How To Make A Barkuterie Board For Dogs

The holidays are in full swing, which means it's time to celebrate with loved ones – including your four-legged friends. Keeping your pet safe during the holiday season can be tricky.

You may be charged with entertaining guests and making sure the holidays come with the yummy treats we know and love, but pet parents also need to make sure their dogs don’t get too festive and eat something dangerous. It can be tempting to slip a piece of cured meat or aged cheese to your four-legged guests, just remember that many human foods can be harmful to dogs.

Below, we've outlined how to make a charcuterie board safe for dogs to eat — also known as a "barkuterie board" — that you can serve up to your canine guests this season. We're also sharing instructions on how you can win your very own barkuterie board just in time for the holidays!

• How to make a charcuterie board for dogs
• Step #1: Choose your serving platter
• Step #2: Know what to avoid
• Step #3: Pick your sweets
• Step #4: Pick your savories
• Step #5: Assemble your barkcuterie board
• How to win a free barkcuterie board

How to make a charcuterie board for dogs

Barkuterie or dog charcuterie boards have become super popular lately, and they’re especially useful during the holidays! Charcuterie can be an effective way to entertain your human guests, as it’s an easy and effective way to make sure everyone’s palette is satisfied.

While your human guests munch away at yummy spreads full of cheese, fruit, cured meat, and nuts, make your pet a dog-friendly charcuterie board so they can join in on the holiday festivities in a safe way!

Step 1: Choose your serving platter

You can craft a barkuterie board on any pet-safe surface. If you want to include more enrichment, opt for a lick mat or puzzle board that offer additional stimulation. Traditional charcuterie is usually served on a wooden board, but be sure to choose a pet-safe, splinter-free serving platter. We really love this paw-shaped board for even more holiday fun!

Step 2: Know what to avoid

Accidental food poisoning is a surefire way to dampen holiday spirits. No matter how picky your pet might be, there are popular foods on traditional charcuterie platters that are safe for humans, but dangerous for dogs.

You’ll want to be sure to exclude the following items from your barkcuterie recipe:

• Cherries
• Chocolate
• Grapes
• Macadamia nuts
• Garlic
• Walnuts
• Xylitol (Artificial Sweetener)

This is incredibly important to keep in mind — especially at this time of year — as accidental food poisoning can lead to potentially fatal situations. Veterinary care can be difficult to access after-hours and on holidays, making an unplanned medical emergency even more expensive. Food poisoning in pets can set pet parents back financially, all while seriously affecting the health of your pet.

RELATED: List of Food Dogs Can (and Can't) Eat, According to Vet

Step 3: Pick your sweets

Fruit and natural sweets are a crucial part of charcuterie, as they balance the deeper, savory flavors of the cured meat and cheeses. Honey is a common feature on charcuterie boards, and when given in moderate amounts, it can do wonders for a dog’s health. There are many dog-safe fruits often included in charcuterie platters that would also be great in a barkuterie board:

• Apples
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Pears
• Cranberries

Step 4: Pick your savories

Charcuterie is all about the rich, savory flavors of cheese and meat. Cheese can be acceptable for barkuterie as long as your pup isn’t lactose intolerant or allergic. That said, some types of cheese are safer for dogs than others, and all should be served in limited amounts.

Cheeses to Avoid:

• Parmesan
• Blue Cheese
• Goat Cheese

Cheeses That Work (In Small Quantities):

• String Cheese
• Swiss Cheese
• Cottage Cheese

Charcuterie meat is usually aged or cured. While you may be tempted to recreate a similar effect on your Barkuterie platter by giving your dog raw meat, be mindful that feeding your dog raw food comes with a host of considerations.

For easier protein ideas on your dog charcuterie board, we suggest the chips and toppers at Farm to Pet! They have a host of products that will mimic the feel of dried meat, such as their Turkey Chips. You can also top dog-safe fruits and veggies with their Chicken Toppers. Farm to Pet is currently offering 25% off your purchase for all their protein treats! Just enter Pawliday25 at checkout.

Step 5: Assemble your barkuterie board

There are so many cute ways to put together a truly spectacular charcuterie board for dogs! Remember to make sure your food pieces do not pose a choking hazard, and that your setup is safe and enriching. Check out some of our favorite Reels for inspiration.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Woofboard LLC | Barkuterie (@woofboard)