11 Vet-Approved Kong Stuffing Ideas & Recipes for Puppies & Dogs
Check with your veterinarian before adding any new foods to your dog’s diet, particularly if your pet has any underlying health conditions or is on a special diet.
The KONG is an amazing toy that has been a true gamechanger for many dog owners. It withstands even the most dedicated chewers, and when you stuff it full of tasty things, it can keep your pup occupied for hours!
But “What to put in my dog’s KONG?” might be what you’re thinking. The truth is that there are plenty of food options that can be stuffed into this toy—it all depends on your dog's specific preferences and your imagination!
1. Simple KONG Stuffing Recipe
Simple KONG Stuffing Recipe
A frozen KONG will take your dog longer to consume and give your dog more of a challenge, thus providing them with greater mental stimulation. However, if your pet is still young or this is their first KONG, you can give it to them right after you make it and then increase the difficulty as your pup gets older and more experienced with the toy. A lot of these stuffing ideas contain peanut butter which most dogs love, however it is essential to make sure that you only use dog friendly peanut butters in the recipes. Ensure that any peanut butter you give your dog is natural, without added sugar or salt, and particularly not xylitol, an artificial sweetener which is highly toxic to dogs even in small amounts.
Ingredients
- Dog treats
- Peanut butter (dog-safe, xylitol-free)
Instructions
- Fill the KONG with the treats (small, hard treats being preferable).
- Cover the hole with a layer of peanut butter.
- Serve as is, or freeze it first.
2. Doggie Denver Omelet
Ingredients
Instructions
Don’t season anything with salt, as it isn’t good for dogs, and they don’t need it anyway. This recipe yields about 2 cups, so you can double it or half it as desired.
Note this is quite a high fat and calorie recipe, so as with all new foods, be sure to check with your vet that it’s suitable for your individual pup first.
3. Mixed Berry Frozen Yogurt KONG Stuffing
Ingredients
Instructions
You can choose any safe berries and mix them together or just stick with one kind.
4. Dog Food KONG Stuffing
Ingredients
Instructions
You can add more treats if you prefer. Freezing the KONG will make the experience last much longer but is not necessary.
5. Red Rover
Ingredients
Instructions
6. Nut Crunch
Ingredients
Instructions
7. Halloween Chicken
Ingredients
Instructions
If you opt for canned pumpkin, avoid canned pumpkin pie filling, as it contains ingredients that can be harmful to dogs. Only use plain canned pumpkin or fresh, unseasoned pumpkin.
8. White and Green Healthy Low-Calorie Filler
Ingredients
Instructions
It's a pretty simple recipe but a good one. If you want to give your dog a treat but are worried about their weight, this is a good option.
9. Chicken Casserole KONG
Ingredients
Instructions
10. Summer Picnic
Ingredients
Instructions
11. Fishy Feast
Ingredients
Instructions
KONG Tips
As previously mentioned, you can use peanut butter to fill the holes in your KONG dog toy. Alternatively, you can place a treat at the bottom of the toy to act as a stopper and then wrap the KONG in cling film before freezing it. This will prevent any spills.
When cleaning your KONG, avoid using harsh cleansers or chemicals. You certainly don’t want your dog to accidentally ingest anything harmful. Just use your usual hot water and soap, and try using a toothbrush to get into the crevices.
If you have more than one dog, ensure you have a KONG for each pup. Forcing them to share one KONG can turn into a resource-guarding situation with a distinct possibility of food aggression.
Make sure each dog has their own suitable KONG (small KONGs for small dogs and large KONGs for large dogs) and separate them when they start to work on them.
Conclusion
Just remember that most of these are considered treats and shouldn’t be given to your dog more than once a week and in small amounts. Treats should only make up 10% of your dog’s daily diet.
The KONG on its own is still an excellent chew for dogs, but the addition of these tasty treats can really occupy a dog for some time.
Bring it with you when you take your dog out. This way, there is something to keep your pup busy when necessary, which can be especially helpful if they tend to get anxious in certain situations.
Be sure to speak to your vet as well. They can give you some input as to what the best and safest treats are for your dog.
Featured Image Credit: Valentina Covalli, Shutterstock
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Kathryn was a librarian in a previous lifetime and is currently a writer about all things pets. When she was a kid, she hoped to work in a zoo or with wildlife in some way, thanks to her love for animals. Unfortunately, she's not strong in the sciences, so she fills her days with researching and writing about all kinds of animals and spends time playing with her adorable but terribly naughty tabby cat, Bella. Kathryn is hoping to add to her family in the near future – maybe another cat or two and a dog.
