Kong Filling Mastery
Kongs are fabulous inventions for dogs. With little, large, puppy and extra tough versions, there really is something for every dog to get their teeth into. They’re a great alternative to food bowls and add enrichment to your dogs life as they’re having their meal (for more tips on how to move away from the food bowl, check out No More Dog Bowls).
As well as stuffing Kongs with raw and canned dog foods, they can be prepared ahead of time and frozen as a tasty treat. I thought I would share my how I prepare Kongs for my dog.
Plug
Create a seal in the top of the Kong to prevent all the other stuffing from falling out. Peanut butter is my go to; I add a couple of teaspoons. It doesn’t have to be ‘doggy’ peanut butter (there’s a massive markup on these products) but make sure it’s 100% peanut content. There is some concern out there that creating a seal may cause a vacuum on the dogs nose/tongue while they’re licking. Cases of this are extremely rare but it’s always a good idea to supervise your dog while their Konging, just in case.
Gooey goodness
Next, we want some gooey stuff that’s easy for your dog to scoop out the bottom with their tongue. Banana, cooked white rice, natural yoghurt and cream cheese are all good options.
Sweet treats
Fruit is great for our dogs (in moderation because of the high sugar content). Blueberries are an easy, no-hassle option to pop in but if you don’t mind chopping then pear, strawberry, apple and melon are all delicious choices.
Meaty stuff
Up next we want something really delicious to get your dog super motivated to get stuck in. Cooked meat, dried treats, canned tuna or normal kibble work well.
Healthy bits
Time for veggies. My dog likes peas, carrot, squash and broccoli but there are loads of different veggies that are great for dogs. Experiment and see what your pooch likes!
Topper
Fill the remaining space in the Kong with a liquid. If your dog isn’t fussy, you can simply use water but I find my dog enjoys a topper of low-salt stock.
Freeze
The last step is to freeze your Kong, for maximum longevity. I freeze mine inside mugs to keep them in position but muffin tins also work well – if you have the freezer space!
Depending on the Kong type, size of your dog and their Kong technique (some dogs are better than others at this!) then I’ve known a well stuffed Kong to last anywhere up to an hour.
That’s a whole hour of independent, calm time where your dog is self-soothing, lowering cortisol and releasing endorphins. Happy days!
If you want to find out more about enrichment for your dog and the benefits it brings, you can get in contact with me here.
