The Amazing Frozen KONG! Recipes for Relaxation
|
You’ve probably seen me mention this before… one of the best ways to help your dog enjoy when you leave, learn to love his crate, learn to settle when you are being sedentary, and develop good house manners is by taking his need to chew out productively through a stuffed frozen Kong. This amazing vessel provides positive reinforcement for laying calmly and focusing on something other than you or the other items in your home. But I often get asked, what do you stuff it with? |
My answer… a variety of items that will make an almost meatball-like consistency that can be stuffed to fill the Kong, then frozen to create a puppy popsicle within the cool durable rubber lining. I prefer whole-food ingredients, such as sweet potato and cooked ground turkey, that provide nutritional content to your dog and won’t pack on the pounds, like many of the processed and artificially flavored items on the market today.
|
There are many “human” foods, such as fruits and vegetables, that are used in holistic and organic dog foods that provide important vitamins and minerals to keep your dog happy and healthy. But you hear the myths about human food – if I give my dog that, won’t he start to think that he has a right to that food and will begin to beg? The good news is, that all depends on YOU. If you do not feed your dog these human foods from your table or counter, or when you are eating them, and instead set correct leadership boundaries for your dog that these foods are only given under certain circumstances and when they are not being demanded, you shouldn’t have a problem.
|
|
The recipes below include some of my most common recommendations but remember – each dog is an individual so what flavor one dog likes another may not. My dog loves banana, while my parents’ dog is not a fan. Try a few different flavors to see which your dog enjoys the most. Some dogs also have a hard time processing lactose (resulting in vomiting and diarrhea) so if that’s your dog, I would avoid dairy products. When trying new ingredients your dog may not have had before, begin by introducing only a little at a time, just to make sure the dog doesn't have an unpleasant reaction; if he exhibits any symptoms of an upset stomach, discontinue use of that ingredient for a while to let your dog's stomach settle, then reintroduce it in a smaller amount. If your dog still has problems processing that ingredient, stop using that ingredient and try something else.
I often stuff several Kongs at once and keep them in the freezer for the week so they are there whenever I need them. It may mean buying a few extra, but in my opinion that could be some of the best money you could ever spend on dog toys! As with anything, these stuffed Kongs should be given in moderation – not 3 a day – and should not be a substitute for your dog’s regular meal (though you can cut back a small amount of kibble at mealtime to make up for the extra calories).
So get a few Kongs together, stuff with these fun recipes or create your own (just beware of ingredients that can be toxic), freeze away, and watch your dog bring out the angel that we (sometimes secretly, haha) all know he is!
(Amount of each ingredient varies with size of Kong and how many you are stuffing at once. Just mix them all together and stuff into the Kong!)
I often stuff several Kongs at once and keep them in the freezer for the week so they are there whenever I need them. It may mean buying a few extra, but in my opinion that could be some of the best money you could ever spend on dog toys! As with anything, these stuffed Kongs should be given in moderation – not 3 a day – and should not be a substitute for your dog’s regular meal (though you can cut back a small amount of kibble at mealtime to make up for the extra calories).
So get a few Kongs together, stuff with these fun recipes or create your own (just beware of ingredients that can be toxic), freeze away, and watch your dog bring out the angel that we (sometimes secretly, haha) all know he is!
(Amount of each ingredient varies with size of Kong and how many you are stuffing at once. Just mix them all together and stuff into the Kong!)
|
Thanksgiving Dinner Sweet potato, cooked and mashed Ground turkey, chopped and cooked (liquid fat removed) Cranberries, cooked and smashed (no sugar added) |
|
|
Nutter Butter
Banana, slightly smashed Apple, peeled and finely chopped Just a bit of peanut butter, natural and free of artificial sweeteners (particularly xylitol which is toxic to dogs!) |
|
|
Tutti Fruitti
Your dog’s kibble, soaked in water until it’s swollen and mushy, then drained Nonfat Greek yogurt - the thick, real kind Blueberries Seedless watermelon, chopped or slightly smashed |
|
|
Pot Pie
Sweet potato, cooked and mashed Carrots, cooked or raw, finely chopped or shredded Peas, cooked or frozen Chicken, cooked and chopped (unseasoned) |
|
|
Baked Potato
Potato, cooked and mashed (unseasoned, no butter) Turkey bacon, broken into pieces - natural, no preservatives, low-salt and grilled (not fried in oil!) Cheddar cheese (just a small amount) |
|
|
Veggie Delight
Zucchini, cooked and mashed Carrots, cooked or raw, finely chopped or shredded Celery, cooked or raw, finely chopped Peas, cooked or frozen |
|
If you would like help understanding how to use the Kong in conjunction with other methods to decrease separation anxiety, increase independence, teach settling and self-control, or to develop good house manners, contact Maria at (845) 549-0896 or [email protected].
Written by Maria Huntoon, Maria G. Huntoon Canine Consulting Services
