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Need to get on a conference call or Zoom call? Keep your dog busy with a stuffable dog toy like a KONG®! We’ve got some great recipes and ideas for stuffing your KONG® toy–and the chance to win one below!
These toys provide a surface for chewing–but also challenge your dog to figure out how to get food out of the center of the toy! They’re great for dogs who need to make their meal last longer or dogs who need to stay busy (without finding something on their own to stay busy with!) If your dog suffers from separation anxiety or boredom, a stuffable toy makes a great diversion.
Freeze the toy to make the fun longer lasting and mix up the goodies inside:
- meats
- cooked rice
- mashed potatoes
- oatmeal
- peanut butter (to plug the ends) and kibble
- cheese (to plug the ends) with green beans and carrots
- scrambled eggs
- any of your dog’s favorite meals
And we’ve got some fun recipes below for easy fillings for your KONG (including some frozen recipes that prolong the fun!)
For an added layer of interest, you could hide the loaded toy where your dog is unlikely to find it immediately such as under a bed or, if outside, perhaps behind a hedge in the backyard.
This works especially well with KONG® toys stuffed with dry ingredients that aren’t likely to melt or spoil.
How to Plug a KONG®
The key to keeping those KONG® toys stuffed—and making the toy/treat last longer for your dog—is a plug in both ends of the toy.
A KONG® is made with a small hole in the top of the toy and a larger opening in the bottom.
Some good options for plugging the holes include:
- cream cheese
- raw hamburger
- peanut butter
- cubes of cheese
- chicharrones (fried pork skin)
- a slice of processed cheese
- homemade chopped liver for dogs
Cleaning the KONG®
If you use a commercial stuffing toy like a KONG®, be sure to clean it after each treating session.
These toys can be washed in the upper rack of the dishwasher so you’re ready for the next treating session.
You can also use a bottle brush to get in the toy and give it a good scrubbing.
Frozen KONG® Recipe
The rubber KONG® toy is a favorite with trainers and behaviorists as a way to keep dogs busy and distracted. A frozen KONG® is a great way to provide a long-lasting treat on a summer day; your dog won’t be able to quickly break the ice with his teeth and will have to resort to licking the treat from the rubber toy.
1 KONG®
1 coffee mug
1 cup beef stock (see below) or chicken broth
To freeze the KONG®, which has an opening at each end, place the toy inside a coffee mug with the small opening at the bottom of the cup.
Pour the stock into the toy; freeze until solid. Remove toy from cup before serving.
Beef Stock Recipe for Dogs
Although you can easily purchased canned stock or bouillon cubes, many commercial stocks include onion–a no-no for dogs.
It’s inexpensive and easy to make your own dog-friendly beef stock, which freezes well–and makes a tasty addition to a frozen KONG®.
Beef Stock
Ingredients
- 5 pounds beef marrow bones
- 1 pound beef stew meat
- 2 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 celery rib, cut into 1-inch pieces (or celery tops from several ribs)
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large roasting pan, spread out carrots, stew meat, and bones. Rub bones with olive oil.
- Roast for 45 minutes, turning meat and bones halfway through until meat and bones are browned.
- Place bones, meat, and carrots in large stock pot along with drippings and browned bits.
- Add celery then top with cold water reaching two inches over bones.
- Cook stock on burner’s lowest setting for four to six hours. Remove from burner.
- Discard bones. Dogs should never chew cooked bones, which become brittle with cooking, so discard these out of your dog’s reach!
- Using cheesecloth, strain the stock to separate the liquid from the vegetables and meat. Save these solids for another dish, for a stuffable treat toy, or for tasty toppers on your dog’s food.
- Refrigerate the liquid. When cold, the fat will rise to the top of the liquid.
- Remove and discard this solidified fat.
- Freeze the stock. It’s handy to freeze it in plastic zippered bags with one cup in each or in ice cube trays. Beef stock makes a flavorful substitute for water or chicken broth in many dog treat recipes and also is a tasty frozen treat.
