Enrichment: Kong Stuffing Pointers
Dogs are genetically programmed to hunt for their food and often enjoy being challenged by the process of finding and removing food that is hidden or stuffed into toys. This process engages them and expends mental energy, which makes for a happy and well-behaved dog.
Dogs who aren’t able to exercise their minds and bodies will commonly engage in undesirable behaviors, such as barking, destroying things within the home or yard, etc. 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?
The 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 Kong entirely with kibble and then give 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 to your dog.
- Level 3: Place a Level 2 Kong in your freezer. Once the top layer is frozen, give 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 to your dog.
- Level 5: Place a Level 4 Kong in your freezer. Once the entire Kong is frozen, give 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 margarine or other container (try Quaker oatmeal cardboard containers) to increase the level of difficulty.
- Hide stuffed Kongs around the house so your dog has to hunt around to find them before being rewarded with a treat.
- Freeze a Kong with “wet” food in it to make it last longer (see filling ideas above).
- You may want to give your dog all of his food this way, especially if they are a particularly energetic dog, or ingest their food too quickly.
- Once your dog has enjoyed his treats, 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.