Frozen Kong Recipes: What to Put in a Stuffed Dog Toy

How to stuff a Kong-style toy

Step 1: Pick a toy sized for your dog: big enough that it cannot be swallowed or wedged in the mouth, and in a rubber firmness that suits their chewing. Step 2: Plug the small hole with a dab of peanut butter or a piece of a hard dog treat. Step 3: Add a layer of kibble or larger pieces, then a soft binder such as wet food or yogurt. Step 4: Repeat, then seal the big opening with a smear of something sticky.

For a beginner, pack it loosely so the food falls out easily, and let your dog win quickly. For an expert, pack it tightly and freeze it overnight. Put the toy in a cup or muffin tin while it freezes so it stays upright, and give it on a washable floor or mat.

The same recipes work in other hollow toys such as treat balls, and the softer mixes can be spread on a lick mat and frozen flat.

Recipe 1: Frozen broth plug

This one comes from the AKC. Plug all but one opening with a hard dog treat or a little dog-safe peanut butter. Stand the toy upright in a cup, pour in no-salt-added beef or chicken broth, and freeze it. Your dog licks the broth out as it thaws, which is perfect on a hot day.

Use broth with no onion or garlic, which are toxic to dogs, and no added salt. You can drop a few pieces of kibble into the broth before freezing for a crunchy surprise at the bottom.

Recipe 2: Yogurt and fruit soft-serve

The AKC suggests blending about 2 cups of frozen fruit such as watermelon or cantaloupe, with rinds and seeds removed, with a quarter cup of plain yogurt until smooth, then spooning it into the toy. Serve right away or freeze the stuffed toy again for a longer challenge.

Use plain yogurt with no added sweeteners, flavors or fruit mixes, as the AKC advises, and check that nothing contains xylitol. Some dogs are sensitive to dairy, so start small and watch for an upset stomach the next day.

Recipe 3: Pumpkin, kibble and wet food

Mix plain canned pumpkin, not pie filling, with a spoonful of your dog's wet food, and stir in some of their usual kibble. Pack it into the toy, smooth the top and freeze. Canned pumpkin and yogurt are both fillers the AKC mentions for stuffed toys.

For a meal in a toy, soak your dog's normal kibble in warm water until soft, mash it, pack it in and freeze. The AKC also suggests sealing a dog's meal inside a toy with a little peanut butter, so breakfast becomes a puzzle rather than a two-minute gulp.

Recipe 4: Peanut butter and kibble

Peanut butter is the classic filling, but keep it to a thin layer or a small amount, because it is calorie-dense. The AKC recommends unsalted peanut butter with no added sugar, fed in moderation, and stresses checking every ingredient for xylitol. Mix it with kibble so most of the toy is your dog's normal food.

Freeze it so it takes longer. If your dog is on a diet, skip the peanut butter and use plain pumpkin or soaked kibble as the glue instead. If your dog has pancreatitis or a sensitive stomach, ask your vet before using fatty fillings.

Ingredients to avoid, and when to call your vet

Never use anything containing xylitol, chocolate, grapes or raisins, onions, garlic, chives, macadamia nuts or alcohol. Avoid ice cream, which the AKC warns can upset digestion because of lactose and sugar. If your dog eats something toxic, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.

Supervise the first few sessions, wash the toy after every use, and replace it when it cracks. Call your vet if your dog gets stuck on the toy, vomits or has diarrhea after a new filling.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.