Looking for great ice toys for dogs? Discover top picks to keep your pet cool all summer long.

Okay, so the weather's been crazy hot lately, right? My dog was just panting like mad, even indoors. I felt bad for the little guy. I remembered seeing something online about ice toys for dogs, and thought, hey, why not give that a try? Seemed simple enough.

Getting Started: The First Attempt

So, I decided to just jump in. Didn't overthink it much at first. I grabbed a plastic container, one of those takeaway ones you get sometimes. Cleaned it out real good, obviously. Then I tossed in a few of his favorite small treats. I figured that would get him interested. I also added a tiny splash of low-sodium chicken broth I had leftover, just for extra flavor, you know? Filled the rest up with water, not quite to the brim though, didn't want it spilling everywhere.

Putting it in the freezer was easy peasy. Just cleared a flat spot and stuck it in there. Then came the waiting game. Had to leave it overnight to make sure it was solid rock hard.

The Big Reveal & Dog's Reaction

Next afternoon, it was scorching again. Perfect timing. I ran the outside of the container under warm water for like, 10 seconds? Just enough to loosen it up. Popped the ice block out onto the grass in the backyard. Didn't want a watery mess inside, learned that lesson fast with water bowls!

My dog was curious straight away. Sniffed it all over. Then he started licking it. When he got a taste of the broth and spotted those treats frozen inside, he went nuts! Licking, pawing at it, trying to chew the ice to get the goodies out. It kept him busy for a good while, maybe 20 minutes? And he definitely seemed cooler afterwards.

Trying Different Things

Okay, so the first one was a hit. I thought, let's mix it up. Tried a few other things:

• Muffin Tin Pucks: Used a silicone muffin tin. Filled each cup with water and maybe a blueberry or a small piece of carrot in each. These were smaller, good for a quicker treat.
• Bigger Bucket Block: Used a small, clean plastic bucket for a giant ice block on a really hot day. Put some bigger chew toys inside this one, along with some kibble. This one lasted ages!
• Just Broth Ice: Froze just diluted chicken broth (again, low sodium!) in ice cube trays. Simple, quick, and he loved licking them up.

I found the bigger blocks lasted longer, obviously, but were more of a commitment. The muffin tin ones were great for a shorter distraction. Putting actual toys inside the ice was interesting, he really had to work to get them out.

Was it Worth It? Any Downsides?

Yeah, totally worth it, especially when it's boiling outside. It's cheap, it's easy, and it genuinely helps cool him down and keeps him occupied.

The main downside? It can get wet. Like, really wet. Doing it outside on the grass or maybe on a tiled patio you can easily hose down is the way to go. Inside is asking for puddles, unless you put it on a towel in a specific area maybe, but I prefer outside. Also, gotta make sure the treats or food you freeze inside are dog-safe, goes without saying.

So yeah, that's my experience with making ice toys. Simple stuff, but my dog loves 'em on hot days. Give it a shot if your furry buddy is feeling the heat!