That dog favorite, the KONG toy, is a a versatile one. Fill it with something delicious, hide a treat inside or just let your dog chomp down on these sturdy toys and they’re sure to have a little fun.
Why Fill A KONG Toy?
Dogs don’t just love treats – they love a challenge, too. Pups love these toys on their own, as they’re durable and perfect for chewing. They’re great as fetch toys, too, as they bounce around inside or outside, and as a plus for pet owners, they’re easy to clean, too.
Dogs love mental stimulation. They’ll have to search for whatever you’ve filled their toy with, use their jaws and their paws to maneuver their way to treats and spreads like peanut butter. Depending on what you use, you can also fill a KONG toy or cover it with a spread like canned pumpkin and keep it in the freezer for a while. Once it’s chilled, your dog will have a bigger challenge trying to make their way through a delicious snack.
Using a food-filled KONG toy is also great if you need some time on your own without your dog jumping at you and demanding a good belly scratch. When you sit down with your laptop to do some work only to have your pooch jump on the keyboard, grab a KONG and fill it with something tasty. It’ll distract your energetic dog and buy you some time alone.
Another benefit? Not wasting your leftovers. There are some foods dogs shouldn’t eat, of course, but if you’re down to a last bit of yogurt that won’t do you much good, you can pass it on to your dog for a healthy treat they’ll have to do a bit of digging for.
What Can You Fill A KONG With?
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a classic choice to fill a KONG with for a reason: dogs go crazy for it. You can slather some on the outside of the toy as well as filling the interior with peanut butter to give your dog a bit of a challenge. It also freezes well without making too much of a mess, so pop it in the freezer for a while to give your dog even more time with their toy.
Canned Dog Food
Dinner and a distraction all in one. Give your dog some canned dog food in their KONG and they’ll be a happy one.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is healthy for dogs, making this spread a great option for you to fill your dog’s toys with. It spreads easily on the outside of the toy, as well.
Canned Pumpkin
Didn’t use that can of pumpkin last Thanksgiving? No worries – your dog will take care of that. It’s a cheap spread that dogs love, and you can get several uses out of one can.
Kibble
Whichever spreadable treat you’re using on the inside or outside of the KONG, toss a few pieces of kibble alongside it to give your dog the satisfaction of a good crunch.
Training Treats
Small training treats are perfect for KONG toys, as they’re already dog favorites and small enough to fit easily inside a KONG. They’re also light enough to readily stick to just a little spread if you feel you’ve overindulged your dog with something high-calorie like peanut butter lately.
Fruit
Before you give your dog any type of fruit, make sure they’re safe to eat. Grapes, for example, are toxic for dogs, but blueberries are an excellent source of vitamins that will make your dog happy, too. Combine with a little Greek yogurt and you’re basically giving your dog a KONG parfait. Lucky them.
Official KONG Stuffing
There’s also an official KONG stuffing product that comes out of a spray can, with a variety of flavors including Peanut Butter and Bacon & Cheese. Check it out here.
What Are Other Toys Like KONG?
If your dog loves a sturdy chewing toy like a KONG, try out BARK’s Super Chewer Dog Toys. Good examples include the “Treat Lock Ball,” “Cal the Caterpillar,” and the “Orbee Globe Ball.” They’re durable, fillable, and tons of fun for the dog in your life.
And Don’t Forget About The Super Chewer BarkBox!
If your dog really loves the more durable dog toys, you may want to make sure they have plenty on hand. And the best way to do that? The Super Chewer BarkBox.
With the Super Chewer BarkBox, you’ll get a carefully curated selection of 2 toys, 2 bags of treats, and 2 chews delivered to your door each month. And because each box is curated by size, you can rest assured that every toy, treat, and chew delivered will be the perfect size for your tough-chewing pup!
Featured image via KongCompany Dot Com
