Happy Halloween from the Barc London team!
The end of October brings with it plenty of spooky celebrations and we hope you're all ready to get your scare on.
To help pups get involved in the Halloween fun, we're offering a FREE Skully Dog Squeaker on all orders over £10 until midnight Monday 31st. Just use the code SPOOKYSEASON at checkout! 💀
We're also sharing some of our favourite Halloween dog treat recipes and pet-friendly tips to keep your loved pups safe this season.
So, whether you’re planning a Halloween party, heading out for trick-or-treating or curling up under the blanket for a good old fashioned horror, make sure you're prepped and ready to combat potential risks that come with Halloween as a dog owner.
Dog-friendly Halloween guide:
Photo: Pepe the Sausage Dog with Barc London's Skully Dog Squeaker
Halloween Dog Treat Recipes
Our Halloween dog treats are the perfect alternative to shop-bought sweet treats intended for humans.
Before trying these recipes at home, bear in mind that as a general rule of thumb, treats should not make up more than 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake.
You can use a dog calorie calculator to prevent overfeeding, or refer to dog nutrition charts and guidelines to ensure your pup's diet is well-balanced.
If you're ever in any doubt, we recommend consulting with a veterinarian or pet nutrition expert first. Remember, prevention is better than cure!
Bone Broth Eyeballs 👁️
It's no secret that pups love cold treats, and these frozen Halloween dog treats are no exception!
While many think dog ice lollies are only suitable for summer, icy titbits can be enjoyed by pups all year round - even in the UK's autumn and winter months.
Our Bone Broth Eyeballs are packed full of nutrition, using ingredients rich in minerals and easy to digest. The best part? These dog friendly Halloween treats can last in the freezer for up to one year.
Please note, the below recipe has been adapted for frozen fun from The Heirloom Pantry's beef bone broth recipe. A detailed version of the method can be viewed on their website.
Ingredients:
- 500g beef bone marrow
- 1 carrot
- 1 celery stalk
- 1 sprig chopped rosemary / thyme
What you'll need:
- Saucepan
- Knife and chopping board
- Sieve
- Blender
- Jug
- Round ice cube moulds
Instructions:
- Chop the carrots and celery and remove the herb stems.
- Boil a pot of water on a medium to high heat. Once the water is boiling, add in the beef, carrots, celery and herbs.
- Adjust to a lower heat to allow the broth to simmer, then slow cook with the lid on for up to 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Use a strainer to separate the bones from the broth. After separating, remove the bone marrow from the bones.
- Wait for the broth to reach room temperature and use a blender to blend til smooth.
- Pour the broth into one half of the round ice cube moulds and place a very small piece of bone marrow in the centre to make the pupil. Fit the top half of the ice cube mould and pour in the remaining broth.
- Pop the ice cube tray into the freezer and freeze until solid (minimum 6 hours).
💡 Top Tip: Do not add garlic or onion to the broth! Both of these vegetables contain thiosulfate, which can cause red blood cell damage for dogs.
Jack O'Lantern Bites 🎃
As well as being a Halloween staple, pumpkin is widely considered to be a superfood vegetable for dogs and a healthy source of fibre, carotene and Vitamin A.
So, if you happen to be buying pumpkins to make festive Jack O'Lanterns, pop an extra one in your basket for pup and try these Halloween dog treats at home!
This spooky pumpkin dog treats recipe is easy to make and fun for dogs to enjoy in moderation this October. Just make sure you avoid using processed flour!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups pumpkin
- 1 cup grated carrot
- 1 egg
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
What you'll need:
- Knife and chopping board
- Pumpkin cookie cutter
- Sieve
- Mixing bowl
- Rolling pin
- Baking sheet and tray
Instructions:
- Chop the pumpkin into small pieces and grate the carrot to the quantities provided above.
- Boil a pot of water on a medium to high heat. Once the water is boiling, add in the chopped pumpkin and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Use a sieve to strain the pumpkin. Once cooled, use a blender to puree til smooth.
