Bear & Rat Bacon Peanut Butter Pup Cups Review

Intro — why I tried these pup cups

I’m The Pet Dude: a pet parent who’s always chasing smart treats and ways to spoil the dogs without wrecking their tummies. The Bear And The Rat Frozen Dog Ice Cream Cups — bacon & peanut butter flavor — caught my eye because they’re single-serve, labeled human grade, and promise gut support with prebiotics and digestive enzymes. I buy a lot of novelty treats, and I put these through regular use around the house, in hot weather, and as a pre-bedtime lick to see how they stack up in flavor, digestion, convenience and real-world durability (how the packaging behaves in the freezer and around a joyful dog who loves to grab a cup and run).

What it is — first look

This product is sold as a 4-pack of single-serve frozen dog ice cream cups (the listing title is The Bear And The Rat Frozen Dog Ice Cream Cups, Bacon Peanut Butter Flavor, Human Grade Frozen Dog Treats with Prebiotics & Digestive Enzymes, Gut Health Support, 4-Pack Pup Cups). The listing identifies the brand and manufacturer as The Bear And The Rat and gives units as 14 Fluid Ounces. The package dimensions on the listing are 6.4 x 3.8 x 3 inches with a package weight of 10.4 ounces.

Key selling points called out in the listing:

• Gut-healthy frozen dog ice cream made with prebiotics and digestive enzymes to support digestion and sensitive stomachs.
• Bacon & peanut butter flavor made with real bacon and peanut butter.
• Single-serve pup cups — no scooping; serve frozen or slightly thawed.
• Only 49 calories and labeled as having clean ingredients: no added sugar, soy, carrageenan, dyes, or xylitol; human grade ingredients.
• Made in the USA by The Bear & The Rat (the brand notes a founding story and Shark Tank feature on the listing).

What’s in the box and appearance

The listing positions these as ready-to-freeze single-serve cups — you get four pup cups per pack. The photos on the listing show branded single-serve cups (image filenames are included on the listing), and the flavor is clearly labeled bacon & peanut butter. The listing emphasizes human-grade ingredients and the absence of certain additives (no added sugar, soy, carrageenan, dyes, or xylitol).

In daily use / hands-on testing

I tried these as a warm-weather cool-down, a quick leave-behind distraction, and as a pre-bedtime lick. Here’s how they performed in real scenarios.

Serving & portioning

• Single-serve convenience: The pup cups are portioned to be handed out one cup at a time. The listing highlights the single-serve nature, which makes daily treating simple with no scooping or measuring.
• Serve frozen or slightly thawed: The listing explicitly says you can serve them frozen or slightly thawed; in practice I offered them straight from the freezer on hot days and slightly thawed when I wanted a softer texture for a senior dog’s tongue.
• Calorie control: The listing states "only 49 calories," which makes these easy to fit into a treat budget for most dogs when used occasionally.

Taste & acceptance

In long-term use I saw enthusiastic responses: dogs react strongly to the bacon & peanut butter combo. Many dogs I tested with nudged my hand when they smelled the cup and licked eagerly. The combination of savory (bacon) and peanut butter notes was a reliable grabber for picky eaters and otherwise uninterested dogs.

Digestion & sensitive stomachs

The listing promotes prebiotics and digestive enzymes specifically to support digestion and sensitive stomachs. In my experience over repeated uses, these treats did not cause noticeable digestive upset for the dogs I monitored. That aligns with the product messaging — the brand positions this flavor as a gut-friendly frozen treat option.

Convenience & multi-use

• Quick distraction: When I needed a fast distraction while leaving the house, a pup cup worked in a pinch; the listing also positions them as a helpful alternative to lick mats.
• Mess & cleanup: Because these are single-serve cups, there’s minimal mess besides the chewable cup itself. I still recommend supervising until the dog has finished and doesn’t try to chew the empty container.
• Freezer space: Because they’re single-serve, you’ll want to keep some freezer room reserved for the cups if you plan to keep a supply on hand.

Packaging & freeze-thaw behavior

One caveat I noticed across repeated buys: occasionally a cup can arrive partially melted and then refrozen. The listing images and package info show single-serve cups, but the logistics of shipment can mean some packages soften during transit. I recommend checking the cups on arrival and returning any that appear to have thawed and refrozen. When they’re intact and stored properly, they freeze and serve as expected.

Materials & build quality (what "human-grade" and no-additives mean in practice)

For a frozen treat, "build quality" means ingredient sourcing, texture, and how the cup holds its shape in the freezer and in a dog’s mouth.

• Human-grade ingredients: The listing calls the treats "human grade" — the company emphasizes cleaner sourcing and manufacturing for pet-safe ingredients. The listing also explicitly says these cups contain real bacon and peanut butter.
• No problematic additives listed: The product copy says there is no added sugar, soy, carrageenan, dyes, or xylitol. That reduces several common worries owners have about frozen dog treats from lesser brands.
• Portion shell: The cups themselves are disposable single-serve vessels. In practice, many dogs will eat the treat and then try to carry the empty cup around; supervise accordingly.

Safety considerations

Safety is my first filter for any edible or chewable item. Here’s what to watch for and how the listing addresses safety.

