18 Best Barkuterie Board Ideas To Treat Your Pup At Home

By: Andrew Saladino | 8 min

Who says your pup doesn't deserve an extravagant treat every once in a while? If you're the kind of dog owner who loves to pamper their dog with a birthday cake, cute clothing, and fun toys, barkuterie boards are the perfect way to show your love in a new way.

We cover what foods are safe to feed your dog and how you can create a beautiful display that's Instagram worthy. You'll also find some inspiration from other human-dog teams that celebrate their love for each other with cute doggie charcuterie.

So grab some crunchy carrots, peanut butter, and cheese from your fridge and the prettiest cheese board you can find in your cabinets to hop on the trend and spoil your pup!

1. What is barkuterie 2. Dog-safe foods 3. Barkuterie board inspiration

What is barkuterie

Flat lay of barkuterie board tags and dog treats.

A barkuterie board is an assembly of dog-safe veggies, fruits, dried snacks, and cheeses that you can feed to your dog for a special treat. Barkuterie is a wordplay on charcuterie, the culinary art of preparing and assembling dried meats on a platter. The French charcuterie tradition has taken the world by storm and these days you'll find all kinds of cheese, fruits, and dips on charcuterie boards as well. You may say that it was only a matter of time until we decided to treat our beloved fur friends with assembled treat boards. And so, the barkuterie trend was born.

You can create a barkuterie board on a plate, platter, or cheeseboard and decorate it with all kinds of dog-friendly snacks. To level up your design skills, use cookie cutters for cheese and veggies or craft pretty roses out of cucumbers or low sodium meat.

If you want to personalize your board, print out our adorable tags, cut them out and attach them to a skewer with some tape. They'll be the perfect way to snazz up your barkuterie board so you can snap a unique picture before letting your puppy devour the goodness. Don't forget to take the skewer or toothpick out before giving your dog the board so they don't hurt themselves!

Dog-Safe Barkuterie Ideas

Not all foods that humans like to put on their charcuterie boards are safe for dogs. Nuts, avocados, and chocolate can be toxic and should never end up in your dog's food. To give you peace of mind and lots of inspiration for your dog-friendly barkuterie boards, we put together a list of foods that are safe for your dog to eat and will stimulate their mental faculties -- a win-win!

You should always consult your veterinarian to ensure that your dog can safely eat these foods. Some dogs may have certain food aversions, sensitivities, or allergies so be aware of your dog's health and eating habits before serving them new foods.

Chocolate and avocados aren't the only things that can be a danger to your dog. Check out our guide on kitchen safety for pets to learn more about creating a safe environment for your furry friends.

1. Dog-Friendly Vegetables

Vegetables are great additions to barkuterie boards. They add freshness, crunch, and help with keeping your dog hydrated. Here are some vegetables that your dog may like to try.

Raw cucumbers are packed with potassium and vitamins and are low in calories.
Raw carrots are great for your dog's teeth and high in fiber and beta-carotene.
Sweet potato and pumpkin are yummy cooked, dried, or puréed.
Raw bell peppers are rich in antioxidants and vitamins.
Beans and peas can be fed to your dog fresh, frozen, or steamed.
Broccoli is high in fiber and Vitamin C but contains isothiocyanates which can cause gastric irritation, so only feed it in very small amounts.
Brussels sprouts and cabbage are a great source of nutrients but don't give your dog too much because it can cause gas.
Raw celery is another crunchy treat your dog will love.

2. Dog-Friendly Fruits

Fruits can be an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants for your dogs, but contain high amounts of sugar so always feed fruit in small amounts. Always remove any seeds or pits from fruits as they can be toxic.

Berries like blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, or strawberries are great in moderation.
Bananas are high in potassium, fiber, and biotin.
Apples are a great source of vitamin A and C and fun as a frozen treat.
Watermelon or cantaloupe have lots of water and vitamins.
Mango is safe for dogs and loaded with vitamins A, B6, C, and E.
Peaches make for a great frozen treat, but make sure you toss out the pit before feeding.
Pears are rich in copper, fiber, and Vitamins C and K.
Pineapple chunks make for a sweet and mineral-packed treat.

3. Other Dog-Friendly Treats

To create a colorful and textured barkuterie board, you'll need more than fruits and vegetables. Try to spice things up with these ingredients.

Cheese, like cheddar or cottage cheese, is great in moderation.
Kibble and treats like milk bones, pig ears, or duck feet are perfect for a barkuterie board.
Jerky or freeze dried meats, like low-sodium turkey, chicken, beef, or salmon skin may be smelly but equally delicious.
Spreads like peanut butter or puréed pumpkin add an interesting texture to your board.
Pup-sicles or other frozen treats made from greek yogurt, goat milk, or bone broth will make the treats last longer.
Egg is safe to eat for dogs. You can cook them first to avoid the risk of contracting salmonella or bacteria.

Barkuterie Board Inspiration

Now that you know which ingredients are safe for dogs, it's time to get in the kitchen and create a barkuterie board for your puppy! We asked a few dog owners and professional barkuterie board creators for inspiration and they shared some of their best creations with us!

Take Them Out For A Picnic

What's better than spending a nice, sunny day out in the yard or at the park with your dog? If you're planning to have a picnic with friends or family, don't forget to pack a snack for your pup as well! A cute barkuterie board will make them feel like they're part of the party.

If it's hot out and you're planning to stay for a whole day, assemble a barkuterie board with lots of dried snacks that won't smell bad after sitting out in the sun for an extended period of time.

Sources: @woofboard | @charpoocherieboard | Star Laliberte of @gourmandburgh | @chartreaterie_ca | @barkworthyboards

Canine Enrichment

Barkuterie boards aren't just fun to make and post on Instagram, they're actually a great way to mentally stimulate your dog. Introducing new food with textures and flavors that your dog isn't used to will enrich their minds and broaden their palette. Try not to overload your barkuterie boards. Instead, add new foods every time you spoil your puppy with this special display so it continues to be a fun and exciting experience for both of you.

If you have multiple dogs at home, you can ask them to sit pretty for a picture before giving each dog their fair share by splitting the ingredients into their food bowls. You can also turn this into a training session by asking them to do tricks to earn bits and pieces of the board.

Celebrate Their Name

There are so many reasons to celebrate your dog. Whether it's their birthday, their “Gotcha day,” or a human holiday that you want to commemorate with your canine friend—a barkuterie board is the perfect way to honor this special day and make it a treat for everyone.

Don't forget to snap a picture of your fur baby before they start munching on their yummy food arrangement so you can remember this moment forever.

Whether you treat your dog to a homemade pup-sicle or an array of cheese, kibble, and vegetables, creating delicious and pretty snacks for your canine friend is a treat for everyone. See what dog-friendly foods you already have in your fridge or kitchen cabinets and show your dog how much you love them with a customized barkuterie board.