Thank you so much for this video! I’m an auntie to two dogs and I got my kong toys in the mail today, just in time for Easter gifts lol. I definitely needed some more ideas for stuffing them. My sister has a serious nut allergy, so I used light cream cheese and a little bit of lactose free yogurt instead of peanut butter and the girls both LOVED it.
There will always be some people who tell you it isn’t safe to leave a dog alone with one. People have stories about dogs getting them stuck with their tongue suctioned in. But I’ve worked at several shelters where it’s the norm to give out hundreds of these a day and have never seen or heard of any bad incidents. In my opinion it’s a low risk, high reward situation, but it depends on how risk averse you are I suppose. I would suggest only giving them to your dog under supervision the first 5-10 times to make sure they are engaging with it safely before testing the waters with solo Kong time.
@@K9ofMine Hey May & K9 of Mine. GREAT video!!! ...I'm new to this, but on this topic it seems there are 3 basic safety concerns, in this order if I'm not mistaken: (1) Don't give a big dog a small kong. A little dog can have a smallish kong, but not a medium or bigger dog...always err on getting the next size up so it's a little big for their mouth and reduces the risk of choking on it. (2) What you stuff the kong with, and the amount, is important. ...ie, if your peanut butter has xylotol, or something that can choke them or cause any other adverse reaction for your particular little buddy, you need to be right there to help (esp. the first 5-10x like K9oMine said). And don't pack it 100% full (helping avoid the rare suction issue). Watch out for anything that makes them hyper, sick, gag, sneeze, etc. (3) Feeding your dog completely unattended is a little risky, so be careful of a "set it & forget it" mentality if you're not confident of what you've left for your dog (size of kong, newly introduced type of food, etc). Oh yeah, and check your dog's kong toy daily to make sure it hasn't started tearing or breaking down, which would obviously become a hazard and need to be discarded. That's 3a. Cheers! Our dog started her black kong toy/feeder yesterday (after some research) and it's by far the best investment made so far for a chewing, digging, jumping, excited young dog that needs to chill out.
Other tips: Puppies often need to be taught to use a Kong, so start with easy mode first: dry kibble with no plug. Gradually increase the difficulty. I started with a fully stuffed frozen Kong first thing and my puppy gave up on it very quickly, so I learned that the hard way! She still won't finish a whole Kong if it's really stuck to the inside. I like to save my treat crumbs from the bottom of every empty bag, and occasionally use it to season my puppy's meals. She loves it! The crumbs would be good to sprinkle inside Kongs, too. Cream cheese is great is your dog doesn't like peanut butter, or just to switch things up a bit! Sodium-free broth and bouillon is available, you just have to look for it. Dogs should not have citrus. Go sparingly on the Kong treats for stuffing. They are like junk food for dogs. So they are ok in moderation, just not every day. For puppies especially, go with high-protein stuffers like wet puppy food, cheeses, and peanut butter. Freeze-dried beef liver is a fantastic single-ingredient, high-protein, high-value training treat.
This is such a great explainer video. Thank you. I have one questions, though: Does this make a mess? Or is the dog eating it all up before it hits the floor/rugs? Thank you for your time.
This is definitely a concern a lot of folks have. Personally my dog never makes a mess because he’s really getting in there and getting all the food without it even getting a chance to escape the toy. But if you’re concerned about mess, I’d just give it to them in the kitchen, bathroom, or someplace else with tile floors or flooring that’s easy to clean!
I love your videos, thanks for all the great content! I just wanted to let you know that oranges and all other citruses are very bad for dogs! Thanks for all of the great ideas though!
I’m so confused. I thought the smaller hole was supposed to be kept open at all times but food/sealants are being applied or stuffed down all the way that it covers the hole 😫 what’s the rule of thumb? Only if it’s liquid I need to put straw ? What am I not understanding here 😢
I just wanted to say it looks like you're using pumpkin PIE filling instead of plain canned pumpkin which is what should be used to avoid all of those pie spices. Good video!
Nope, it's just canned pumpkin puree. But I can see why it's confusing since the brand is called "One-Pie" ;D Thanks for checking, gotta keep the doggos safe!
