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Girl Scout cookie season is going to the dogs.
For the first time, Girl Scouts of the USA will offer a cookie made specifically for dogs when the 2027 cookie season kicks off.
The new Patch Pals are soft-baked, blueberry muffin-flavored dog treats created in collaboration with BARK, the company behind BarkBox.
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“Each dog cookie has been baked to feature one of four ‘patch’ designs, representing iconic Girl Scout experiences,” Girl Scouts of the USA said in a news release.
Ben Donati, an emergency veterinarian at Apex Vets in Silver Spring, Maryland, said his first reaction to the unusual addition was excitement — followed by surprise that it hadn’t happened sooner.
Patch Pals are the newest addition to the Girl Scout cookie lineup. The blueberry muffin-flavored cookies are made for dogs. (Girl Scouts of the USA)
The treats make sense, Donati told Fox News Digital, as Americans increasingly consider their pets part of the family.
“So, probably a light bulb went off in someone’s mind that, why not sell to the four-legged member of the family,” he said.
But while man’s best friend can now get in on the Girl Scout cookie tradition, Donati cautioned owners against letting their dogs overindulge.
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“We tend to say about 10% of their diet should come from treats, or up to 10% really,” Donati said.
Nothing about the Patch Pals ingredients jumped out at Donati as “super alarming,” though he said treats are not a substitute for a complete and balanced diet.
Treats for dogs shouldn’t be a substitute for a complete and balanced diet, a veterinarian (not pictured) told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“Probably shouldn’t eat a whole box of Girl Scout cookies,” he said. “Probably shouldn’t eat a whole box of Patch Pals.”
The new product also comes as Americans’ relationships with their pets have become increasingly human-like.
“There is an emotional component to it. There’s a psychological component to it,” Donati said. “We anthropomorphize our pets. We take pictures of them where they look like they’re smiling.”
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That affection, however, can translate into extra calories.
Donati said overweight dogs tend to have shorter lifespans than their leaner counterparts, while excess weight can also put additional strain on their joints.
He said one of the most common mistakes owners make with treats is “unintentionally overfeeding them.”
Some dog owners unintentionally overfeed their pets, a veterinarian (not pictured) told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
Owners of food-motivated dogs can consider using some of the animal’s normal kibble allotment as rewards during walks or training rather than continually adding extra treats, Donati said.
Treats can have behavioral consequences, too.
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“It’s just getting the behavior that you reward,” Donati said, noting that owners can inadvertently reinforce unwanted behaviors by offering a treat at the wrong moment.
Many Americans treat their dogs like a member of the family. (Girl Scouts of the USA)
Still, Donati gave the Girl Scouts’ canine cookie experiment an enthusiastic reception.
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“Overall, I think it’s great,” he said, adding that the treats should “add a lot of fun for the girls who are selling them and the families who are buying them.”
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Patch Pals are scheduled to go on sale beginning Jan. 12, 2027.
