Celebrating World Bee Day with an Ingredient Deep-Dive into Honey for Dogs
Did you know World Bee Day is celebrated every year on May 20th? It's a special day dedicated to our tiny, fuzzy pollinator pals who play a huge role in keeping our planet, plates and cups of tea blooming sweet. Bees help pollinate about a third of the food we eat, and yes, that includes the plants that go into your dog's favourite treats too!
At WOOOF, we're big fans of bees and all the goodness they bring, so what better time to shine a spotlight on honey, especially honey for dogs. We'll cover what honey actually does for our four-legged friends, whether it deserves a spot in their snack stash, and fun, safe ways to add a little honey into their diet.
And we'll even share how you and your pup can support World Bee Day with WOOOF. But first, let's explore this naturally sweet superstar and explore some of the benefits of honey for dogs
Key Takeaways
Honey is safe for most healthy adult dogs in small amounts, though puppies, diabetic dogs and those with a compromised immune system should avoid it altogether.
A little honey brings real benefits, from antioxidants and trace vitamins to a natural mood boost, especially when the portions stay sensible.
There are plenty of easy, dog-safe ways to work honey into mealtimes, from treats with honey baked in to a drizzle on a lick mat or stirred through plain yoghurt.
Honey-themed enrichment toys, from Project Hive's fetch sticks and treat dispensers to SodaPup's Honey Pot collection, turn snack time into a fun way to keep your dog entertained (and support bee conservation in the process).
Is Honey Safe for Dogs?
We all know honey is a bit of a wonder ingredient for us humans. It can soothe a sore throat, give us a natural energy boost, and even help with pesky hay fever if you go for the local stuff. But what about honey for dogs?
The answer is yes, honey is safe for most healthy adult dogs in small amounts as an occasional treat. It's naturally packed with sugars, plus a few vitamins and minerals, making it a fun treat sweet treat for them.
That said, moderation really is the key with honey, so it's best introduced gradually and only in small amounts, since too much too soon can upset a sensitive dog's stomach and bring on vomiting or diarrhoea. Regular overfeeding brings its own problems too, from weight gain in dogs who are already carrying a few extra pounds to a build-up of plaque if you're not keeping on top of their dental care.
Most adult dogs handle a little honey without any trouble, but it's not right for every dog: puppies under a year old and dogs with a compromised immune system are more vulnerable to the tiny spores raw honey can carry, so it's best avoided for them altogether, and diabetic dogs should steer clear too given how much sugar honey contains.
As always, if you're ever unsure about honey for dogs, check in with your vet. They'll be able to give you the best advice before you go adding something new to your pup's treat menu.
What are the Benefits of Honey for Dogs?
In small amounts, honey can offer a few natural benefits for your pup. It's rich in antioxidants, which help protect your dog's cells from damage caused by everyday stress and nasties in the environment. Certain types, like manuka honey, are even known for their antimicrobial properties and can sometimes be used, under vet advice of course, to support wound care by fighting off bacteria, adding to the wider health benefits often linked with honey as a natural sweetener.
Honey also naturally contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals that support overall health, including vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, plus calcium, magnesium and potassium, though raw, unprocessed honey holds onto more of this goodness than the processed kind, which can lose some during heating. It's nothing life-changing, but a nice little bonus when it's added sensibly to their diet.
For humans, honey can help with seasonal allergies, thanks to the trace amounts of local pollen it contains. While science hasn't fully backed this up for dogs just yet, a tiny spoonful now and then might just help if your dog has allergies. And if nothing else, it's a tasty treat to lift their spirits.
Honey for dogs is great for enrichment too. A little drizzle on a lick mat or stuffed inside a treat dispenser along with other favourite goodies like dog-friendly peanut butter, fruit, or protein-packed meats, you can turn snack time into a fun, engaging experience. Enrichment toys and treat puzzles for dogs are brilliant for keeping your pooch mentally stimulated and beating boredom with a touch of honey can make those experiences even more exciting.
How Can I Add Honey into My Dog’s Diet?
There are plenty of tasty, dog-safe ways to work a little honey into your pup's snack time. The easiest option is reaching for treats that already have honey as one of the main ingredients, but you can just as easily drizzle a small amount over plain yoghurt, stir it into pumpkin purée, or mix it through their usual meal.
