Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:32 am Post subject: Any ideas to make Kongs last please.........!
I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas, tips etc to make Kongs last a little bit longer than 2 minutes! Our youngest Lab, Carlton, literally gets through them so fast it's unreal, and I'd like to try and keep him occupied for a little bit longer We have several types of Kong large and small, the traditional ones (black, supposedly for the power chewers!) and the shaped ones, which I stuff with treats and sometimes a little peanut butter which he loves, but they are gone in no time Thanks!
Thanks Genevieve and Nikki, never thought about freezing them what a great idea. Do you tend to fill them with any kind of treat, or the Kong specific ones?
Plug the end of the Kong with a treat. Turn it upside down in a cup. Fill it full of chicken gravy and freeze. Try Cat food as well.
WARNING - Frozen kong can get messy and are recommended for outdoor use only.
SPANISH KONG
1 egg, grated cheese and any vegetables your dog likes.
Scramble the egg and fold in the vegetables. Squash into the Kong. Sprinkle some cheese over the top and microwave for about 20 seconds to seal the ingredients. Cool thoroughly.
WARNING - Cheese becomes very hot in the microwave.
KONG AU GRATIN
Mix cheese pieces or cheese spread with your dogs usual dried dog food and press into the Kong. Microwave until the cheese starts to melt and bind the food together. Let it cool to a safe temperature. Use a cup to contain the Kong when in the microwave.
NOUVELLE KONGS
Smear peanut butter or Marmite inside the cavity of the Kong for a quick and minimalist alternative.
TANTALISERS
Cheese, Chicken skin, Bacon, Pate, Cooked lamb's liver, meaty canned cat food. - Use very sparingly and make sure this treat blocks the top hole so that none of your other ingredients fall out.
MAIN COURSES
Small dog biscuits, bread sticks, garlic bread, pizza crusts, carrot batons - These treats should be wedged into place. Experiment with different brands of dog biscuits and look at small dog sizes which are very versatile. You want to leave lots of interesting gaps. some biscuits should be harder to get out than others.
INSTANT REWARDS
Freeze-dried liver, cat treats, Chopped sausage, grated cheese. - These need to be small, flavoursome goodies. the second your dog nudges the Kong, some of these should fall out to get him hooked. If they are all dispersed immediately, its going to be a bit dull for your dog - so make sure you shake the Kong as you're filling it so some bits end up working their way into all the crevices created by the wedged biscuits.
BANANA-RAMA
1 fresh banana · 2 tbs wheat germ · 1 tbs plain yoghurt (can use your pet's favorite flavor as well) - Mash up the banana, add wheat germ and yogurt. Mash all ingredients together and use spoon to add to Kong. Freeze for 4 hours.
CHEESY DENTAL KONG DELIGHT
3 slices of your pet's favorite cheese - Just place the 3 slices of cheese directly onto the grooves of your pet's Dental Kong (if model has rope - make sure cheese does not get onto it). Melt in microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Give to pet after it cools.
PHILLY STEAK
Steak scraps · 1 ounce cream cheese - Place small scraps of the steak inside Kong toy. Spread cream cheese in the large hole to hold scraps.
FRUIT SALAD
Apple and carrot chunks, 1/4th of a banana - Place apples and carrots into Kong. Mush the banana in the large hole to hold fruit in place. You can include other fruits and vegetables, such as orange slices, peach, nectarine chunks, celery sticks, broccoli, cauliflower, tomato and black olive mixture.
MAC 'N CHEESE
Leftover macaroni and cheese · small cube of Velveeta · appropriate Kong Toy Melt Velveeta in microwave until gooey. Add mac 'n cheese to Kong Toy. Pour heated Velveeta into Kong. Make sure it has cooled before giving to your pet.
FAMOUS RECIPES
AUNT JEANNIE'S ARCHEOLOGY KONG (for advanced dogs) LAYER ONE (deepest): roasted, unsalted cashews · freeze dried liver bits LAYER TWO: dog kibble, cookies or liver biscotti · Cheerios · sugar-free, salt-free peanut butter · dried banana chips, apples and apricots LAYER THREE: carrot sticks · turkey or leftover ravioli or tortellini · Kong Toy (the larger the better!) Pack as tightly as possible. The last item inserted should be an apricot or piece of ravioli, presenting a smooth "finish" under the main opening. LIGHT VERSION: substitute crumbled rice cakes for cashews, Caesar croutons for freeze-dried liver, fat free cream cheese for peanut butter. - by Jean Donaldson
FROZEN JERKY POPS
Peanut butter · bouillon · Jerky Strips · Water · appropriate Kong Toy · muffin tin Smear a small amount of peanut butter over small hole in your Kong Toy. Fill the cool water and add a pinch of bouillon. Place a Jerky Stick inside Kong Toy and freeze. This can also be put (once frozen) in a children's size swimming pool for a fun day of fishing for your pet. - by Terry Ryan
KONG ON A ROPE: Dry dog kibble · appropriate Kong Toy · Rope Take the rope, pull it through the Kong Toy and knot it. Hang this upside down from a tree, deck or post. The small hole should be facing the ground. Take the kibble and fill the Kong Toy. Make the toy hang just low enough that it is out of your dog's reach. The dog will spend hours trying to retrieve the kibble from the Kong Toy. At the end of the day, take the remaining kibble and give to your pet as a reward. This is advanced work for your dog (knowing my lot they would pull the tree down to get at the treat!)
That's fab, thanks for all the ideas! Actually making me feel quite hungry Definitely want to give the banana ones a go. Isn't it typical we have none in the fruit bowl at the moment when usually we have loads that end up going bad!!
I use smooth peanut butter to plug the small end of the kong, then fill with either fat free yoghurt, or cottage cheese. I occasionally mix in some blueberries, small diced pieces of apple etc. on the off-chance it makes it more interesting for him.
Put something inside that you have to squeeze in so that it can't roll straight out again. eg. a chunk of jumbo sausage or carrot - it goes in through the hole but doesn't come out as easily. Large biscuits or those chunks of dried fish skins can be pushed in but won't come out easily too.
Or put some kibble in the bottom and wedge it in with a couple of biscuits (I use pets at home small bone shaped biscuits - put one across the top of the food, then put another one across that so they are in a cross shape and nothing can fall out).
A small jar of cheap meat paste (about 20p from the supermarket) can be smeared around the inside for a good licking session. Banana is good too.
Coco likes chicken jelly kongs. Boil up a chicken carcass (bones, skin and bits you don't eat) in a couple of pints of water for about 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and strain. When it has almost completely cooled plug the small end of your kong with cheese, potato or something similar (it might be worth using a bit of foil or clingfilm to help prevent leaks too but remember to remove it before you give it to your dog). Fill with the cooled chicken juice and chill or freeze. Chilling overnight will give you a jelly filled kong and freezing gives you a much longer lasting chicken lolly!
Ideally you need at least 2 kongs - one to eat and one in the freezer.
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We have several types of Kong large and small, the traditional ones (black, supposedly for the power chewers!) and the shaped ones, which I stuff with treats and sometimes a little peanut butter which he loves, but they are gone in no time 
Thanks!