I got my dog the kong quest and I fill it with peanut butter and I also shove a chicken jerky strip inside. The shape is perfect for that. He loves it and it keeps him busy for about an hour or so. Also I noticed in your video you mentioned peanut butter that’s made for dogs. I bought it before when I first got my dog and I realized It’s pretty unnecessary and overpriced in my opinion. I just get limited ingredient natural peanut butter from the store or I go to the store and get the freshly ground peanut butter that’s in the big machine. That way I know for 100% certainty it is only peanuts if that’s all I want. It’s also nice and thick that way too and it’s more of a challenge for my dog to get it out of his kong or his lick mat.
Hey Jess - that sounds so tasty, your dog is very lucky! And yes, any peanut butter that doesn't contain xylitol is A-OK. Ideally, just peanuts and oil is best. Grinding your own is a great idea!
They can usually get most of the food in there - it probably depends on how dedicated your dog is. My food-motivated guy usually gets every morsel! Kongs are dishwasher safe but I find the best method is to usually soak in warm soapy water and rinse to get out any food lodged in there, and then optionally put it in the dishwasher.
This looks great but I'm not understanding how the dog is able to eat everything that's inside the Kong seeing that the opening is so small. Please explain.
After you fill kong with any recipe, do you always freeze them before giving to the dog? Confused. (it seems it will get all over the place if you don't?????
Yes I always freeze them. If you don’t, they can definitely be pretty messy, but some folks gate off their kitchen and give their dogs a non-frozen stuffed Kong. The tile floor makes for relatively easy clean up!
Yes, there are some hysterics around dogs supposedly getting their tongues stuck in the Kong due to suction. I've heard a few tales about it but I've never known anyone who it happened to (even people who give their dogs several Kongs a day). I don't think it's very common or something to worry too much about, but if you're super risk aversive a straw might give you peace of mind, as it prevents any kind of air suction from developing. Also, if the Kong is filled with a lot of different textures and not just straight liquid, I think that pretty much negates much of the risks too.
i'm trying to get a kong box subscription. when i click on the link you provided, it takes me to a vet subscription for $9.98/month. I'm not interested in that. Can you tell me how I get the Kong box? thank you. steven j champlin
You can do it either way! I do find if you soak the kibble in water for 10 minutes or so and then put it in the Kong and freeze it, it's less messy than adding water into the Kong itself.
How long can you keep them in freezer before using? I never thought about it but larger ones I save for when we are gone for a few hours and that might be a week or so.
I couldn't say for sure, but probably a good long while. I'd say a couple of weeks should be no issue at all! My mom has made some for when Remy visits and those can sit in her freezer for weeks at a time without issue.
Theoretically just pull it out? You might have to let us soften a bit. Honestly I don’t do liquid that much, usually just mushy wet stuff and there’s enough air in there that the suction isn’t really a concern
With Kongs you can usually go bigger safely, but going smaller is dangerous. If he's a pup he might have just not quite figured out how to access what's at the bottom!
I just give my dog about 1/4 less food at meal times for every loaded Kong he gets. But I'm sure you can find a more reliable substitute or calorie count swap depending on what you're putting in the Kong. I just feed a bit less and if I notice my dog gaining weight, I might cut back on breakfast and dinner feeds a bit more.
It's not a silly question at all! Kibble is quite porous, so when the kibble expands after being in water and then freezes it tends to defrost pretty quickly and gets mushy fast. And on top of that the kibble pieces are big enough that they're pretty easy for a dog to chew, even frozen. But if you're concerned, you could always just leave the frozen Kong out for a 5-10 minutes before giving it to your dog, that way you know the kibble has gotten a chance to soften.
Oh my! He sounds like a tough kiddo. I will say one thing to be aware of is that no toy is really chew-proof completely. Your best bet is to not leave him alone unattended with a Kong - try to take it away shortly after he's done eating the goodies out of it!
Be carful giving your dog to many carbs . My little guy just died from a diabetic crisis after 14 years . It happened so suddenly and I’m extremely broken hearted. Watch to see if your dog is peeing more frequently or not feeling well after eating. Bring them to the vet right away please don’t put it off .
@@zachnuketown ya it’s just the way it happened . He died 2 months after a forced vaccine. They made me give it to him to take his bad teeth out . 3 weeks later he was growing something out of his eye then died from a diabetic crisis. He was completely healthy and I’ll never vaccinate any dog I’m responsible for unless really high risk for some reason.
