Busderpuddle Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I know this is a stupid question but here goes. After reading about Kongs all the time and how all of you stuff them with treats, freeze them and they entertain your dogs, I decided I had to get one for Ruby. So I bought the thing and filled it full of kibble and a couple of tiny pieces of her favorite duck jerky, sealed the ends with peanut butter, froze it and gave it to her yesterday when I left for work. She should have been hungry since she hasn't been eating her morning meal the last week. When I got home, there was the still stuffed Kong totally full. Then I had to bring it in the house and figure out how to clean the darn thing. I ended up having to dig the stuff out of it, soak it and digging some more. I bought the big one. So what did I do wrong? How do you clean them and how in the world are the dogs able to get anything out of them? Ruby isn't a big chewer but she does like Bully sticks, chicken feet, etc... Quote Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambuca Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Try putting just some small loose treats in it and show her how it works. Once she gets that gradually make it a bit harder until it's sealed off. Sometimes there's a learning curve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest simile Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 When I'm teaching a new dog about Kongs I usually smear just a little bit of peanut butter or cream cheese around the opening. After they figure that out, I start putting a few treats or kibble bits inside, along with the bit of peanut butter around the opening, and work up from there. I usually don't start freezing Kongs until they get to the point where they get really excited to see the Kong come out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Believe it or not, some dogs just aren't interested in 'working' for a treat. For others, it just takes them a while to warm up to something new and learn what they're supposed to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest june Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 To clean it just get the big pieces out and put it in the dishwasher. No fuss. Some dogs love them others not so much so. And then I have one girl who loves them but won't touch it until I get back home. She will leave any treats untouched until I get back home. I guess it is her way of letting me know she wants me to stay home. june Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BrianRke Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Believe it or not, some dogs just aren't interested in 'working' for a treat. For others, it just takes them a while to warm up to something new and learn what they're supposed to do. You just described my dogs. They hate those Kong toys with the treats inside. They do NOT want to work for their treat. After a few minutes of struggling with it they get really po'd, give me a dirty look, and walk away from it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieProf Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 (edited) I just smear a little stuff (used to be peanut butter, now it's lowfat Greek yogurt) inside the opening and freeze. Once early on I sealed the hole with a piece of frozen banana and Beth didn't know what to do -- as I left the house I heard her howling in her crate and thought oh no, she's developing separation anxiety! but it was just that she was upset she didn't know how to get into her Kong!! Edited July 9, 2011 by PrairieProf Quote With Cocoa (DC Chocolatedrop), missing B for Beth (2006-2015)And kitties C.J., Klara, Bernadette, John-Boy, & Sinbad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
45MPHK9 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Sizing guidelines, recipes, and expert advice can be found here at the company's website. Quote Tricia with Kyle, our senior mutt dog Always missing Murray Maldives, Bee Wiseman, River, Hopper, Kaia, and Holly Oaks Holly“You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.“ -Bob Dylan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I just use peanut butter smeared around the inside of the hole. I keep it in the fridge, as I find freezing it actually makes it EASIER for him to get the peanut butter out fast. For a dog with mild SA like mine, what you're trying to do is keep his mind off your departure as you leave, and for him, once the first 5-10 minutes have gone by, he calms down anyway. I use the HUGE size. When I tried to give him a new one, he refused to touch it! The one he is using every day (Mon-Fri) belonged to my last dog. I don't get too disturbed about cleaning it. It's no like I'm going to eat out of it, and George could care less if it's "clean" as long as it's got his peanut butter! That's also why I don't use anything that spoils. Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greyfriends Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 To clean it just get the big pieces out and put it in the dishwasher. No fuss. Some dogs love them others not so much so. And then I have one girl who loves them but won't touch it until I get back home. She will leave any treats untouched until I get back home. I guess it is her way of letting me know she wants me to stay home. june I'm the dishwasher in our house. A baby bottle brush and hot soapy water works well if you don't have a dishwasher. And...MollyCrackers used to wait until I got home to eat her Kong treats. I wanted to stay home with her too! A smidgeon of cream cheese to seal the Kong is a favorite in our house. We switch Kong treats and sealers. We've used almond butter too. Most recently I blended 3/4 c plain yogurt, 1/4 c peanut butter, 1T honey and a kelp/antioxidant supplement. Pour it in a zip top bag and snip a little bit of a corner off. Prop the Kongs in cups or a muffin pan, put a small treat in the bottom to seal the hole. Use the bag like a pastry bag and squeeze the "smoothie" into Kongs. This recipe fills 4 medium Kongs. I put a smelly good treat on top and freeze. Yummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Swifthounds Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Some dont like to work for it, some dont understand how it works, some don't like to eat treats alone, and some just aren't fans of kongs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlingDogs Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I got Dory a Kong and she does the same thing. She doesn't understand how to roll it around to get the food to come out, so she just chews it, but at least she's still entertained Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sheila Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 of the 6 hounds I have had only one of them liked the kong and he didn't need it stuffed with anything to chew on it. All my other hounds turn their noses up at it regardless of what I fill it with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarabz Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Bella is SO food motivated that she bounces around the apartment in the morning between her last walk and when she gets her Kong. I'm convinced that she now only goes on her second morning walk just to get her Kong, since she really just walks out the door, pees and beelines back inside. We started it when we first adopted her and now she knows that if she gets a Kong, we're going to be gone for a while. If we're just going out for dinner, she doesn't get one. We use the large size. I actually bought six so that I can make up a whole batch at once and stick them all in the freezer instead of dealing with it every morning. I put some loose treats in the bottom and fill the top half with a blend of oatmeal, peanut butter and pumpkin, then freeze. She's rarely left anything in it unless I stuff the peanut butter mix to low into the Kong. PS - They're really cheap on www.petedge.com Quote Dave (GLS DeviousDavid) - 6/27/18 Gracie (AMF Saying Grace) - 10/21/12 Bella (KT Britta) - 4/29/05 to 2/13/20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ctgreylover Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Tony does not like kongs. I have a treat ball that is open. sort of a weave look. I stuff the cookies in it and he has to pull them out but its ALL open. no small hole to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busderpuddle Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Thanks for the great ideas. I have a feeling that Ruby is one of the ones who is not going to like the Kong. She is NOT food motivated at all. I was just hoping to find something to help entertain her while we are away. Will try a few of your suggestions and am counting my blessings that we have a dishwasher. Quote Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryz Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I read in your first post that you sealed both ends. You only have to seal the large opening. I break small sized biscuits in half and put a few of them inside and just seal the bottom with peanut butter and freeze it. Sherri actually watches me get it out of the freezer and then runs to her bed to wait for me to bring it to her. She never looks at us leaving the house. The reason I mention only sealing one end is because I remember reading a story about a dog whose tongue got stuck in a toy because it only had one opening and he couldn't get it out and it swelled really badly. I don't know if this would happen with a Kong, but why risk it. I remember the toy being recalled, but for the life of me, can't remember what it was called. Quote Mary, mom to kitty Rebel.Always missing Sherri (SO DELICIOUS) (12/6/2005-8/29/2018) kitties Marley (4/2000-12/3/2015) and Beady (4/1998-2/24/2006) and Dalmatian Daisy (7/25/1984-5/13/1999). The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not - Thomas Jefferson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest june Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 If Ruby is not kept in a crate you can also try hiding some treats around the house while your dogs is outside. One of my girls loved that game! Unfortunately, she is no long an "only" so although I do it once in a while I won't do it unless I'm home to be sure no one gets into a tiff over a treat. june Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busderpuddle Posted July 17, 2011 Author Share Posted July 17, 2011 I have tried it a couple other times and she just isn't interested. She is curious enough to carry it to her bed, but there it stays until I clean it out. I am done. I have put it in my donation box for the local shelter. Ugh........no more picking stuff out of it. Will try to find some other ideas to entertain her. I have one of those cubes too but she just sniffs it and lays beside it. She really IS retired ! Quote Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest june Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 She really IS retired ! Or as I like to say about one of my girls: She takes her retirement seriously! june Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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