Barkuterie Board Ideas For Your Pup (They'll LOVE THIS ONE!)

Want to keep your dog busy? These fun Barkuterie Board ideas are easy to make and uses ingredients that you have – here’s how to make one!

Barkuterie Board Ideas – These are Great for Dog Enrichment!

Have you seen the fun viral trend of creating charcuterie for dogs – aka a Barkuterie board? We think it’s just adorable and a great way to spend about 5 minutes of prep that yields hours of entertainment for your furry friend.

These Barkuterie Boards can be made a few different ways. We’ve seen some cute version that look just like charcuterie for humans but use dog treats and other foods on a wooden board. Perfect for a doggie birthday party??

Our favorite style of Barkuterie focuses more on dog enrichment – an activity that gives dogs a “job”. Dog enrichment encourages mental and physical stimulation.

What is a Barkuterie board?

This style of Barkuterie uses foods and treats you probably already have on hand added to a muffin tin and mixed with a liquid and frozen solid. Your dog will love the sensation of the frozen item and will spend SO much time trying to get to whatever is inside!

Laura, here! I used a silicone muffin tray for this so that I could easily pop out each little frozen muffin and store it in the freezer to have on hand. I have seen some versions online where the dog owner gives the dog the entire muffin tray at one time but this seemed like a lot of food and treats at once so I opted to take out half the cups and gave my pup the half-full tray to enjoy.

P.S. My dog is 7 months old so he has lots of energy and this kept him occupied for 45 minutes straight. If you’ve had a puppy you know that is such a win!

To make your Barkuterie Board, add little bits of food or treats to each muffin cup. Then, add in a little bit of liquid until the cup is about half full. Freeze until solid for your first layer. Then, top it off with additional food or a different liquid until it is full, and freeze again for layer two.

Supplies for Dog Charcuterie Boards:

For this board, I used some of my dog’s kibble, a two different kids of treats, dog-safe peanut butter, pure pumpkin, plain Greek yogurt, banana, blueberries, carrot shavings (I peeled carrots for a veggie tray and just saved the peel!), low sodium beef broth, and water.

Dog-Safe Barkuterie Board Ideas:

Although a dog’s main diet should be primarily dog food, there are lots of “people” foods that have great nutrient benefits for dogs and these Barkuterie boards are a great way to incorporate those items into your dog’s diet in moderation.

Carrots – high in vitamin A and good for immune system, skin, and coat health
Blueberries – great source of fiber and antioxidants
Bell peppers – high in vitamin A and C (just skip the spicy peppers!)
Bananas – high in potassium and magnesium
Apples – great source of vitamins A and C and fiber, which can help regulate a dog’s digestion
Green beans – plain beans (no seasoning or butter) are a great source of protein and also contain calcium, iron, and vitamin K.
Peanut butter – contain healthy fats and protein (make sure there is no xylitol in your PB as this is toxic to dogs!)
Meat – Cooked meat and fish are an excellent protein source for dogs. Avoid seasonings and condiments.

Foods that are NOT safe for dogs:

Steer clear of these foods that are not safe for dogs to eat.

Avocado
Grapes and raisins
Cherries
Citrus fruits
Chocolate
Caffeine
Raw meat and eggs
Xylitol (a sugar substitute)
Onions, garlic, and chives
Macadamia nuts

For more information on your dog’s nutrition and safe vs. unsafe foods – check out the American Kennel Club’s Nutrition page.

Other Dog Enrichment Ideas

Another fun option that my dog loved is a hollowed-out bell pepper. I put a base of Greek yogurt and stood half a banana upright. Then, I poured in some of his kibble and filled the rest with beef broth. I then froze the pepper completely and offered it to him whole. He loved slowly chewing on it and carrying it around with him (he even took it outside for a potty break) and ate the rest in his bed.

There are lots of great options for dog enrichment toys and slow-feeders that give your dog just a little bit more of a challenge but don’t require much prep work. Here are some options we found: