KONG STUFFING RECIPES

Keep your dogs calm, and distracted this weekend by filling those kongs with yummy treats!

If you don't have a Kong a tennis ball with a hole cut into works too!

Here are just a few Kong stuffing recipe ideas.

MEATY TREAT

Ingredients: A portion of your dog's normal kibble, about a teaspoon of meat paste, a chunk of banana (about an inch thick).

Method: Half fill the Kong with kibble, then add the meat paste. Using the handle of the spoon, mix the meat paste into the kibble. Add some more kibble, packing it in well, and then plug the large opening with the banana.

Food Fact: Banana is a 'pre-biotic' food, which means it provides a good nutritional base to feed the dog's friendly gut bacteria and so promote good digestive health.

CALMING KONG

Ingredients: A portion of your dog's normal kibble, about a dessertspoon of cottage cheese, a chunk of banana (about an inch thick).

Method: Half fill the Kong with kibble, then spoon in most of the cottage cheese. Holding your hand over the large opening, shake the Kong to coat the kibble in the cottage cheese. Add some more kibble, packing it in well, then top with the remainder of the cottage cheese before plugging the large opening with the banana.

Food Fact: Cottage cheese contains a good source of the protein amino-acid 'casein', which the body converts into naturally occurring opioids that have a calming effect. This is especially useful to help separation distressed dogs to feel more relaxed when alone. Bananas are also thought to have a calming effect too.

SWEET & NUTTY

Ingredients: Warm freshly boiled white rice, warm freshly steamed and mashed sweet potato, about a dessertspoon of peanut butter.

Method: Mix and mash together the rice and sweet potato and peanut butter. Fill the Kong with the mix and it's ready to serve. Alternatively, wait until the rice and sweet potato has cooled before making the mix and then freeze the Kong to use later. When frozen this mix seems to last for hours, so it's a great boredom buster, especially on long car journeys.

Food Fact: Sweet potato is a great source of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is converted by the body into vitamin A and acts as powerful antioxidant, helping to support immune system health.

FRUITY FREEZE

Ingredients: Banana, a small handful of blueberries, natural yoghurt.

Method: Mash or blend the banana, blueberries and yoghurt together in a bowl. Place the Kong, small end down, in a mug, and spoon in the mix. Place in the freezer and serve when frozen.

Food Fact: Blueberries are high in antioxidants and vitamin C, and can help to support cardiovascular and urinary tract health.

EGG-CEEDINGLY TASTY

Ingredients: 1 scrambled egg, 1 chopped Frankfurter or hot-dog sausage, boiled white rice.

Method: Mash the scrambled egg and rice together in a bowl and then mix in the chopped sausage. Fill the Kong, using a chunk of sausage to plug the end.

Food Fact: Egg is 100% nutritionally complete, meaning that it contains all the protein-amino acids that the body needs.

TUM-EASE Ingredients: Cold boiled white rice, about a dessertspoon of natural bio-yoghurt.

Method: Mix and mash the rice and yoghurt together and fill the Kong. Serve straight away or freeze for later.

Food Fact: The blandness of boiled white rice coupled with the 'friendly' bacteria in natural bio-yogurt makes this a great recipe for dogs with sensitive tummies.

PUMPKIN PIE

Ingredients: Pureed pumpkin, tahini paste (or peanut butter).

Method: Mix together the pureed pumpkin and peanut butter and fill the Kong. Serve straight away or freeze for later.

Food Fact: Peanut butter is a good source of calcium and zinc, minerals essential for healthy bones.