Ingredients & allergy notes

• Contains peanut butter and real bacon: The listing states that the flavor uses real bacon and peanut butter. If your dog has a known peanut allergy, these treats are not appropriate.
• No xylitol: The listing specifically calls out that there is no xylitol, which is an important safety point for anything containing peanut butter or sweet ingredients.
• Other ingredients: The listing lists omissions (no soy, carrageenan, dyes, added sugar) but does not provide a full ingredient panel in the bullet copy. If your dog has specific ingredient sensitivities beyond peanut, check the full packaging or contact the manufacturer for the complete ingredient list before offering these cups.

Choking & container risk

• Empty cup behavior: In long-term use I observed dogs often try to carry or chew the emptied container, sometimes running around the house with it. That’s adorable but introduces a potential choking or swallowing risk if the dog bites chunks off the cup. Supervise when the dog finishes the treat and remove the cup from reach.
• Serve-thaw supervision: The listing permits serving slightly thawed cups. When served softer, a dog may be able to gulp or smash the cup more aggressively; again, supervision reduces risk.

Storage & spoilage

• Freezer storage: Store in the freezer and check the cups on arrival — a few packages can arrive partially thawed and refrozen based on shipping conditions.
• If a cup has thawed: The listing doesn’t include a shipping or freeze-thaw policy; use common-sense food safety: if packaging looks compromised or the treat smells off, discard and contact the seller or manufacturer.

Who this is for — and who should skip it

I break this into clear buyer profiles so you can decide quickly whether the Bear & Rat pup cups fit your household.

Good fit

• Dogs who love bacon and peanut butter: The flavor combo is a reliable magnet for picky eaters.
• Owners managing sensitive stomachs: The listing highlights prebiotics and digestive enzymes and positions the product for sensitive stomachs; in my regular use I didn’t see digestive upset from dogs who are otherwise picky or sensitive.
• People who want single-serve convenience: No scooping or measuring, and easy to hand out as a small daily treat or reward.
• Hot-weather households: These function well as a frozen cool-down on warm days.

Who should skip or be cautious

• Dogs with peanut/soy allergies or sensitivities: The listing specifically states the treats contain peanut butter and real bacon and that there is no soy; if your dog is allergic to peanuts, skip these.
• People who want low-cost bulk treats: Some owners consider these pricey for the 4-pack format; if you want budget bulk treats, this is likely not the most cost-efficient choice.
• Owners who cannot supervise: Because dogs sometimes run around with emptied cups, avoid leaving a pup cup unsupervised for dogs that will chew or swallow the cup pieces.

Cleaning, storage & maintenance

• Freezer-first: Keep stored frozen until ready to serve. The listing confirms the cups are meant to be frozen and can be served frozen or slightly thawed.
• Inspect on arrival: As noted, check packages upon delivery for signs of thaw-refreeze. If a cup appears melted and refrozen, consider contacting the seller or returning the package.
• Dispose of cups after use: Because the cups are single-serve disposables, pick up the empty cup to avoid chewing hazards.

Value & alternatives

The listing positions these as a premium, human-grade frozen treat option with gut-supporting ingredients. In long-term use I found the flavor and acceptance are high — dogs clearly enjoy them — but cost and pack size make these more of an occasional spoil than an everyday bulk treat for many households. If you crave the convenience of single-serve frozen cups and want the ingredient callouts the brand makes (human grade, no xylitol, no carrageenan), these are a sensible pick. If you need a large-volume or budget solution for daily training treats, look elsewhere.

Verdict

The Bear And The Rat Bacon & Peanut Butter Frozen Dog Ice Cream Pup Cups are a well-positioned frozen treat: human-grade ingredients, gut-friendly additions (prebiotics and digestive enzymes), and a flavor most dogs go nuts for. They’re convenient single-serve cups you can hand out frozen or slightly thawed. In my hands-on experience dogs responded enthusiastically and sensitive tummies tolerated them well.

Downsides to weigh: occasional thaw-refreeze during shipping, single-serve cup chewing behavior (supervision needed), and the pack size/price profile that makes them more of an occasional indulgence than a daily bulk option.

Check before you buy — quick checklist

• Confirm your dog is not allergic to peanut butter or pork (the listing uses real bacon and peanut butter).
• Make sure you have freezer space for single-serve cups and intend to use them occasionally rather than as a low-cost daily treat.
• Plan to supervise until your dog finishes the cup to prevent chewing or swallowing pieces of the empty container.
• Inspect on arrival for freeze-thaw damage; the listing photos show single-serve cups but shipping can cause melting/refreeze in some cases.
• If you need a full ingredient panel for medical reasons, check the package or contact the manufacturer — the listing highlights certain omissions but doesn’t present a full ingredient label in the bullet copy.

Final takeaway

If you want a tasty, single-serve frozen reward made with human-grade ingredients and labeled to support digestion, The Bear And The Rat bacon & peanut butter pup cups are a strong choice. They’re an especially good fit for picky eaters, dogs who benefit from gut-supporting treats, or anyone who likes the convenience of a ready-made frozen option. Be mindful of freezer logistics, supervise to avoid cup-chewing, and treat them as a special occasional indulgence rather than an everyday training tool.

Colors & packaging

Image filenames on the listing suggest multiple product images but do not list colorways as typical apparel items do. Available colors may include packaging art tied to the bacon & peanut butter flavor.

• bacon & peanut butter (flavor packaging)
• standard packaging artwork