King KONG®
Since the size of KONG® toys varies by the size of your dog, adjust this recipe for your own dog. You can also use this to stuff marrow bones.
This frozen KONG® can also be used to serve meals, especially helpful for gulping dogs or dogs that need to be occupied.
Add meat and vegetables to the beef stock before freezing.
King KONG® Stuffing for Dogs
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana, mashed
- 1 tablespoon plain, low-fat yogurt
- 1 tablespoon organic peanut butter
Instructions
Use peanut butter to plug the small end of the KONG®.
In a small bowl, mash banana and yogurt, then fill KONG®. Use remaining peanut butter to plug larger opening.
Serve frozen or at room temperature.
Sardine Stuffing
You might picture cats when you think of sardines as a pet food, but dogs love this flavorful fish as well. Sardines are a healthy addition to treats, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and phosphorus. (This recipe makes enough stuffing for two medium KONG® toys.)
Sarding Stuffing for Stuffable Dog Toys
Ingredients
- 1 can (3.75 ounces) sardines in water
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
- In a blender, mix all ingredients until well blended.
- Use a spoon to stuff filling into KONG® or other stuffable dog toy.
- Refrigerate unused portion. Store in the refrigerator for 3 days or freeze in the KONG® for a longer-lasting treat.
Looking for more recipes? Download one of our free dog treat cookbooks!
Win a KONG® for Your Dog!
This post includes affiliate links.
Want to give one of these recipes a try? Enter to win a KONG® toy for your dog–in the appropriate size that’s best for your dog! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveawayThis prize is purchased by us and fulfilled by Amazon.
Cooks: Don’t miss our My Dog Says I’m a Great Cook™ cookbook with over 100 dog treat recipes from the publishers, readers and fans of DogTipper! This paperback book is available in our PawZaar gift store!
Jo-Anne Pfoh says
medium sized hound
Joy Chadwick says
My dog “Duppy,” is a Staffordshire terrier, not too big and not too small.
Colleen Stadnick says
We have an Irish Setter so a large would be right for him. Thanks!
Shelley Joy P says
I have a toy, small and medium sized dog 🙂
Kayla Harmon says
XL he is a great dane!
Cindi O says
We have 2 Rotties, so I would say huge. LOL
Lisa Williams says
We have a Rotweiller ,so large would be the size for us.
Mary W says
My dogs are between 50 and 70 pounds.
cheryl s says
50, 75 and 90 lbs so medium to XL
Elizabeth COMPANION says
I have a large dog!
Joanne Elford says
Barney is a Blue Heeler, so a medium sized dog.
Jessica M Anderson says
I have a large golden retriever.
Evelyn B says
I have a medium-sized dog
Ashley Mains says
I have 2 medium dogs
monique s says
It is medium to large. It is a retriever mix
Linda Szymoniak says
I have a bunch of these already (I think 8-9 with three dogs, so I can make them up and freeze them to give them when I want to). So, I am not entering the giveaway but bookmarking this page for the stuffing ideas. Great variety for the dogs!
Cheryl Chervitz says
I have 2 medium and one small dog at home.
Dawn Rasor says
My dogs are 50 pounds and 67 pounds. Large size would be great!
Michele C says
My dog is large weighing 60 lbs.
Kim Martinez says
I have an 8 lb yorkie who chews through everything. I’d love to win one of these to see if they really are as indestructible as they say!
Helga says
Our Rottie Mix is about 80 pounds.
Julie Waldron says
We have a Yorkie/Bichon. Right now she’s around 10 pounds at 5 & a half months.
DailyWoman (Lacey) says
my dog is 12lbs
Jessica says
we love our kong! but never thought about sardines. Excited to try this!
Donna James says
I have a Pitbull rescue named Blue who is 76 pounds and 2yrs old.
