A perfect treat on a hot summer’s day is a FROZEN KONG with yummy things stuffed inside. A frozen Kong keeps our Mals busy for up to an hour, which is a decent amount of time for a treat. When the afternoon heat starts to get uncomfortable, we bring out the Kongs from the freezer and let our Mals enjoy themselves as they work on licking out the cool and tasty contents. You can use a wide variety of foods as filling, as long as it is something safe that your dog likes to eat. If you want to make it really simple, fill the Kong with fat-free Greek yoghurt and pop it in the freezer for a few hours and voilà! The party can begin!
Doggie Ice CreamMix the mashed banana with the peanut butter and honey, and then blend in the yogurt. Pour into a clean Kong, seal the openings with some peanut butter and place upright in a sandwich bag in the freezer overnight.
- 2 dl (1 cup) low-fat natural Greek Yogurt
- 1 mashed banana
- 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons natural honey
We use both red and black Kongs but if your Malamute is a heavy chewer the ultra-strong black version, the Kong Extreme, is the safest option. So far, none of our Mals have been able to chew a Kong Extreme into pieces. Make sure the Kong is the right size for your dog.
In the photo above is also a blue Kong Quest Starpod. This toy can also be stuffed with treats but is only suitable for very light chewers, or young puppies, and should only be used under close supervision and be removed as soon as your dog is done.
The Doggie Ice Cream is a favourite on hot summer days and even dogs who normally aren’t interested in chew toys will queue up for their “Kooling Kong”. Remember to carefully wash the Kong with hot water afterwards, and remove any bits in the bottom that your dog may have missed. You can pop the Kong in the dishwasher too.
Hilary carefully licks out the contents of her frozen Kong.
Peanut Butter & Carrot Kong
- Chop three carrots into small pieces.
- Stir the pieces into about 1dl (1/2 cup) of smooth peanut butter.
- Stuff a clean Kong with the mix, seal with some peanut butter and place upright in a sandwich bag in the freezer overnight, or at least for a few hours.
Another favourite among our Mals is the Peanut Butter & Carrot Kong. If your dog is completely new to Kong toys you can smear a little peanut butter on the ends, or place a thin chew stick inside the Kong with the end sticking out of the opening as an encouragement.
Peanut butter is great for sealing the open ends of the Kong and can be used with any recipe to fill in the gaps. The healthiest alternative for your dog (and for yourself) is an all-natural organic peanut butter without added salt, sugar or trans fats.
If your dog isn’t keen on carrots you can use a grated apple instead. Blueberries and banana, and your dog’s kibble, can be added too.
Lyra’s favourite is the Doggie Ice Cream with yogurt inside.
Mmmm this is yummy!
Hilary is looking for ways to get to the inside quicker!
♥ Thanks for the treat mom! ♥