What To Do With These Funny Looking Kong Toys?
Info, Recipes & More:
What is a KONG Anyway?
The KONG toys are a nontoxic, dishwasher-safe rubber toy with a hollow center. When you stuff it with food, it provides dogs with a healthy outlet for their natural desire to chew and lick. KONG's come in many sizes, Large or Extra-Large are best for Labrador & Golden Retrievers. Some are made for puppies with baby teeth, some are made for regular chewers, and some are made for dogs with powerful jaws. There's a KONG out there for every dog!
Why Give Your Dog a KONG Toy?
Nature made dogs to hunt, forage, scavenge and work for their food-not have it delivered daily in a bowl! One major reason most dogs develop behavior problems is out of sheer boredom, resulting from a lack of physical exercise, problem solving and outdoor exploration and investigation. To make you dog's life more enjoyable, you can give him fun "work" to do when he's home alone or when you can't play with him! A KONG is a food puzzle toy and will give dogs a chance to work for their food like in the wild. A dog must work to get their food/treats to come out by shaking, pawing, rolling, nibbling, or licking it. The effort dogs make to get their food from these types of toys eases boredom, reduces destructive behavior, and lessens the anxiety they can feel when alone.
How Do You Use A KONG?
You can stuff KONG's with almost any kind of food your dog likes! You can feed your dog his/her meals inside a KONG by mixing their regular kibble with a little canned dog food, cottage cheese, yogurt, peanut butter, canned pure pumpkin, or mashed banana. After spooning the mixture into the KONG, you can use a bit of cream cheese, or peanut butter to seal everything in! You can also fill your dog's KONG with special snacks to supplement their diet. See some recipes below for creative KONG-stuffing ideas!
First Time? Start Out Easy:
Dogs don't automatically know how to use food puzzle toys. They need to learn how! When you first introduce your dog to the KONG, you'll need to make it easy for them to empty it so they don't get discouraged and give up. Use small pieces of kibble or treats that will fall out of the KONG easily. Then... Make it Harder! When your dog learns how to use the KONG and can empty it quickly, you can make his/her job more difficult. They will love the challenge, and the end result will be a more satisfied dog! Here are some ideas:
The KONG toys are a nontoxic, dishwasher-safe rubber toy with a hollow center. When you stuff it with food, it provides dogs with a healthy outlet for their natural desire to chew and lick. KONG's come in many sizes, Large or Extra-Large are best for Labrador & Golden Retrievers. Some are made for puppies with baby teeth, some are made for regular chewers, and some are made for dogs with powerful jaws. There's a KONG out there for every dog!
Why Give Your Dog a KONG Toy?
Nature made dogs to hunt, forage, scavenge and work for their food-not have it delivered daily in a bowl! One major reason most dogs develop behavior problems is out of sheer boredom, resulting from a lack of physical exercise, problem solving and outdoor exploration and investigation. To make you dog's life more enjoyable, you can give him fun "work" to do when he's home alone or when you can't play with him! A KONG is a food puzzle toy and will give dogs a chance to work for their food like in the wild. A dog must work to get their food/treats to come out by shaking, pawing, rolling, nibbling, or licking it. The effort dogs make to get their food from these types of toys eases boredom, reduces destructive behavior, and lessens the anxiety they can feel when alone.
How Do You Use A KONG?
You can stuff KONG's with almost any kind of food your dog likes! You can feed your dog his/her meals inside a KONG by mixing their regular kibble with a little canned dog food, cottage cheese, yogurt, peanut butter, canned pure pumpkin, or mashed banana. After spooning the mixture into the KONG, you can use a bit of cream cheese, or peanut butter to seal everything in! You can also fill your dog's KONG with special snacks to supplement their diet. See some recipes below for creative KONG-stuffing ideas!
First Time? Start Out Easy:
Dogs don't automatically know how to use food puzzle toys. They need to learn how! When you first introduce your dog to the KONG, you'll need to make it easy for them to empty it so they don't get discouraged and give up. Use small pieces of kibble or treats that will fall out of the KONG easily. Then... Make it Harder! When your dog learns how to use the KONG and can empty it quickly, you can make his/her job more difficult. They will love the challenge, and the end result will be a more satisfied dog! Here are some ideas:
- Use bigger pieces of food. Wedge chunks of fruits and veggies and larger biscuits inside the opening of the KONG toy.