However you serve it, stick to sensible portions: small dogs can have up to a teaspoon a day, and large dogs can have up to a tablespoon, with honey and other treats making up no more than 10% of their daily calories. Puppies and dogs with diabetes should stay off honey altogether, no matter how it's served.
Pet Bakery's Luxury Liver Brownie Dog Treats
We're big fans of Pet Bakery's Luxury Liver Brownie Dog Treats. This rich, gourmet brownie is baked from liver, honey, egg and a touch of salmon oil, with no artificial preservatives and no added salt anywhere in the recipe. With honey making up over a tenth of the mix, it's a treat that smells as good as it tastes, and a real way to spoil your dog a little on special occasions.
Denzel's Battersea Heart Bites Beef & Berries
Another honey hero is Denzel's Battersea Heart Bites. These soft, squishy bites are made from 100% natural ingredients and baked in the UK into low-calorie, bite-sized nibbles built around salmon, sweet potato and avocado, with a touch of honey and dried strawberry folded through the mix. They're a good option if you're after a sensitive-tummy-friendly snack that still feels like a treat.
Lily’s Kitchen Bedtime Biscuits
Lily's Kitchen Bedtime Biscuits are another dreamy option. These oven-baked organic biscuits are made with yoghurt, chamomile, passion flower, and a generous helping of honey to help support your dog's immune system and ease them into a blissful night's sleep. They're light and crunchy, more suited to a bedtime treat than a training snack, and popping one in as part of your dog's evening wind-down routine can help settle even the most restless pup before lights out.
And if you fancy going freestyle, you can always add a little plain honey into your dog's diet yourself. Drizzle a tiny spoonful onto a lick mat, mix it with dog-safe peanut butter and fruit, or pop it into a treat dispenser for a sweet surprise. It's a fun, simple way to mix up their enrichment routine and keep them mentally stimulated. Just remember, a little honey for dogs goes a long way!
Support World Bee Day With Honey-Inspired Enrichment Toys
What better way to celebrate World Bee Day than by treating your pup to some bee-inspired enrichment toys, all while giving a little love back to our buzzing bee buddies too? From toys shaped like honey pots to products that directly support bee habitats, here are some of our favourite finds to get your dog happy and help save the bees at the same time!
Project Hive: Dog Enrichment Toys That Help Save the Bees
Project Hive Pet Company was founded by husband and wife duo Jim and Melissa Schifman, driven by a mission to do business better. After a lightbulb moment watching The Corporation, they realised the pet industry needed a change and so, Project Hive was born.
They made it their aim to create sustainable, made-in-the-USA dog toys and treats that are not only fun for your four-legged friends, but also help protect the planet, specifically, the declining bee population. Bees are vital for pollinating the fruits, veggies, and plants that both humans and pups rely on so through their partnership with The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund, every Project Hive purchase helps plant wildflower habitats across the US.
Hive Scented Fetch Stick
A chew toy and fetch toy all in one, the Hive Fetch Stick is perfect for those games of fetch. It's waterproof, floats, and is scented with calming and tropical scents like coconut, lavender, and wild berry for extra enrichment. Shaped to resemble a honey dipper, it also doubles up as a treat dispenser, so you can tuck a little something inside to keep your dog interested between throws.
Hive Treat Dispenser
The Hive Treat Dispenser is a durable puzzle toy available in two sizes, shaped, very suitably, like a mini beehive! It's designed to be loaded with your pup's favourite treats so they have to roll, nudge and spin their way into snack heaven. Its erratic bounce keeps dogs engaged well beyond a normal game of fetch too, and the bright yellow colour makes it easy to spot again once it's rolled off somewhere unexpected.
Hive Dog Disc & Lick Mat
A two-in-one toy for fetch fanatics and enrichment lovers, the Hive Dog Disc & Lick Mat can be thrown around like a frisbee and then flipped over and turned into a lick mat. The underside is moulded into a textured honeycomb pattern, which suits the bee theme nicely and gives your dog plenty of surface to work their tongue over. We suggest slathering on some dog-safe peanut butter with a little added honey and yoghurt for a relaxing, enriching experience.
The SodaPup Honey Pot Series
SodaPup has taken bee-themed enrichment to a whole new level with their adorable HoneyPot collection. Inspired by the humble bumblebee and everyone's favourite bear, this series brings the sweet world of honey into your dog's toy box.
