How Much Is A Puppuccino At Starbucks? (Puppuccino Cost and Price)

The Short Answer is:

Whether you decide to give your pooch a Starbucks Puppuccino or not, it is free and won’t cost you a penny. Be sure to keep in mind the ingredients in the Puppuccino and only give them one pup cup as moderation is key. Feel free to consult your veterinarian if you’re not sure about giving your canine friends the Puppuccino.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “How Much Is A Puppuccino At Starbucks?“.

At Starbucks you can get a free cup of coffee. You read that correctly! You can give your dog a free sweet Puppuccino. If you want a Starbucks beverage you’ll have to order one. If you check your check the Puppuccino may be listed as a miscellaneous item with a cost of $0 so it would not cost you anything. 

Please be aware that Starbucks Puppuccino is not an official food product so your local Starbucks may offer Puppuccino at their discretion.

Because it is made with Whipped Cream some dogs are lactose intolerant so if this is their first time eating it it is best to give them only a little bit.

What is a Puppuccino from Starbucks?

Small white paper cups are usually used for Starbucks’ Puppuccino drinks. The cup is about the size of a small espresso cup or sample Starbucks cup. The pup cup is what most people refer to it as. Starbucks’ baristas fill this whipped cream cup with caffeine-free and dog-friendly whipped cream. This means the whipped cream is plain and there is no sugar caffeine or fruit added. 

Starbucks customers usually drive up to the drive-thru and order their drinks. Often the friendly Starbucks barista will notice that you have a dog in your car and offer your pooch a Puppuccino (upon your consent). 

Whenever customers order a Starbucks drink they usually ask for a Puppuccino for their furry companions.  

The Starbucks menu does not include the Puppuccino. This is because Starbucks has a secret menu that includes Puppuccino. You can usually ask for it for free as long as your dog is with you.

Information about the Starbucks menu

Starbucks’ variety of drinks and small savory treats appeal to many customers. Be aware however that many of the drinks are caffeinated beverages filled with calories and caffeine such as iced coffee iced espresso hot beverages or Frappuccinos.

Coffee is a stimulant that can cause caffeine toxicity in dogs and is toxic to them. Canines can experience cardiac arrhythmias from caffeine which can raise their blood pressure. You may notice that your pet loses muscle control or even has seizures or tremors when this happens. 

Caffeine can also affect your dogs digestive system and even make them vomit. Toxins can be gotten rid of by the dogs body naturally through vomiting. 

You should avoid giving your pooch any of the standard Starbucks drinks or menu items. Dog-friendly Starbucks Puppuccino is the only thing your pup can consume. That way they would not have to consume caffeine or unwanted calories.

Starbucks Puppuccino ingredients

The Starbucks Puppuccino is caffeine-free so thats good news. We’ll discuss the ingredients in this blended Starbucks Puppuccino whipped cream mix. The ingredients are: 

• Cream.
• Mono and diglycerides.
• Milk.
• Manufactured vanilla syrup.
• Carrageenan.

Lets examine each of these ingredients to see whether they are safe for your pooch. 

Cream in Puppuccino is loaded with sugar that’s bad for dogs

It contains a lot of sugar because it is whipped cream in Starbucks Puppuccino. An excessive amount of sugar in your dogs diet can cause diabetes. As an occasional treat your pups should be given Starbucks Puppuccino a few times a year but not as a part of their regular diet. 

Furthermore it is a dairy product so dogs that are lactose intolerant will find it hard to digest because they lack the lactase enzyme needed to digest lactose which is the sugar found in dairy products like milk.  

If they consume dairy products such as cream dogs who are lactose intolerant may experience the following symptoms: 

• Diarrhea.
• Constant passing of gas.
• Bloating.  

Whipped cream in this scenario does not provide any nutrient benefits to your pups health while cream provides calcium and helps with canine growth. In addition to being high in fats whipped cream can cause weight gain and ultimately lead to canine obesity if consumed regularly. 

Mono and diglycerides in Puppuccino are harmful to dogs

Many dog owners follow this mantra when choosing dog food for their pets:

You should not eat anything you can not pronounce.

To put it another way if you can not pronounce the ingredients of a food skip it and do not eat it. You might be wondering what mono and diglycerides are and why Starbucks uses them in their frappuccino. Heres why: 

To enhance the stability and texture of the Starbucks Puppuccino mono and diglycerides are used to blend the oil and water together. In this way oil does not separate from food products and they have a longer shelf life.

Mono and diglycerides on the other hand are hydrogenated oils. Two tablespoons of mono and diglycerides would already provide a quarter of all the fat a human needs for the day. Can you imagine what your little puppy would consume if you used this? Additionally mono and diglycerides are not biodegradable fats. Because of this we recommend avoiding feeding your pup food containing these ingredients.

