Post by angelad on Jan 19, 2012 23:46:58 GMT
The Kong people are full of support for Friends' 'Kong for a Kennel' , Part 1 of our Environmental Enrichment scheme (more news coming soon ;D) but in the meantime have sent us some tips - there's some fantastic ideas that I wouldn't have thought of in a million years
How to use a KONG dog toy – Ways With KONG
'The KONG dog toy is recommended by veterinarians, behaviourists, trainers and dog professionals all over the world. Made by the KONG Company and promoted by the KONG Company UK, for 30 years it has been “the world’s best dog toy”'
Why not stuff with peanut butter, your dog’s regular food, small pieces of fruit and then freeze it? Within a few hours you’ll have a great, frozen food-stuffed chew toy to increase the fun time it takes for your dog to extricate all the food!
Why not put a few small pieces of cheese and peanut butter into the KONG then pop into the microwave for a few seconds so the cheese melts and the KONG gently warms? Remember to check it’s not too hot before you give it to your dog!
Hide the KONG with a few treats inside around the garden or inside the house and teach a “find” cue to get your dog’s innate nosework and hunting drive stimulated.
Tie a rope or chain of old socks to the KONG and play chase! You can loosely stuff with a few treats so that the dog is rewarded along the way for interacting with the KONG.
KONG bobbing! Place a large bowl of water and a KONG or two into the bowl. Entice your dog to fetch the KONG out of the water!
Thread some rope through the KONG and stuff with your dog’s favourite treats. Now tie this to a tree or at a height just out of reach of your dog so he has to jump up to get to it.
Stuff your KONG and then seal it into an A4 envelope and give to your dog. They’ll have great fun rolling it around or shredding the envelope to get to the KONG inside!
Push your KONG toy into an old sock and throw it around or fire it like a slingshot! Stuff it first and it gives yet another barrier to the KONG which your dog will have great fun working out how to get to the treats inside.
For a change, roll the KONG is raw egg and then roll in grated cheese or a little garlic powder.
Invert the stuffed KONG and bury into the ground or into a washing line hole.
Warm KONG under your arm or in the microwave or simply left in some warm water for your puppy’s first few nights at home. Something warm to cuddle up to has been shown to help relax your new addition by mimicing the warmth felt when cuddled up with its Mother and siblings.
Keep Puppy KONG in the fridge to help soothe those gums for when puppy is teething. I also recommend raw frozen carrots for this! Yummy, soothing, and no-chair-legs-furniture-or other valuables-were-hurt-in-this-commercial 
Plug the small hole with peanut butter or cheese and then fill the KONG with fish stock, orange juice or beef stock and freeze for those hot summer days when something tasty and cold is just what the doggy doctor ordered!
If your dog likes water, place KONG on top of a sprinkler so the water sprays through the KONG. If you’ve already get your dog interested in KONG, they’ll love this change and gave great fun trying to get it while getting wet!
Place plenty of dry treats inside and play catch between 2 people. As the KONG flies through the air, the treats will fall out and your dog will love running between the two of you, chasing the KONG… and the treats!
Use a stuffed KONG to stimulate your dog with “Houdini” style games. For example, place it into a crate/cage and close but do not lock the door. Kongs are a fabulous 'tool' for crate training. Bas knows that he will only ever get a Kong when he is in his crate! He sees the magic 'red thing' come out, and makes a 100 mph dash for his crate!
Seal the small hole with peanut butter or cheese, fill with fruit juice or garlic water and then seal the large end with more peanut butter. This ones a bit messy so best given outside!
Hang a KONG Tails or stuffed KONG from a tree and make even more exciting by hanging it using bungee cord!
Place KONG into old socks, wrap in newspaper or straw to vary the texture and noise.
Place a trail of treats leading to a stuffed KONG toy. Start with a short trail then gradually increase the length of the trail so it becomes a rewarding hunt for the KONG!
Set a plastic pipe or wooden pole into the ground and balance a stuffed KONG toy on top. The dog has to knock the KONG off in order to get it.
Wrap your KONG in bacon and drag along the ground to help teach your dog nosework or tracking skills. A well-stuffed, bacon-covered KONG is the prize reward at the end.
Stuff the KONG, place in a cardboard box and smear the KONG contents about the box a bit. Now seal the box and give to the dog.
Stuff your KONG with soft paper soaked in fish oil, beef stock or fruit juice.
Tie a KONG to each end of a thick rope or braided thick fleece fabrics for extra rigidity to create a dunbell which can still be stuffed.
Thread a rope through the KONG and place lots of loose treats inside. Now suspend between 2 trees or across your garden between fence posts and encourage your dog to jump up at the KONG to dislodge the treats like a KONG pinata!
Thread your KONG onto a training line or piece of fleece and tie it to your belt, leaving it long enough so it drags on the floor. Now run!
Stuff with squeezy cheese, layers of paper, treats and small pieces of cheese for an extra tricky extrication.
Tie your stuffed KONG to a bungee cord and attach to a door frame, using it like a baby bouncer with a KONG in place of the baby!
If you prefer feeding from a bowl and have a dog that scoffs his food, using strong but non-toxic glue (there are many different varieties available), glue a KONG into your dog’s food bowl and put food into it to prevent scoffing or fast-eating.
Cover your KONG with doggy toothpaste and freshener to keep your dog’s breath fresh.
My own, personal tips are....
Keep it 'Kind' - (to your furniture)
If your dog is a chewer, use it as a distraction.
Keep it 'Original' Think of new ways to use a Kong!
Keep it 'Non-routine' Don't let it become 'furniture'. The Kong will lose 'value'
Keep it 'Good-as-new' Please keep your Kongs clean
Keep it 'Special' Kongs are 'added value' toys
prn I love Southern Comfort, but if I had it all day long......
