Did you know that dogs need mental stimulation just as much as they need physical stimulation? There are so many things that you can do for your dog that will give them something proactive to do and will keep them occupied so that you can get back to doing what you love.
What were going to talk about today is Kong toys and good alternatives for Kongs. I have two dogs as we know. They're on complete opposite sides of the mental stimulation spectrum. Goose can solve the majority of puzzles we give him in the matter of minutes. Jango on the other hand gets tired and sleepy by the time he gets to the end of a puzzle toy.
For Goose we use a Kong Genius (he hasn't been able to crack it quickly which is a first), and Jango has a generic basic Kong that is fit to his size (large because he's a big boy). Both dogs love peanut butter so that is always a go-to for our Kongs, but we make sure to add extra stuff in them so that they get more work out of the toy. The best part about making these Kongs is that you can put a ton of different things in them that you can find in your kitchen.
Here's a list of good examples of what to put in a kong...
Base | Fruit | Vegetable | Meat/Fish | Other |
Pumpkin Puree (No added sugar) | Strawberries | Broccoli | Ground Turkey | Rice |
Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt (No added sugar) | Pineapple | Carrots | Steak Chunks | Sweet potatoes |
Peanut Butter | Bananas | Beets | Chicken (Shredded) | Training Treats |
Low Sodium Chicken Broth | Blackberries | Bell Peppers (No Seeds!) | Chicken Feet | Kibble |
Low Sodium Chicken Bone Broth | Apple Slices (NO SEEDS) | Asparagus | Raw Salmon | Quail Eggs |
Eggs (raw or scrambled) | Raspberries | Spinach | Beef Liver | A pump of salmon oil |
Cooked Oats | Blueberries | Green Beans | Pork Shoulder | A TBSP of Apple Cider Vinegar |
There is no specific recipe so you can mix and match any of these. Our dogs love it when we load them full of goodies and then freeze them! This gives a nice cold snack on a hot day or just for if you have a Goose that can crack any puzzle (best for outside, a surface that can be cleaned easily or the kennel).
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