KONG FILLER RECIPES
The art of kong stuffing is not difficult to learn, but there are requirements for them to work, both for the dog and the human to be satisfied. First you need to decide what the kong is for. Is it a meal in itself? A reward for being good? A treat to be left with when you go out between meals? Whatever it’s function there are some rules to follow.
1. The filling has to be at the correct consistency. If it is too hard to get out dog will become frustrated and bored with it. If it is too soft then it will go too fast and the dog will be left feeling unsatisfied and bored …these apply especially if given one to amuse while you are out and the object was to keep dog occupied to prevent destruction etc.
2. It has to be the correct kong, as in the correct size for the dog’s mouth and tongue and of the right hardness and density. You do not want the dog to eat the kong…you will end up with a huge vet bill.
3. Until the dog understands the concept of eating from a kong, never leave alone and unsupervised and if your dog has guarding tendencies then you need to work on the ‘mine’ ‘yours’ training with it…a kong, like a bone is a high resource.
4. A kong is not a toy: you wouldn’t allow your dog to play with his/her food dish…don’t allow the dog to play with a kong. It is yours not the dog’s and is given at your say so and as such a powerful training and bonding aid.
5. It has to taste good…be appealing to the dog and have healthy ingredients; the less commercial junk in the better. Below are tasty and delicious dog food ideas to fill your dog’s Kong.
Every dog needs a Kong. Super tough and durable.
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Kong Stuffing Consistency
The stuffing needs to be firm but not hard…about the consistency of pate of soft cheese to begin with. It is easier to make them up while the filling is still warm or at least at room temperature; you can then leave them in the fridge overnight to firm up to the consistency of firm chilled pate. As the dog works at the filling it will soften with the warmth of his/her paws and the action of the saliva. Frozen kongs (we call them doggy lollies in this house) are good as a treat on hot days and help add more fluids into the system. My dogs love frozen fruity kongs on a hot day…but you might want to give those outside.
Size and Type
Check the information on the packet…manufacturers give indications of ‘toughness’ but you know the power of your own dogs jaw…if your dog can destroy hard substances then you will need the heavy black kong. If you have a puppy you are kong training then the soft light blue one will be best. If it is in substitute of a meal then it will need to be large enough to take the equivalent of what would normally go in a dish.
Mixing Badlands Ranch SuperFood Complete into your Kong fillings boosts both flavour and nutrition. This nutrient-dense, air-dried dog food supports gut health and promotes a shiny coat with high-quality proteins and omega-3 fatty acids.
Kong filler ideas
Banana and Honey
Cream Cheese and Apple
Peanut Butter and Meat Paste Layer
Savoury Variety
Fill with bone broth and freeze for 24 hours
Dairy Variety
After sealing the small end using peanut butter, cream cheese or butter, stand the kong in an egg carton
Fill the kong 3/4 full with goats milk
Fill the remainder of the kong with plain yoghurt… you can also add some pureed fruit and/or honey to the yoghurt if you wish. Freeze for 24 hours.
Quick Kong Recipe Ideas
Mash a tin of sardines in oil into the Kong for an instant delicious ready to eat Kong. Freeze to make it last even longer.
Fill kong with Brussels Pâté and give straight to dog or put in freezer to keep the dog busy for longer
Jack with his Brussels Pâté kong
Check out the other recipes I have including the internet’s most popular dog treat recipe: Liver cake for dogs, the best dog treat recipe you can make at home.
Thanks, these are great! I was wondering if freezing raw chicken or raw salmon (I heard there is a bacteria in it that is deadly to dogs) is not dangerous?
I tried this recipe with 800grams of liver. Took ages longer to dry (fair buff there was more of it).
BUT it totally crumbles t after it’s been in my treat bag for 5 minutes, making it useless.
Did I do something wrong?
I have always been told by vets that garlic should never be given to dogs. So is there something better to substitute?
just dont add it if you dont want it, doesnt need a substitute.
Oh, wow, this is an amazing article!
My dog loves dried fruit – banana, apple, and a bit of apricot, pineapple – and is obsessed with dried sweet potato, but they are all becoming very expensive in the UK. Do you have recommendations for how long to dehydrate these non-meat products?
My dog really loves dried banana that is still a bit chewy. Only one place sells it and it is £4.20 or so for 100g. I’ve never tried dehydrating anything but would it be easy to get the banana to that chewy stage rather than becoming the hard, brittle, banana chip that is usually what goes for dried banana?
Any tips for dehydrating sweet potato?
I only have the dehydration function on an air fryer, and an air fryer oven: do you have any tips on ensuring fruit and veg doesn’t stick to the tray (or is this not an issue with dehydration?).
Do you recommend specific cuts of beef? I don’t eat beef myself so I’m clueless on what the different ones are.
Thanks for the ideas. Everything is getting ludicrously expensive and I would rather work out how to give my pup her favourites with dehydrating fruit, veg, and meat, than having to cut back. I came here looking for a biltong recipe and found so many other ideas!
What is the quantity of couscous in your fish recipe please anita