My dog loves the Kong Wobbler! It can hold over a cup of food, so definitely a lot more than four pieces of kibble ;) It may sound boring to you, but it's super satisfying for dogs. You can imagine it kind of like doing a jigsaw puzzle or Wordle for us humans.
Raw potatoes can have high levels of solanine, which isn't great for dogs. But cooked potatoes and sweet potatoes are fine since the solanine levels are much lower.
Dog-on-dog play is something I still struggle with a lot -- it is SO nuanced and even the smallest gestures can mean a lot. And since Remy doesn't play with other dogs, I don't get much practice. I bet if you watch your own dogs though and build that experience of observing your own dogs, you'll learn a ton!
We have two Kongs for our dog and stuff them with similar products, but this is quite a brazen commercial disguised as independent advice from dog trainers.
Oh wow, I’m sorry you feel that way! This isn’t intended as an ad at all. And I assure you, no one paid me to make this video. Just some really great enrichment options with KONGs that I use on a daily basis with my own dog. There are some other similar products out there that can accomplish the same goal, but KONGs are really the most popular and most common (and most affordable) tool for these kinds of enrichment activities.
Most dogs tolerate peanut butter just fine. Not sure what you’re talking about. Are you maybe thinking of pancreatic cancer? Definitely fatty foods can contribute to that, but there’s usually a pre-existing issue or genetic condition.
Thank you so much for this video! I’m an auntie to two dogs and I got my kong toys in the mail today, just in time for Easter gifts lol. I definitely needed some more ideas for stuffing them.
My sister has a serious nut allergy, so I used light cream cheese and a little bit of lactose free yogurt instead of peanut butter and the girls both LOVED it.
I will definitely check out the Kong line when at the pet shop.
They’re great!
Wow this is full of great ideas! Thanks 😊
You're so welcome!
Were figuring out Zuko’s allergies so the veggie kong tips were very helpfull
Thankss🫶🏽💪🏽
Hope our great fire lord is doing ok w his allergies! 🔥🙏
What a cool neck bracelet the dog has. Love the colors!
Thanks!
Thank you for being pretty thorough, and all the extra ideas.
This was so informative 👏🏾 thank you. I just got my pup her first Kong. She loves it
Yay! I’m glad she likes it
So glad I can give this to my cutie when I leave for work. I didn’t know if it was safe for her.
There will always be some people who tell you it isn’t safe to leave a dog alone with one. People have stories about dogs getting them stuck with their tongue suctioned in. But I’ve worked at several shelters where it’s the norm to give out hundreds of these a day and have never seen or heard of any bad incidents. In my opinion it’s a low risk, high reward situation, but it depends on how risk averse you are I suppose.
I would suggest only giving them to your dog under supervision the first 5-10 times to make sure they are engaging with it safely before testing the waters with solo Kong time.
@@K9ofMine Hey May & K9 of Mine. GREAT video!!! ...I'm new to this, but on this topic it seems there are 3 basic safety concerns, in this order if I'm not mistaken: (1) Don't give a big dog a small kong. A little dog can have a smallish kong, but not a medium or bigger dog...always err on getting the next size up so it's a little big for their mouth and reduces the risk of choking on it. (2) What you stuff the kong with, and the amount, is important. ...ie, if your peanut butter has xylotol, or something that can choke them or cause any other adverse reaction for your particular little buddy, you need to be right there to help (esp. the first 5-10x like K9oMine said). And don't pack it 100% full (helping avoid the rare suction issue). Watch out for anything that makes them hyper, sick, gag, sneeze, etc. (3) Feeding your dog completely unattended is a little risky, so be careful of a "set it & forget it" mentality if you're not confident of what you've left for your dog (size of kong, newly introduced type of food, etc).
Oh yeah, and check your dog's kong toy daily to make sure it hasn't started tearing or breaking down, which would obviously become a hazard and need to be discarded. That's 3a. Cheers! Our dog started her black kong toy/feeder yesterday (after some research) and it's by far the best investment made so far for a chewing, digging, jumping, excited young dog that needs to chill out.