Milk in Puppuccino is harmful to dogs that are lactose intolerant

Dairy products such as milk include cream. You should avoid giving your pups the Starbucks Puppuccino if they are lactose-intolerant since they may have difficulty digesting it. In adults dogs lack the lactase enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose. Vomiting gastrointestinal upset or diarrhea may result from your dog ingesting milk.

Therefore you should only give your dog a small amount of Puppuccino occasionally.

While milk contains calcium and can benefit your dogs teeth and bones Starbucks Puppuccino whipped cream may not provide any health benefits for your pooch. 

Manufactured vanilla syrup

Starbucks Puppuccinos delicious flavor comes from the manufactured vanilla syrup so technically it is a processed dairy treat that dogs should only consume in moderation.

Carrageenan

Carrageenan is a food additive found in dairy products like yogurt and nut milk. Starbucks Puppuccino whipped cream uses carrageenan to keep a consistent thick texture. 

In dogs even a small amount of carrageenan can cause intestinal inflammation and possibly lead to cancer according to the Cornucopia Institute. It does not provide any nutritional benefits to dogs either since it is a food additive. 

Carrageenan can be easily replaced by safer alternatives like pea starch potato starch tomato paste guar gum tapioca and garbanzo bean flour.

What is in a Starbucks Puppuccino?

Once we have learned whats in this Starbucks Puppuccino lets take a closer look at how it may affect your dogs health.  

This tiny cup of Starbucks puppuccino is packed with sugar sodium carbs and cholesterol which can adversely affect your dogs health if you give it to them repeatedly. 

7 to 14 grams of this 12 to 24 grams of fat are saturated which is quite a high percentage. It is best to keep the total fat in a dogs diet between 12 and 20%. Fats that are saturated are also bad for dogs. 

Since whipped cream contains a high amount of sugar and cream it should only be given occasionally as a fun treat and should not be consumed daily.

How many calories are in a Puppuccino at Starbucks?

The calories in a Starbucks Puppuccino typically range from 120 to 240. How many calories are in a cup also depends on its size. Starbucks typically serves Puppuccino drinks in espresso cups but some dog owners may request large cups. 

Having a Yellow Labrador and a Chihuahua at home I decided to put the calories in Starbucks Puppuccino into perspective. The following is what I found: 

• Dogs should consume 25 calories for every pound they weigh every day.
• My Chihuahua weighs 10 pounds and should eat no more than 250 calories a day.
• Yellow Labradors weigh 65 pounds and should consume no more than 1625 calories per day. 

So this means that: 

• A 120-calorie Starbucks Puppuccino would represent 48% of my Chihuahuas daily intake and 7% of my Yellow Labradors daily intake. 
• My Chihuahua would consume 96% of her daily calories in the form of Starbucks Puppuccinos and my Yellow Labrador would consume 15% of her calories.

My small dog would consume almost half of his daily intake from even a small Starbucks Puppuccino. Even the dog treats she gets are not enough to sustain him. 

There is a 90/10 rule when it comes to dog treats. In other words 90% of calories should come from a balanced and complete diet while only 10% of calories should come from dog treats.

This small Starbucks Puppuccino tips over this 10% limit for a small dog by more than four times and by almost 10% for a large dog. 

How to order a Puppuccino at Starbucks?

The majority of Starbucks customers with dogs will usually drive up to the drive-through and order their drink before asking for a Puppuccino for their pet sitting in the back seat. 

If the friendly Starbucks barista notices your dog in the back seat they may ask if he or she would like a puppy cup or a puppuccino. Therefore the Puppuccino at Starbucks is usually not an official order. 

Starbucks’ dog policy is one of the reasons why many customers do this. Heres what this policy entails. 

Starbucks dog policy:

Customers are not allowed to enter Starbucks with dogs as part of Starbuckss nationwide dog policy. While they buy their coffee or other Starbucks drinks and food their dog has to wait outside. As a result some would say dogs or other animals are prohibited from Starbucks.

Giving your pup some water after he consumes a Puppuccino is the best way to wash it down. You need to make sure it is not carbonated water as this could upset the dogs stomach even further.

Starbucks service animal policy:

The only exception to this is if your dog is your service or guide dog. Guide or service dogs can enter Starbucks with their owners under Starbucks’ service animal policy.  

Therefore if you would like to enjoy Starbucks drinks with your dog friends you’ll have to do so outside. 

As a result you can order Starbucks drinks and food in two different ways. Heres a look at the first option: 

1. Starbucks mobile app

To start you should order your Starbucks drinks and food through the Starbucks mobile app and let the store know that you will pick up your orders outdoors since you have a dog. 

