A Classic Kong has been acting as an excellent companion to many dogs in times of boredom, anxiety and loneliness. Did you know, Kong was named so because the creator’s friend thought it looked like an ear plug for King Kong! A product that packs so much punch deserves to be cherished! Gone are the days when a Kong with a teaspoon full of peanut butter could impress your dog. They need more now, much more! Let’s take a look at how to stuff a Kong to get the most out of it. PS – for all of those wondering, this is not a sponsored post. Just like my dog, I share an unconditional love for the product!
Having said that, this post does contain some affiliate links that may help me earn commissions and thereby support my blog.
The vast uses of a Classic Kong
One of the best features of Kong is its multi-dimensional personality! Most of you might have picked this toy up from the store thinking you’d use it to entertain your dog for a couple of minutes every now and then. However, there are more than one ways to engage your dog with this versatile toy, such as
- a crate engagement toy
- a fetch toy
- meal holder
- treat dispenser
- scent detection toy
- a frozen teether
- a calming chew
- DIY tether Kong (by tying it to the end of a pole)
- A pinata with a Kong – a Koñgata (By feeding a rope through the KONG and setting up the line tied to two poles at a height slightly higher than your dog’s head in a standing position)
- A slow feeder for gobblers
Click here for a quick guide on how to use a Classic Kong to make the most out of it.
What is the best thing to fill a Kong with?
The answer to this question highly depends on your dog’s food preferences and their willingness to engage with the Kong. You could go for something as simple as smearing the toy with some peanut butter or you could get creative with multiple ingredients.
Keep in mind your dog’s past experience with the toy, ability to engage in mental stimulation activities as well as physical attributes. For example, breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs may find it difficult to reach all the way to the bottom of the Kong.
Experiment with kibbles, raw or cooked meat, moist treats and different textures of food to find the sweet spot for your dog.
How to fill a Kong for puppies: Beginner edition
Puppies have a short attention span and a big world to explore. There are high chances of your puppy getting frustrated and giving up on the Kong if they don’t figure it out in the first couple of minutes of the interaction.
Make it super easy for your pup to figure out how to get treats out of the Kong the first few times they play with it. Doing so will encourage them to stick it out when the challenge becomes difficult.
Fill the Kong with some kibbles and treats the first few times in a way that it easily falls out of it. Once your puppy consistently shows interest in the toy, raise the difficulty a notch by locking the kibbles into the Kong with some yogurt or peanut butter smeared at the opening.
Allow your puppy to engage with the Kong for some extra time in the crate by freezing it for a couple of hours. Letting your pup engage with the frozen Kong in the crate will not only add to crate stimulation, but will also help build their attention span towards such stimulating activities.
How to stuff a Kong: Advanced edition
The advanced edition on how to stuff a Kong covers a wide variety of ingredients, recipes and styles. Adopt and adapt your own style and don’t forget to have fun with your dog while doing so.
A Kong, depending on the size, allows you to layer up your dog’s meals for some added enrichment and stimulation. Layering different textures of edible goodness not only tantalizes your dog’s tastebuds, but also keeps them invested in the toy for a longer period of time.
The first thing to remember when layering the Kong is that there are two holes in this toy, one at each end. It is designed so to prevent suction during play. Hence, while stuffing the Kong, it is important to leave room for a little air at both ends. Several people insert a straw to go through and through after stuffing the Kong to ensure the passage of air at both ends.
Here’s an image to help you understand the art of layering a Kong.
Let’s get into the deets of the layers in the order in which you would be filling them.
The After Party
It’s called the after party because this is the tastiest, most fun part of Kong which your dog would reach after finishing everything else that is stuffed in it. The after-party is located at the narrower end of the toy. Since it is the most difficult part to reach, it must be something high-value such as liver treats, cooked meat, boiled chicken, raw meat, etc. that would encourage your dog to stick it till the end.
The meal
This is the meat of the matter. After stuffing the high-value treats at the bottom, we stuff the main meal in. This could be kibbles, rice, veggies, and anything else that makes up your dog’s fundamental diet.
Something healthy
After the meals comes something healthy like fruit mix or veggie mix. This helps in adding a layer of texture to an otherwise drab kibble-based diet. If you have managed to block the bottom plug of the Kong, you can also fill in some broth for some extra hydration. Some other things to add as a part of this healthy layer are –
- boiled carrots
- mashed sweet potato
- pumpkin puree
- cucumbers
- boiled greens such as broccoli, spinach, kale mixed in coconut oil and turmeric
- fruit mix
Taste teaser
Taste teaser is the last thing we stuff and usually, the first thing that your dog tastes when engaging with the Kong. This must be something enticing to encourage your dog to keep exploring the toy. For this layer, you could use
- Mashed banana
- Boiled eggs
- Mashed blueberries
- boiled chicken mixed with some coconut oil
- applesauce
- Sardines
You could also consider inserting something bigger that is visible to your dog’s eye from the outside, such as
- chicken leg
- duck feet
- bully stick
- pig ear and so on
This takes the styling and appearance of the Kong up a notch, increases engagement duration and makes the activity a lot more exciting for your dog. Lastly, they make your Kong art look alive!
The plugs
The plugs are the holes at the ends of the Kong. The bigger hole serves as the entry point for your dog to all the goodness inside. The smaller hole is primarily to avoid suction during engagement. Plug the hole with something creamy in texture to lock all the layers in while making it easy for your dog to lick it off and get started with the puzzle. If you close the plug and freeze the Kong, you can make the challenge more enticing and tedious for your dog. Some other plug ingredients to use are –
- peanut butter
- cottage cheese
- greek yogurt
- chicken paste
- Pate style wet food
How to fill a Kong so it lasts
Layering a Kong is the best way to make it last long. Fill the Kong bit by bit with different textures and ingredients of food such as cooked or raw meat, treats, yogurt, broth, fruit/ veggie mix etc. Remember to adjust the portion sizes based on your dog’s size and dietary needs. Alternate between wet and dry ingredients to create a more challenging experience.
If your dog has a great deal of experience with the toy, use a spoon or your finger to press the ingredients down and fill any gaps between layers. This will help the Kong stay packed and make it more challenging for your dog to empty.
How do you stuff and freeze Kong?
A great idea when freezing your Kong is to freeze several of them together with different ingredients stuffed in each one of them. An empty egg carton makes a great option to hold several Kongs together and that too in a vertical position, ensuring no mess in the freezer.
When freezing the Kong, avoid putting anything too liquidy into it such as chicken broth or water. It may leak out while storing and may create a mess in your freezer.
Make sure to freeze the Kong until all the ingredients are frozen solid. This will increase the time it takes for your dog to empty the Kong and ensure extra enrichment, especially when your dog is required to self-engage or is inside the crate.
Long-lasting frozen Kong ingredient combos
Alternatives to Kong
It is very rightly said that you can’t make everyone happy. This quote stands true for humans, animals as well as the Kong! While some dogs may enjoy this product to the fullest, the Kong may fail to impress several other dogs. If your dog is one of those who doesn’t really care for this toy, there are some alternatives you could try.
1. WestPaw Toppl
- Durable and fit for aggressive chewers
- Easy to grasp
- Has a wider opening, so fit for flat-faced dogs
2. Kong Wobbler
- Provides more freedom of movement
- Ensures physical as well as mental stimulation
- This fillable toy wobbles and spins, making it a lot of fun for dogs
- Durable
Regardless of how much your dog loves the Kong or how safely they have always interacted with it, always supervise them during playtime and inspect toys regularly for signs of wear and tear to prevent choking hazards.