Filling a Kong for a puppy

Bit new at this forum thing, where should I post a question about puppy kongs? We have a box of the kong shaped puppy biscuits but Mishka eats these in about two seconds flat, and there doesn't seem to be much of a challenge there. I've seen lots online about stuffing them and freezing them with peanut butter/stock etc, but I'm not sure if all these things are suitable for a 10 week old pup, any ideas out there....?

Hi Rachel sorry I am not understanding about the kong shaped biscuits

A kong is a hollow usually rubber item/toy that you can be filled with any appropriate food that you can push inside, freezing makes the content last longer.

ETA as with any toy it is best to make sure it is the right size and not too small so that it can't be swallowed/ choke your dog. There are adult Kongs and special puppy Kongs suited to their brittle baby teeth.

No it was me, I have just read that back!!...what I meant was that we have a puppy kong toy, and the biscuits that they recommended to go in this, but I am not very impressed as it is very easy for her to munch the biscuit, and I thought the idea of the kong is that it is a bit of a challenge for them to get the contents out! That's why I was thinking about stuffing it with something and freezing as you mentioned, but I am worried about whether some of the recipes might not be puppy friendly, the last thing I would want is a poorly squishy tummied white fluffy pooch because I gave her something that didn't agree with her....

I have those Kong biscuits, but don't use them much... I put carrot, cheese and his dry food in... he loves them xx

I used all of these from an early age... oh Apple was good too... just try them first...

Hi Rachel I see, well anything you would feed to a puppy in a dish you can feed using a kong, you just need something to bind it together like a bit of egg/mashed potato /cottage cheese/ etc.

What are you feeding your puppy on at the moment?

Thanks, do you just chop up the carrot and apple into little pieces? Also what stops it from all falling out...?

She is on Royal Canin Puppy Food as recommended by our breeder and vet. She seems to love it, and so far has been very 'regular' if you know what I mean, so I'm a bit apprehensive about giving her different foods. Other than a teeny bit of plain chicken, I haven't tried anything with her...although we were a bit slow getting out to her the other day and she did eat one of her poops so maybe I am worrying a bit too much!!

Usually I keep the carrot whole.. ( well halved depending on size) and squash in the end so it sticks out, then he has to eat that first (and it holds the rest in until he has got the carrot out ) , I push the dry food it mixed with a bit of cheese or and Apple, this seems to compact it in so its harder to get out.... sometimes he eats it quickly sometimes it takes him longer...

Hi Rachel,

I use a large puppy kong with my girl and it was/is fantastic! I too was a little unsure how to use it properly to begin with, for the same reason - the biscuits! I just didn't understand the point of it. I now think/have seen it is kind of used as a plug/enticer, to get the dog to pull at and begin getting into the goodies in the cavity?

I only started using it from about 16 or 17 weeks, so still before she started teething/losing her puppy teeth, but I don't see a why it wouldn't be fine for your 10 week old, so long as it is an age-appropriate toy and is stuffed appropriately. I crammed it full of all sorts of little bits of all sorts of things - chopped up chicken or sausage, apple, carrots, cheese, dry food (before we moved her on to wet food) etc. I only ever used a tiny bit of peanut butter, to "seal" the ends, but I sometimes did this with low fat cream cheese instead (though the shape keeps most of it in, especially if you mix wettish (fruit etc) things with dry things). I did the chicken broth thing and froze it. This made it great for travelling as we could take it with us and it would still be good to give to her even after an hour's drive, and really helped her settle happily when visiting friends and family, getting her socialised.

Now, at 7 months, I alternate between occasionally filling as before, and mostly filling it with an extra bit of wet food it I think she needs it (she is quite a skinny pup, though very healthy and energetic). It's great how it makes her really work to get it all out, and to be honest, during young puppyhood it is a godsend when you need an hour to yourself to get stuff done!

those kong biscuits are absolute crap. if you want to use treats stuff it with little ones first, then a few bigger ones and then wedge a big markie in the end.