Let the Starbucks barista know that you have your dog with you and if they could also bring you a Puppuccino when they bring your order. Most likely the barista will notice you have a dog with you and will ask whether your pup would like a Puppuccino or pup cup. 

Some Starbucks stores may not have Puppuccinos or know what they are. 

The second method is as follows:

2. Starbucks service dog policy

Make sure your registered service dog is wearing the proper harness or gear and that you have the right identification to prove this. 

Tell the employee when you enter the Starbucks store that you have a service dog. Go ahead and show them the registration proof if they ask to see identification. 

There is a very high likelihood that your furry friend or service dog will get their drink first before yours. Consequently it may take a few minutes for them to bring you your pups Puppuccino or pup cup. 

How to order a Puppuccino on the Starbucks app

You can order Starbucks drinks and food online by downloading the Starbucks app. Due to it not being an official item on the list there might not be a Puppuccino option. Additionally Starbucks dog menus are not really known to be official so they are not on the app. 

You do not need to worry if you have never used the Starbucks app. Lets walk through this step by step. 

1. You should download the Starbucks app if you havenot done so already. 
2. Once the app has been downloaded to your phone you can open it by tapping the icon.
3. You can then find your order and add items to your cart. 
4. Select the pickup location when you are ready. 
5. You can apply the cost against your Starbucks gift card if you have one.
6. Finally review and place your order.

Bring your dog with you when picking up your Starbucks order. Request a Puppuccino from the Starbucks staff when you receive your order. Your pup will most likely be seen with you and asked if he would like a pup cup. 

Is Starbucks Puppuccinos safe for dogs?

Most dogs are safe to drink Starbucks Puppuccinos. Rather than giving your pet more than one Puppuccino give him or her just one. 

If this is your puppys first time having a Puppuccino start with a small pup cup and see what reaction he has. There are dogs that are lactose intolerant making dairy-based foods difficult for them to digest and then there are dogs who have allergies to Puppuccino. 

Moderation is key when it comes to giving Puppuccino to your pooch. Due to its high sugar and cream content it could cause the following symptoms if eaten in large quantities: 

• Weight gain. 
• Diabetes.
• Dental issues.
• Diarrhea.
• Upset stomach.
• Dehydration.
• Respiratory problems.
• Heart disease. 

Do all Starbucks do Puppuccinos?

Puppuccinos are not available at all Starbucks locations. That depends on the management of each location. Depending on your location the Starbucks across the street may not serve Puppuccino while the Starbucks down the street may.

Its not uncommon for some Starbucks to only serve Puppuccino to service dogs so do not be upset if your canine companion isnot offered a Puppuccino.   

Is Starbucks dog friendly?

Starbucks welcomes dogs but requires them to stay outside. Owners are only allowed to bring service dogs into the store with them. Lets discuss the Starbucks policy on dogs.

Starbucks rules on dogs

There is a Starbucks policy that dogs are not allowed inside the Starbucks store. This rule is well known to the Starbucks staff. Some possible reasons for this policy are: 

• There may be some Starbucks customers who do not like dogs or are afraid of them.
• Dogs may cause allergies in some individuals.
• Starbucks customers might expect a quiet environment to study or chat when dogs are running around.  
• The store sells beverages and food so there is a possibility that dogs carry diseases inside. 
• Dogs are not always clean so the management team may not feel comfortable with your pup near the drinks or food of their customers.
• Chocolate for example contains ingredients that are toxic to dogs. 
• Its easy for the medium-sized or larger dogs to steal food from the coffee tables because their faces come up to the height of the tables.

Can you carry a dog into Starbucks?

You cannot take a Chihuahua into Starbucks in accordance with Starbucks’ dog policy. 

The incident occurred when I thought it would be fine to carry my tiny Chihuahua in my dog pouch carrier sling. I was allowed to bring my dog that one time but the barista made sure that I understood the Starbucks dog policy for future trips.

Best time to get Starbucks Puppuccino

When getting Starbucks Puppuccinos its best to get them before or after peak hours. On weekdays the peak times are from 7 am to 9 am and around 3 pm when the children get out of school. 

The weekend does not have a specific peak time but its generally consistent all weekend long. 

In peak hours the baristas will be extremely busy with customers and orders. They might be distracted from fulfilling a customers order if they fill up a Puppuccino. Thats why its important not to forget that. 

You should get your dog a Puppuccino outside of Starbucks’ peak hours.

Canine-friendly alternatives to Puppuccino

For my pups I serve them dog-friendly treats instead of Puppuccino such as:

Conclusion

Whether you decide to give your pooch a Starbucks Puppuccino or not it is free and would not cost you a penny. 

Be sure to keep in mind the ingredients in the Puppuccino and only give them one pup cup as moderation is key. 

Feel free to consult your veterinarian if you’re not sure about giving your canine friends the Puppuccino.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.