[GoldenGal]

OK, I must be the only dog owner in the world who doesn't understand Kongs- how to use them, clean them, and why everyone else's dogs love them.

OK, I am trying not to use rawhides because of the dangers associated with them (although I have given Annie them several times). But she doesn't care at all for the nylabones. And then I gave her a Kong filled with treats, she just got frustrated because she couldn't get them out. And when I filled the Kong with peanut butter, she barely got any out and then the Kong got really nasty and I had such a hard time washing it out.

But I want to give Kongs another try! I know everyone else loves them!

So what do you recommend putting in a Kong for a 16 week old puppy, and how do you wash them?

 

[amy22]

Im waiting to hear. I put food and treats in it , but I dont shove it in so much that they cant fall out when Misty bats at it. Never put peanut butter in it. Ill be interested in hearing what others do with it and put in it!

 

[pburchins]

Our first golden got into the kong and would chew and chew and chew on it. Our second golden is picky about it. Like yours he doesn't like peanut butter or treats in it. What he does like is american cheese. The kraft stuff that really isn't cheese or velveeta. Also, I will save left over chicken and warm it up and put that inside it. He really likes chicken.

I guess what I am suggesting is try different things. If he doesn't like it I guess try to find other treats or toys that he does like.

Good Luck

 

[slip_kid]

my guy will lick frozen PB out of it but will not chew on it at all.

wack.

 

[Shadowboxer]

Im waiting to hear. I put food and treats in it , but I dont shove it in so much that they cant fall out when Misty bats at it. Never put peanut butter in it. Ill be interested in hearing what others do with it and put in it!

Is there a reason why we shouldn't put peanut butter in them? I've put it in a few times and my puppy really loves it...is it bad for them?

 

[sammydog]

Ours only like kongs when there is stuff in them. I like to put in peanut butter or yogurt by itself. On hot days you can also freeze yogurt in them. I will also put yogurt with sliced carrots, which they love. I also have the kong squeeze tube thing that I will put in them.

For cleaning I actually came across a Kong cleaner on sale at target. Kinda like a baby bottle cleaner, but kong shaped.

Looking forward to hearing what other people do!

 

[mybuddy]

Buddy loves his kongs and i put a variety of things in his.

1. Peanut butter, banana and yogurt. I mix it all together and then freeze it.

2. Toona...ooops..I mean tuna kong. Somtimes I mix yogurt in with that and then freeze it.

3. His favorite and had it just minutes ago...raw beef and yogurt. I mix it and then freeze it. He lobes..i mean loves this one the besterst...i mean the best!

 

[Bock]

tysen only touches the kong when I put something in it (yogurt, peanut butter, banana, etc).

Have you gotten the nylabone "started"? Have another dog chew on the nylabone or beat on the nylabone with a hammer to get it started. Starts to release the flavors in it and maybe that'll get your dog going.

 

[Trids]

Max, too - it's only interesting when it has food in it. Frozen PB, berries, yogurt, etc. Lately, I've used a bit of cream cheese with broken up chicken jerky. That was a big hit.

As for cleaning, I'm using a toothbrush & dish soap! It works fine, and then about every second use, I run it through the dishwasher on the top shelf....(just hang it on one of the upright posts).

Ours only like kongs when there is stuff in them. I like to put in peanut butter or yogurt by itself. On hot days you can also freeze yogurt in them. I will also put yogurt with sliced carrots, which they love. I also have the kong squeeze tube thing that I will put in them.

For cleaning I actually came across a Kong cleaner on sale at target. Kinda like a baby bottle cleaner, but kong shaped.

 

[slip_kid]

tysen only touches the kong when I put something in it (yogurt, peanut butter, banana, etc).

Have you gotten the nylabone "started"? Have another dog chew on the nylabone or beat on the nylabone with a hammer to get it started. Starts to release the flavors in it and maybe that'll get your dog going.

GOOD TIP! wow, we were wondering how anyone/anydog could resist something with BACON in the description. Will do this tonight.

 

[Willow52]

To clean, I shake out any loose bits, rinse out any chunks then run it through the dishwasher.

I'll have to try the freezing recipes.

 

[Mssjnnfer]

Oh MAN. Gary calls me a Kong CHEF...

1. Bananananananamash: I mush up bananas and mashed potatoes and cram that in there. I recently got my Bug Off Garlic (OMG I LOVE IT) and sometimes I'll add a little bit of that to make the taters garlicky!

2. Easy-peasy-cheesy-green-beenies: I warm up some cream cheese, smush up cooked green beans, mix them together and stuff it in.

3. Fruit salad: I slice up all sorts of melons and apples, add them to some cream cheese and stuff that. Sometimes I freeze these and they lick and lick and lick the fruit forEVER.

4. Cheezburger: Just RECENTLY made this and they went NUTS. Raw hamburger + shredded cheddar = two amazingly happy dogs.

5. Friesta Friday: Consists of any leftovers that haven't gone bad. Usually it's carrots, rice, leftover COOKED noodles, cheese and any sort of meat I have still. Cram it all in there.

I use a baby-bottle washer. I have an actual Kong cleaner but on the baby bottle brush it has a nipple cleaner on the other end that works GREAT for pin-pointing hard-to-reach spots.

 

[sammydog]

I love all these kong ideas! I forget I have also stuffed with cooked meat... Chicken, hamburger, steak... They LOVE those!

For nylabones you can also try trading a friend for their "used" one. Some dogs just don't like starting them.

 

[Sienna's Mom]

Here's a good link from the forum, and there's more if you do a search ;-)
http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/showthread.php?t=49965&highlight=filling+kong

When I was working I had two kongs that I kept in the freezer for our doggie helper to get out at lunch time :
One kong: smeared inside top edges with peanut butter- about a spoonful- not a ton- can be fatty... a small handful of kibble
Two kong: non-fat plain yogurt and sliced banana
Both stored in the freezer- the yogurt one can get a little messy at times, depending on how your puppers nibbles on it.

I still grab a kong and smear the inside with peanut butter when I need Sienna to mellow out and be busy- I get a whole 5-10 minutes LOL, but it does help!! Freezing them will make them last longer!!

For cleaning I usually use a baby bottle brush or just my pointer finger with some detergent and spin it around the inside. I also plug the other end with one hand and fill with soapy water, shake and rinse. Every now and then (when I remember) the dishwasher.

 

[Slowpoetry]

My Molly is just starting to get interested in stuffed kongs. Sort of.... Mostly, she looks at it and then looks at me as if to say,' Really? I have a dish!'

I keep trying though. What she really loves is all the stuff I pull out of her mouth, like rocks and moss and yucky garbage and acorns and ....

 

[nixietink]

I put peanut butter or yogurt with kibble and freeze it usually. Keeps him busy and he loves it.

 

[GoldenGal]

I love all of your ideas and suggestions. And I had no idea you had to get a Nylabone started- great information!

 

[amy22]

I just never thought to put PB in it...I dont know why!!??? I will do that next time I give it to her!

 

[Trids]

My experience is that she'll LOVE it. Max is 'nuts' about his PB! If she doesn't seem interested, try it without freezing, too. My Rascal (non-golden, of course), doesn't like it cold, but she loves the PB. I sometimes mix kibble with the PB so they don't get as much fat.

I just never thought to put PB in it...I dont know why!!??? I will do that next time I give it to her!

 

[nixietink]

I just never thought to put PB in it...I dont know why!!??? I will do that next time I give it to her!

I usually melt it and mix it with kibble and then freeze it. Takes even longer and Vito loves it.