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Looking to give your dog enrichment but are short on money? No Problem! We’ve all been there. Here are some simple inexpensive ingredients you can put into a Kong. The great thing is that a little bit will go a long way and you can fill multiple and put them into the freezer for later. You can also use the remainder of food for your family. Enrichment doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
First, here are some safety notes:
- Different colors mean different things- Blue/Pink=Puppy, Purple=Senior, Red=Regular, Black=Power Chewer
- Get correct size. Make sure your dog cannot get their jaw stuck in the hole.
- Do not pack the Kong solid with no air release holes. The suction can prevent them from getting their tongue out. That is why I use solids, so the air can continue to move and the liquid/paste on the inside edges. If you want to use soft treats place a straw to dowel inside to create an air hole. Remove before giving it to your dog.
- Remember about calorie intake for your dog and adjust daily meals accordingly. Yes, these are treats, but that doesn’t mean you should add more calories to your dog’s daily totals.
- Only use dog safe foods. If you are unsure if a food is safe, contact your vet. Most vets will have some great resources for you.
- Never leave your dog unattended while using a Kong or any other enrichment toy.
#1
- Carrots (I have used both baby carrots and cut large size carrots to a smaller size)
- Kibble (Can be kibble you already feed, free sample packets, or a small bag of a different kind)
- Plain Cheerios (Doesn’t matter brand, but are low in calories)
- Canned Pumpkin (Not canned pumpkin pie, plain pumpkin)
- Plain Yogurt (Make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol, which is toxic)
- Banana
- Apple (Remove the core as the core is toxic)
I start with putting a couple carrots inside, then kibble and cereal. That way you have holes to stop any suction. The banana, pumpkin, and yogurt is then smooshed inside along the outside edge still leaving a large hole in the middle. Then place an apple slice in the middle and put either pumpkin or yogurt around the top to freeze and hold the apple in place.
#2
- Pineapple
- Kibble (Can be kibble you already feed, free sample packets, or a small bag of a different kind)
- Plain Cheerios (Doesn’t matter brand, but are low in calories)
- Coconut Oil (Doesn’t matter if it is a dog specific brand or grocery store brand)
- Peanut Butter (Make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol, which is toxic)
- Banana
- Carrots (I have used both baby carrots and cut large size carrots to a smaller size)
I start with putting a couple carrots inside, then kibble and cereal. That way you have holes to stop any suction. The banana, peanut butter, and coconut oil is then smooshed inside along the outside edge still leaving a large hole in the middle. Then place pineapple chunks inside the middle. Place a larger slice of pineapple or carrots at the opening put a small amount of peanut butter around the top to freeze and hold the pineapple or carrot in place.
#3
- Carrots (I have used both baby carrots and cut large size carrots to a smaller size)
- Kibble (Can be kibble you already feed, free sample packets, or a small bag of a different kind)
- Plain Cheerios (Doesn’t matter brand, but are low in calories)
- Apple Sauce (Make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol, which is toxic)
- Plain Yogurt (Make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol, which is toxic)
- Banana
- Peas (I used frozen to make it less messy)
- Lettuce (I used Romaine only because she loves sharing it with our Rabbit)
I start with putting a couple carrots inside, then kibble and cereal. That way you have holes to stop any suction. The banana, plain yogurt, and apple sauce is then smooshed inside along the outside edge still leaving a large hole in the middle. These three ingredients will be more liquid consistency so adding more banana will help make it more of a paste consistency. Then place peas and lettuce chunks inside the middle. Place a larger slice of lettuce or carrots at the opening put a small amount of yogurt or banana around the top to freeze and hold the lettuce or carrot in place.
I even filled Whimzees Alligator chews in the same way. For these mix together the kibble, or whatever solid you use (carrots, peas), and put a small layer at the bottom. Then, use fillers for the remainder. Making frozen Whimzees Alligators are one of her favorite snacks when we are camping on hot weekends. She can spend time outside with us and have a cool snack to chew on. You can buy them on Amazon and they come in small, medium, or large. Sometimes these are easier for people because you can just fill and give to your dog.
These were very simple and quick Kong filling ideas. Get creative, find your dog’s favorite foods, and use those more often. Remember the safety of your dog comes first, so never leave your dog unattended with an enrichment toy. To fill all of these, I used a single banana and small amount of the other ingredients to be able to use them many more times. Maybe homemade treats are in Raven’s future. Don’t stress about them, this is meant to be fun. Besides we have all seen the gross things our dogs have put in their mouths, our Kongs have to be much better! Raven always gives the seal of approval.
