Frosty Paws and Other Frozen Dog Treats
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios
Kotzakoliou, SSA
Frozen dog treats are a favorite among our canine companions. One of the most popular and coveted frozen dog treats is Frosty Paws. It is available in the freezer section in many grocery stores, right next to the human ice cream. It comes in small ice cream cups. However, it isn't really ice cream. Frosty Paws frozen dog treats are not sweetened and is made of soy to accommodate the lactose intolerance of most dogs. The original flavor of Frosty Paws frozen dog treats has a taste similar to cold chalk. Recently, Frosty Paws has come out with a peanut butter flavor.
From a business standpoint, Frosty Paws sells like hot cakes. It is a profitable enterprise mainly because it is cheaper to make than ice cream. Without milk, which has been getting pricier recently, Frosty Paws are not affected by dairy price fluctuations. As well, Dreyer's, the maker of the frozen treat, hardly spends any money on advertising. It is so popular that word-of-mouth is enough to sustain it.
Frosty Paws was devised in the late 1970s, created by an animal nutritionist. It is, in fact, healthier for dogs than ice cream is to people. The frozen treat contains refined soy protein, lactose-removed whey protein, added vitamins, minerals, and oil. It is sugar free and has no artificial flavors. Interestingly, dogs enjoy the temperature of the treat, not so much its taste. The peanut butter flavor is more of a marketing gimmick than a dog enticement. People will think that they are giving their dogs a tasty treat, while Rover doesn't really care. Making a Frosty Paws product with a liver flavor, for example, would make no difference to the dog but would probably turn off the human purchaser.
Of course, like many dog treats, frozen concoctions can be made at home. A very easy an inexpensive way to give your dog a frozen treat is to mix up some chicken or beef broth with tiny chicken chunks and little bits of dog biscuits. Put the mixture in an ice cube tray and freeze overnight. Your dog will love it!
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