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Girl Scout cookie season has long had fans fighting over Thin Mints and Samoas — but next year, customers may be dogging it out over treats for their pups.
For the first time, Girl Scouts of the USA announced Tuesday the launch of Patch Pals — soft-baked, blueberry muffin-flavored dog treats developed in partnership with pet company BARK.
The canine cookies, which will debut for the upcoming 2027 Girl Scout Cookie season, feature four different patch designs inspired by Girl Scout experiences, including community, exploration and play.
But the organization isn’t only expanding its customer base to four-legged fans.
Keeping in mind the ever-changing dietary restrictions, Girl Scouts is also rolling out Sparkables, its first-ever allergy-friendly cookie, in partnership with Partake. The crunchy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are decorated with sprinkles and made in a factory that is certified safe from the nine major food allergens.
But one detail already has some cookie lovers experiencing déjà vu: neither Patch Pals nor Sparkables will be sold at local Girl Scout booths. And don’t expect them to knock at your door.
Instead, both will be available exclusively online during cookie season, which runs nationally from January through April, with direct shipping beginning Jan. 12.
This retail model has some cookie monsters skeptical. Girl Scouts has tried the online-only playbook before with decidedly mixed results.
In 2023, the organization debuted Raspberry Rally, a raspberry-flavored, chocolate-coated cousin of the Thin Mint, available only through online ordering.
The buzzy $5 boxes quickly sold out, leaving customers complaining of shortages and canceled orders. Like all things in demand, scarcity soon spawned the resale market, with people hawking boxes on eBay for $20 to $30, despite being explicitly listed as not for resale.
Girl Scouts later acknowledged that the cookie demand exceeded their expectations and paused Raspberry Rally for the upcoming season until it could work out the supply issues. But with two more online-only products on the way, some Girl Scout supporters are questioning whether history could repeat itself.
“Please share the online-only decision,” one follower wrote on the company’s LinkedIn announcement. “I am genuinely asking so we can explain to our Service Unit members. Raspberry Rally online only left a bad taste with people. And dog cookies would make massive revenue at booths.
Others questioned why sugar-free options weren’t available as more and more Americans adopt a sugar-free lifestyle, only to second the “disaster” experience of Raspberry Rallies.
“Thank you for the new products but what about those of us that are diabetic? It would be nice to see a sugar free cookie or something made with a sugar substitute,” one Facebook user questioned.
Despite the pushback, dog owners were enthused with the opportunity to give their fur babies a new treat.
“I have been saying for years we need dog treats!” one commenter cheered on LinkedIn, calling the BARK collaboration “the logical next step.”
Girl Scouts may also have sniffed out a lucrative new customer base at the right time.
The premium pet-food business has ballooned as Americans increasingly treat their animals like family members, hunting for high-quality food instead of average kibble.
The global human-grade pet food market is valued at about $3.3 billion this year and is projected to more than double to $6.8 billion by 2036, according to Future Market Insights.
Dogs are expected to account for 64% of that market in 2026.
Interest in healthier treats for pets also appears to be climbing, with Google search interest for “healthy dog treats” rising roughly 20% in the US over the past year.
