods from a southern European table that your dog should never share.

Mediterranean frozen dog treats use plain, unseasoned versions of dog-safe foods: cooked white fish with every bone removed, plain cooked chicken, courgette, cucumber, seedless watermelon and plain yoghurt. Mix or layer them in a fillable toy and freeze for at least four hours. Leave out garlic, onion, grapes, olives in brine, salty cheese and cured meats.

Which Mediterranean foods are safe for dogs, and which are not?

Plain, fresh ingredients are usually fine; anything seasoned, salted or cured is not.

Dog-safe, served plain

  • Cooked white fish such as hake or cod, all bones removed
  • Plain cooked chicken, no skin or bones
  • Courgette, raw and grated or plainly cooked
  • Cucumber
  • Watermelon flesh, seeds and rind removed
  • Plain, unsweetened yoghurt
  • Plain cooked rice

Never share

  • Garlic and onion, including tzatziki, sofrito and most sauces
  • Grapes and raisins
  • Olives in brine and tapenade
  • Cured meats such as jamón, chorizo, salami and prosciutto
  • Very salty cheese such as feta
  • Cooked bones and fish bones
  • Yoghurt sweetened with xylitol

The simple rule: take your dog's portion out before any salt, oil, garlic or sauce goes in.

1. Cucumber and yoghurt swirl

Prep: 5 min · Freeze: 4 hours or overnight · Good for: most dogs, hot days · Made in: FreezSwirl

Think of it as tzatziki without everything that makes tzatziki unsafe for dogs. Cool, mild and quick to make.

You'll need

  • 150 g plain, unsweetened yoghurt
  • A 5 cm piece of cucumber, grated

Method

  • Squeeze the grated cucumber in a clean cloth to remove extra water
  • Stir it into the yoghurt
  • Spread the mix into the swirl and freeze flat

2. Watermelon and yoghurt layers

Prep: 5 min · Freeze: 5 hours · Good for: summer heat, dogs who like sweet flavours · Made in: Freezflower Cup

Watermelon is a summer staple from Seville to Sicily. Here it sits in layers with yoghurt, so each lick tastes a little different.

You'll need

  • 100 g seedless watermelon flesh, no rind
  • 100 g plain yoghurt

Method

  • Blend half the watermelon until smooth and dice the rest
  • Spoon in a layer of yoghurt, then diced watermelon, then the purée
  • Repeat until the cup is full, then freeze

3. Fisherman's catch with courgette

Prep: 10 min · Freeze: overnight · Good for: fish lovers, strong chewers · Made in: Freezbox

Inspired by the fish markets of Lisbon and Marseille. Use fish you have cooked plainly at home, steamed or poached, with no salt, lemon or oil.

You'll need

  • 80 g plain cooked white fish, flaked, every bone removed
  • 2 tablespoons grated courgette
  • About 100 ml water, or homemade stock made without salt, onion or garlic

Method

  • Check the flaked fish twice for small bones
  • Pack the fish and courgette into the box
  • Pour the water or stock over the top and freeze

The Freezbox has a wide, flat base, so a liquid fill like this stays put while it freezes.

“My podenco is obsessed! Really great dog toy/ snack / multifunctional ice lolly”
Sue P., verified buyer

4. Chicken, rice and courgette bowl

Prep: 10 min · Freeze: overnight · Good for: bigger dogs, part of a meal · Made in: FreezJumbo

A paella-style bowl with everything dogs cannot have left out: no chorizo, no onion, no garlic, no seasoning. It is filling, so count it as part of your dog's meal.

You'll need

  • 100 g plain cooked chicken, no skin or bones, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons plain cooked rice
  • 3 tablespoons diced courgette, plainly cooked
  • Water or salt-free stock to cover

Method

  • Mix the chicken, rice and courgette
  • Pack it into the toy, pressing down gently
  • Pour water or stock over the top and freeze overnight

5. Watermelon and cucumber ice for small dogs

Prep: 3 min · Freeze: 3 to 4 hours · Good for: small dogs, a light snack · Made in: Freez Doughnut

The small Freez Doughnut holds up to 80 ml and suits dogs of 5 to 10 kg, which makes it ideal for a light, watery treat.

You'll need

  • 50 g seedless watermelon flesh
  • A 3 cm piece of cucumber

Method

  • Blend the watermelon and cucumber together
  • Pour into the doughnut on a flat surface
  • Freeze until solid

How much frozen treat can my dog have in a day?

Treat it as part of your dog's daily food, not as an extra on top.

If a frozen treat contains chicken, fish or rice, give a little less at the next meal so your dog's total stays the same. Smaller dogs need smaller portions, so choose a toy that matches their size. Introduce one new ingredient at a time, and stop if your dog's tummy seems unsettled.

Freezbone tip

Make two or three of these in one go on a cool morning, before the kitchen heats up. Store them in a lidded box in the freezer and you have a cool treat ready for every hot afternoon that week.

How do frozen treats fit into a hot summer day?

They are a pleasant way to keep a dog busy and comfortable in the heat, but they do not replace shade, water and sensible timing.

Serve the treat in the shade or on a cool tiled floor. Keep fresh water out at all times, and walk early in the morning or late in the evening during a heatwave. Our guide to common summer mistakes with dogs explains how to spot overheating. If you are driving south for the August holidays, our tips on travelling in Europe with your dog cover the planning.

“Like the simplicity of style and good size for my border terrier, keeps her busy and she loves the different frozen recipes, mostly made from everyday ingredients already in the house”
Ishbel M., verified buyer

Want more summer ideas? Try our easy summer treats for dogs, learn how to clean a frozen dog toy between fills, or watch the Freezbone recipe videos for step-by-step inspiration.

General information, not veterinary advice. If you're worried about your dog, talk to your vet.

Frequently asked questions

  • Olives are best kept away from dogs. Most olives are sold in salty brine or oil, and many are stuffed or flavoured with garlic. The stones can also be a choking risk, so keep the olive bowl out of reach.

  • Plain, unsweetened Greek-style yoghurt is fine for many dogs in small amounts. Check the label for sweeteners, especially xylitol, which is dangerous for dogs. If your dog has a sensitive tummy, start with a spoonful and see how they get on.

  • No. Cured meats like jamón, chorizo, salami and prosciutto are very salty and often contain garlic, paprika or other seasoning. Offer a little plain cooked chicken instead.

  • Plain cooked fish you have prepared yourself is the safest choice, because you control the salt and remove the bones. Avoid fish tinned in brine, oil with seasoning, or sauces. If in doubt, ask your vet before adding a new food.

  • Most of these ingredients are fine for puppies when served plain and in small amounts. Choose a small toy, keep the portion modest and supervise the whole session. Introduce new foods one at a time.

Shop this guide

Buy 2 save 15% · 3 save 20% · 4 save 25%

Written by Freezbone Team

We design freezable, refillable natural-rubber chew toys and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it. Freezbone Limited ships across the European Union from Ireland.

Share this guide Pinterest Facebook

Keep reading in Frozen Recipes

Video recipes

What's going in the FreezBone tonight?

Step-by-step videos for every FreezBone, from 5-minute fills to layered overnight freezes.

Watch the recipes