- Put cubes of cheese inside the KONG with some of your dog's regular food.
- Play Hide & Seek! Hide your dog's KONG around your home. Dogs love finding hidden food and unpacking stuffed food puzzle toys! Try putting your dog's breakfast in a KONG and hiding them right before you leave for work in the morning. Your dog will have a great tim working for his/her meal while you're away. (A warning: Some dogs may make a mess while enjoying their KONG's. If the KONG has soft or wet food inside it, or if your dog tends to drool a lot when chewing-you may want to give your dog the KONG only when in their crate, outside or in a room with flooring that's easy to clean.)
- Make a KONGcicle! They're great for spring & summertime outdoor fun! First, put a dab of peanut butter at the bottom of the KONG to seal the small hole. Then turn the KONG upside down and place it in a cup. Stuff the KONG with kibble, canned food, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, banana or anything else you want and thats safe for your dog. Pour a little chicken broth or gravy into the KONG and freeze it overnight!!! Your dog will thank you for it! You bet your dog will be dreaming about getting another one!!!
KONG Stuffing Recipes
Here are some of my favorite recipes. Give them a try-or simply make up your own recipes as you go! Just be sure to avoid foods that can be dangerous to your dog, like onions, garlic, avocados, macadamia nuts, bread dough, grapes, raisins, moldy foods, artificial sweeteners, fatty cuts of meat, and chocolate. If you're unsure about what's safe to feed your dog, contact your veterinarian for advice and please click on the button below to read which foods are hazardous to Dogs!
Basic KONG Recipe:
Drop a special treat like a cube of freeze-dried liver or jerky not the bottom of the KONG. Then mix together your dog's kibble and a few spoonfuls of canned dog food. Spoon the mixture into the KONG. When the KONG is full, seal the food inside by using a dab of peanut butter, a smear of processed cheese or a little cream cheese. If your dog can lick the KONG clean in just a few minutes, you can try freezing it overnight before giving it to your dog to satisfy your dog longer!
Main Course KONG Recipe:
Combind equal parts of meat (ground turkey, chicken, lean hamburger, cubed chuck steak, or roast), with Potatoes (or brown rice, or cooked oatmeal). Then Stir in a spoonful of Kidney beans and a sprinkle of raw grated or steamed and mashed veggies. Freeze the KONG overnight or serve it warm.
Fruit Salad KONG Recipe:
Cut fruit (Apples, banana's or melons) into chunks and put them into a KONG until the toy is two-thirds of the way full. Hold the KONG upside down and spoon cottage cheese or yogurt (only use plain or naturally sweetened yogurt-not yogurt with artificial sweeteners which can be toxic to dogs). Fill it up to the top. Finally, finish by putting a small marshmallow into the KONG. Serve at room temperature or frozen for an extra special treat!
"Pupkin" Pie KONG Recipe:
Put a spoonful of cooked oatmeal at the bottom of the KONG to seal the small hole. Then put two spoonfuls of pure pumpkin (canned pure pumpkin or freshly cooked pureed pumpkin) into the KONG. Follow with a spoonful of yogurt or cottage cheese. Repeat, layering the pumpkin and yogurt or cottage cheese until the KONG is almost full. Then cram a few pieces of graham cracker into the end of the KONG. Serve this warm or frozen for a summertime treat!
The Nutty Monkey KONG Recipe:
Put a blob of peanut butter into an empty KONG to seal the small hole at the bottom. Add a few roasted peanuts. Mix half a banana, cut into slices with a few spoonfuls of plain vanilla or strawberry yogurt (only use plain or naturally sweetened yogurt- not yogurt with artificial sweeteners, which can be toxic to dogs) and a spoonful of wheat germ. Then spoon the mixture into the KONG. Seal up the KONG at the top with another blob of peanut butter. Serve at room temperature or frozen for an extra special treat!
EASY-KONG RECIPES:
Drop a special treat like a cube of freeze-dried liver or jerky not the bottom of the KONG. Then mix together your dog's kibble and a few spoonfuls of canned dog food. Spoon the mixture into the KONG. When the KONG is full, seal the food inside by using a dab of peanut butter, a smear of processed cheese or a little cream cheese. If your dog can lick the KONG clean in just a few minutes, you can try freezing it overnight before giving it to your dog to satisfy your dog longer!
