HOW TO STUFF A KONG

We've mentioned in prior posts that we are a fan of the Kong for training and occupying puppies; however, we've also found that people can be confused about what to do with the Kong and exactly how to get a puppy interested in playing with it. We also know there are a lot of products available at pet stores to stuff Kongs but they aren't necessarily healthy options or good for young puppies. Here are a few basic ideas and recipes to get you started on Kong stuffing and to give you the confidence to start creating your own recipes and strategies. 

BASIC TIPS: 

• Start with simply using your dogs own food in the Kong. Offer the Kong BEFORE any meal when the dog is hungry and willing to work to get his/her food out. This helps the puppy understand the general concept. If you feed a soft food, consider using a high grade kibble for this initial project.
• Once your puppy understands the basic concept of working to get his/her food from the Kong, increase difficulty by placing an edible plug in the hole for them to work out before getting the food. Based on the size of your Kong, you might consider a blueberry, a little peanut butter, a piece of cheese or even a moldable treat such as Little Jacks Dog Training Treats .
• Your puppy will quickly master the basics of a Kong at which time you can get more creative. Keep your dog's interest with the following: 
  • Layer the Kong with some kibble, a treat, soft food and a plug such as peanut butter.
  • Consider freezing the Kong to force your dog to work even harder at releasing the food. If your dog seems frustrated, try packing it with loose kibble and using a freezable plug (see recipes below). 
  • Put your dog's favorite treat at the bottom of the Kong to get them working to release it. 
  • Look at your leftovers and see if they might make a delicious stuffed Kong for tomorrow!

SHOPPING LIST: You don't need all of these items but will want a combination of dry goods and "mashable" healthy foods to layer your Kong:

1. KONG - A Kong based on your dog's size and age. For new puppies we recommend the Kong Puppy Binkie as they are smaller and softer for puppy teeth. For grown Cavaliers, Cavachons or Cavapoos, we recommend a standard Small Kong for dogs up to 20lbs and a Medium Kong for dogs above 20 lbs. or for those wanting to use this as meal replacement. 
2. KIBBLE - If you feed raw, home cooked or a fresh delivery food such as Ollie, you may want to get some high quality kibble for your Kong. We recommend choosing kibble for your puppy or dog from this posts on nutrition. 
3. HEALTHY FOOD - Natural peanut butter (look for low sugar and avoid any with sugar replacements which can be dangerous for dogs), non-processed cheese, bananas, blueberries, eggs, bone broth and plain yogurt (Greek is best) are all good choices but any food that's approved for dogs will work. 
4. SOFT FOOD - It's also good to have some soft food on hand when you're ready to make the Kong more of a challenge. You can again refer to Dog Food Advisor, make your own pup loaf or consider a home delivery food such as Ollie. Other options are pumpkin and mashed sweet potatoes. 

RECIPES: 

1. Beginner - Plug bottom hole of Kong if needed. Fill with dry kibble. Plug top with small spoonful of any of the following: yogurt mixed with peanut butter, mashed sweet potato, mashed banana or a couple of small blueberries. Freeze to increase challenge or removing plug. 
2. Intermediate / Advanced - Plug bottom hole of Kong if needed. Combine with any of the following: 
   1. Shredded carrots and/or zucchini. Mix with mashed sweet potato. Top with peanut butter or peanut butter mixed with yogurt. Freeze to increase challenge. 
   2. Place 1-2 favorite treats in the bottom of Kong. Top with mixed dry and wet kibble. Plug with mashed banana or peanut butter. Freeze to increase challenge. 
   3. Mix yogurt with fresh fruit such as strawberry or blueberries. Fill bottom and edges of Kong. Fill remaining space with kibble. Roll to stick kibble. Freeze to increase challenge. 
   4. Place shredded chicken or turkey in bottom of Kong, top with pumpkin (not pie filling) and plug with a soft treat. To increase challenge, mix pumpkin with meat and freeze. 
   5. Firmly plug bottom of Kong. Fill with kibble and bone broth. Freeze. Raw goat milk is another liquid option. 

These are just a few ideas to help you understand the progression of Kong stuffing and how it can occupy your puppy. Don't be afraid to experiment with different recipes to find a few favorites that your dog will love. Just be aware of the added calories and sugar and consider stuffed Kong when making sure your dog gets a balanced diet. 

​Does your dog have a favorite Kong recipe? We'd love for you to share it here!

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