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Love Your Dog?  19 Best Kong Recipes and Ideas for Stuffing Your Kong

If you’re a dog lover, you probably have a Kong.  If you don’t, you need to get one!  If you are considering adding a puppy to your family or becoming a first-time dog owner, add this fabulous red, rubber, chewy toy to your list of must-haves.  Seriously.

What is a Kong Dog Toy?

A Kong is a stuffable toy that you can fill with tasty treats.  A stuffed Kong will keep your dog busy for hours and makes a great dog trainer, too.  For the dog who needs a reminder to stay in her “spot,” you can fill the Kong and place it with her on a leash in her assigned spot.  The treat in the Kong serves as a reward, which she earns by staying put.

Another Kong upside is that it helps to stimulate your dog’s mind and mouth.  The easiest way is with healthy treats and an appropriate chew toy.  The Kong is just that and works for four-legged friends of all ages!

Reba, my 10-year-old Miniature Pinscher/Chihuahua mix, loves her chewy Kong, and it is a great way to keep her occupied when she would otherwise find trouble.  She likes a small Kong, and I like anything better if it comes in pink, so of course, my dog’s Kong toy is pink.

But if your dog is bigger, you may need a different size.  The Kong Company has thought of everything.  These things come in XS, Small, Medium, Large, XL, and even puppy-style pacifier shapes.     Reba will indeed graduate to the senior version with softer rubber in the next few years as she ages.  Being part Chihuahua, she’s already had some teeth pulled and will likely have more removed as she gets older.  If your dog is an extreme chewer, check out the black Kong made with even tougher rubber for the chewiest chewers!

The Secret’s in the Stuffing

Whichever Kong you end up with, know that the secret is in the stuffing!  You can find all kinds of Kong stuffing recipes, but sometimes the best way to stuff it is also the easiest.

Simple Kong Stuffing Ideas

Keep this list of simple stuffers handy, and you will always have something to entertain and nourish your 4-legged best friend!

• Cream Cheese
• Smushed-up Sweet Potatoes
• Cooked Squash
• Banana Chunks
• Pumpkin Puree
• Plain Yogurt
• Natural Peanut Butter (Xylitol-free)  HERE”s a list of healthy, safe Peanut Butters for your dog
• Green Beans (if canned, use low sodium)
• A handful of blueberries
• Cottage Cheese
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Watermelon
• Chunks of apple
• A slice of bread
• Dog Treats
• Canned Dog Food
• Your dog’s favorite kibble

These pet-friendly foods are easy to keep on hand and, when stuffed inside the Kong, can help with mental stimulation and reduce separation anxiety and destructive chewing.  And the best part?  Your dog will love it!

A quick note of caution!  When you try out new foods for your dog, start with a small amount to ensure they have no adverse reaction.  Just like humans, dogs can have food sensitivities.  The last thing you want is a sick dog after you’ve tried to treat them.

Consider the hole size when choosing what to stuff into your dog’s Kong.  A small Kong has a pretty small hole, so shoving banana chunks in could get messy.  But if you have a large dog and a large Kong or a Kong classic, the large hole is easier to stuff, and shoving a banana in there is one of the best treats.

All these items are simple, but if you want to treat your dog to something extra special, consider making your dog treats.  Homemade treats are a fantastic way to monitor how much sugar and salt go into your dog’s diet.  Like processed human foods, dog treats are also chock full of unhealthy ingredients.

Dog Danger Foods

If you want to mix it up and give your pup some variety, go ahead and add a few of these simple stuffers, perhaps in layers, or mix up some solids with some of the smoother or soupier ingredients.  You’re good to go if a dog-friendly treat doesn’t contain Xylitol or other dog-dangerous items.

The Animal Health Foundation has this handy infographic showing what food items are dangerous for dogs.  As you probably already know, not all people’s foods are safe for our pets, specifically dogs.  Thank you, AHF for this easy-to-read information for pet parents everywhere. 

Is it a Mess?

Every dog is different when it comes to the mess factor.  However, choosing the right size Kong and the best treat to stuff inside makes a world of difference.  Consider training your dog to go to her dog bed while chewing to ensure that you can easily clean up her mess.

A quick rinse in the sink when your dog finishes snacking is all the cleanup you need for daily use.  For stuck-on leftovers or a deeper clean, throw it into the dishwasher for a more thorough clean.  If any dried-up or stubborn, stuck-on food particles remain, grab a bottle brush and go to town.  If your dog’s teeth can’t hurt it, a bottle brush sure won’t!

Kong-Stuffing Recipes

If you want to step it up a notch and get even fancier, whip up a batch of homemade treats for your pup.  Dog owners love to treat their dogs, and it couldn’t get much easier than this.

Homemade Kong Recipes for Dog Biscuits

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup of oat flour (or wheat flour if your dog is not allergic to wheat)
• ¼ cup doggie-safe peanut butter
• ¼ cup crispy crumbled bacon
• ½ cup canned pumpkin
• 1 egg

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse oats in a food processor or blender until it looks like flour.

Mix the oat flour with the other ingredients until blended.

Roll out the dough to about ½ inch.  The thicker you roll them, the longer they’ll need to bake.

Cut with cookie cutters or use a knife to cut into pieces that suit your dog.  If you’re using these for training, cut them into tiny, bite-size pieces so as not to overfeed.

Place the treats on a baking sheet sprayed with olive oil or lined with a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes.  Reduce time for smaller/thinner treats, and extend for larger/thicker treats.

Wrapping it All Up!

Your Dog may be your best friend, but trust me when I tell you the biggest drawback to having a Kong (or two) in your life is that the Kong may replace you and become your dog’s best friend.  Be sure to have enough Kongs on hand.  One for each dog.  Remember your dog’s tastes and treat her with no guilt!

I want to know if you’re an experienced Kong user or make your own dog treats!  Pop into my Facebook Group and leave a picture or a recipe for your favorite treats!

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