Antoinette M says
He is a medium sized dog.
Cheryl Billings says
My Aussie weighs 45 pounds.
Kristine Paull says
I have a Mal-Shi who is about 15 lbs and a 78 lb Boxador.
wen budro says
I have two large dogs.
Elisse says
We have a lab mix and a coon hound- medium- large sized dogs…
Kerry Schwidde says
Large for my handsome Golden Retriever & Mastiff.
Alex says
We have 2 huskies.
Janice Wright says
Henry weighs 49 pounds at last weigh in a few months ago. He’s still approximately that weight.
Susan Gillam says
I have a year old Aussiedor who is about 50 pounds.
cindy whipple says
large,shepard mix
mami2jcn says
My daughter is getting a toy poodle this week!
Barbara Fox says
I have 3 dogs. 45lbs, 13lbs, and 5lbs.
Tamra Gibson says
This would be so helpful. I have a 100lb Lab who just turned 1. Shes super hard on toys but, I know this would give her a run for it. I love that I could put treats in it for training. Shes super smart and I like to make things fun for her too.
Jennylyn Gross says
She is small about 15 lbs
Susan B says
Large mixed breed about labrador size.
Sarah Butler says
My dog Harry is a smedium sized dog. He is an 18 pound rat terrier-poodle mix.
Lisa Nelson says
My oldest Smooth Collie is 9 1/2 yo. and we just got an 8 month old smoothie. I’d forgotten how active puppies can be. Love your ideas for filling Kongs…especially the one about filling with broth and freezing. Need to try that it next. thanks!!
KIM DAVIS says
Medium size.
Steven Epstein says
31 pound german shepard , dachshund, ridgeback rescued from the cayman islands .
beleebi says
Big dog- About 90 pounds and still growing!
Liv R. says
I have a medium size dog with a big heart.
Pri c says
Medium size
Lauren Peterson says
We have a couple…The smallest is a 7 pound Yorkie and the largest is a 45 pound Frenchie 🙂
cyndi br says
medium size dog
Haley says
I have always wanted to try a Kong but havent gotten around to it yet, would love to win this and try it out!
Erica Hall says
A 75 lb Golden.
Michelle H. says
I have one large dog and two smaller dogs.
elizabeth miller says
We have a 95 pound, 9 month old cane corso that loves toys. We also have a 50 pound tall breed sheltie who is 7 and likes toys as well.
Beth T. says
I’m getting a puppy in 2 weeks. He’s an Aussiedoodle and now he is about 5 pounds, but he will grow up to be about 70.
angie lilly says
I am actually entering to win this for my friend. Her dog, Josie, is about the size of a Golden Retriever. Not sure how much they weigh. Over 50lbs I would say.
Judy Gregory says
We have a new rescue. He was dumped. Don’t know, don’t care. He’s gonna be a big girl. We love her. Been fixed.
Darlene Owen says
I have 3 black lab dogs, 2 adult and 1 puppy.
Leela says
A medium sized dog.
Sandy Klocinski says
My dog is a Chihuahua. Those large by Chihuahua standards by any other standard he is small
Allison says
My puppy is an American Cocker Spaniel. Before she was super small but now I think she is 37 cm tall.
Richard Hicks says
Our dog is med. sized
Lisa Avery says
I have 2 small dogs, but they destroy every chew toy we have gotten them. I would love to have a Kong toy for them to last!
Veronica Adrover says
My dog is a miniature poodle (~13″ at the withers).
kathy pease says
I have medium and small dogs
Lily Kwan says
small
Breanne says
She’s small.
Laurie Host says
Yellow lab – so definitely large.
Stephanie Larison says
Our dogs are 40 and 60 lbs. Brother but completely different sizes.
Hesper Fry says
I have 2 large dogs- golden retriever and a yellow lab.
Daniel Scott says
I have a large dog and a medium dog.
Cassandra D says
Size: Medium.