As a member of the Etsy affiliate program and an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

At our apartment, there is this huge, overgrown, out of control WALL of wild blackberry bushes.

It’s such a lovely thing to have fresh, ripe blackberries just a few feet from your door and I love this richly flavoured, juicy fruit. But, when we first moved in I was a little concerned because Kol also likes a lovely blackberry and he particularly enjoys eating the berries that have fallen loose from the bush.

Can dogs eat blackberries?

The good news is that blackberries are absolutely 100% safe for dogs to eat – in moderation. They’re low in sugar and calories making them an ideal snack to share with your favourite pooch. Like with anything though, if you go hog wild and let your dog eat a bucketful, they’ll probably experience some discomfort and upset stomach. The last thing you want is a dog with a bad stomach, so make sure you keep your servings appropriate.

Even with several of us picking the blackberries, there’s always more than enough on the bush, so I’m usually on the look out for ways to use them up.

Making blackberry cookies for Kol is a no brainer and I’m lucky to have a great recipe for blackberry dog treats! These homemade treats were originally shared in 2013 as a part of our Iron Canine Recipe Contest. It was created and submitted by my friend, Cristina of Cristina’s Dog Treats in Tillamook, Oregon, and was a summer favourite of her dog, Nanqu. Sadly, both Cristina and Nanqu were lost in a vehicle accident earlier this year, but we remember her, her friendship, and her passion for making healthy, fresh dog treats every single time we bake these. Cristina’s loving family decided to keep making Cristina’s Treats in her honour. You can find them on Facebook and stay up to date on all of their tasty news.

You can use other berries, but I liked the pretty purple. The color will vary depending on the darkness of carob powder. Mine was a light roast, so the purple came out really nice.

– Christina Egnew-Ellis

The cream cheese means these smell great when they’re baking. I’m sitting here, drooling and craving cheese cake because even though I know Kolchak is going to love them, they probably won’t make a great treat for humans.

But wait, can dogs eat cream cheese though? I thought it was too rich and fatty.

Fair question! Cream cheese is not known for being a dog-friendly ingredient. However, it’s totally safe to give your dog non-fat cream cheese from time to time, you just don’t want to give them a whole bunch. Cream cheese even has good things like healthy fatty acids, calcium, and protein in it. I always use a non-fat variety and make sure that it’s only fed in moderation. Treats are meant to be just that – TREATS. Each of these 2.5″ dog treats has about a 1/2 tablespoon of cheese in it. The perfect serving size – but I wouldn’t give your dog too many of these in a day or you’ll risk stomach upset. I usually freeze my homemade dog treats for up to three months in an airtight container, this way, I can pull out a couple of cookies at a time.

These summer dog treats are a great way to add some fresh foods, variety and sparkle to your dog’s summer days. Kol is fan. Big time.

Pin It for Later:

Check out more baked dog treat recipes: