Learn how to make safe bubbles for your dog with three amazing recipes! Homemade bubble recipes are safe for your dog, just make sure that they don’t have access to the entire container of bubble solution. Try to avoid getting the solution in the eyes and after playing be sure to wipe off their face with a warm, damp towel.
I recently bought Finn a bubble machine.
Being a Corgi, he’s much different than a Newfoundland and his needs are just as different so it’s been fun and challenging trying to find exercises and canine enrichment activities to keep him busy, challenged and happy.
We’ve been doing a lot of enrichment activities with him but I wanted to try something that didn’t involve treats so I thought dog bubbles might be a fun addition! (even the ASPCA states that bubbles are a great enrichment activity for pets!)
There are a ton of homemade bubble recipes for you to try out once you get the basic formula down.
Some are really simple with ingredients that most people will have in their homes.
When I was growing up, my parents bought my sister and me the cheap bubbles from the supermarket.
I don’t know what was in them but I know we ate some, got some in our eyes and I vaguely remember licking the bubble wand.
I also know that my sweet Collie we had growing up, ate bubbles and a lot of them.
I’m good and still here, obviously, my childhood dog is not, but I can assure you he didn’t die because he ate a few dozen bubbles over his life.
However, things have changed and we’re more conscious about what we give our children to play with and what we give to our dogs play with.
I love my dogs and do the best that I can for them.
On one hand, I’m super careful with everything but on the other hand, I also know that they’re dogs and well…….dogs will be dogs.
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So when I bought the bubble machine for Finn, I wasn’t sure what he was going to do with the bubbles.
I used the bubbles that came with the machine first, to see how Finn was going to react.
When I saw that he was going to love it and chase the bubbles down, I decided that it would be best to make him a safe homemade bubble solution because I have no idea what ingredients were in the bubble solution that came with the bubble machine.
I spent the next week researching and playing around with pet-safe, non-toxic bubble recipes and narrowed it down to my three favorites.
Before I get to the bubble recipes, there are a few things we should talk about.
First, all of these recipes are going to have some sort of dish soap in them, soap isn’t meant to be eaten and of course, any large amount of dish soap that is ingested can cause GI upset in dogs so just be a responsible dog owner and monitor your dog when they’re having bubble time.
Finding a soap that has less harmful ingredients is key and also ingredients that are dog-safe so read your labels carefully.
Stay away from cheap dish detergent because it could have harmful ingredients and it’s usually watered down and isn’t great for bubble making.
Second, I used Wilton vegetable glycerin that I purchased at a local Michaels craft store in the cake decorating aisle.
If you can’t find glycerin or don’t want to use it, you can substitute it with corn syrup.
You can substitute the glycerin for corn syrup or try using sugar. (this is to thicken the solution and make them last longer)
Just make sure that you don’t use any sugar substitute that contains xylitol.
Xylitol is VERY toxic to dogs and can be deadly if ingested, even in small amounts.
If you can’t find glycerin at the store, Essential Depot Kosher Vegetable Glycerin is available on Amazon and it has over 7,000 good reviews.
Why Use Bubbles With Your Dog?
Bubbles are a great and cheap enrichment activity for your dog!
Bubbles are a tret-free enrichment activity so if your dog needs to cut some calories but also needs more exercise, this is perfect for them!
Bubbles encourage your dog to use the brain and body in combination with one another.
Blowing bubbles is a fun game to play no matter the age of your pet, great for puppies and senior dogs.
Bubbles can help to work on balance and coordination and they are a super fun game you can play with your pet all year round!
Easiest Homemade Dog-Safe Bubble Recipe
The easiest and most common homemade dog-safe bubbles are the one that uses Dawn dish soap and water.
It’s the easiest and I’ll let you be the judge of how safe it is for your dogs
- 1 cup water
- 1 Tablespoon basic Dawn dishwashing liquid. (I used the blue one)
- Combine the water and dishwashing liquid in a cup, bottle or dish.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Blow bubbles!
- Store leftover bubble solution in an airtight container and label with contents
Homemade Flavored Bubble Solution For Dogs
- 1/2 cup natural, biodegradable dish detergent (I used Seventh Generation Free and Clear)
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon glycerin
- 1 teaspoon of bone broth for dogs (optional)
- Mix up all ingredients in a resealable container.
- Let stand overnight for the best results.
This one is my favorite solution so far and it produced the best bubbles.
Organic Flavored Bubble Solution For Dogs
- 1 cup of filtered water
- 2 tablespoons unscented liquid organic castile soap ( I used Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented)
- 1 tablespoonorganic glycerin
- 1 teaspoon organic bone broth for dogs (optional)
- Mix up all ingredients in a resealable container.
- Let stand overnight
- Store leftover in an airtight container for best results.
I really wanted to like this one because it’s probably the safest for dogs but it just didn’t produce strong bubbles IMO.
It did produce bubbles, just not better than the bubble solution that used Seventh Generation dish detergent.
What To Use To Blow Bubbles For Your Dog
I love the bubble machine that I got for Finn but if you want to see if your dog even likes bubbles first you can use:
- an old bubble wand
- the end of a whisk (if it has a loop)
- a pipe cleaner
- and even drinking straws.
Store your homemade dog-safe bubbles in an airtight container and label it.
I used a Mason jar but you can use an old plastic coffee can, plastic solution bottle from the Dollar Store or even an old bubble container.
Make sure you wipe your dog’s face with a damp towel after they’re done playing with the bubbles as some homemade bubble solutions may leave a residue on their hair.
Always try to avoid getting the solution in their eyes because it is soap and it’ll burn their eyes just like it does ours.
I used both of these homemade bubble solutions in the house and outside and it didn’t leave a noticeable residue on the floors but I would use caution around furniture because again, it does contain soap.
If you’re going to use sugar in your dog bubble recipe, stay clear of artificial sugars that contain xylitol.
Bone broth is a flavor addition if you’re looking for flavored bubbles.
I’m torn on whether it’s really needed or not to engage with the bubbles.
On one hand, I don’t want Finn to eat too many of the bubbles because he likes the taste but on the other hand, I want him to stay interested.
That’s why I used a small amount of the bone broth but you can adjust it or take it away if you want!
I tested all of these solutions in a bubble machine and they all worked!
In case you’re wondering about Odin and bubbles, he hasn’t shown any interest in them…..yet.
Does your dog like playing with bubbles?
Do you have a favorite dog-safe bubble recipe?
Share it with us!
Update 8/23
With feedback from other dog moms, most have said that the Seventh Generation dish soap has worked the best for making dog bubbles!
Yield: 1 cup
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Active Time: 2 minutes
Additional Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Dog bubbles are a great enrichment activity for your dog and you can easily make a non-toxic and safe bubble solution from home!
Materials
- 1 cup of warm water
- 1/2 cup of Seventh Generation Free & Clear dish soap
- 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
- 1 tsp dog bone broth (optional)
Tools
- Mason jar or airtight container
- Teaspoon measuring spoon
- Measuring cup
Instructions
- Add dish soap to water
- Add glycerin to water
- Add bone broth
- Gently stir
- Let stand overnight or for a few hours
- Blow bubbles!
- Store in an airtight container
Notes
Make sure you wipe your dog’s face with a damp towel after they’re done playing with the bubbles as some homemade bubble solutions may leave a residue on their hair.
Always try to avoid getting the solution in their eyes because it is soap and it’ll burn their eyes just like it does ours.
I used both of these homemade bubble solutions in the house and outside and it didn’t leave a noticeable residue on the floors but I would use caution around furniture because again, it does contain soap.
If you’re going to use sugar in your dog bubble recipe, stay clear of artificial sugars that containxylitol.
Bone broth is a flavor addition if you’re looking for flavored bubbles. I’m torn on whether it’s really needed or not to engage with the bubbles. On one hand, I don’t want Finn eating too many of the bubbles because he likes the taste but on the other hand, I want him to stay interested.
That’s why I used a small amount of the bone broth but you can adjust it or take it away if you want!
I tested all of these solutions in abubble machineand they all worked!
