On a road trip with your pup, or just want to stop for a snack during the day with Fluffy in the car? Many popular fast-food chains and coffee shops offer free or low-cost “secret menu” treats for dogs at their drive-thrus.
A pup cup is a small, espresso-sized cup filled with a whipped dairy product, generally whipped cream or ice cream. Different chains use different recipes, ranging from heavy cream to lighter milk blends; some add biscuits or even peanut butter. Some offer burgers or chicken, They are often free or very inexpensive.
Before you go promising your pooch a treat, ask the barista or cashier over the speaker if they participate in handing out dog treats. Not all chain stores may participate, while many offer a dog treat if you ask.
Here are some of the fast-food chains to pull up to with your best friend:
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream: Canine customers at the drive-thru or walk-up window can order their own Doggie Sundae. The small scoop of vanilla ice cream comes topped with a MilkBone and is free with your own ice cream purchase.
Chick-fil-A: Many pickup windows are stocked with dog biscuits, and some locations will sell unseasoned grilled chicken nuggets/tenders upon request (prices vary around $2–$4.)
Culver’s: Pooches at select stores can get a dog-sized portion of the chain’s trademark fresh frozen custard topped with a MilkBone. Many locations offer pup cups for free or for a small fee ranging from 35 cents to $2.
Dairy Queen: A dollop of their vanilla ice cream is in their Pup Cup, which will cool off your pup’s tongue and not cost a dime.
In-N-Out Burger: It’s well-known for its (not-so) secret menu. What’s not so well-known is that In-N-Out has a menu designed for your pup, too. Drive up and let Fido dig into the canine special, the Pup Patty, a plain, salt-free burger, generally around $2.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar: Almost all of the chain’s locations across the country offer curbside pick-up as a takeout option. While you’re placing your online order you can order your pup a balanced meal of brown rice and choice of veggies, grilled chicken or a hamburger patty for just $5.
Shake Shack: The Pooch-ini is a cup of custard mixed with Shackburger biscuits and a swirl of peanut butter. The Shack will also sell you a Bag O’ Bones, five tasty beef and cheddar dog biscuits, to take home. Furry customers will need to save up around $4 for a Pooch-ini.
Sonic: The secret canine menu varies at each restaurant, but most will serve a whipped cream dessert, a small scoop of vanilla ice cream or even a pooch-friendly burger patty. Many even offer dog treats crumbled on top. Free for four-legged customers.Sprinkles Cupcakes; You can pre-order online, via the app or by phone for a Pupcake from the secret menu. The sugar-free baked treat is topped with yogurt frosting for healthy hounds. Pupcakes start at $3.
Starbucks: Well-known for its pup cup — the Starbucks Puppuccino. Whipped cream from a can in a little cup. Basic and barkworthy. And almost always free.
Some pup cup caveats:
Yes, dogs can have pup cups, but only as an occasional treat because they are high in dairy and sugar.
- Many adult dogs cannot digest dairy well. This leads to gas, stomach pain or diarrhea.
- Eating them too often can cause weight gain or trigger pancreatitis.
- Vanilla itself isn’t harmful, but artificial vanilla extract often contains alcohol, which is toxic to dogs, even in small amounts.
- Sugar-free whipped cream can contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is deadly to dogs.
