Crate training woes? Separation anxiety? Speedy eater? If you got a pup who’s going through it (whatever it is), try adding enrichment to her life with a Kong. A Kong’s not just a great tool for chewers and rough players, but also works wonders for woofers who need a little extra somethin’ in their lives to get their minds off the weight of the world. Read on for some Kong stuffing recipes so enrichment time = fun time!
Classic Kong Fillers
There’s a reason these fillings are tried and true. If you’re new to Kongs, start off with the basics before mixing it up with some other Kong filling ideas!
Natural Peanut Butter
Now this one may feel like a no-brainer, but for an easy Kong filler, just use peanut butter! What fluffer could resist? Just make sure your pb is xylitol-free.
Wet Dog Food
For the dog with the refined pawlate, kibble simply won’t do. And rather than plopping wet dog food out on a plate (yuck), add some enrichment to meal time by putting it in a Kong! Even better, you can mix kibble with wet dog food to make sure rover gets a well-balanced meal.
Pumpkin Puree
Your pupper doesn’t need to be named Peter to be a pumpkin-eater. Pumpkin isn’t just for autumn, this superfood is great for your dog’s tummy all year round. Pumpkin puree is perfect for a Kong—just make sure you’re not using pumpkin pie filling that comes with extra additives and spices.
Kong Filler Recipes
Got a picky pooch who’s getting bored with the normal stuff? Switch up her Kong fillings with one of these fun recipes to keep her engaged and add variety to her diet.
Very Berry Summer Smoothie
1 cup fresh strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk (or water)
1 cup plain greek yogurt
Cut the stems off your strawberries, and then toss everything into a blender! Put a snack (or freeze some peanut butter) in the bottom of the Kong to prevent leaks and then split the mixture between your dog’s Kong and a glass for you. Pop his Kong into the freezer and once it’s ready to go, say cheers to a yummy summer smoothie you can share.
Chicken Pot Pie
1/2 cup cooked chicken
1/2 cup mashed potatoes
1/4 cup frozen peas and carrots
Doggo more savory than sweet? Fix her up a chicken Kong pie. Mix the ingredients in a bowl and then spoon them into her Kong. Freeze for an extra challenge or let her eat it as is!
Note: Make sure the mashed potatoes don’t have any extra mix-ins like salt or butter.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Julienned carrots
Unsweetened dried cranberries
Baby spinach
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup apple sauce
Pup’ll be saying many thanks after devouring this Kong recipe. If you’re worried about leaks, put some dry ingredients in first. Then, mix all of your ingredients in a bowl and spoon into a Kong. Fresh or frozen, your buddy will be getting tons of nutrients to keep him strong and healthy.
Kong Filling Tips
Here are a few tips to make Kong filling easier and even more engaging for your number one.
- We know pup’s gonna love her Kong, so why not keep the fun going? Freeze a Kong to make fillings last longer.
- Too much of a good thing can spoil a tummy, so mix doggo’s fave Kong fillings with his kibble or healthy snacks (like beans or carrots) to keep him both engaged and full.
- Leaky bottom? Fill the bottom of your Kong with dry snacks like kibble or treats to help “seal” the hole before filling it with soft ingredients. It’ll also turn her Kong into a puzzle toy as she tries to shake her snacks out at the end. Win win.
What’s your favorite way to fill a Kong? Woof at us in the comments with pup’s favorite recipes and tag us @SidewalkDog on social!
Featured photo: James Barker
Sidewalk Dog’s mission is to help dog parents spend more time with their puppers by discovering and sharing activities they can do and places they can go—together! Sniff out our award-winning newsletter and Instagram.
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