Other tips:
Puppies often need to be taught to use a Kong, so start with easy mode first: dry kibble with no plug. Gradually increase the difficulty. I started with a fully stuffed frozen Kong first thing and my puppy gave up on it very quickly, so I learned that the hard way! She still won't finish a whole Kong if it's really stuck to the inside.
I like to save my treat crumbs from the bottom of every empty bag, and occasionally use it to season my puppy's meals. She loves it! The crumbs would be good to sprinkle inside Kongs, too.
Cream cheese is great is your dog doesn't like peanut butter, or just to switch things up a bit!
Sodium-free broth and bouillon is available, you just have to look for it.
Dogs should not have citrus.
Go sparingly on the Kong treats for stuffing. They are like junk food for dogs. So they are ok in moderation, just not every day. For puppies especially, go with high-protein stuffers like wet puppy food, cheeses, and peanut butter. Freeze-dried beef liver is a fantastic single-ingredient, high-protein, high-value training treat.
Great tips, thanks for sharing!
Really great, im definitely gonna use some of these!
This is such a great explainer video. Thank you. I have one questions, though: Does this make a mess? Or is the dog eating it all up before it hits the floor/rugs? Thank you for your time.
This is definitely a concern a lot of folks have. Personally my dog never makes a mess because he’s really getting in there and getting all the food without it even getting a chance to escape the toy.
But if you’re concerned about mess, I’d just give it to them in the kitchen, bathroom, or someplace else with tile floors or flooring that’s easy to clean!
Very detailed, great video!
This helped more than veryy welll!
Great video. I really needed this!
Great idea for the bully stick and thanks for the tip about the straw. Didn't know that
Awesome news
I love your videos, thanks for all the great content! I just wanted to let you know that oranges and all other citruses are very bad for dogs! Thanks for all of the great ideas though!
I’m so confused. I thought the smaller hole was supposed to be kept open at all times but food/sealants are being applied or stuffed down all the way that it covers the hole 😫 what’s the rule of thumb? Only if it’s liquid I need to put straw ? What am I not understanding here 😢
2:29 how long should you freeze it for? Sorry if this is a silly question 🙋♂️
Not silly at all! I would say 6-8 hours ideally to get everything fully frozen.
Are they able to eventually reach to the bottom and eat everything in the Kong?
Yes, usually. Most doggos have some pretty impressive tongues!
I just wanted to say it looks like you're using pumpkin PIE filling instead of plain canned pumpkin which is what should be used to avoid all of those pie spices. Good video!
Nope, it's just canned pumpkin puree. But I can see why it's confusing since the brand is called "One-Pie" ;D Thanks for checking, gotta keep the doggos safe!
I got my dog the kong quest and I fill it with peanut butter and I also shove a chicken jerky strip inside. The shape is perfect for that. He loves it and it keeps him busy for about an hour or so. Also I noticed in your video you mentioned peanut butter that’s made for dogs. I bought it before when I first got my dog and I realized It’s pretty unnecessary and overpriced in my opinion. I just get limited ingredient natural peanut butter from the store or I go to the store and get the freshly ground peanut butter that’s in the big machine. That way I know for 100% certainty it is only peanuts if that’s all I want. It’s also nice and thick that way too and it’s more of a challenge for my dog to get it out of his kong or his lick mat.
Hey Jess - that sounds so tasty, your dog is very lucky! And yes, any peanut butter that doesn't contain xylitol is A-OK. Ideally, just peanuts and oil is best. Grinding your own is a great idea!
I just wanted to say I just found your channel and it's amazing. Thank you for all your tutorials!
Thanks!
Are the dogs able to reach all the way into the Kong to get all of the goodies? Also, what is the best way to clean the Kong when they are done?
Same question here. My Aussie cant reach more than middle of the Large-sized kong but also cant get inside in Medium sized.
They can usually get most of the food in there - it probably depends on how dedicated your dog is. My food-motivated guy usually gets every morsel! Kongs are dishwasher safe but I find the best method is to usually soak in warm soapy water and rinse to get out any food lodged in there, and then optionally put it in the dishwasher.
I use dawn spray and a toothbrush to wash the inside of the Kong
How do you keep the broth from leaking out into the cup?