SodaPup Honey Pot
This clever fillable Honey Pot treat dispenser can be stuffed with anything from dry dog food and wet food to peanut butter, banana, or even honey-infused recipes for an extra-special World Bee Day treat. Freeze your recipes for a longer-lasting challenge and give your pup the perfect treat for busting boredom and slow down those speedy eaters.
SodaPup Honeycomb Lick Mat
SodaPup also has their own range of lick mats for dogs, and the SodaPup Honeycomb Lick Mat is one of our dogs' favourites. It's bright yellow and covered in a small hexagon, honeycomb texture, ideal for spreading on treats like peanut butter or plain yoghurt, and a smear of honey works just as well too. The textured surface slows your dog down as they lick, which helps stop them wolfing down treats too fast and gives their saliva time to do its job for healthy teeth and gums.
SodaPup Honey Dipped Chew Bone
This Honey Dipped dog chew toy is shaped like sweet sticks of honey and designed especially for power chewers. It's made from an ultra-tough nylon and wood composite to help tackle problem chewing, boredom, and even freshen breath. It comes in four sizes, from small right up to extra large, so there's a fit whatever size dog you've got, and the textured surface goes to work on plaque and gum health with every chew.
SodaPup Honey Bear Treat Dispenser
A fun, bear-shaped fillable toy for enrichment-packed mealtimes, the Honey Bear Treat Dispenser from SodaPup is made from durable, natural rubber with a toothed opening to keep treats in place. It's available in medium and large sizes to suit dogs of every jaw strength! It's vet approved and dishwasher safe too, and being made from FDA-compliant, recyclable rubber means it's as kind to the planet as it is tough on chewing.
Honeycomb Design Slow Feeder
This clever Honeycomb Slow Feeder Dog Bowl boasts a fun honeycomb pattern to help promote slower eating and better digestion. It works great for wet, dry, or raw food and combines varied depths, compartments and textures to encourage your dog's natural foraging instincts. It comes in yellow or blue and suits puppies and adult dogs alike, so it's an easy swap for your dog's regular bowl whatever their age.
Conclusion
World Bee Day is the perfect excuse to sweeten up your dog's day, and we don't just mean with honey. It's a great reminder to add a little extra joy, enrichment, and wellness into your pup's routine while also giving a nod to the bees who help keep our world buzzing.
Adding a touch of natural honey into your dog's diet can be a fun, occasional treat, and pairing it with bee-inspired turns snack time into an activity that benefits both your dog's wellbeing and the planet.
Enrichment toys have a number of benefits, helping to reduce boredom, anxiety, and problem behaviours, but those by Project Hive come with even more - supporting environmental causes like bee habitat protection. It's a simple, meaningful way to make playtime matter.
Here at WOOOF, we're proud to offer a fantastic range of dog treats made with natural honey, alongside a curated selection of dog enrichment toys inspired by our favourite pollinators. So this World Bee Day, treat your dog to something a little different and give a little love back to the bees while you're at it!
The Author: Charlotte Harris
Charlotte has been a writer and dog owner her whole life, so combining these two things together is a dream come true. Her greatest love is her oversized Golden Retriever, Milo, who has a love of tough chews and anything filled with peanut butter!
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Can dogs be allergic to honey?
Yes, it’s possible, though it’s not super common. Like humans, dogs can have sensitivities or allergic reactions to certain foods, including honey. If your dog’s trying honey for the first time, start with a tiny amount and keep an eye out for itching, swelling, or tummy upset. If anything seems off, skip the honey and speak to your vet.
What kind of honey for dogs is the best?
Raw, local honey is often a popular choice because it’s minimally processed and may contain helpful pollen traces. Manuka honey also gets a lot of buzz for its antibacterial powers. Just steer clear of honey that’s heavily processed or packed with added sugars. Pure and natural honey for dogs in moderation is the way to go.
Can I use honey for dogs as a training treat?
Absolutely! A small dab of honey can make a fun, high-value reward. Try it on a spoon, smeared inside a toy, or mixed into a homemade training treat recipe. Just keep portions small since honey is quite sugary. It’s best used sparingly as a tasty little motivator rather than a regular training staple.
