KONG 101

 

We’re not talking about the movie or a cute nickname for your Wheaten, but a surefire way to amuse and give your dog a treat. Many Wheatens love them and they are a good way to keep your dog busy while you slip out of the house without them.

 

Kongs come in several sizes. They can be found in every pet store and are a conical shaped, most commonly red, rubber toy.

 

Stuffing a Kong is easy. You can easily bend it so the opening is oval-shaped. It is a good practice to put something hard in first, or something sticky like peanut butter, to close the small end hole. If you are filling it with peanut butter it can be microwaved first so it gets slightly runny. This makes it easier to fill the Kong. Canned spray cheese also works really well for this purpose.

 

You can pour the liquid in a plastic bag, cut a hole in the corner of the bag and pipe the liquid into the Kong. The liquid will act as a glue to hold the other ingredients you add together and make it more of a challenge to your dog to eat it all. You can use your dog’s normal kibble, or any tasty treat he likes to fill the Kong. You can fill the Kong to the brim or coat it’s sides and add solid treats. You can also freeze the Kong after it has been filled. This makes it more challenging to the dog to dislodge it all and can occupy them for a longer time.

 

If your dog is extra clever and likes to hunt or play. You can hide the Kong and let him find it. This is easy if you break it down into steps. Limit it to one room in your house. For example hide it behind a chair. If your dog doesn’t find it himself help him see where it is then increase the difficulty as his expertise improves.

 

Never leave your dog unsupervised when he is alone with toys that might break or splinter. There are other toys that can be stuffed with food and are fun for your dog. Yours might like the Buster Cube, Twist n’ Treat, Tug-A-Jug, and the TreatStik. Even sprinkling some of his kibble in various hiding spots can break up the alone time for your dog.