Okay, confession time. I ran out of dog treats this week. Not “I forgot to reorder” ran out — we’re talking full-on, open-the-cabinet-and-hear-nothing-but-your-own-shame ran out. Zero. Zilch. The dog treat cabinet was so bare you could practically hear an echo. And yes, before you ask, Benji absolutely noticed.
Life got busy. Appointments stacked up, clients needed attention, and somehow grabbing treats, whether homemade or off Amazon, just kept sliding off my radar. I’d think about it, then think about it again later, and then… nothing. Classic.
The Moment of Truth
Benji heard the cabinet open. (They always hear the cabinet open, don’t they?) He came trotting over, all wiggly and expectant, ready for his usual snack situation. I reached in. Nothing. I looked down at his face. He looked up at mine. That was a rough three seconds, friends.
I genuinely felt like the worst dog mom on the planet. Like I should hand in my dog mom card right then and there.
But then, duh moment incoming, I remembered something important. Benji can eat people food. Real, actual food from my kitchen. And since I do a fair amount of batch food prep (hi, frozen fruit from last summer’s processing haul), I was actually sitting on a little treasure chest of dog-approved snacks.
Raiding the Freezer — For Benji
First stop: frozen blueberries, strawberries, and apples from my summer food processing session. Still perfectly good, totally safe for dogs, and honestly? Benji thought it was the best day of his life. Frozen treats in May. He’s living well.
Next up: bell peppers. I had a few fresh ones and some frozen (non-spicy, always — keep the hot stuff far away from your pup). Easy win.
And then — the real MVP of the afternoon — carrots. Oh, Benji loves his carrots. The way he chomps down on one, that loud satisfying crunch echoing through the kitchen… I love it. (Sidebar: if a person crunched that loudly at the table, I would lose my mind. But from Benji? Adorable. Pure joy. Different rules apply.)
I peeled a few, handed them over, and we both had a snack. He got his treat fix. I got a healthy little nibble for myself. Honestly? Crisis averted, and it turned into a pretty great afternoon.
Dog-Safe Snacks to Grab When You're Out of Treats
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation — treat cabinet empty, dog staring, guilt rising — here’s a quick go-to list of safe options to pull from your kitchen:
- Apples (remove seeds and core)
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Carrots (fresh or frozen — both are a hit)
- Bell peppers (sweet only — no spicy!)
- Bananas
- Frozen fruit (from your own batch prep, or store-bought plain frozen)
Always check a current list of dog-safe foods before introducing anything new, since every pup is a little different, but these are my tried-and-true standbys.
Lesson Learned (Sort Of)
I’ve added treats back to my Amazon Subscribe & Save so this doesn’t happen again. I’m looking at these Bocce’s Bakery Oven Baked Treats — they’re small, easy to portion, and Benji approves.
→ Bocce’s Bakery Oven Baked PB & Banana Recipe Treats — soft, chewy , easy to portion
→ Portland Pet Food Company Pumpkin Dog Treats — Because what dog doesn’t like pumpkin
And next time that cabinet swings open and there’s nothing inside? At least now I know exactly what to do.
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