It usually does leak out a bit, but at a certain point it won't rise any further (because of liquid science? Not sure, haha)
This looks great but I'm not understanding how the dog is able to eat everything that's inside the Kong seeing that the opening is so small. Please explain.
They use their tongue to lick and get out every morsel. That's why it's great for keeping your dog engaged and occupied - it usually takes a while!
I did not see those caps for Kong you showed. Is that made by the same company because I could not find on their website
Found them, they are actually called marsthon 2pk. Expensive treats by the way
Yeah they aren't cheap but they're fun for a special goodie!
Is that long the correct size for the dog in the video, it looks so small?
It's definitely on the smaller size for him, but still not small enough to be a choking hazard. That's our snack size ;)
Thank you! 🐾🐾
You are welcome!
After you fill kong with any recipe, do you always freeze them before giving to the dog? Confused. (it seems it will get all over the place if you don't?????
Yes I always freeze them. If you don’t, they can definitely be pretty messy, but some folks gate off their kitchen and give their dogs a non-frozen stuffed Kong. The tile floor makes for relatively easy clean up!
Is the straw thing still necessary? seems like someone posted a message from Kong on web somewhere saying that was a myth?
Yes, there are some hysterics around dogs supposedly getting their tongues stuck in the Kong due to suction. I've heard a few tales about it but I've never known anyone who it happened to (even people who give their dogs several Kongs a day). I don't think it's very common or something to worry too much about, but if you're super risk aversive a straw might give you peace of mind, as it prevents any kind of air suction from developing.
Also, if the Kong is filled with a lot of different textures and not just straight liquid, I think that pretty much negates much of the risks too.
Thanks for the video.
What size Kong are you using in the video?
Thanks again
It's the large one!
i'm trying to get a kong box subscription. when i click on the link you provided, it takes me to a vet subscription for $9.98/month. I'm not interested in that. Can you tell me how I get the Kong box? thank you. steven j champlin
Hey Steven - unfortunately Kong has cancelled the program :/ but you can try BarkBox for something similar
Is the kibble supposed to be put in water before putting into the Kong toy?
You can do it either way! I do find if you soak the kibble in water for 10 minutes or so and then put it in the Kong and freeze it, it's less messy than adding water into the Kong itself.
How long can you keep them in freezer before using? I never thought about it but larger ones I save for when we are gone for a few hours and that might be a week or so.
I couldn't say for sure, but probably a good long while. I'd say a couple of weeks should be no issue at all! My mom has made some for when Remy visits and those can sit in her freezer for weeks at a time without issue.
How would you get a frozen plastic straw out 🤔
Theoretically just pull it out? You might have to let us soften a bit. Honestly I don’t do liquid that much, usually just mushy wet stuff and there’s enough air in there that the suction isn’t really a concern
I can't access the kong box. Do I need to download an app?
They changed the name of the program - it's Kong Club now! Here's the updated link: kongclub.app/
@@K9ofMine thanks
My puppy is not able to get to the stuff at the bottom half of the Kong. Is it the size issue - like I need to get a bigger one?
With Kongs you can usually go bigger safely, but going smaller is dangerous. If he's a pup he might have just not quite figured out how to access what's at the bottom!
Great stuff. Thanks! Just got our GSD and learning how to keep him engaged.
Kongs are awesome for enrichment!
Has your GSD had its first birthday yet?
Do you remove the straw when you give it to him? Won’t that take the stuffing out ?
Yes you remove the straw, but only after it’s frozen so all the stuffings stay inside!
How do you balance their diet with all the added calories & fat from things like peanut butter?
I just give my dog about 1/4 less food at meal times for every loaded Kong he gets. But I'm sure you can find a more reliable substitute or calorie count swap depending on what you're putting in the Kong. I just feed a bit less and if I notice my dog gaining weight, I might cut back on breakfast and dinner feeds a bit more.
What if your dog can’t eat kibble and has a sensitive tummy
You can definitely use something else - whatever food your vet recommends, or something fresh like Ollie works too.
😊
I love this but have one concern, is it safe for dogs to swallow frozen kibble? can they chew it? Seems like a silly question but I don't know 😂
It's not a silly question at all! Kibble is quite porous, so when the kibble expands after being in water and then freezes it tends to defrost pretty quickly and gets mushy fast. And on top of that the kibble pieces are big enough that they're pretty easy for a dog to chew, even frozen. But if you're concerned, you could always just leave the frozen Kong out for a 5-10 minutes before giving it to your dog, that way you know the kibble has gotten a chance to soften.