- Add the whole wheat flour, eggs, pumpkin puree and grated carrot to a large mixing bowl and stir til combined.
- Preheat the oven to 180’C.
- Dust a rolling pin and chopping board / kitchen counter with whole wheat flour and roll out the mixture.
- Cut the mixture using small pumpkin shaped cookie cutters and place each treat on a sheet of baking paper over the tray.
- Pop the baking tray into the oven and bake for roughly 10 minutes or until golden, check every now and again to avoid burning.
- Leave the bites to cool to room temperature.
Peanut Butter Skelebones 🦴
While you can't give your dog bones, you can give them the next best thing.
Our Peanut Butter Skeletons are another frozen treat that are sure to get tails wagging this Halloween.
Of all three Halloween dog treat recipes, these are the quickest and easiest to make.
Most dogs love the taste of peanut butter, but if you choose to make these non-bake Halloween treats you must use natural peanut butter that is free from an ingredient called xylitol.
Even small amounts of xylitol can be fatal for dogs - so always, always check the label.
When making treats for dogs at home, it's important to take time to learn about dairy products like yoghurt and suitability for dogs.
On the whole, dairy isn't great for dogs - so reserve these treats for special occasions and feed in moderation.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tsp natural peanut butter (xylitol free)
- 1 tbsp greek yoghurt (xylitol free)
What you'll need:
- Knife and chopping board
- Blender
- Bone shaped ice cube moulds
Instructions:
- Peel the banana and slice into small pieces.
- Place the banana slices, water, peanut butter and yoghurt into a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into bone shaped ice cube moulds and pop the tray into the freezer and freeze until solid (minimum 6 hours)
💡 Top Tip: If you don't have bananas to hand, you can replace this ingredient with another fruit. Just make sure you find out what fruit and vegetables dogs can eat first!
Toxic treats to avoid:
- Chocolate: A treat that contains methylxanthines - stimulant substances that are toxic for dogs and potentially fatal when consumed in large quantities. The biggest risk with chocolate is that it contains a stimulant called theobromine, and generally speaking, the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. This doesn't mean you can give your dog white chocolate though! Although white chocolate is unlikely to cause poisoning, it poses risks to dogs' pancreas.
- Sugar-free sweets: While sugar-free may sound like the ideal option for pups, this couldn't be further from the truth. Several sugar-free products contain artificial sweeteners, including xylitol! As mentioned, this ingredient is toxic for dogs and ingestion can cause liver failure.
- Sweets and gummies: These treats are usually extremely high in sugar, which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea for dogs. As well as offering zero nutritional benefits, regular consumption of empty calorie foods can quickly lead to weight-related health problems.
Halloween with dogs - dos and don'ts:
- DO check with your vet before feeding your pup any Halloween dog treats that contain ingredients they haven't tried before.
- DON'T keep toxic treats out of paw's reach!
- DO teach children about toxic food groups and monitor them closely around your dog during Halloween.
- DON'T let visitors or trick-or-treaters' feed your dog their Halloween treats.
- DO find ways to involve your pup in the festive fun! Remember to keep on top of your routine and make plenty of time for walks, cuddles and play.
- DON'T force your pup to wear a Halloween dog costume if they don't want to. As tempting as it can be, you should always respect your dog's space and make sure their comfort comes first!
- DO check the labels of all costumes, toys and decorations to ensure they're made from non-toxic materials. Avoid accessories that are easily chewed and swallowed - particularly around young puppies!
- DON'T leave your dog unattended at home with festive decor, especially around fire hazards like lit pumpkins.
- DO keep a close eye on the ground during dog walks to prevent your pup from hoovering up Halloween sweet wrappers.
- DON'T forget to place your order by October 31st and bag your pup a free Skully Squeaker!
All that's left to say is have a great Halloween and remember to tag us in your spooky Insta snaps!
