Frozen Dog Lick Cup with Banana and Yogurt

Somewhere around the third heat wave of the summer, I accepted that Sherlock was never again going to enjoy his walks between the hours of noon and four. He'd stand at the door, look at the sun like it had personally wronged him, and retreat back to the tile floor. Enter the frozen lick cup: the dog version of a popsicle, minus the stick he would absolutely try to eat.

This one takes four ingredients, most of which are already in your fridge, and about ninety seconds of actual effort. The freezer does the rest.

Ingredients

• Plain yogurt (unsweetened, no xylitol — check the label)
• 1 ripe banana
• A handful of your dog's favorite small treats
• 1 silicone cup or mat

Instructions

1. Mash the banana in a bowl, then stir in the plain yogurt until well combined.
2. Fill the silicone cup with the mixture, tucking a few treats into the mix as you go.
3. Freeze until solid — a few hours, or overnight if you want to guarantee it.
4. Give it to your happy dog

I was out of berries and bananas this time, but Sherlock didn't seem to care.

What I used

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The treats I tucked in were Natural Turkey Dog Treats (Amazon), which held up well to freezing without turning into weird mush. For the cup itself, I used West Paw Zogoflex Toppl (Amazon). W hat I love about this cup is that it's not just a bowl for your dog's treats — it's mental stimulation too. The round bottom means your dog can't just lick it in place; it rolls around, so they have to work for it.

What to avoid

• Skip anything containing xylitol, chocolate, grapes, or raisins — always double-check yogurt labels for hidden sweeteners.
• Avoid overly sugary or flavored yogurts; plain is safest and easiest on the stomach.
  
• If your dog is new to dairy, start with a small portion to make sure it agrees with them.

If you want those rules to live somewhere more permanent than your memory, a personalized safe-food fridge magnet keeps the "never feed this" list exactly where you'll see it — right before you reach for the garlic powder.

That's the whole recipe. Four ingredients, one freezer, and an afternoon of your dog being far too occupied to notice the heat.