By Nalla’s Dad — updated April 2026
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Everything I recommend is something Nalla and I actually use.
August 2025. The heatwave that wouldn’t quit. Nalla stopped drinking
water for three straight days — not less, none. She’d sniff her
bowl, walk away, flop on the cool kitchen tile, and wait for me to do something
about it. The vet said the same thing she always says when Nalla gets stubborn:
“freeze her treats.”
Easier said than done. Every “frozen dog treat” on the pet-store
shelf is loaded with sugar, glycerin, or worse — even the ones with
“natural” on the front of the bag. So that afternoon I dug a bag of
blueberries out of the freezer, stirred them into plain Greek yogurt, poured
the mix into an old silicone mini-muffin mold, and stuck the whole thing in the
freezer.
Thirty minutes later Nalla was inhaling them. Three days later she was
drinking water again. Now I make a tray every Sunday from May through
September, and she sits next to the freezer when she hears me get the mold
out.
This is the recipe. Three ingredients, ten minutes of work, thirty minutes
of freezer time. No sugar. No fillers. No mystery flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries. Frozen works just as
well — they thaw a bit when you stir them in and the color marbling looks
even better. - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt. Whole-milk if your dog tolerates
dairy well, low-fat if she’s prone to weight gain. Plain only
— vanilla yogurt has added sugar and sometimes flavoring agents that aren’t
dog-safe. - 1 teaspoon honey (optional). Skip it for puppies under one
year old (their digestive systems can’t handle the bacterial spores in raw
honey). Skip it for diabetic dogs entirely. Nalla doesn’t actually need
it — the blueberries are sweet enough.
Equipment: a silicone mini-muffin mold or a regular ice
cube tray. Silicone pops the treats out cleanly; metal trays make you wrestle.
Instructions
- Rinse the blueberries if fresh. If frozen, no rinse
needed. - Lightly mash about half the blueberries with a fork —
this releases color and makes the marbling look better. Leave the rest whole. - Stir blueberries into the yogurt in a medium bowl. Add
honey now if you’re using it. - Spoon the mixture into your mold. A small cookie scoop or
just a regular tablespoon works. Don’t overfill — the mixture
expands slightly when it freezes. - Freeze for at least 30 minutes for soft-set, or 2–3
hours for fully solid. Overnight is ideal if you can wait. - Pop them out by gently flexing the silicone. Transfer to
an airtight container or freezer bag.
Nalla’s verdict
Nalla is a beagle mix, around 28 lb, generally a slow eater. These are the
only treat I’ve made where she actually sits and waits at the freezer.
She’ll work on one for about 90 seconds — long enough to count as a
real cooling-down moment, short enough that I can give her two without feeling
guilty.
Her favorite version: I freeze them in heart-shaped silicone molds my
partner bought as a joke. Nalla doesn’t care about the shape, but it
makes them photograph well for these recipe posts.
Our Pick: Tools Used in This Recipe
What I actually use at home when cooking for Nalla:
- Mini Dog Bone Silicone Mold (18-cavity) — Bone-shape silicone — pops out frozen treats and baked biscuits cleanly. Dishwasher safe. The mold I batch-freeze yogurt bites in. View on Amazon
- VIVAGLORY Silicone Pet Food Mat (24"x16", waterproof) — Raised-edge silicone catches every spill and drip. Wipes clean in seconds — saves the floor from homemade-stew splash zone. View on Amazon
- IRIS USA WeatherPro Airtight Pet Food Container (25 lb / 33 Qt) — Foam-sealed lid + snap latches keep kibble and homemade-batch leftovers fresh for weeks. Wheels make it actually pleasant to roll out. View on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend gear we actually use.
FAQ
Can dogs eat blueberries?
Yes — in moderation. Blueberries are one of the few fruits that are
genuinely safe and beneficial for dogs (they’re on the AKC’s safe-fruit
list). The fiber and antioxidants are good for them. As with any new food, start
with two or three and watch for reaction.
Can dogs eat Greek yogurt?
Most dogs tolerate plain Greek yogurt well in small amounts — the live
cultures can be good for gut health. Some dogs are lactose-intolerant though;
if your dog has had reactions to dairy, skip this recipe or substitute coconut
yogurt (unsweetened, no xylitol).
How long do these last in the freezer?
Up to 30 days in an airtight container. The texture stays fine; after about
month one they start picking up freezer-burn flavors.
Are these safe for puppies?
For puppies over 8 weeks, yes — but skip the honey. For very young
puppies, ask your vet first. Watch portion size: a single mini-muffin treat is
plenty for a small puppy.
Can I make these with regular yogurt instead of Greek?
You can, but the result is icier and less creamy. Greek yogurt has the protein
density that gives these their popsicle-like texture.
Are blueberries safe for diabetic dogs?
Skip the honey, use whole-milk plain Greek yogurt (less sugar than low-fat),
and check with your vet. The blueberries themselves are low-glycemic but
portion control still matters.
Portion guide
Treats — including frozen ones — should be no more than 10% of
your dog’s daily calories. Rough guide:
- Small dogs (under 20 lb): 1–2 mini-muffin bites/day
- Medium dogs (20–50 lb): 2–3 bites/day
- Large dogs (50–90 lb): 3–4 bites/day
- Giant breeds (90+ lb): 4–5 bites/day or use a larger
mold
Nalla gets two on hot days — one mid-morning and one after our
afternoon walk. That’s about 60 calories total, well under her 10%
threshold.
Storage
Airtight container or zip-top freezer bag. Pop air out before sealing to
prevent ice crystals. Keep at the back of the freezer (most stable
temperature). Don’t refreeze if they thaw.
Safety note
The first time you give your dog a new ingredient, give just one and watch
for the next 24 hours. If you see diarrhea, vomiting, scratching, or unusual
behavior, stop and call your vet. Lactose sensitivity is the most common issue
with this recipe; coconut yogurt is the easiest substitute.
Never use yogurt that contains xylitol — xylitol is
toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Always read the ingredient label. Plain
Greek yogurt rarely contains xylitol, but flavored varieties sometimes do.
Related reading
- Spring Shedding Survival Guide — how I tested 5 de-shedding tools on Nalla
- Pumpkin & Oat Dog Biscuits — the gentle treat for sensitive stomachs
- Peanut Butter & Banana Biscuits — Nalla’s Sunday batch
Want more recipes like this? I batch-cook for Nalla every Sunday and
post the ones that actually work. The reel for these blueberry bites is on
@dogfoodandfun — tag a dog-owner friend who needs hot-day treats in their freezer.