Enrichment: Kong Stuffing Pointers
Dogs are naturally inclined to hunt for their food, so they often enjoy being challenged by the process of finding and gathering food! By using toys for fun food challenges, we can engage them and expend their mental energy, which makes for a happy and well-behaved dog.
Dogs who don’t have the opportunity to exercise their minds and bodies will commonly engage in undesirable behaviors, such as barking or damaging things within the home or yard. Our pets rely on us to make sure they receive the stimulation they need, and luckily, a stuffed Kong provides an excellent — and easy — opportunity for mental stimulation.
Which Kong Should You Get?
Kong’s product line has different versions for puppies (pink and blue), adults (red), seniors (purple) and strong chewers (black), to make this activity as safe as possible for your dog’s dental and gastrointestinal health. Consider your dog’s experience with a Kong and their temperament: Is your dog a large, strong chewer who tends to tear through things they can chew quickly? Do they eat non-food items? If there’s any risk that your dog could eat all or parts of the Kong, supervise them very closely or consider not providing this toy at all.
Tips for Stuffing a Kong
While many people simply put a few dog cookies in a Kong, there is so much more you can do that will require much more engagement — and be much more fun! Start with Level 1 and work your way up. The levels are designed to decrease any stress or frustration for your dog. If you skip ahead and immediately give your animal a Level 5 Kong, they may give up and lose interest.
- Level 1: Fill the Kong entirely with kibble and then give it to your dog.
- Level 2: Fill the Kong three quarters of the way with kibble. Fill the last quarter with wet food, organic pumpkin or plain yogurt and then give it to your dog.
- Level 3: Place a Level 2 Kong in your freezer. Once the top layer is frozen, give it to your dog.
- Level 4: Mix wet food, organic pumpkin or plain yogurt with dry food. Fill the entire Kong with the mixture and then give it to your dog.
- Level 5: Place a Level 4 Kong in your freezer. Once the entire Kong is frozen, give it to your dog. This version may keep your dog busy for up to 45 minutes!
After Your Kong Is Stuffed
How you provide the Kong is as important as what you put in it.
- Think about how you might make it a bit (or a lot) more challenging for your dog to find!
- Wrap the Kong in a cloth or put it in an old, clean container (try Quaker oatmeal cardboard containers) to increase the level of difficulty.
- Hide stuffed Kongs around the house so your dog gets to hunt around to find them before being rewarded with a treat.
- You may want to give your dog their full meal this way, especially if they are a particularly energetic dog, or ingest their food too quickly.
- Once your dog has enjoyed their treat, don’t forget to clean the Kong regularly! Use warm water and soap with a bottle brush or old toothbrush, or put it in the top rack of your dishwasher.
Need More?
Check out more stuffing ideas and recipes from Kong!