Make the Most of Your KONG

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

by Pam Nashman CPDT-KA

Periodically putting your dog into a run, crate, or some type of enclosure is part of life. The experience can be made more relaxing with the help of a food dispensing toy to help focus the dog, calm him down, and get him to forget he's not out playing.

If your dog isn't used to Kongs, start by making it easy for the dog to get the treats out, and then gradually make it harder as he gets used to them. The point is to keep the dog busy - not to make it so hard that he gives up.

A beginner Kong has some loosely placed treats inside. These could be the dog's kibble, tiny treats, or any item that is small enough to fall out with little effort. The dog will nudge at the Kong and be delighted to eat the treats that fall out. If that is too much, start by putting some peanut butter inside for him to lick out of it. He will soon learn that the Kong is a fantastic food dispensing machine and not just a boring rubber toy.

Once the pup has mastered this, pack more treats in. The dog will toss the Kong onto the floor of the enclosure or keep manipulating it with his tongue to get the food out. If he's still interested and not giving up, you can keep making it harder by putting a larger item on top of the smaller bits so the dog has to work at getting that out.

The next level is stacking items in the Kong. Start with kibble or dry treats; then put some peanut butter or cream cheese in it. The pup will enjoy licking the good stuff out and then be surprised by the treats that fall out, rewarding him for his efforts. Be creative; make sure you use items the dog likes.

If you are looking for a highter value Kong, but the dog isn't ready for a tremendous challenge, fill it with peanut butter, cream cheese, canned dog food, or smash some soft dog treats into it. Many dogs enjoy canned sweet potato puree or 100 percent pure canned pumpkin. These are healthy, lower fat alternatives to peanut butter.

You can freeze a Kong to make it longer lasting. Stuff a tiny piece of bread in the small end of the Kong. Then place it large end up inside of a tall container (to keep it upright in the freezer), fill it with fun ingredients, and freeze it. I like to use takeout food containers or yogurt tubs to keep the Kongs from tipping over.

Once you have done this, fill it with the previously mentioned items. Or try fat-free plain yogurt or chicken/beef broth. For a special Kong, add some meat, chicken, or cooked carrots - as the broth thaws, these pieces of food will fall out. Applesauce and diced apples are also nice treats. Try a blender-mix of banana, peanut butter, or anything with yogurt or cottage cheese before pouring it into the Kong.

Another favorite is freezing layers for a fun variety. Freeze some soup in the bottom. Once that is frozen, add some applesauce and refreeze, then add blueberies and top with pumpkin or sweet potatoes. I like to make and freeze several Kongs at once so that I always have one ready. Keep in mind that frozen food doesn't smell as enticing, so you may want to put a swipe of peanut butter or something smelly on the top of the Kong before giving it to the dog.

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