@@K9ofMine and is it safe for puppy? I’m getting a 2 months old shetland this friday and i was wondering
Too messy for indoors, but great for outside.
My puppy chewed through the black one.. omg😮
Oh my! He sounds like a tough kiddo. I will say one thing to be aware of is that no toy is really chew-proof completely. Your best bet is to not leave him alone unattended with a Kong - try to take it away shortly after he's done eating the goodies out of it!
Put them in a mug to fill up!
I just got my dog a kong because she's on crate rest and gets bored, thanks for this!
That's awesome, your dog will really love these! I'd suggest checking out Lickimats too!
everything except the peanut butter works for my Daisy. She hates peanut butter wont touch it no matter what.
That’s so funny! I’ve never met a dog who didn’t like PB!
@@K9ofMineyea she won’t touch it lol. 😊
Be carful giving your dog to many carbs . My little guy just died from a diabetic crisis after 14 years . It happened so suddenly and I’m extremely broken hearted. Watch to see if your dog is peeing more frequently or not feeling well after eating. Bring them to the vet right away please don’t put it off .
While I'm sorry for your loss 14 years is a hell of a run for many breeds.
@@zachnuketown ya it’s just the way it happened . He died 2 months after a forced vaccine. They made me give it to him to take his bad teeth out . 3 weeks later he was growing something out of his eye then died from a diabetic crisis. He was completely healthy and I’ll never vaccinate any dog I’m responsible for unless really high risk for some reason.
@@dananthony6258 that's terrible I didn't even know dogs got vaccinations that's crazy
@@zachnuketown lol what are you serious? Dogs need vaccines as well 🙄
Kong wobbler looks so dumb why would my dog enjoy getting 4 pieces of kibble by knocking it..
My dog loves the Kong Wobbler! It can hold over a cup of food, so definitely a lot more than four pieces of kibble ;) It may sound boring to you, but it's super satisfying for dogs. You can imagine it kind of like doing a jigsaw puzzle or Wordle for us humans.
Potatoes, that's weird. I've read couple times and heard is as well that potatoes are t that good for a dog
Raw potatoes can have high levels of solanine, which isn't great for dogs. But cooked potatoes and sweet potatoes are fine since the solanine levels are much lower.
Just found this channel bringing up the KONG box THERE'S ONLY A SUBSCRIPTION CLUB FOR $10
Dog-on-dog play is something I still struggle with a lot -- it is SO nuanced and even the smallest gestures can mean a lot. And since Remy doesn't play with other dogs, I don't get much practice. I bet if you watch your own dogs though and build that experience of observing your own dogs, you'll learn a ton!
My dog doesn’t like peanut butter.
There are plenty other ingredients you can use! Yogurt, mashed sweet potato, squash puree, etc
@@K9ofMine Yes there are. He loves yoghurt.
We have two Kongs for our dog and stuff them with similar products, but this is quite a brazen commercial disguised as independent advice from dog trainers.
Oh wow, I’m sorry you feel that way! This isn’t intended as an ad at all. And I assure you, no one paid me to make this video. Just some really great enrichment options with KONGs that I use on a daily basis with my own dog. There are some other similar products out there that can accomplish the same goal, but KONGs are really the most popular and most common (and most affordable) tool for these kinds of enrichment activities.
Why not cook the broth instead of buying a tin filled with chemicals? 😮
Cooking your own broth is a great idea!
SPAM? With ALL THAT SALT??? I don't think so.
Good call, you definitely wouldn’t want to use too much of it
I don’t even have a dog🤍
Don't risk with peanut butter, or you will have to see the vet. You can feed cats with fat, but not dogs. Experience... as lean as possible.
Most dogs tolerate peanut butter just fine. Not sure what you’re talking about. Are you maybe thinking of pancreatic cancer? Definitely fatty foods can contribute to that, but there’s usually a pre-existing issue or genetic condition.
Cant give dogs peanut butter with xylitol, thats a no, no!
po rysskiy pogalysta.
Translate in rissian please
I just added some Russian subtitles, hope that helps :)