Main Course KONG Recipe:
Combind equal parts of meat (ground turkey, chicken, lean hamburger, cubed chuck steak, or roast), with Potatoes (or brown rice, or cooked oatmeal). Then Stir in a spoonful of Kidney beans and a sprinkle of raw grated or steamed and mashed veggies. Freeze the KONG overnight or serve it warm.
Fruit Salad KONG Recipe:
Cut fruit (Apples, banana's or melons) into chunks and put them into a KONG until the toy is two-thirds of the way full. Hold the KONG upside down and spoon cottage cheese or yogurt (only use plain or naturally sweetened yogurt-not yogurt with artificial sweeteners which can be toxic to dogs). Fill it up to the top. Finally, finish by putting a small marshmallow into the KONG. Serve at room temperature or frozen for an extra special treat!
"Pupkin" Pie KONG Recipe:
Put a spoonful of cooked oatmeal at the bottom of the KONG to seal the small hole. Then put two spoonfuls of pure pumpkin (canned pure pumpkin or freshly cooked pureed pumpkin) into the KONG. Follow with a spoonful of yogurt or cottage cheese. Repeat, layering the pumpkin and yogurt or cottage cheese until the KONG is almost full. Then cram a few pieces of graham cracker into the end of the KONG. Serve this warm or frozen for a summertime treat!
The Nutty Monkey KONG Recipe:
Put a blob of peanut butter into an empty KONG to seal the small hole at the bottom. Add a few roasted peanuts. Mix half a banana, cut into slices with a few spoonfuls of plain vanilla or strawberry yogurt (only use plain or naturally sweetened yogurt- not yogurt with artificial sweeteners, which can be toxic to dogs) and a spoonful of wheat germ. Then spoon the mixture into the KONG. Seal up the KONG at the top with another blob of peanut butter. Serve at room temperature or frozen for an extra special treat!
EASY-KONG RECIPES:
- Keep a stash of halved bananas in your freezer. When you're on the run, just grab a banana half and slide it into the KONG. Or slice an apple into wedges and insert one or two of those into a KONG!
- Cram a large dog biscuit or two into a KONG. If necessary, squeeze the KONG when inserting the biscuits to change the shape of the hole and fit them in.
- Use a squirt of Cheez Whiz. Just insert the nozzle into the small end of the KONG and squeeze in some cheese. You can also use a similar product made by the KONG company called KONG Stuff'N Paste which comes in liver and peanut butter flavors.
- Smear a spoonful of peanut butter or cream cheese on the inside walls of a KONG.
Itchy Dog KONG Recipe (for dogs with allergies or on restricted prescription diets):
Using KONG's to feed your allergic dog can help spice up his/her life! Just check with your veterinarian for a list of approved foods before you get started. Drop the fruit (chunks of apple, banana, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberry, blueberries or part of an orange) into the bottom of the KONG for dessert. Then mix together your dog's kibble, a few spoonfuls of water or canned food, and then veggies (grated, steamed or raw asparagus spears, broccoli, zucchini and/or carrots). Put a spoonful or two of the mixture into the KONG. Then put a chunk or two of potato(baked russet or sweet potato) in. Repeat, layering the mixture and potato until the KONG is almost filled. Finally, cram a biscuit(hypoallergenic) into the end of the KONG. Seal everything in with a dab of vegetarian retired beans. Serve warm, at room temperature, or frozen for an extra special treat!
Using KONG's to feed your allergic dog can help spice up his/her life! Just check with your veterinarian for a list of approved foods before you get started. Drop the fruit (chunks of apple, banana, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberry, blueberries or part of an orange) into the bottom of the KONG for dessert. Then mix together your dog's kibble, a few spoonfuls of water or canned food, and then veggies (grated, steamed or raw asparagus spears, broccoli, zucchini and/or carrots). Put a spoonful or two of the mixture into the KONG. Then put a chunk or two of potato(baked russet or sweet potato) in. Repeat, layering the mixture and potato until the KONG is almost filled. Finally, cram a biscuit(hypoallergenic) into the end of the KONG. Seal everything in with a dab of vegetarian retired beans. Serve warm, at room temperature, or frozen for an extra special treat!
