29 FebFrozen Stuffed Kongs – Your dog’s best friend?

A Kong is a cone-shaped toy made of tough rubber that can be filled with food and frozen. Most dogs will enjoy the time-consuming and delicious activity of licking and chewing a frozen Kong.

Give your dog a frozen stuffed Kong when you leave for work. He may learn to love your departures, instead of fear them. Have your dog walker give him one in the middle of the day.

If your dog is nervous around company, give him a Kong and let him sit in a quiet corner or in his crate. He will learn to be relaxed around your friends.

How do I get the stuffing into the Kong?

Depending on the size of the Kong, you can use a small spoon or butter knife to get the food in. The easiest way to stuff a Kong is using a pastry bag. If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can make one out of a Ziploc bag. Fill the bag halfway with the food and zip it closed. Cut off a corner and squeeze directly into the Kong opening. If you find the mixture leaking out of the hole at the bottom of the Kong, cover it with a small piece of cheese or kibble. You can use the bottom half of an egg crate or a muffin tin to hold several Kongs upright for stuffing.

What do I put in the Kong?

Start with a base that will make up most of the mixture. I use plain, non-fat yogurt. You can mix in some cream cheese or white rice. Flavor the base by adding a little canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix), peanut butter or baby food (try turkey or sweet potato. No onions!).

While you’re filling the Kong, add extra jackpot treats: diced chicken or hot dogs, dog biscuits, cheese, banana, carrots, anything your dog loves. The hard pieces make the Kong last longer, so stuff as many as you can in there.

Don’t forget to freeze your Kong!  A Kong stuffed with food and frozen can keep your dog busy and entertained for a long time, a non-frozen one will be devoured in seconds!

How do I clean the Kong?

Soak the Kong for a few hours in warm soapy water to loosen any dried up food. Then use an old toothbrush or a bottle cleaning brush to clean out the Kong. Kongs should be replaced if there are cracks as bacteria can grow in them.

Safety Tips

If your dog is a strong chewer don’t leave him unsupervised with a Kong. Watch him carefully to make sure he’s eating only the food. If he begins to break apart the Kong it may not be the right toy for him.

Remember to ask your vet before trying a new food with your dog. Some human food is unsafe for dogs. Check this list from the ASPCA before trying any new foods:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets