Its June and the start of summer here in Toronto.

Most of us humans love this time of the year, but it’s not always enjoyable for your dogs.  Extreme heat can lead to discomfort, excessive panting and even heatstroke.  I’m sure you have all noticed your dog looking for cooler places to lie - shade, cool grass, cold floor tiles - and for cool water as well.

There are many references to keeping your dogs cool in summer, so I’m not going to go into all of that. 

But what I do want to share are some delicious cool treats for dogs. 

Many people don’t think about giving their dogs a frozen treat in the heat of the summer.  But you’d be amazed at how easy they are to make and how dogs just love them! And as an added bonus, it’s a great way to use those overripe bananas!

So here are 2 of my favourite homemade and simple to make, frozen treats for dogs.

Frozen Banana and Peanut Butter Treats.

You will need:

2 frozen bananas (peel before freezing)
½ cup peanut butter

Slice the frozen bananas into chunks.  Place them in a blender or food processor and process until mashed.  Add the peanut butter and blend well.  Put the mixture into ice cubes and freeze for 3 to 4 hours.  Serve individual cubes to your pooch and watch him/her enjoy!

Frozen Pumpkin, Yogurt and Banana Treats

3 frozen bananas (peel before freezing)
½ cup tinned, pureed pumpkin (or make your own)
½ cup plain yogurt (omit if your dog has a dairy allergy)

Slice the frozen bananas into chunks.  Place them in a blender or food processor and process until mashed.  Add the pumpkin and blend well.  Put the mixture into ice cubes and freeze for 3 to 4 hours.  Serve individual cubes.

NOTE: If you don’t have a blender or food processor, it works well to mash the bananas first, before freezing.  Add your peanut butter or pumpkin and yogurt to the mashed bananas.  Then freeze for about 4 or 5 hours before serving to your pups.

Why not come up with your own combinations of fruits? Just make sure you use fruit that is safe for dogs! Try watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries and unsweetened apple sauce.

So there you have it - a dog photographer’s go to recipes for summer treats for dogs.

Talking about summer, if you’ve ever considered a pet photo session this is a great time to arrange it. There is no time like now to arrange a Summer in the City dog photo session in Toronto. Think about graffiti walls, secret gardens, iconic buildings, main streets, architectural details. These can all be incorporated into a pet photo shoot to beautifully highlight your pooch in the city. The final images make amazing wall art too!

These sessions are held in the early mornings before the heat gets to be too much and before the city gets too busy.

Here is more on urban dog photoshoots.

Terri J Photography specializes in pet photography in Toronto and the GTA including Richmond Hill, Markham, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Thornhill and beyond.

This week some of my pet photographer friends are going to be sharing their favourite dog treat recipes. Jemma Martin of JM Photography shares her simple dog treat recipe to make at home. If you click on the link at the bottom of her page you’ll follow the circle until you get right back here. Who knows what great recipes you’ll find!