A pup cup is a small serving of ice cream that is safe for dogs to eat. Pup cups are offered by many ice cream shops and chains as a special treat for dogs. The ice cream flavors used in pup cups are designed to be gentle on dogs’ stomachs and not contain ingredients like chocolate that can be harmful to them. Keep reading to learn more about what kinds of ice cream flavors go into pup cups and where you can get them for your dog!
What is a Pup Cup?
A pup cup is a small cup of ice cream that is given out specifically for dogs to enjoy. Pup cups usually contain just a spoonful or two of ice cream. They provide dogs with a fun treat to eat while their human family members enjoy their own larger servings of ice cream. Pup cups have become a popular offering at many ice cream shops, cafes, and chains like Dairy Queen, Shake Shack, Ben & Jerry’s, and Cold Stone Creamery.
The idea behind a pup cup is to give dogs a chance to join in on enjoying a cold, sweet, ice cream treat. However, not all ice cream is safe for dogs to eat. Regular ice cream contains ingredients like chocolate, raisins, macadamia nuts, and the sugar substitute xylitol that can actually be toxic to dogs. Pup cups get around this problem by using specially formulated “dog ice cream” that avoids dangerous ingredients.
Dog-Safe Ice Cream Flavors
The key to a good pup cup ice cream flavor is making it enticing and tasty for a dog’s palate while avoiding problematic ingredients. Here are some of the most common dog ice cream flavors used in pup cups:
Vanilla
Vanilla ice cream tends to be the standard choice for pup cups. Vanilla has a mild, sweet flavor that most dogs enjoy. When prepared without chocolate or toxic add-ins, vanilla ice cream is safe for canine consumption. Some shops make their vanilla pup cups extra enticing for dogs by mixing in a bit of peanut butter.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin ice cream or pumpkin purée mixed into vanilla ice cream is another popular pup cup choice. Pumpkin has vitamins and fiber that offer health benefits for dogs. It gives pup cups an autumnal flavor and orange color that looks fun. A dollop of pumpkin ice cream is usually a big hit with dogs.
Sweet Potato
Like pumpkin, sweet potato is another superfood for dogs that can be worked into pup cup ice cream. Sweet potato ice cream has become trendy for pup cups because of its nutritional value. It also gives the ice cream an earthy, sweet flavor dogs enjoy.
Yogurt or Custard
Some ice cream shops offer frozen yogurt or vanilla custard options for pup cups. These dairy-based soft serve styles allow shops to control the ingredients that go into the pup cups. Yogurt and custard have a milder, more subtle flavor compared to ice cream that some dogs may prefer.
Beef or Liver Flavored
To make their pup cups really tempting for dogs, some companies create ice cream with beef or liver flavoring. These meaty flavors cater to dogs’ appetites. However, plain vanilla ice cream is usually still the predominant ingredient.
Peanut Butter
While chocolate must be avoided in pup cups, peanut butter is considered safe for dogs. Adding a big dollop of peanut butter to vanilla ice cream is one of the most foolproof ways to create a pup cup dogs will love. The peanut butter gives the ice cream a richer, thicker texture and flavor dogs find hard to resist.
Where to Get Pup Cups
As pup cups have grown in popularity, more and more major chains and local shops now offer them. Here are some of the most common places you can now find pup cups on menus for your dog:
Dairy Queen
One of the first major fast food chains to introduce pup cups was Dairy Queen. They offer a small serving of their vanilla soft serve ice cream in a cup or cone for dogs. Some locations may charge a small price like 50 cents or a $1 for a pup cup, while others give them out complementary. Dairy Queen pup cups have become hugely popular for dogs visiting the chain’s drive-thru windows with their humans.
Shake Shack
Following Dairy Queen’s lead, the burger and shake chain Shake Shack also began serving pup cups a few years ago. Their pup cups consist of vanilla frozen custard. Shake Shack charges around $2-3 for them depending on location. Their pup cups have been so successful that Shake Shack recently began selling packs of doggie ice cream around the holidays.
Ben & Jerry’s
The Vermont ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s has made pup cups a permanent menu item at all their scoop shops. Ben & Jerry’s offers 4 oz cups of their plain, unflavored frozen yogurt mixture for dogs to eat. They top their pup cups with dog biscuits for an extra special touch. Their pup cups typically cost $1-2.
Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery shops can make pup cups with a small scoop of their sweet cream ice cream base mixed with yogurt. For dogs that prefer something fruity, they also offer sorbet-based pup cups. Cold Stone charges around $1-2 for pup cups depending on location.
Local Ice Cream Shops
In addition to the major chains, many local mom and pop ice cream parlors and creameries now offer pup cups too. They allow dogs to sample specially made ice cream flavors like pumpkin, peanut butter, and yogurt. Local shops sometimes offer fun toppings like dog treat sprinkles to customize their pup cups.
Pet Stores
Some pet supply stores sell pre-packaged dog ice cream that owners can feed their pups at home. Brands like Frosty Paws or PetSmart’s Top Paw Doggy Ice Cream let you enjoy pup cup time without having to visit an ice cream shop. Review ingredients carefully when buying store-bought dog ice cream treats.
Pup Cup Etiquette & Safety Tips
While pup cups provide dogs with a fun special treat, there are some etiquette and safety considerations owners should keep in mind:
- Ask first before ordering. Not all shops offer pup cups, so check that they’re available and okay for dogs to be present.
- Only feed your dog pup cup in moderation, as too much can upset their stomach and cause diarrhea.
- Sit outside or away from other customers while your dog eats their pup cup to avoid bothering other patrons.
- Clean up any spills or messes your dog makes while eating their treat.
- Make sure your dog is behaving properly and not jumping on staff or other customers.
- Hold the cup and feed your dog the pup cup bite by bite rather than letting them eat unattended.
With some courtesy for staff and other customers, plus care not to overfeed, pup cups can be the perfect way to let your dog join in the fun on your next ice cream run!
Conclusion
Pup cups provide dog owners with a way to share an icy, sweet treat with their furry best friends. While regular ice cream can be unhealthy or even dangerous for dogs, pup cups are specially crafted to be safe and fun for canine consumption. Everything from major chains like Dairy Queen to local shops now offer pup cups. The most common dog-safe ice cream flavors used are vanilla, pumpkin, peanut butter, yogurt, and liver or beef flavored. Feeding a pup cup in moderation allows dogs to enjoy the experience without tummy trouble. Check with businesses before bringing your dog, and be courteous to staff and other customers while allowing your pooch to savor their special pup cup!