This post was kindly brought to you by Angelad, Kong Company, and Baglady (who can't help butting in on a good thing when she sees one)
Most Excellent ;D
How to use a KONG dog toy – Ways With KONG
'The KONG dog toy is recommended by veterinarians, behaviourists, trainers and dog professionals all over the world. Made by the KONG Company and promoted by the KONG Company UK, for 30 years it has been “the world’s best dog toy”'
Why not stuff with peanut butter, your dog’s regular food, small pieces of fruit and then freeze it? Within a few hours you’ll have a great, frozen food-stuffed chew toy to increase the fun time it takes for your dog to extricate all the food! Why not put a few small pieces of cheese and peanut butter into the KONG then pop into the microwave for a few seconds so the cheese melts and the KONG gently warms? Remember to check it’s not too hot before you give it to your dog! Hide the KONG with a few treats inside around the garden or inside the house and teach a “find” cue to get your dog’s innate nosework and hunting drive stimulated. Tie a rope or chain of old socks to the KONG and play chase! You can loosely stuff with a few treats so that the dog is rewarded along the way for interacting with the KONG. KONG bobbing! Place a large bowl of water and a KONG or two into the bowl. Entice your dog to fetch the KONG out of the water! Thread some rope through the KONG and stuff with your dog’s favourite treats. Now tie this to a tree or at a height just out of reach of your dog so he has to jump up to get to it. Stuff your KONG and then seal it into an A4 envelope and give to your dog. They’ll have great fun rolling it around or shredding the envelope to get to the KONG inside! Push your KONG toy into an old sock and throw it around or fire it like a slingshot! Stuff it first and it gives yet another barrier to the KONG which your dog will have great fun working out how to get to the treats inside. For a change, roll the KONG is raw egg and then roll in grated cheese or a little garlic powder. Invert the stuffed KONG and bury into the ground or into a washing line hole. Warm KONG under your arm or in the microwave or simply left in some warm water for your puppy’s first few nights at home. Something warm to cuddle up to has been shown to help relax your new addition by mimicing the warmth felt when cuddled up with its Mother and siblings. Keep Puppy KONG in the fridge to help soothe those gums for when puppy is teething. I also recommend raw frozen carrots for this! Yummy, soothing, and no-chair-legs-furniture-or other valuables-were-hurt-in-this-commercial 
Plug the small hole with peanut butter or cheese and then fill the KONG with fish stock, orange juice or beef stock and freeze for those hot summer days when something tasty and cold is just what the doggy doctor ordered!If your dog likes water, place KONG on top of a sprinkler so the water sprays through the KONG. If you’ve already get your dog interested in KONG, they’ll love this change and gave great fun trying to get it while getting wet! Place plenty of dry treats inside and play catch between 2 people. As the KONG flies through the air, the treats will fall out and your dog will love running between the two of you, chasing the KONG… and the treats! Use a stuffed KONG to stimulate your dog with “Houdini” style games. For example, place it into a crate/cage and close but do not lock the door. Kongs are a fabulous 'tool' for crate training. Bas knows that he will only ever get a Kong when he is in his crate! He sees the magic 'red thing' come out, and makes a 100 mph dash for his crate! Seal the small hole with peanut butter or cheese, fill with fruit juice or garlic water and then seal the large end with more peanut butter. This ones a bit messy so best given outside! Hang a KONG Tails or stuffed KONG from a tree and make even more exciting by hanging it using bungee cord! Place KONG into old socks, wrap in newspaper or straw to vary the texture and noise. Place a trail of treats leading to a stuffed KONG toy. Start with a short trail then gradually increase the length of the trail so it becomes a rewarding hunt for the KONG!Set a plastic pipe or wooden pole into the ground and balance a stuffed KONG toy on top. The dog has to knock the KONG off in order to get it. Wrap your KONG in bacon and drag along the ground to help teach your dog nosework or tracking skills. A well-stuffed, bacon-covered KONG is the prize reward at the end. Stuff the KONG, place in a cardboard box and smear the KONG contents about the box a bit. Now seal the box and give to the dog. Stuff your KONG with soft paper soaked in fish oil, beef stock or fruit juice. Tie a KONG to each end of a thick rope or braided thick fleece fabrics for extra rigidity to create a dunbell which can still be stuffed. Thread a rope through the KONG and place lots of loose treats inside. Now suspend between 2 trees or across your garden between fence posts and encourage your dog to jump up at the KONG to dislodge the treats like a KONG pinata! Thread your KONG onto a training line or piece of fleece and tie it to your belt, leaving it long enough so it drags on the floor. Now run! Stuff with squeezy cheese, layers of paper, treats and small pieces of cheese for an extra tricky extrication. Tie your stuffed KONG to a bungee cord and attach to a door frame, using it like a baby bouncer with a KONG in place of the baby! If you prefer feeding from a bowl and have a dog that scoffs his food, using strong but non-toxic glue (there are many different varieties available), glue a KONG into your dog’s food bowl and put food into it to prevent scoffing or fast-eating. Cover your KONG with doggy toothpaste and freshener to keep your dog’s breath fresh.My own, personal tips are....
Keep it 'Kind' - (to your furniture)
If your dog is a chewer, use it as a distraction.Keep it 'Original' Think of new ways to use a Kong!
Keep it 'Non-routine' Don't let it become 'furniture'. The Kong will lose 'value'
Keep it 'Good-as-new' Please keep your Kongs clean
Keep it 'Special' Kongs are 'added value' toys
prn I love Southern Comfort, but if I had it all day long...... This post was kindly brought to you by Angelad, Kong Company, and Baglady (who can't help butting in on a good thing when she sees one)
Most Excellent ;D
